Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 43- A Laxer Day

CHAPTER 43

A LAXER DAY

Karan rubbed his arm slightly, the stiffness prohibiting his movements. He had forgone the sling the day before almost entirely, with riding his bike from Deolali to Pune and then investigating and then coming back and it had taken its toll.

He ignored the pain, instead grabbing his ID and attaching it to the belt of his drill uniform. His fingers halted when they reached for the handkerchief, his gaze falling on the tablets.

'A-Agar li h-hoti, toh aa-aaj s-subah d-drill par n-nahi aate. Aur i-itna alert toh b-bilkul n-nahi dikh r-rahe htoe. P-Painkillers h-have a d-drowsy ef-effect.'

"Ab nahi lunga toh daantegi", he said to himself. He sighed. He took one out, staring at it. He shook his head, before popping it in his mouth, and gulping it down with water. He stuck his tongue out in distaste. "Kadwi", he complained quietly.

He grabbed the handkerchief, folding it and putting it in his pocket. He took the diary Monami had given him, opening the drawer and carefully keeping it in.

"At least, woh mujhe daantegi nahi ab", he said. "Warna phir se kahegi- 'Dhyaan nahi rakhte', 'time nahi hai aapke paas.' Who knew woh taunts mein itni fluent hai?" He looked into the mirror, setting his hair before moving out.

'Jo bolna hai, aise bolegi ki log gussa bhi naa ho paaye', he thought, continuing his conversation with himself. He opened the door to the training room. 'Par... jo jaanna hai, woh bolegi nahi. Uske trauma se Bhaiya ka kya relationship?' He heaved a sigh.

The door opened behind him and he glanced up. Faizi walked in, typing something on his phone. "Humne kaha tha, na, ki tumhe set karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Haath abhi bhi tumhaara theek nahi hai." He pocketed his phone. "Tum side par baitho. Tumhaare chakkar mein tumhaari waali tumhaare saath hume bhi daant degi."

He rolled his eyes slightly. He sat down on the tire, flexing his arm slightly. "Database mein naam check kara?" He asked.

Faizi hummed. "Koi nahi hai. Sanju se baat kari humne. Use lagta hai ki deputy heads aur heads mein se koi hai."

"Access codes ki wajah se?" He asked. Faizi nodded. "Strong possibility toh woh hi hai. Minor chance hai ki kisi ne kisi deputy head ya head ka password chura kar access kara ho."

"Map ka kuchh samajh aaya?"

He shook his head. "Nahi. Kal zyaada kaam nahi kar paaya." He sighed. "Kal kaafi log ghar jaa rahe hain. Paperwork bhi hai."

"Humaare paas bhi." He sighed.

The door opened, and the two men glanced up, seeing Monami walk in. She glanced up, offering the two a sweet smile. "G-Good m-morning."

"Morning", Karan said, smiling slightly at her. She glanced him over. She sat down next to him, looking him up and down. "Kya hua?"

"Aa-Aapne k-kal r-raat ka d-dose miss k-kar diya?"

His eyebrows shot up. "Tum kya antaryami ho? Aaj toh liya hai. Tumhe kaise pata kal raat nahi li?"

She gave him a disapproving look. "M-Main ek d-doctor hoon."

"Doctor ho. Stalker nahi jo sab pata hoga."

She shook her head. "You l-look a l-little p-pale, probably b-because you d-didn't sl-sleep well. P-Plus, a-agar k-kal r-raat li h-hoti toh a-abhi t-tak th-thoda a-asar hota. B-But you d-don't l-look d-drowsy or w-well r-rested. Aa-Aap th-thake hue l-lag r-rahe ho. I s-suppose aa-aapne y-yahan aa-aane se p-pehle li h-hogi. Aa-Aap b-baar baar a-apna arm n-nahi r-rub kar r-rahe, m-matlab it's n-not in p-pain. M-Matlab a-abhi li aur k-kal raat ko n-nahi."