Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 13- Of Bombs And Feelings

CHAPTER 13

OF BOMBS AND FEELINGS

"Faizi Sir!" Koel called. He paused, turning around. He smiled at her.

"Kya baat hai, mahutarma? Subah subah darshan karwaa diye aapne? Ab toh humaara din pakka achha jaayega", he said.

She smiled a little. "Aap theek hain, na?"

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Haan. Hume kya hoga?"

"Nahi. Woh... woh aap kal mission par gaye the, na? Toh... main thoda..."

"Worried thi?" He asked, a smile stretching over his face. "Aap humaare liye worried thi?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Kisne kaha main worried thi? Main... main bas... curious thi."

"Curious?" He repeated. "Kis cheez ke liye?"

"Ki... ki mission kaisa gaya?" She asked. "Mujhe... Mujhe undercover missions bahut interesting lagte hain, isliye."

He chuckled. He nodded, beginning to walk to the training room. "Aap keh rahi hain toh hum maan lete hain", he said. "Waise... aap worried nahi thi phir bhi hume bata rahe hain. Hum aur Sanju dono bilkul theek hain."

She smiled a little. "I am glad... I mean, achhi baat hai. Main... main yeh thodi naa wish karungi ki aap logon ko kuchh ho."

Faizi laughed slightly. Koel froze suddenly. He paused, giving her a questioning look. "Kya hua?"

"Aap awaaz sun rahe hain? Koi baat kar raha hai." She whispered. He fell quiet, listening carefully. "Training room se aa rahi hai. Iss time par Karan Sir ke alaawa koi nahi hona chahiye. Sanju ma'am toh bathroom mein thi. Koi aur trainer bhi itni jaldi aata hai kya? Ya Karan Sir khud se hi baatein kar rahe hain? Do you think woh bhooth se baat kar rahe hain? Do you think woh finally..." She trailed off, raising her eyebrows, a smile spreading on her face. Faizi sighed, relaxing, and Koel chuckled.

"Tumne hume daraa diya", he said, shaking his head. "Hume laga tha sirf hum hi dramatic hain. Tum bhi ho. Karan Monami se baat kar raha hoga."

She frowned. "Monami? Abhi toh time hi nahi hua."

He smiled fondly. "Use kitna hi bol lo, use time se pehle hi aana hai. Ab toh Karan ne bhi bolna chodh diya hai aur bas accept kar liya hai ki woh pehle hi aayegi." He pushed up the door. The two paused in their seemingly one-sided conversation- Karan being the one speaking- both looking up.

Karan eyed her. "Tum bhi jaldi aane ki practice banana chahti ho kya?" He asked, rolling his eyes. "Ek bahut nahi thi? Itna hi shauk hai tum logon ko toh main time hi jaldi ka kar deta hoon."

"Nahi, nahi." Koel held up her hands hastily. "One time early bird", she assured. "Kal se baaki sab ke saath."

He sat down on one of the machines, checking it carefully. Faizi nodded to the corner Monami was sitting in. "Wahan jaakar baith jao aur wait karo."

She nodded, sitting down next toher. Monami offered her a hesitant smile, before her head dropped. Her fingers fiddled with her boots idly. "So... I am guessing tum baat karne ke mood mein nahi ho?" Koel asked. Her gaze didn't lift. She shook her head. Koel sighed. "Okay then. Silence, it is."

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"Kya hua?" Sid asked quietly. "Tu khoyi khoyi lag rahi hai."

"Bad night", Monami whispered, doodling something on her notebook. He raised his eyebrows. She shook her head. "Mujhe koi baat nahi karni."

He sighed. "Tu theek hai?" She nodded.