Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 77- Lacuna

CHAPTER 77

LACUNA

Lacuna-
(n.) A blank space, a missing part

Monami snuggled deeper into the blanket, sipping the coffee idly. She stared into it, as she sat on the roof of her home, the early rays of sunlight peeking through. The coffee was perhaps better made than the ones they made in the academy, but she found herself missing it. Perhaps she missed the company more.

The thought came suddenly but she glanced up- missing the man who leaned against the kitchen counter next to her, listening to everything she had to say. She missed Karan.

"Good morning", a voice said softly. She looked up, finding her father walking up to her. He settled into the chair next to her, and she smiled, greeting him back. "You are up early."

"A-Academy ki aa-aadat", she said hesitantly.

But he didn't say anything, nodding merely. "Good habit", he said and she smiled. "Kya soch rahi thi?"

She shook her head. "Aise hi." But he looked at her expectantly so she elaborated. "The c-coffee just r-reminded me of K-Karan Sir. Hum r-roz r-raat ko m-mess mein s-saath mein c-coffee peete hain."

Her father was quiet for a moment and she fell quiet too, unsure if bringing up Karan was a good idea. The few times she had mentioned Karan over the phone, he didn't seem to mind listening but that was before he knew whose brother he was.

Deepak wasn't sure what he felt about the situation. Karan Shergill. They were friends. Good friends, apparently. And even in the few days she was home, she was missing him. Were they really just friends? "Tell me about Karan", he said.

She chuckled a little- a tad bit nervous, possibly at his relation with Param. "Aap K-Karan Sir ke baare m-mein j-jaane mein itna in-interested kyun ho?"

He shook his head. "Aise hi. You... You said he was a good friend. Mujhe tumhaare friends ke baare mein jaanna hai."

She smiled. "He's... r-really sweet. T-Training mein b-bahut zy-zyaada st-strict hain, par wh-when it's j-just us, he's n-nice. Thoughtful. C-Considerate. He l-listens to me. He's v-very interesting. He's so kn-knowledgable and he's s-so smart. Th-Thoda quiet r-rehte hain, apni f-feelings ke b-baare mein. Bahut z-ziddi hain. But I like him. He's a g-good fr-friend."

He hummed. Not just a friend, it seemed. The affection with which she talked about him. It seemed a touch beyond friendship. "Is he married?" She looked up, shaking her head. "How old is he?"

She frowned, eyeing him for a long moment. "29", she answered. He nodded, trying not to let the frown show. He was 4 years older than her. A little too old, really. And the fact that he was Param's brother and a commando... He wasn't too sure about it. She shook her head. "Papa... how's the h-hospital?"

"Good. Do you want to come saath mein kal?"

She smiled, nodding. "I'll l-like that." She tilted her head. "M-Mandir ch-chaloge, na, s-saath mein?" He nodded. "1 gh-ghante mein?" He glanced at his watch before nodding again. "Monami..." She hummed. "Wednesday ko New Year's Eve hai." She hummed again. "Can you stay? New Year saath mein manaate hain."

She hesitated. "Papa... m-maine T-Tuesday tak ki chh-chhuti li hai." She hastily held up a hand when he frowned. "Main... Main b-baat karti hoon K-Karan Sir se. But no p-promises. Sh-Shayad chh-chhuti naa m-mile." He nodded.

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

Sanju eyed her boyfriend, who poked his breakfast disinterestedly. "Siddharth", she said. He hummed, not even glancing up. "Bahar chalego humaare saath?"