Rajveer was walking in the house one day when he heard, one of Quereshi's daughter say to Wasim... " Bhai jaan...humare kamre ka phone kharab hai..zara dekhiye...humko dubai..massi aur tinu se baat karni hai..."
"Haan..bhijwadeta hu aaj shaam ko admi" said Wasim.
Rajveer understood only one thing...that there was a phone in this house with international calling...one which would never be tapped or tampered with. A phone he could use to call Naina..it has been so long since he heard her voice. He knew calling from Quereshi's daughter's room would be a big risk and Col Bisht would never allow, but love makes men desparate.
In the next few days, he looked for an opportunity. One day..he saw the girl doing something in the hallway and approached her.
"Nausheen...hum Parvez."
"Arre kaise baatein kar rahe hai aap...hum kyun nahi janege aapka naam...humari jaan bachaya tha aapne."
"Haan...woh bade sahab ke cigar khatam hogaye...aur neeche nahi hai...aapko pta hai..kaha milenge ?
"Hann..Aayiye hum dikhate hai." She opened a cupboard and got on a stool. As she was looking through..a rat ran out.
"AHHHH" she yelled as she was about to fall. Rajveer ran to hold her scratching his hand in the process..on the iron cupboards handle.
"Aap theek hai ?" he asked.
"Haan..par aapke haath se khun nikal raha hai."
"Nai..hum theek hai.." he said as he acted to feel faint.
"Aaap..aap yaha aayiye..baithiye yaha...hum khala se paani aur davai le aate hai." she said as she made him sit in her room.
As she went out, Rajvee r quickly went to the phone and dialed his home number. He knew the line and location would be spoofed as he had set up his phone in that way, the only risky part was the conversation.
He waited in bated breath as the phone rang. After a couple of rings..
"Hello" said Naina.
Rajveer's heart filled with joy as he heard her voice. Quickly looking around he said " Fresher ?"
He heard a pause as Naina sat stunned. "Aap..sach mein aap hai ?" she asked, voice choked with emotion, but careful not to say his name.
"Haan...Kaise ho tum ?"
"T.theek hoon...aap..aap kaise hai ?"
"Mein bhi theek hoon....humara...humara bandar ?"
"Apne khel kud mein mast hai....par kabhi kabhi, sehm jaata hai....ghane badal chaa jaate hai na"
"Bas kuch der aur...badal hat jayenge...dhup phir khilega...bas ummed rakhna."
"Isi umeed ke sahare hi to jee rahe hai hum dono." she said as he had to cut the call off as he heard footsteps approaching.
Khalla gave him some ointment and juice to drink and he thanked her and left, with renewed resolve that he had to finish off this mission and return.
*******
He worked as hard as he can and transferred all the information to his team. He waited for Quereshi to give him more important tasks but, in the explosive stuff, he trusted none other than his family members. Rajveer was slowly losing patience.
"Sir, aise hum aur kitne din rahenge...India mein bhi humari team bechain ho rahi hai....hum attack karte hai na...jitna information humare paas hai...woh kaafi hai,."
"Rajveer...don't be a fool...I understand ki bohot waqt hogaya hai....but inka sab se bada strength woh explosives hai....jinke baare mein bina jaane hum attack karenge...toh kuch nahi bachega...na woh..aur na hum...kya aap sekhdon officers ki jaan khatre mein dalna chahte hai ?"
Rajveer turned around frustrated. "Toh phir kya krare ? kaise nikale woh information ? hai koi raasta ?"
"Patience..my boy...just be patien...sahi waqt khud ba khud aayega."
"janaab.." called a boy..."Bade saahab bula rahe hai"
Rajveer turned to go. " Aapko bhi" said the boy, to Col. Bisht.
Rajveer and Col Bisht turned to each other. This was strange.
*****
"Haan toh...Roul se ho, yehi kaha tha na tumne." said Quereshi.
"Ji" said Rajveer, hesitantly, wondering if his cover was blown.
"Koi hai tumhare khaandan ka waha..Ami Abu."
"Ji nahi...parivaar mein sirf hum aur Abdul chahca..inhone hi humein bada kiya."
"Acha..." he turned to Col. Bisht.
"Toh aap hi hai..inke bade."
"Ji" said Col. Bisht equally hesitant.
"Hum nikah karana chahte hai...humari chotti beti Nausheen ka...Parvez se. Izazat hai ?"
Rajveer got up from his seat like lightning.
