Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 12- Into The Euphoria

CHAPTER 12

INTO THE EUPHORIA

"Sanju, kal raat ko tujhe andar jaana hai", Karan said. He pointed to the entrance of the drawn map. "Yahan se tu jaana, aur pretend karna tu wahan par sirf masti karne aayi hai jaise sab civilians aaye hain. 10 minute baad, Faizi andar jayega. Tum dono club mein ghoomna aur andar dekhne ka try karna. Iss room mein CCTV footage hai."

"Sir ji, club ke andar ki CCTV footage mein hum record naa ho jayenge?" She asked.

"Tu uski chinta mat kar", he said. "Sanket usko sambhaal lega. Tujhe bas kisi bhi tarah uss room mein ghusna hai aur jo Sanket ne kaha hai, wo karna hai."

"Ji, Sir ji."

Karan nodded. "Tu jaa. Sanket se mil aur usse instructions le. Aur schedules adjust kar aur hum teenon ki saari classes kal dopehar tak khatam kar."

Sanju nodded, saluting him and walking out. Faizi walked in just as she was leaving the room. He nodded as she saluted him too, closing the door behind him.

He sat down on the bed, untying his shoes. "Humne back up teams ko alert kar diya hai", he said.

"Kya bataaya unhe?"

"Kuchh nahi. Bas itna kaha ki kal raat ko ready rahein. Zaroorat padh sakti hai."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Kuchh puchha nahi unhone?"

"Puchha. Par humne kaha, confidential hai. Jab zaroorat padegi, toh bata denge. Uske baad, unhone kuchh nahi puchha." He looked at him. "Tum kab information leak karne ki soch rahe ho?"

"Jab hume sure ho ki hum ek full out raid conduct kar rahe hain. Main nahi chahta ki kal ka operation agar smooth gaya toh hum bekaar mein unhe itna time de dein ki wo sach mein hume dhokha de dein."

"Aur agar kal ka operation raid mein convert ho gaya toh?"

He shrugged. "Toh spy ko pakadne ki missed opportunity hai. Hum mission ko khatre mein nahi daalenge."

Faizi nodded. "Copy that."

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

"Sun, wo schedules thode change ho gaye, na, toh hum sab ab kal shaam ko mission discuss karenge."

"Sid..." Monami rubbed her wrist. "Mujhse nahi hoga yeh. Main... main nahi reh sakti itne logon ke saath." She shook her head.

Her gaze was downwards, shoulders hunched slightly as she practically folded on herself. He sighed slightly. He grabbed a chair, sitting down and facing her. "Kya hua? Kya feel kar rahi hai?"

She shook her head. "Main... main unke saath hoti hoon, aur... aur main... main darr jaati hoon. Woh... woh loud hain, outspoken hain, bold hain and... and they're nice. They are. But... but woh m-mujhse... mujhse b-baat karte hain. They try to... they try to include me, par... par mujhe nahi hona include. I am fine. Mujhe nahi baat karni unse. I just want to be alone."

"Tu nahi hai fine, Monu", he said softly. "Tu chahti hai ki tu bhi pehle waali Monu ban jaaye, jise kisi se darr nahi lagta, jo...jo duniya ko face karne ke liye, usse ladne ke liye, hamesha ready rehti thi. Aur uske liye, tujhe... tujhe fight karna padega, Monu. Khud se. Iss fear se. Logon ko trust karna padega. I know easy nahi hai par tu give up toh nahi kar sakti, na?"

She looked down. "Main sirf wo waali Monu nahi banna chahti, Sid. Main chahti hoon ki jo hua, woh... woh sab... woh sab kabhi hota hi nahi. But jo hum chahte hain, wo hamesha hota toh nahi." Her trembling hands clenched into fists. She took a deep breath, nodding. "But you're right. Main...main fight karungi. Main give up nahi karungi."