Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 16- Missions, Friendships And Realizations

CHAPTER 16

MISSIONS, FRIENDSHIPS AND REALIZATIONS

Monami closed the geography book, picking up the one on military strategy. She smiled, as she leaned back against the wall of the mess. It was her favorite subject. She flipped to the page of the common strategies she was reading up on for homework, twirling a pencil in her other hand.

"Guys", Sid called out excitedly. She looked up, straightening up to peek over the table at the other cadets who sat at the opposite end of the mess. "Attacker!"

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she hopped to her feet. The others did too, and the cadets all ran out, climbing up the stairs. They slowed down when they reached the third floor, tiptoeing closer silently.

Monami poked her head into the room, looking around. A person was kneeling down, in the same battle gear she had seen three days ago, on Sunday, when she was attacked. She started at the person tinkering with something in a corner. Was it the same person?

A pat on her shoulder made her look back, and her team gave her a questioning look. She nodded, gesturing inside. She poked her head in again. The person was still kneeling. She gestured behind herself, tiptoeing in the room.

The person froze, looking up. There was a beat as all the eight people in the room caught their breath, unsure. The person bolted up, and their team sprang into action as well. Monami stumbled back in surprise, as Bala literally leapt on his back, both crashing to the ground.

"Bala, tu yahin baitha reh", Koel said. Bala shot her a thumbs up, patting the special agents' back he was sitting on.

"Guys, bomb #activated hai", Chitra said. Sid was kneeling down and inspecting the bomb. Monami knelt down as well, inspecting it.

"Bataa", Prem ji said.

"Ek chaped maarni hai maine, seedha hospital mein jaakar giroge", the special agent warned. "Senior hoon main tumhaara. Tameez se baat karo, aur bomb diffuse karne par dhyaan do. Mujhe kuchh bataana allowed nahi hai." He elbowed Bala, twisting him off of himself and pinning him to the ground. "Main sirf isliye yahan hoon kyunki Karan Sir ne kaha tha yeh physical mission nahi, investigatory mission hai. Warna, sapne mein bhi nahi pakad sakte. Ek mahina hua nahi training shuru kare, aur bahut uchhal rahe ho?"

Bala groaned. "Sir ji, maine kya kara tha?" He asked, his voice muffled.

The special agent released him, taking a step back. His gaze snapped to the door when Koel shut it, leaning against it. She narrowed her eyes. "Hum aapko jaane nahi de sakte", she said. "Sir." The special agent rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath as he leaned against the wall.

Monami's gaze snapped around for something to cut wires with. Her gaze landed on Suman ji, who was staring at the bomb with wide eyes. It dropped to her hands, which were clenched into tight fists.

"Monu", Sid said. "Kuchh dhoond, na?"

"Mere paas chaaku hai", Bala said, producing a Swiss knife.

"Toh de, na?" Suman ji snapped. "Moharat ka intezaar kar raha hai?"

The special agent sighed. "Ab samajh aa raha hai ki Karan Sir ka mood itne time se itna bhayanak kyun chal raha hai. Tum logon ke saath deal karne se achha, toh deewar par sar maar loon."

"Yeh sab special agents chalte phir beizzati ki machine hote hain kya?" Koel asked. "Jo dikhe saamne, bas beizzati kar do." He rolled his eyes.

"Phatna mat", Sid muttered, as he grabbed the knife. "Please, mat phatna." He took a deep breath, before slicing the red wire off. There was a beat, and then another, before he relaxed. "Tukka lag gaya!" The bomb started beeping faster, as if protesting his words. "Nahi laga. Nahi laga, nahi laga. Kya karoon main? Kya karoon!? Monu!"