Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 52- Of Distances And Difficulties

CHAPTER 52

OF DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTIES

Beep. Beep. Beep.

It was a constant beep that woke Sanju up, not like the tune of her morning alarm. She opened her eyes groggily, the darkness her room was shrouded in and the quiet but audible breaths of her roommate fueling her confusion. It wasn't morning.

Her watch was glowing. She stared at it for not more than a second before it hit her.

The intruder!

She was out of the door, briskly walking through the halls before she even had her service gun tucked in her holster. She climbed the stairs two at a time, running up.

The door to the terrace was open and she tensed. She hoped the intruder wasn't in. It would be far more work and far more complicated if he had gotten in. She whipped her gun out, flicking the safety off.

She quietly walked on to the terrace. Faizi's familiar and steady form was the first to greet her, and she relaxed slightly. His gun was aimed at someone. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes immediately darting back when he registered it was just her.

The intruder was a young man. Perhaps in his mid 20's. His eyes wide and frantically darting around, Sanju was willing to bet that he wasn't all that experienced.

There was a looming presence behind her and a quick glance over her shoulder told her it was just Karan. He walked quietly, his gun tucked in his holster- visible but not drawn.

"Naam?" She demanded.

"R-Rahul", he blurted out easily, almost shivering. Sanju clutched his hair, questions burning at the tip of her tongue.

"Sanju", Karan interrupted. "Yahan nahi." He gave her a look. She glanced around. The information he would offer wasn't for anyone else's ears. She released his hair.

"Humaare mehmaanon ko inka kamra dikha do, Sanju", Faizi said. "Achhe se khaatirdaari karna inki."

"Sir ji", she said, nodding. She grabbed his collar, hauling him up. She glowered at him when he dared to glance up. His eyes immediately averted.

"Sanju. Good job", Karan said.

She smiled at him a little. "Thank you keh raho hain, Sir ji." She looked down at him. "Chal tu."

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"Suno", Faizi said quietly to the guard. He glanced around. "Iss room mein humaare, Sanju, Karan aur Batra Sir ke alaawa kisi ko mat aane dena. Raawat Sir, aur kisi aur official ko bhi nahi. Agar woh rank pull karne ki koshish karein, toh unhe kehne ki Batra Sir ke orders hain. Samjhe?"

"Ji, Sir ji", he said.

"Pehra dhang se dena. Andar aantakwaadi hai." The guard's eyes hardened slightly. "Tum usse koi baat nahi karoge. Paani, khaana, kuchh nahi milega use jab tak hum, Karan ya Batra Sir nahi kehte."

"Ji, Sir ji."

Faizi quickly slipped away from the door before anyone saw. While 'the matter is confidential' excuse worked almost anywhere, it was best not to let the questions arise in the first place. The best way to keep a secret was not to let others know there was a secret in the first place.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fished it out. His footsteps halted. Abbu? He hesitated for a few seconds before accepting the call.

"Hello?" He said.

"Faizi!" His gruff voice said.

He suppressed a sigh. "Ji, Abbu?"

"Hume tumse kuchh kaam tha." Of course. Why else would he call? "Tumhaari Ammi ke manpasand phool kaunse hain?"