Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 83- Worry

CHAPTER 83

WORRY

Monami bounced on the heels of her feet as she danced around in excitement in the room, packing for their little training session into the forest. The trainers had announced the session a little impromptu, telling them to pack up with a few of their essential stuff for the day, making sure to keep it light as they would be carrying it around the entire day.

The change of pace was exciting, a break from their monotonous training and much like her, all the team was well before time to the front of the academy, chattering excitedly as they waited for the trainers to settle everything.

Her gaze fell on Karan, the trainer listening to Raghav, nodding as the latter explained something. His arms crossed and head nodding quietly, he looked... cute in his concentration. She blinked, her trail halting at the unexpected thought. Cute? It was weird to describe Special Agent Major Karan Shergill as cute. He was daunting, strict, bold, confident, not... cute. Except he was. He was cute when his mouth turned down in a childish frown when he had to take medicines, when he listened to his niece talk, when he messed around with Faizi. He was cute. Handsome. Attra-

"Monami." She was jerked from her thoughts, and she tore her gaze away from the man. Blood rushed to her cheeks in embarrassment and she exhaled quietly, her heart pounding in her ears. Was she... checking him out? "Monami, tu kya soch rahi hai?" Suman ji asked. "Kahan kho gayi?"

"Uh, just... y-yeh hi ki j-jungle mein k-kaise h-hogi training", she blurted out hastily, hiding her crossed fingers behind her bag. Sid lightly nudged her when the others accepted it, turning away back to their training and she glanced up, finding his gaze flickering down to her crossed fingers. She quickly uncrossed them, looking away.

"Kya soch rahi thi?"

She shrugged, shaking her head. She turned away before he could ask much, pretending to be interested in whatever conversation Suman ji and Koel were having. Her mind traveled back to the trail of thought she was jerked out of. Attractive. Did she find Karan attractive? Her gaze peeked back to the man. She closed her eyes, shaking her head. No. What was she thinking? He was her trainer! A friend. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and pushing the thought away.

Across the porch, midst the special agents running around to place everything in place, Karan took a deep breath, finding his gaze resting on his girl. She listened quietly, her right arm rubbing the left. Pretty. She was... so pretty. He looked at Raghav, who walked closer, a clipboard in his hand and his attention was whisked away, just the barest still lingering on her thoughts.

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Param stared at the man in front of him. Blood stained every visible part of his skin, some places still wet while the others turned a murky brown color. His cheeks had swollen from the dental work his agents had done on him, his red stained teeth giving him a filthy look. Utterly pathetic. "Imam kaun hai?" He stared into his miserable, pained eyes.

Something flickered in his eyes, a brief emotion overtaking the pain for a split second. He wasn't supposed to know about Imam. "Main kisi Imam ko nahi jaanta", he dismissed.

Param hummed lightly. "What were your orders?"

He sighed loudly. Annoyed. "Bata toh chuka hoon main", he drawled. "Baar baar woh hi sawaal. Kitni-"

"Jitni baar puchhunga, utni baar bataayega tu", he cut him, staring coldly at him. "What were your orders?"

"Aapke chhote bhai ko dhamki dena", he said.

"Itne log sirf dhamki ke liye?" His mouth curled up in a smirk. "Bahut darte ho tum mere bhai se."

"Karan Shergill aur Faizuddin Siddiqui ke baare mein kisi galatfehmi mein nahi hai hum", he said quietly. He leaned forward. "Hum sab jaante hain unn dono ke baare mein. Sab kuchh. Missions, dost, family." His mouth curled up in a smirk, his blood stained teeth giving him a feral look. "Kisse pyaar karte hain."