"Sir, we could have been traced because of him!" she exclaimed with frustration.
"I just wanted to call home once and let my wife know that I love her and my daughter. I wasn't certain if we could have made it out of that mission," he retorted, defe...
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Chapter Eleven: Whispers Under Moonlight
"Day after tomorrow, when Khatri's associates arrive, there will be tight security, and it will be hard for us to find them. We have tomorrow to locate them," Vasisth said, her words punctuated by heavy breaths.
Gill, observing her laboured breathing, hurriedly approached, pulling her into a comforting hug and gently rubbing her back. "Shh, calm down," he reassured her.
Confusion clouded Gill's expression as he tried to understand why she was panicking. Vasisth was never one to lose her composure during missions, and there had to be something more.
"What happened? It's not like you to panic in situations like this," Gill said, gently pulling her at arm's distance. He looked at her teary face, further surprised by the unusual display of emotion.
Vasisth, suddenly aware of her exposed emotions, harshly wiped her tears away and pushed Gill away. "I'm fine," she insisted firmly, her tone clipped. "And we should maintain our distance. You have a wife at home." Her words were sharp, a clear indication that she wanted to keep their professional relationship strictly business.
Gill sighed, observing Vasisth's strong reaction to the hug. Despite his concern, he chose to let it go, respecting her need for distance. However, the mention of his wife brought a tinge of sadness to his face. He glanced away for a moment, a brief flicker of emotion crossing his eyes before he composed himself.
"Alright, Vasisth," he said in a measured tone. " We have limited time, and we need to find those hostages before Khatri's associates arrive." Gill redirected the conversation back to the mission, suppressing any personal emotions that threatened to surface.
Vasisth, noting the shift in Gill's demeanour, felt a pang of guilt for bringing up his wife. She reached out, her hand gently gripping his biceps as he began to walk away.
"I'm sorry if I touched a nerve there. Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice carrying genuine concern.
"It's fine. Doesn't matter, and you don't share your feelings, so I'm not going to either," Gill said with a huff as he moved away towards the map
Ignoring his words, she sat in front and asked, "You want to talk to her?"
He looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "How can I? We are on a mission," his hoarse voice spoke.
She rubbed her face and looked at him. "I can make it happen."
"How? Weren't you the one who was scared about getting traced in the last mission?" he asked, his emotions running high.
Vasisth sighed, her gaze fixed on Gill's tear-streaked face. "I know, but this is different. We need to ensure you're mentally focused, and if talking to your wife helps, then I'll find a secure way to make it happen. We can't afford any emotional distractions right now, and your peace of mind is crucial for the success of this mission."
"And what about you? You were crying too," he asked, his tone tinged with anger.
"Do you want to talk or not? Or are you just always going to back-answer me?" she retorted, slamming her hand on the table.
He sighed and nodded, "I want to. I haven't seen her properly in three months."
"Three months?" Vasisth asked, confused.
"Yes, this time when I came home, she was out most of the time, leaving me and Ana alone."
Vasisth blew out a sigh, then looked at Gill. "Be ready at 1 AM."
*****
It was 1 in the night when both of them tiptoed towards Sukhlal Ji's room, discreetly knocking. The door swung open, and Sukhlal Ji, appearing sleepy, agreed to call to help his Sirji. Gill glanced behind to find Raman snoring loudly. He felt a wave of gratitude, realizing that the lovesick Vasisth puppy wasn't accompanying them. Otherwise, he would have to deal with Raman's jealousy and protectiveness just for being close to Vasisth.
As they all quietly tiptoed to the terrace making sure to avoid guards, Sukhlal Ji worked swiftly on his laptop and handed it to Gill. "Just press this call button; the call will connect, and be quick. Only 10 minutes or the call might get traced," he whispered urgently.
As the call started to ring, Sukhlal Ji and Vasisth gazed at the moon hanging in the vast desert sky. Sukhlal Ji began describing it beautifully, his words filled with love and longing for his wife. "The moon tonight, it's like a silent guardian over the endless sands, a reminder of the beauty beyond our mission," he mused.
Vasisth couldn't resist teasing him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Sohail Ji, your poetic side is quite impressive. Is this how you charm your wife?"
Sukhlal Ji chuckled, a warmth in his tired eyes. "Well, sometimes, you need poetry to keep the spark alive, even in the middle of a mission."
Gill listened to their banter, a small smile forming on his face as he waited for his wife to pick up the call. The desert night seemed to echo Sukhlal Ji's poetic musings, creating a brief escape from the harsh reality of their mission.
Gill's eyes welled up with tears as the call connected, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at the screen. A gasp escaped his lips, a mix of emotions surfacing within him. The sight on the screen skipped his heartbeat.
