Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 64- Gearing Up

CHAPTER 64

GEARING UP

Faizi smiled at them. "Tum logon ki weapons training hum shuru karenge thode dinon mein", he announced. Excited smiles spread on their faces. "Aap logon ko guns handle karna sikhaaya jaayega. Par usse pehle, aap logon ko guns ke baare mein jaanna padega." He crossed his arms. "Tum logon ko guns ke baare mein kya pata hai?"

"Phew Phew", Bala said, shooting an invisible gun, a big grin on his face. Faizi chuckled. That wasn't usually how guns sounded, but they would know that soon enough.

Koel slapped his head. "Guns ke baare mein puchh rahe hain. Sound effects dene ko nahi kaha", she scolded. He pointed it to her, pretending to shoot her.

Faizi hit the table lightly, and their attention turned back to him. "Chalo", he said. "Sabse pehle tum log hume yeh batao ki tumhe pata hai ki handgun kya hota hai?" His gaze paused at Monami, who hesitantly raised a hand. "Monami ke alaawa?"

Chitra held up a hand and he nodded. "Jo guns ek #hand mein hold kar sako jab #fire karo."

He nodded. "Very good, Chitra." She grinned. "Humaare kaam mein har type ki gun use hoti hai- rifles, shotguns, handguns. Par tum logon ko ek service weapon issue kara jaayega eventually. That is what you will use 99 percent of time unless tum log aage jaakar weapons ko apni speciality karoge. Then it's down to about 90 percent." He took out his own gun. "Aisi hi ek gun aapko issue hogi. This is a Glock. Sab khade ho jaao aur yahan aao."

He moved behind the table and the cadets gathered around. He placed the gun on the table, opening it up slowly. They all watched carefully, and he laid the parts out.

"Sabse pehle you need to ensure ki tumhaari gun unloaded ho", he said. "Kyunki jab hum glock ko disassemble karte hain, toh hume trigger dabaana hota hai. Agar loaded hai gun, toh tum kisi ko goli bhi maar sakte ho." They all nodded seriously.

He nodded, beginning to explain the parts to them and what each one did. He assembled it again, putting it back into his holster. He dismissed them back to their seats and they sat down obediently.

"Glock ek semiautomatic pistol hai", he said. "Semiautomatic guns ka matlab hota hai ki jab hum trigger to press karenge, toh ek bullet niklegi and the next bullet will be automatically loaded into the chamber. Automatic guns mein jab tak aap trigger chodhte nahi ho, bullets release hoti rahengi."

"Jaise filmon mein hota hai", Bala said cheerfully, mimicking working a machine gun.

He tilted his head in agreement. "Par filmon se koi style mat copy karne lag jaana", he warned. "There is a stance to shooting, safety precautions aur kuchh gun ke etiquettes jo films ignore karti hain. Woh sab tumhe practical class mein pata chal jaayega. Abhi ke liye, tum logon ko hum gun ka mechanisms samjhaate hain. You should know how a gun works."

"Physics?" Sid asked, making a face. The excitement died down as Faizi started to explain the working, but they listened attentively nonetheless.

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

Sid lifted his hand for the 10th time, his knuckles a few centimeters from the door. He took a deep breath, finally letting them rap against it in a knock. The sound echoed in the empty hallway and he wanted to run away already. The door opened before he could follow through and his gaze lifted to meet the man's.

Param.

"Aa jaa", he said, pulling it open wider. He closed it behind Sid, grabbing his laptop. "Baith jaa, Sid."

His jaw clenched. "Siddharth", he said quietly. Param looked up. "It's Siddharth for you, Sir."

Param stared at him for a few, unwavering seconds. "Siddharth", he acknowledged quietly, his gaze falling away. "Baitho." He reluctantly sat down on the chair. "Karan ka ek informer tha, Laxman. He was murdered thode time pehle."