Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 41- Questions

CHAPTER 41

QUESTIONS

Sid stared down silently at the front of the academy from the terrace.

Param Shergill.

He stood with his wife, his daughter and his brother, a small smile on his face. Sid's gaze travelled lower to his legs, and he tilted his head. Were those prosthetics he saw a hint of? Was he disabled? He felt his insides twist slightly at the thought.

Deepak pointed to the door. 'Param Shergill, aaj ke baad meri beti ke aas paas bhi mat dikhna. Out! Door raho.'

Param stared at him for a silent second. Sid peeked out from behind the wall with hopeful eyes. He would protest, wouldn't he? He would fight him. He would stay. 'Okay', Param said. Sid's eyes welled up with tears. 'Main aaj ke baad kabhi nahi aaunga aur Monami se milne ki koshish nahi karunga.'

'Good', Deepak said. He turned around, storming deeper into the interior of the house.

Param looked at Sid's general direction. 'Sid', he said.

He stepped out from behind the wall. 'Aap jaa rahe ho', he accused.

He sighed. 'Sid, Sir Monami ke Papa hain. I-'

'Aap jaa rahe ho', he repeated louder.

'I am sorry. I think yeh hi best hai, Sid. Agar tumhe aur Monami ko kabhi bhi meri zaroorat hogi toh tum academy aa sakte ho. Mujhe call kar sakte ho. Whatever you want.'

Sid's jaw clenched. 'Kabhi nahi hogi', he vowed, a scowl marring his face. 'Hogi bhi toh aapke paas toh kabhi nahi aayenge.'

Param shook his head. 'Sid, tum-'

'You know where the door is', he said. He turned around, walking upstairs to Monami's room.

Sid's jaw clenched. He stepped away, turning around and walking back into the interior of the academy.

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

'A-Ask your b-brother.'

"Sun", Karan said. Faizi hummed. "Main kal Monami se baat kar raha tha."

"Aur tumhe yeh finally realize ho gaya ki tum use kitna chahne lage ho?" Faizi asked.

Karan glanced at him. "Nahi", he said. "Maine usse puchha ki use kisne hurt kara? The reason of her trauma."

His teasing smile faded. He tilted his head. "Usne kuchh bataaya?"

"Usne kaha... Bhaiya se puchhoon", he said.

"Kya?" Faizi asked incredulously.

"Bhaiya aur Monami ki trauma ka relationship hai?" He asked. He shook his head. "Mujhe kuchh samajh hi nahi raha. Aaj se pehle Monami ne kabhi aisa kuchh nahi kaha hai jisse yeh lage ki woh Bhaiya ko jaanti hai."

"Are you sure tumne kuchh galat nahi sun liya? Tumhe painkillers di thi, na, usne?" Karan scowled at him. "Hum bas confirm kar rahe hain."

"Faizi..."

He sighed. "Tum jaakar seedha Monami se puchh lo, na?"

"Puchha tha. Kuchh nahi kaha. Ignore kar diya. Main zyaada poke nahi karna chahta, yaar. Uska trauma... I don't want to scrape her wounds. Main Bhaiya se puchhna chahta tha, par woh kaafi overwhelmed the aaj, isliye main kuchh zyaada puchh nahi paaya." He looked at him. "Kya karoon?"

He paused. "Monami se nahi, Bhaiya se nahi, toh usse puchh lo jise Monami ke bare mein sab kuchh pata hai. Sid."

Karan nodded slightly. That seemed like a safe option.