Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 14- Unexpected Surprises

CHAPTER 14

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES

"... Aur phir Chitra ne Bala ko bahut daanta", Koel completed, laughing.

Faizi smiled. "Bala ki toh har jagah bali chadh jaati hai, na?" He said.

She nodded, chuckling. "Haan. Isliye use sabse zyaada Monami pasand hai. Woh use kuchh kehti nahi hai, na, aur koi Monami ko kuchh nahi kehta, toh woh uske peechhe chhup jaata hai."

He nodded. "Koel, hum tumse kuchh puchhna chahte the."

"Haan, puchho, na?" She said. "Kya baat hai?"

"Hum..." His ringtone interrupted him and Faizi sighed in frustration. He took it out. Karan. "Ek minute", he said. Koel nodded. He accepted the call, holding it to his ear. "Haan, Karan?"

"Meeting hai. Debrief mein aa."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Abhi?"

"Haan, abhi."

"Zaroori hai kya?"

"Zaroori nahi hota toh tujhe aur Koel ko interrupt nahi karta, khud hi handle kar leta." His eyes widened slightly. He leaned back, glancing around the corridor. "Nahi, main wahan nahi hoon, Faizi."

"Tumhe kaise pata hum kya kar rahe hain phir?"

"Ek tu hi toh hai jo bina kahe meri har baat sun leta hai. Main toh kahan hi tera dost hoon, na? Security meeting hai. Abhi aa jaa."

He sighed. "Aa rahe hain." He disconnected the call, looking at Koel.

She smiled. "It's okay", she said. "Aap jaaiye."

"Kal milte hain?" He said.

"Actually... kal mera baaki cadets ke saath plan hai. Aur phir aakar homework bhi karna hai aur mission ka kaam bhi. Hum Monday ko milte hai, na?"

He nodded, standing up. "Monday ko", he said, nodding. He sighed when he was a little way away from her. "Security meeting bhi abhi hi honi thi. Humne socha tha kal date par chalenge, yahan toh mahutarma ne apne hi plans banaaye hue hain, aur humse milne tak ka waqt nahi hai. Puchh lete toh shayad bana hi leti humaare liye waqt par nahi!" He sighed in frustration.

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Faizi sighed again.

Karan glared at him. "Tu yeh band karega?" He said. "Jo bolna hai, bol de, warna chup chaap baitha reh."

"Tumhe kya itni si bhi fikar nahi hai humaari?" He snapped. "Puchhoge nahi kya hua?"

"Jab mujhe pata hai kya hua hai toh main kyun puchhoon? Koel ko date par puchh nahi paaya hoga tu, isliye itna dramatic ho raha hai." He sighed. Karan threw the pen in his hand, hitting him in the arm. "Chup", he warned.

He sighed again, this time out of spite. Karan groaned, picking the laptop up.

"Main jaa raha hoon", he said.

"Kahan? Hum bhi aate hain."

Karan held up a finger, holding his laptop in the other hand. "Sochna bhi mat. Tujhse door jaane ke liye hi toh kamre se jaa raha hoon. Faizi, please, mujhe kaam karne de. Mujhe kal ghar bhi jaana hai."

"Achha, hum kuchh nahi bolte. Tum yahin kar lo."

Karan wordlessly pushed the door open, walking out. He sat down in one of the corners of the mess. He opened it again, putting his earphones in, as he pressed the play button.