Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 9- Of Friends And Family

CHAPTER 9

OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY

"Yeh Karan Sir insaan nahi, shaitaan hain", Suman ji moaned. "Itna saara homework."

"#Hitler ke descendant", Chitra agreed.

Sid heaved a sigh. He pulled out his new headphones from his bag, wearing them and picking up the book again. The other cadets paused in their complaining, looking at him wordlessly.

"Good idea", Koel muttered, picking up her book again. "Padh hi lete hain."

"#Correct", Chitra said, picking her own up.

Silence fell as the cadets started reading diligently again, the only sound that of the faint music from Sid's headphones and occasionally, the scratching of the pen as they jotted down notes.

"Bahaane nahi chahiye mujhe", Karan hissed into the phone. "Academy ki security tight honi chahiye. Bina tumhaari jaankari ke ek patta bhi andar nahi aana chahiye. Samjhe?"

"Yes, Sir. Jai Hind, Sir!"

He heaved a sigh, pushing the door open to the mess. He almost faltered in his walk. Foxtrot was sitting in a corner, attention on their books. He smiled slightly. 'Chalo. At least, kuchh cadets toh dhang se train kar rahe hain.' He tilted his head. 'Monami kahan hai? Inke saath kyun nahi hai?'

"Ji, Sir?" Pawan said. He looked at the kitchen helper. What did he come here for again?

"Do coffee, mere room mein, please", he said.

"Ji, Sir", he said.

Karan spared the cadets another glance before walking out.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Knock Knock.

Koel looked up from the book. Faizi? Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Sir?"

He smiled, walking in. "Hi. Tumhaari roommate kahan hai?"

"Unke ghar se phone aaya tha."

He nodded. "Hum soch rahe the ki aaj Saturday hai, half day hai, toh..."

She raised an eyebrow. "Toh?"

"Tumne humaare liye khaana banaaya. Hume bhi return gift toh dena hi chahiye."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Aap khaana banayenge?"

He blinked, shaking his head. "Nahi. Bilkul nahi. Hume tumhaara shukriya ada karna hai. Tumhe maarna nahi hai. Hum kitchen se door hi theek hain." She chuckled. He nodded to the door. "Chalo humaare saath. Hume ek bahut achha restaurant pata hai."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

He laughed. "Puchh toh nahi rahe the par agar haan hai, toh hume koi problem nahi hai."

She smiled. "Uske liye thodi si aur mehnat karni padegi. Abhi ke liye, return gift hi de dijiye."

"Chalo phir. Hum usi mein khush rehte hain."

"Thodi der toh do taiyaar hone ke liye. Chalo, niklo. Main 15 minute mein aapko academy ke gate par milti hoon." She pushed him out of the room before he could protest, locking the door.

Faizi smiled, shaking his head. He pulled his phone out. Kahan ho tum, Karan? Busy ho kya?

His reply was almost instant. Kamre mein hi hoon. Kya hua? Kuchh kaam hai kya?