Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 50- Feelings

CHAPTER 50

FEELINGS

"Aaj Karan Sir ka mood kuchh zyaada hi kharaab nahi lag raha?" Sid muttered. "Tujhe pata hai kya hua hai?"

Koel looked at him, heaving. She shook her head, bending down and keeping the weights down. She rested her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "Kal tak toh theek hi lag raha tha. Aaj pata nahi kya ho gaya."

"Move!" Karan's voice boomed through the training room. Koel lifted her head, finding him glowering at one of the cadets who had taken a few minutes to relax in the middle of the drill. She shook her head. He was practically asking to be scolded.

"Karan", Faizi warned quietly. "Kahin aur gussa cadets par mat nikaalo."

He closed his mouth, swallowing the bitter words that sat on the tip on his tongue. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He nodded in reluctant agreement.

"Kya hua hai?" He asked. "Subah se itne gusse mein kyun ho?"

"Raawat", he said quietly. Faizi's eyebrows creased into a scowl. "Yaad hai iss hafte kuchh officials aane waale hain? Guess kar kaun unka head hai?"

"Raawat?" His mouth dropped open in affront. Karan nodded. "Ya Allah, hum chhuti nahi le sakte?" Karan heaved a sigh. He wished.

He looked around the training room. His gaze paused. Monami was in a corner, quietly running on the treadmill. His head tilted slightly. What was it in her? Everyone was supposed to look the same in uniforms. No one better, no one worse. They were just soldiers, blending into each other and into a single unit. But she stood out. Clad in a uniform, quiet in a corner, there was something about her that kept his attention.

"Karan, Monami ko nihaarna band karo", a voice interrupted him.

He blinked. He looked at her, eyebrows creasing into a scowl. "Chup kar", he warned. "Main nahi nihaar raha tha use."

"Kya dekh rahe the phir?"

"Main... Main bas observe kar raha tha", he threw out. "Cadets ko. Dekh, Chitra ko help chahiye. Main help karke aaya." He walked away before he could question him more.

Faizi chuckled, shaking his head. He glanced over at Monami and then back at him. She'd be good for him.

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

Param took a deep breath in the driving seat of his jeep. In the parking of the academy, he sat alone for a brief moment. He pushed open the door, jumping down. He stumbled a little as his knees temporarily buckled under the weight. It was a bitter reminder. His legs weren't the same as before.

He pushed the thought away. He walked into the academy, nodding at the people who saluted him. He walked up the stairs, knocking on the Colonel's door. He opened it after the confirmation.

"Param", he greeted.

He sat down in the chair, offering him a smile. "Kaise ho aap?" He asked.

The colonel smiled. "Main theek hoon", he said. He leaned forward, leaning on his elbows that rested on the table. "Woh baat karte hain jiske liye tum aaye ho? Mera offer accept kar rahe ho, na, tum?"

Param smiled. "Aapko hamesha pata hota hai ki main kya soch raha hoon."

"Tum dono ko badha kiya hai maine", he said. "Main khush hoon ki tum yeh offer accept kar rahe ho."

He nodded. "I hope main yeh regret naa karoon", he said softly. "Sir... agar aap ek aadh hafte baad application daalenge, toh chalega kya?" The Colonel frowned. "Main thode din academy aana chahta hoon, thoda time spend karna chahta hoon. I want to get used to being back."