Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 119- The Attack

CHAPTER 119

THE ATTACK

Karan had a great day. He visited his home in the morning, ate his Bhabhi's delicious cooking, played with his niece, even had time for a nap, and when he returned, his girlfriend was waiting, and he spent the evening with her, and a Sunday was for once, relaxing. And when at dinner, he found himself bantering with Koel, he was more amused than annoyed.

"-daantte ke alaawa kuchh aur aata nahi hai, na?" Koel was saying. "Tab hi girlfriend nahi hai aapki." He paused, his cup halfway to his mouth. He cleared his throat, stifling his amusement. "Usko bhi daant doge. Kaun ladki haan karegi aapko?"

There was a cough from Faizi and Sanju- laughter stifled behind it- and he glanced around the table. Faizi, Sanju, Sid, Monami and Koel. He wanted to laugh himself. Koel was the only one who didn't know about his relationship. And sure enough, Sid was slightly laughing, and Monami had pursed her lips, trying not to burst out laughing. Karan merely chuckled. "Jisko bhi puchhunga, woh haan kar degi", he retorted. He had, technically, a 100% acceptance record. He had confessed once, and he had never been rejected. Monami's gaze met his, and she shook her head in playful exasperation at his feigned arrogance.

Koel rolled her eyes. "Puchhte hi toh nahi ho aap", she grumbled. "Saal ho gaya." Sid bit his lip harshly enough to stop himself from laughing that for a second, Karan was concerned he would injure himself, his shoulders shaking.

But Karan liked annoying her, so even though it was obvious who she wanted him to ask out, he merely tilted his head. "Kisko puchhna hai?" He asked innocently, and Koel's loud huff made even him chuckle. Some days, he wondered if the cadets were less scared of him, would they stage an intervention and make him ask Monami out?

His phone buzzed and he was still chuckling at Koel's irritated murmurs, when he accepted Raghav's call. "Haan, Raghav, bolo?" He said.

"Jai Hind, Sir", he said, and there was a hint of graveness to it that sobered his mirth up almost instantly. Perhaps, it reflected on his face because Koel's murmurs stopped and they exchanged concerned looks, staring at him quizzically. "The commandos stationed outside your home... they are not responding."

His eyebrows dipped, and he leaned back, letting his spoon go. He covered the receiver, looking at Faizi, who was already eyeing him. "Bhaiya ko call kar, Faizi. Unse puchh kahan hai, aur unhe keh ghar jaaye. Abhi." He uncovered his phone again. "Kitni der se?"

"Ek ghanta." His heart dropped. An hour? Anything can happen in an hour. Baby was there. His Bhabhi was there.

"And you are telling me now", he snarled, pushing his plate away, and almost running out of the mess.

"Bhaiya ka phone off aa raha hai, Karan", Faizi said, right behind him. Sanju was also following, but a stern look to her made her halt. She was still injured. "Kya hua? Is it Nawaz?"

He got on his bike, inserting the key. "Pata nahi. Security detail is not responding." He grabbed his phone, almost feeling stupid for not calling his Bhabhi first. He forced himself to wait but when the call dropped almost instantly, he was off. The day had been too good to be real.

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

Barkha clutched the cup of coffee in her hands. The liquid inside was moving. Her hands were shaking. She exhaled slowly, keeping her gaze on the liquid. She didn't want to lift her gaze. If she did, she would lay it on the blood covered man in front of her. Or maybe, the one that laid dead at her feet would caught her gaze first.

"Param?" She said softly, and the man looked up. He was sitting on the couch, staring at the broken pieces of his phone, his prosthetic awkwardly bent. He would need to get it fixed. But the phones were broken, and she was shaking too much to even entertain the possibility of her driving. And leaving Baby like that? Not a chance. So, Param had merely poured her the coffee, asked her to sit, and then told her to keep her head down.