Monami walked across the hallway, a stack of clothes in her arms, already half toppling. A few more strides, and she was at the door of her dorm room.
The lights were off, interesting.
Keeping the stock down, she walked towards the board and flicked the switch. She turned, and almost gasped in surprise to see Sanjana sitting cross legged against the wall on her bed, looking at the fan, fascinated. Sensing her presence, she looked down, and greeted her with a smile.
"Tu aa gayi!" She passed her a wide smile. Was she okay?
"Uh, yep!" Monami said staring for a second and then turning to face the cupboard.
"Achha hai. Hum bore ho rahe the. Faizi Sirji the...lekin unka zyaada ho gao, toh unhe kamre tak chodna pada..." She said adjusting her position a little.
Monami thought a little, before remembering it was a Saturday.
"Oh I hope vo ab theek hai... If you don't mind ek question poochu?" Monami asked opening her cupboard.
"Bilkul pooch!"
"Tumne pee hui hai..? You know.." Monami asked, pointing her thumb at her mouth.
"Bas ek."
"Ek shot?"
"Nahi, bottle, aadhi aadhi."
"Oh..." Monami smiled slightly.
"Aaj Shaniwaar hai na..vo kya bolte hai, uh...Saturday! Haan, Saturday. Karan Sirji na...ek number ke jallad hai..2 mahino me bas ek din dete hai.." she paused for a second, before straightening up and clearing her throat. "Do baatein, pehli, ye koi achhi baat nahi hoti, doosri, 2 mahino me ek din, 540ml se zyaada nahi!" She mimicked. Monami let out a small laugh.
"Ye Karan ne bola? Khadoos!" She chuckled.
"Haan! Sahi khadoos bolti hai tu unhe! Lekin...dil ke achhe hai Sirji, humaara bhala hi chaahte hai.." she said, a little regretfully.
"But...kabhi kabhi toh chalta hai na. Achha, suno, inme me se kaunsi...zyaada achhi hai?" Monami said hesitantly picking out a few dresses. This could be the best time to try and get to know each other a little.
"Hmm...je waali!" She said pointing at a sunny yellow dress. Monami smiled and hung the dress on the stand.
"Ye waali ekdam vaisi hi hai jaise gaon me sarso ke khet lagte hai, jab unpe subah subah dhoop nikalti hai, aur halka sa badal upar se aa jaata hai. Hume bohot pasand hai uss samay khet me rehne, vahan pe mor bhi hote hai....tujhe paudhe pasand hai na, tujhe bhi pasand aayega." She described her home fondly.
"Tumhe apna ghar bohot pasand hai na.." Monami asked, smiling a little, as she sat down beside her, folding the clothes with her.
"Haan. Humaara ek aur sapna hai, humaara raaz hai, jo humne kisi ko nahi bataya...vo--"
"Sanjana...you aren't sober. It's better agar tum mujhe tab batao jab..you know what you're doing. Mai nahi chahti ki tum mujhe batake regret karo..I mean..." Monami said softly, she didn't want to know about it when it was the alcohol speaking and not her.
"Aye dadda! Hum tujhe isiliye bata rahe hai kyuki...kyuki hume tujhme kuch dikhta hai, hume tujhme vo jazba dikhta hai, isiliye tujhse behtaar shayad koi nahi samajh paayega. Aur apni marzi se bata rahe hai, sharab ki marzi se nahi. Itni bhi nahi chadhi hai hume. Humara...kya bolte hai, tolerance bohot ucha hai" she smiled proudly. Monami smiled to herself, and decided to stay silent and let her continue.
"Haan, toh hum kahan the...yaad aaya! Humaara sapna. Yahan sabko lagta hai ki hum Deolali me rehke uche se uche pad pe jaana chahte hai. Haan hum jaana chahte hai, lekin jab hum pohochenge na, tab ek Parakram academy hum Bundelkhand me kholna chahte hai. Humaara under Parakram ka ek wing, jahan hum bohot saari ladkiyo ko sapne dekhna aur unhe poora karna sikhaayenge..." she looked at nowhere in particular, fascinated by the idea.
"That means...tum idhar nahi rahogi?" Monami asked.
"Nahi. Yahan toh tu rahegi, Head Trainer...Special Agent Monami Mahaj-- nahi, Shergil." She said, laying emphasis on Shergil. Monami smiled a little. "Jab chidiya ka par nikal aate hai, use ghosle se udna padta hai. Tu toh apne ghosle se nikal ke aa gayi, hume abhi bhi udna seekhna hai na."
"But...mai? Aur head trainer?" Monami scoffed a little.
"Aye, itna sab hone ke baad bhi tujhe khud pe bharosa nahi hai?" She said, raising an eyebrow.
"Nahi, bharosa toh hai--"
"Tujhe ek aur cheez batate hai. Tujhe jab pehli baar dekha tha toh laga nahi tha tu tikegi. Lekin jab uss Balli ke kaand ke waqt tujhe dekha tha na, toh vaise hi aehsaas hua tha jaisa Karan sirji ko pehli baar mission pe dekh ke hua. Ki iss ke order pe toh hum kahi bhi chale jaayege, fir chaahe aaskaash ho, ya pataal. Abhi bhi vahi lagta hai. Tujhme kuch special hai. Use sambhaalke rakh. Bohot upar le jaayega tujhe." She finished. Monami looked at her a little dumbfounded and overwhelmed. She sounded very sober.
"Th-thank you..." was all she could say, she went and hugged her, ut took a few seconds, but she did reciprocate.
"Bas bas, hume neend aa rahi hai. Iss saal humaara promotion ho raha hai." Sanjana said nonchalantly yawning a little. Monami froze for a second again, before jumping a little and hugging her again.
"Seriously!?"
"Arre haan moudi! Chal hatt ab, saas nahi aa rahi hume. Vaise Karan Sirji aur Siddhart ko mat batana unke liye surprise hai." she said tapping her arm. Monami broke the hug, smiling, as she wanted her crawl back to her bed and get under the covers.
"Mission Dosti...accomplished, hopefully." She whispered as she turned off the lights.
