Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 66- Suspicion

CHAPTER 66

SUSPICION

"Aaj shaam tak, I want the cadets' weekly reports", Colonel Batra said. "Dismissed." The special agents saluted him. "Karan, tum ruko." The veteran waited till the other two special agents were out of the room, the door closed behind them. "At ease." He relaxed slightly. "Baitho."

He sat down, tilting his head. "Kya hua?"

"Faizi told me kal shooting range mein kya hua. With Monami", he said. Karan nodded. The veteran leaned forward. "I am concerned that she is not mentally fit to be a field agent."

What? He stared at him. He opened his mouth before closing it. "Are you..." He blinked. "Are you saying that you... you want Monami out of the program? Sir, she is my best cadet! She..." He trailed off when he held up a hand.

"I know tum dono dost ho and you care for her." He looked away. "But please think of this from a special agent's point of view. Hum mentally unfit soldiers ko field mein nahi jaane de sakte hain and yesterday was a big proof ki woh maybe iss stress ko handle nahi kar paayegi. I am not saying I want her out. But yeh baat toh tum bhi deny nahi kar sakte, na, ki Monami has a lot of trauma which may interfere with her work."

He jerked his head down in a nod grudgingly. "Yes, Sir."

"I'll schedule her for a psychological evaluation", he said. "We'll see what the psychiatrist says. But considering Monami has been a great cadet and usually, uska past uski training ko affect nahi karta hai, I am sure she'll able to continue training with some therapy and by the time, she has to go to the field, she'll be able to handle it."

'M-Mere Papa toh s-sirf yeh w-wait kar r-rahe hain ki m-main kab f-fail hongi.'

'Tumhe naa main haar manne dunga, aur naa tumhe training chodhkar jaane dunga. Meri best cadet ho abhi. One of my best commandos banogi tum.'

"Karan..." He looked up. The colonel smiled at him soothingly. "Do you think Monami is unfit for training?" He shook his head firmly. "Toh maybe tumhaari judgement sahi hogi and she'll be one of your best commandos. I'll call her to tell her about the psychological evaluation. Tum mention mat karna cadets ko ya use."

"Yes Sir."

"You can leave", he said. Karan stood up, turning away. "Karan." He turned back. "Ek baat puchhoon main?"

He frowned. "Of course", he said.

"Itna concern... for a friend?"

He blinked. "Aap... kya imply kar rahe hain, Sir?" He asked.

The colonel smiled. "Never mind, Karan", he said. "You can go." The younger male stared at him in confusion for a moment before nodding and turning away.

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

Karan eyed Sanju, who hummed under her breath, happily writing something. He glanced at Faizi, who watched her in amusement. "Bahut khush lag rahi hai tu, Sanju", Karan said. "Kya baat hai?"

She looked up. "Kal hum aur Siddharth bahar jaa raho hain", she said.

Karan's eyebrows raised. "Ooh, date?" Faizi asked, grinning. She nodded. "Hum bhi date par jaa rahe hain. Naasik. Weapons exhibition hai." His grin widened and he looked at his best friend. "Karan..."

The younger male eyed him, narrowing his eyes. "Kya hai?"

"Tumhaari waali free hai kal?" He teased. Sanju chuckled as Karan rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Monami ko date ke liye puchho. Hume poora yakeen hai woh haan karegi."