Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 63- Recovery

CHAPTER 63

RECOVERY

"Hello?"

"Papa." Monami took a deep breath. "Mujhe... M-Mujhe aapse k-kuchh... kuchh p-puchhna hai."

"Puchho. Kya hua?"

She launched into the happenings of the past few days, skipping over the details that would be confidential. "... aur m-main... main n-nahi figure out k-kar p-paayi ki... ki woh th-theek nahi hai." She sniffled, feeling the tears well up. "Am I... Am I a b-bad d-doctor, Papa? Main i-itna bhi nahi d-dekh paayi ki w-woh th-theek nahi hain."

There was a pause. She looked at the phone. The call was still connected. Why wasn't he speaking? "No", he said finally. "You are not a bad doctor. Tumne jo cheez miss kari, woh tumhaari inability ki wajah se nahi, tumhaare inexperience ki wajah se hai. You are a good doctor but nothing beats experience. It's not your fault." She sniffled. "Monami... woh theek hai, na?"

"H-Haan. He'll be... he'll be o-okay."

"Toh rone ki kya zaroorat hai? Wipe your tears. Kuchh irreparable nahi hua hai. Chin up, baccha, chin up."

She took a deep breath, wiping her tears away. "Th-Thanks, Papa." She took a shaky breath. "Aa-Aap k-kaise ho?"

He paused, before heaving a big sigh. "Getting used to the empty house", he said quietly. Her gaze dropped to her lap. "Tu waapas kab aayegi?"

She fiddled with a loose thread. "M-Milne bula r-rahe ho k-kya?"

He sighed. "Tu... Tu theek hai?"

A small smile spread over her face. It was the first time he had asked her that. She rested her head on the wall. "Haan. I am... I am r-really h-happy here, Papa. Mera... Mera d-dream hai y-yeh."

He sighed again. "Kuchh aur dream nahi dekh sakti thi tu?" Her smile faded a little. "Bilkul apne Mumma jaisi hai tu. Ziddi."

"Apne d-dreams ke l-liye z-ziddi hona b-bura nahi hai. Main d-desh ko pr-protect karna ch-chahti hoon."

"Tujhe kaun protect karega?"

"Main... Main a-apne aap ko i-itna s-strong banaungi ki k-kisi ki p-protection ki z-zaroorat nahi p-padegi", she said quietly. "Aur a-agar kabhi p-padhi, toh I have p-people here, Papa. Mere... Mere teammates, m-mere tr-trainers. They will pr-protect me."

He was quiet for a long time and she looked at the phone again. The call was still connected. She held it back to her ear, listening to the silence. "Monami", he said after a long minute. "I have to go abhi. I have a surgery." She hummed. "Bye."

"Bye. Apna dh-dhyaan r-rakhna."

He hesitated. "Tu bhi."

She stared at the dropped call, a small smile on her face. It had been a long time since they had talked like that. She liked it.

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'You're so pretty.'

'Kabhi kabhi tumhe... tumhe dekhta hoon aur bas dekhta hi reh jaata hoon.'

'Tum... Tum paas hoti toh... toh sab theek sa lagne... lagne lagta hai.'

Karan closed his eyes. "I am an idiot", he muttered, keeping his hands on his face. He looked at his best friend, who was grinning. "Sab teri galti hai."

He laughed. "Humne kya kara hai?"

"Don't leave me alone with Monami jab main high hota hoon", he said. "Please? Main kuchh bhi bol deta hoon. Use kitna bura laga hoga. I am such an idiot. Goli hi maar de mujhe."