Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 15- Of Accidents And Attacks

CHAPTER 15

OF ACCIDENTS AND ATTACKS

"Sir, computers aur cameras toh humne check kar liye hain", Sanket said, leading them out of the room. "Woh sab toh theek kaam kar rahe hain. Ek baar wires bhi check kar lete hain."

"Aur agar wires mein bhi koi problem nahi hui, toh kya issue ho sakta hai?" Karan asked.

"Phir toh matlab kisi ne manually hi koi chedhkhaani kari hai. Koi aur choice nahi hai."

Faizi glanced at Karan. "Sab cameras chal rahe hain ab?"

"Bas ek nahi chal raha. Camera mein toh koi issue nahi hai, par connection nahi aa raha uska. Blackout se pehle toh bilkul theek chal raha tha, par blackout ke baad, band ho gaya." Sanket opened the lock, pulling the small door open. Karan tilted his head, inspecting the wires. Sanket lifted a cut up wire. It seemed to be gnawed. He sighed. "Lagta hai koi chuha kutur gaya."

His gaze snapped to him. "Yeh pehle hua hai?"

Sanket shook his head. "No, Sir. Kabhi nahi hua hai."

"Aur aage se hona bhi nahi chahiye", he warned. "Agar yeh problems hain, toh pest and animal control priority par hona chahiye. No compromise on the security. Sanket, dhyaan rakhna."

"Sir", he said, nodding.

Karan picked the wire up, inspecting the ends. He narrowed his eyes slightly, observing it deeper. It seemed... unnaturally cut. He gave the wire to Faizi, who inspected it too. His gaze lifted to meet his, before he glanced at Sanket. "Hume bhi chooha hi lagta hai", Faizi said. "Andar ghus gaya hoga aur wires ko idhar udhar kar diya hoga, isliye blackout ho gaya. Aur woh waala camera bhi isliye hi nahi chal raha hoga."

"Yeh theek karwaao", Karan said. "Priority par. Aur aage se aisa kuchh nahi ho chahiye."

"Kisi choohe ne nahi kutra hai", Faizi said when they were both in their room, door locked. "Hume poora yakeen hai ise kaata gaya hai. Aur kisi blunt knife se kaata hai. Agar sharp knife se kaatte, toh ek smooth cut aata. Blunt knife se kaata isliye pehli glance mein yeh impression padha ki woh shayad kisi choohe ne kutra hai."

"Humaara shaq bilkul sahi tha. Academy mein ek spy hai. And he's very smart." Karan held up a finger. "Bas ek baat nahi samajh aayi. Third floor ke camera ki wire hi kyun kaati? Third floor par toh kuchh hai nahi aisa."

Faizi shook his head. "Koi bhi random kaat di hogi."

"Nahi, Faizi. Jo insaan itni chhoti chhoti baaton par bhi dhyaan de raha hai, woh bina matlab ke kuchh bhi nahi karega. Usne intentionally wires ko idhar udhar kiya, woh wire kaati, aur thodi der baad jab uska kaam ho gaya, toh wires phirse theek kar di. Bas... question yeh hai. Kaam kya tha uska?"

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"Dinner ke baad third floor jaakar check bhi karke aayenge", Karan said, sitting down on the bench. "Batra Sir ki meeting ke chakkar mein jaana reh gaya."

Faizi shook his head. "Yeh meeting har cheez ke beech mein aa jaati hai. Hume toh yeh lagta hai ki jitna waqt hum mission karte hain, usse zyaada waqt hum Batra Sir ke cabin mein meeting karne mein bita dete hain."

Karan shook his head exasperatedly. "Abhi Sunday khatam bhi nahi hua, aur abhi se soch raha hoon ki agla kab aayega. Baby se bhi baat karni hai. Gussa thi ki Sunday ko bhi dhang se nahi mil paaya usse."

He chuckled. He opened his mouth, pausing when loud footsteps ran into the mess. He turned around, like everyone else, eyebrows furrowing at Sid's panicked expression. His eyes were wide, eyebrows drawn. He almost seemed to be on the verge of having a panic attack.