Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 105- Finding Trouble

CHAPTER 105

FINDING TROUBLE

Monami happily marked the checklist off, keeping it aside and patting her packed bag. It was almost afternoon and time for their departure to the little trip.

"Mona", a familiar voice said and she sighed, turning around. Parikshit. "Tere bag mein jagah hai?" He held out some clothes hopefully. "Rakh le."

She lifted a pair of shorts with her thumb and index finger, making a face. "Eww", she said, throwing them in his face.

He gave her an irritated look. "Saaf hain", he spat, dumping them on her bed. "Rakh le, na?"

"Mujhe p-pack phirse karna padega", she denied. "Sid ke paas r-rakhwaa le. Ek din ke l-liye jaa rahe hain, p-pack karna bhi nahi aata."

"Aisa mat kar", he said, pouting.

She sighed. "Chal, main t-tere kapde dh-dhang se pack k-karti hoon", she said, shouldering her bag. "Par mere b-bag mein t-tere gande se k-kapde nahi aayenge."

"Gande nahi hain", he protested, following her out. "Laundry se laaya hoon."

"Laundry se laaya hoon", she mocked in a high tone, making him shove her shoulder. She shoved him back. "Main p-pack nahi karwaungi aise k-karega toh."

He paused from where he was about to hit her again, a frown on his face. "Fine", he muttered, dumping the clothes on his bed when he reached their room. She clicked her tongue, taking out the poorly packed clothes.

She paused, grabbing a box. Of knives. And some daggers. She nodded at him, impressed, grabbing a knife. "Yeh mera", she claimed. "As payment."

He rolled his eyes. "Rakh le", he allowed. She grabbed another one, inspecting it and he made a disapproving noise. "Woh nahi. Kavi ne diya hai." Kavi. Kavera. His girlfriend.

She smiled, inspecting it. "Sundar hai", she said, neatly keeping the box in the bag.

He hummed. "Ek baat puchhoon?" She hummed, neatly folding his clothes. "Tu aur Karan Sir..." She paused, looking up. "Kabhi genuinely socha hai date karne ka?"

"Nahi", she lied. "We are just friends." The words rolled off easily from her mouth with a practiced ease, the question an almost regular occurrence. Perhaps they thought if they asked enough times, she would slip up. She zipped the bag up and he smiled at her, thanking her before bouncing to the entrance, chattering excitedly with her in tow. She frowned to herself. If... If everyone was so sure they should date, what... really was the point of hiding it? Why were they hiding it?

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

"Wow", Karan muttered, staring at the screen. Beside him, Faizi and Param stared with just as incredulous a look.

"Yeh kya exchange offer ho gaya?" Param asked, chuckling. "Nawaz in Deolali, and Sanju in Delhi." He shook his head. It was an image they had caught from one of the spy's cams they had fitted in and it was almost laughable. Almost. Karan was in no laughing mood. He hated that guy. Always staring at Monami, flirting, calling her 'kitten.' He should have shot that guy in his ugly face when they had the chance. "Main Batra Sir aur use bataakar aaya iss mehmaan ke baare mein."

"Mehmaan nahi hai", Faizi corrected. "Yeh hi woh naya banda hoga."

Param chuckled, nodding, and walking out. "Out of all the people", Karan gritted out, shaking his head.

"Do you think use abhi bhi Monami pasand hogi?" He joked.

Karan glared at him. "No way", he muttered, shaking his head. He paused. "Better not", he growled. "Iss baar goli maarne mein hesitate nahi karunga main."