Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 93- Back Home

CHAPTER 93

BACK HOME

Over the next couple of days, the soldiers hunted. Some of the terrorists have fled, hiding in various parts of the jungle and they all spread out, dragging out each and every one they could find, either killing them but mostly, capturing them and taking them back. Karan itched to go back, to see the woman waiting for him, and he relished in the swiftness of their captures. It was almost fun.

Back in the academy, Monami almost welcomed the time she had gotten to think. The dread in her stomach had grown the longer the agents were out, controlled only by Param's regular assurances to the cadets that the trainers and agents were okay. Nothing about the mission or when they were coming, but they had the most important bit. They were okay.

'Tum manzil ho meri aur har safar mein tumhaare saath rehna chahta hoon. Ab, ghar aane ka matlab hai tumhaare paas aana hai.'

How was she supposed to get over that? How was she supposed to think, to breathe, to look at him without melting into a puddle after that? She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. There was a steaming cup of coffee, untouched next to hers. He wouldn't be coming to meet her today, but she wanted it there anyway. He'd be coming to meet her eventually. She can wait till then.

'Main tumse kuchh expect nahi karta.'

'I wish to come back home to you- to listen to you, to see you, to... to talk to you.'

'If I have to swim in an ocean, then you are who I am swimming towards. And jab tumhaare tak pahunch jaunga, tumhaare saath honga, kuchh aur matter nahi karega.'

Amidst the aroma of coffee that wafted through the kitchen air, standing alone there, waiting, she stared at the second cup of coffee that would be left unsipped. For now. She had already made her decision.

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Conversations and cheers mixed with each other, resulting in a happy mesh of noise in the normally quietly disciplined academy. Karan hopped down from the jeep, his stomach knotting from the anticipation and the nervousness. She would be waiting. He hung back, watching the agents hop down and run in the academy- the only time they were anything but disciplined. The joy of victory, the unabashed rush of pride.

'J-Jab aap... aap mere paas w-waapas aaoge, you w-will have all the answers.'

"Karan?" Faizi said, and he looked at him. "Kya hua?"

He shook his head, forcing a smile onto his face. With the mission looming over them, he hadn't quite had the chance to tell him about his confession. "Baad mein bataata hoon", he said. "I... I need to tell you something." Faizi frowned. "Baad mein. Abhi nahi. Chal andar. Koel wait kar rahi hogi tera."

He smiled, nodding. Karan took a deep breath before following him in. His gaze danced from person to person, inspecting the faces. His gaze flickered over to Sanju, who was happily wrapped up in Sid's arms and Koel, who had jumped up to meet her boyfriend. Even across the room, he could see her hands trembling as she pulled him closer in a hug. His gaze paused. She sat on the stairs that led up to the colonel's office, a happy, small smile on her face as she watched everyone meet. Her gaze danced around, flickering over the agents before they slid over to him. Her smile widened and she lifted a hand, waving a little.

She was waiting for him.

She stood up, making her way through the crowd to the corridor that led deeper into the academy. He followed her obediently through the quiet halls of the academy, hearing faintly the noise of joy that had engulfed the entrance. He turned a corner, pausing when he saw her leaning against a railing, gazing down at the garden below. He leaned on the railing next to her, and she turned to look at him, her gaze taking him in.