Cruising alone

For Sanju and Sid

Monami waited for Karan to respond. All he could say was he wasn't coming.

Sanju broke the awkward silence: "Monami wo sirjee kaho hain ki wahan ka mahaul unhe theek nahi lagega na...."

Monami replied angrily: "kyun, aisa kya hai uss mahaul mein - hum zehrili gas chhod denge ya phir zameen pe saanp chodh denge"

Before Sanju could reply, Karan snapped "zeher aur saanp se deal karna aasaan hai, lekin selfish, thankless and entitled logon se bhari hui jagah pe rehna, sazaa bhugatne jaisa hai"

Karan's words pinched Monami. She thought they had ended well at Parakram SAF, with her getting the best cadet award. But Karan was being so mean again, was it just because she chose not to rejoin Parakram. Does he really think it's best for them to work together again? She had been true to her promise of not forcing her love on Karan. But these last few months haven't been easy. Living with the pain of unrequited love, while being so close to Karan all the time. She had thought Karan would understand why she made that choice.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Faizi spoke, "Arrey Karan tum bhi. Monami, tum to jaanti ho Karan ko. Janaab ko khushiyon aur comforts, dono se chidh hai. Sanju ke saath Main aur koel aa jayenge. Ab pata nahi tumse aur Sid ke saath kabhi dobara waqt bitane ka mauka mile ya na mile. Ye mauka shayad sabke naseeb mein nahi hain" he taunted Karan.

"Thank you, Faizi. It really means a lot. By the way, judge sahab ko kehna ki jinn logo se bina mile wo judgement pass kar rahe hain, unme se hi 2 selfish, entitled log unke tough, disciplined and best military training program mein ek saal tak shine kar ke aaye hain. Par judge sahab to ghar ke sher nikle, 4 din ke liye bhi apne comfort zone ko cross nahi kar paye. Dil tod diya unhone." Monami said the last part very cutely, making Karan feel guilty.

"Aur mera..." Karan wanted to say how she broke his heart too, by not even talking to him before deciding to join another team but he stopped... what an inappropriate word choice .. he can't use that for her. He fumed. Faizi and Sanju looked at Karan and he couldn't speak.

He thought again what to say. After fumbling for a few seconds Karan said,
"4 din tak sab kaam chhod ke sirf ayyashi karne ko , comfort zone se bahar aana ya challenge nahi kehte... bewakoofon ki bheed...."

"Sanjana ki hone wali family hogi wahan pe..." Monami interrupted "apne words carefully choose kariyega. Aapne decide kar liya hai to I can't say much. But aapko maine aur Sid ne surprise kiya tha na, ek baar try hi kar lete , shaayad life aapko phir surprise Kar deti. Baaki aapke liye Sanjana ki request matter karti hai, ya aapka ego, aap soch lijiye. Main kal passport pick karne ke liye kisi ko bhej doongi wahan."

They all exchanged byes. But the voices were all low. Karan stayed quiet.

Sanjana left the room.

Faizi questioned, "tu wakai nahi jaa raha?, uske itna kehne par bhi. Wo bada bhai maanti hai tujhe"

Karan snapped "kya bakwaas kar raha hai. Wo kyun mujhe bhai maanegi?"

Faizi clarified. "Sanju.. Sanju tujhe bade bhai wali izzat deti hai. Uske itne important waqt mein uska saath nahi dega?"

Karan's phone buzzed.

It was Monami's voice message. Karan put the phone on his ear and heard the message. "Hi...  Aap mujhse itna kyun upset hain, I don't know. But this trip isn't about you and me. It's about sanju and sid. Ye Sanju ke liye important hai. We can't invite her family so she has only you and Faizi to count on. I am sorry if I have upset you and i can apologise to you the way you want me to or do anything else you want to make it comfortable for you, but please let's make this a success - for Sanju and Sid."

Karan had a smirk on his face. He thought. "You forgot  who the guru was, Ms Mahajan. You are surely going to do exactly what I want."

Faizi said, "kya hua?"

Karan moved forward, opened his drawer and took out his passport and handed it over to Faizi. "Ye de dena visa ke liye. Of course main ye trip karunga - for Sanju and Sid.

Faizi wondered what Karan was thinking as Karan smiled to himself and continued thinking "You will be back here special agent Monami Mahajan. Mujhe to dushman peeth nahi dikha paye to tum kya cheez ho. Tumhara decision na badal diya to mera naam Karan Shergill nahi"

—————- TO BE CONTINUED ———