Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 23- Of Misunderstandings And Dates

CHAPTER 23

OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND DATES

Sid leaned over the parapet, staring at the distant lights from the city.

'Tu kahan chala gaya tha? Maine tujhe kitna dhoonda.'

'Main hamesha tera dhyaan rakhunga.'

'Ab dekh, Champ. Yeh chhota baby teri zimmedaari hai. Iska dhyaan rakhna.'

'Tu m-mujhe kabhi n-nahi chodhkar j-jaayega, na?'

'Tu kahan chala gaya tha? Maine tujhe kitna dhoonda.'

"Siddharth?" He looked over his shoulder. Sanju. He wordlessly turned back. "Tu abhi tak Monami ke laane pareshaan hogo? Woh theek hai."

He hummed in acknowledgement. She sighed.

"Siddharth..."

"Mujhe baat nahi karni hai", he muttered.

"Chhoti si baat ke laane itna pareshaan naa ho."

His gaze lifted. "Aapke liye woh chhoti si baat hogi, ma'am. Meri liye nahi hai."

She sighed. "Siddharth, tu chhoti si baat ko zaroorat se zyaada badha raho hai. Itni gambhir baat bhi naa hai. Monami theek toh hogo ab. Kaa zaroorat hai itna dukhi hone ki?"

His eyebrows pulled together. His jaw clenched, before he took a deep breath. "Main kyun, kab, kaise react kar raha hoon, aapne bina samjhe hi yeh declare kar diya ki meri feelings insignificant hain?"

"Hum yeh bilkul naa keh raho hain", she said. "Hum sirf itna keh raho hain ki Monami theek hai ab. Tujhe itni tension lene ki zaroorat naa hai."

He shook his head. "Baat yeh nahi hai ki Monami theek hai ya nahi. Baat yeh hai..." He paused, staring at her. "Are you even interested in understanding my feelings? Kyunki aapne toh usse pehle hi declare kar diya ki main overreact kar raha hoon."

She scowled. "Hum par bhadakne ki koi zaroorat naa hai. Hum sirf isliye aaye the kyunki tera mood achha naa tha."

He looked away. He took a deep breath. "Mujhe thodi der akele rehna hai." He shoved his hands in his pockets, walking off.

She didn't call after him.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Aaj toh tu badhi khush lag rahi hai", Suman ji said, smiling at Koel. "Kya baat hai?"

She shrugged, shaking her head. "Kuchh nahi. Bas aise hi mood achha hai. Aaj Saturday hai, na? Finally, hafta khatam hua."

"#Right", Chitra said happily. "Hafta khatam. Aaj half day aur kal #holiday hai. Yay."

Monami bit into the toast, tilting her head as she stared at Sid. He had his head down, chewing his toast disinterestedly. She nudged him lightly. He glanced up. Her eyebrows pulled together in a questioning glance but he just sighed in response.

"Abhi thodi der mein batata hoon. Akele mein", he muttered. She nodded. Her gaze fell on Koel, who was quieter than usual as well, but unlike Sid's droopy frown, she had a small, content smile.

Monami eyed her silently, absentmindedly listening to the cadets. Koel peeked at someone, her smile widening. Monami followed her gaze, finding Faizi looking at her too. She tilted her head. What? Did she miss something? They were friends, that everyone knew, but she had never seen Koel sneaking glances at him like that.

'Faizi Sir, aap... mere saath dance karoge?'

'Aap hume dance ke liye puchhe aur hum manaa kar dein? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?'