CHAPTER 14

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES

"... Aur phir Chitra ne Bala ko bahut daanta", Koel completed, laughing.

Faizi smiled. "Bala ki toh har jagah bali chadh jaati hai, na?" He said.

She nodded, chuckling. "Haan. Isliye use sabse zyaada Monami pasand hai. Woh use kuchh kehti nahi hai, na, aur koi Monami ko kuchh nahi kehta, toh woh uske peechhe chhup jaata hai."

He nodded. "Koel, hum tumse kuchh puchhna chahte the."

"Haan, puchho, na?" She said. "Kya baat hai?"

"Hum..." His ringtone interrupted him and Faizi sighed in frustration. He took it out. Karan. "Ek minute", he said. Koel nodded. He accepted the call, holding it to his ear. "Haan, Karan?"

"Meeting hai. Debrief mein aa."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Abhi?"

"Haan, abhi."

"Zaroori hai kya?"

"Zaroori nahi hota toh tujhe aur Koel ko interrupt nahi karta, khud hi handle kar leta." His eyes widened slightly. He leaned back, glancing around the corridor. "Nahi, main wahan nahi hoon, Faizi."

"Tumhe kaise pata hum kya kar rahe hain phir?"

"Ek tu hi toh hai jo bina kahe meri har baat sun leta hai. Main toh kahan hi tera dost hoon, na? Security meeting hai. Abhi aa jaa."

He sighed. "Aa rahe hain." He disconnected the call, looking at Koel.

She smiled. "It's okay", she said. "Aap jaaiye."

"Kal milte hain?" He said.

"Actually... kal mera baaki cadets ke saath plan hai. Aur phir aakar homework bhi karna hai aur mission ka kaam bhi. Hum Monday ko milte hai, na?"

He nodded, standing up. "Monday ko", he said, nodding. He sighed when he was a little way away from her. "Security meeting bhi abhi hi honi thi. Humne socha tha kal date par chalenge, yahan toh mahutarma ne apne hi plans banaaye hue hain, aur humse milne tak ka waqt nahi hai. Puchh lete toh shayad bana hi leti humaare liye waqt par nahi!" He sighed in frustration.

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

Faizi sighed again.

Karan glared at him. "Tu yeh band karega?" He said. "Jo bolna hai, bol de, warna chup chaap baitha reh."

"Tumhe kya itni si bhi fikar nahi hai humaari?" He snapped. "Puchhoge nahi kya hua?"

"Jab mujhe pata hai kya hua hai toh main kyun puchhoon? Koel ko date par puchh nahi paaya hoga tu, isliye itna dramatic ho raha hai." He sighed. Karan threw the pen in his hand, hitting him in the arm. "Chup", he warned.

He sighed again, this time out of spite. Karan groaned, picking the laptop up.

"Main jaa raha hoon", he said.

"Kahan? Hum bhi aate hain."

Karan held up a finger, holding his laptop in the other hand. "Sochna bhi mat. Tujhse door jaane ke liye hi toh kamre se jaa raha hoon. Faizi, please, mujhe kaam karne de. Mujhe kal ghar bhi jaana hai."

"Achha, hum kuchh nahi bolte. Tum yahin kar lo."

Karan wordlessly pushed the door open, walking out. He sat down in one of the corners of the mess. He opened it again, putting his earphones in, as he pressed the play button.

It was a footage of a year ago, of one of the traffic signal cameras that had caught the school bus. He leaned on his arm, watching it carefully. Movement distracted him, and he glanced up, pausing the footage.

Siddharth.

He had his headphones on, pushing himself in a corner just like him and opening the laptop he was provided. He pressed on a few keys, watching it carefully just like him.

Karan dropped his gaze to his own laptop, playing it again. The mess was fairly empty now that it was past the usual eating time and the kitchen staff had retired for the night. It was only him and Siddharth now.

The cadet didn't say anything, as opposed to his usual chattiness with everyone, instead concentrating on his laptop. It was easy to concentrate with the quietness, and Karan's eyes flicked around as he observed the footage.

A cup slid in his vision of view almost an hour later and he paused the footage again, looking up. Siddharth gave him a beaming smile, holding a cup himself. He glanced into the cup. Coffee.

"Monu ne bataaya ki aap ko coffee pasand hai", he offered, shrugging. "I mean... yeh bataaya ki woh aapse raat ko mili thi and aap dono ne coffee banaayi thi. Main apne liye bana raha tha toh socha aapke liye bhi bana doon. Main bahut achhi banaata hoon toh I hope you are in the mood for that."

He nodded in thanks. He tilted his head slightly. "Monami ne tumhe bataaya ki hum mile the?"

He shrugged. He gestured to the seat across him and Karan tilted his head to it, nodding. "Monu mujhe usually bataati hai ki woh kisse mili, kitni baat kari."

His eyebrows raised. "Really?"

He smiled a little. "Woh thodi excited ho jaati hai, jab woh kaafi logon se milti hai din mein aur panic nahi karti. Jis din aap mile, uss din woh thodi already edge par thi, par aapse mili and... she didn't run away, toh woh kaafi proud thi. Isliye bahut khush hokar bataa rahi thi."

Karan took a sip of the coffee. He looked down at it, surprised. "Tum sach mein kaafi achhi coffee banaate ho."

He grinned. "Thank you." He took a sip of his own cup. "Monu ko coffee ka bahut shauk hai. And coffee peene se woh relatively calm feel karti hai. Toh main uske liye bahut baar coffee banaata tha." He shrugged. "Isliye dheere dheere achhi ho gayi." He looked at his laptop. "Aap kaam kar lijiye. Main disturb nahi karna chahta. Good night."

He nodded, taking another sip of the coffee. Sid picked the laptop up, moving out of the mess. He brought up a footage of the club, pressing play.

He paused the footage. 'Yeh kaun hai?' He pressed a few buttons, zooming in. His eyes narrowed. 'Lag toh aisa raha hai jaise yeh bartender isse darta hai.'

'Kehta bartender ise drugs deta hai, aur yeh aage bech deta tha jise wo bolta tha.'

'Bartender toh involved hai iss sab mein. Yeh iska boss hai kya? Ya at least, koi higher up?' He minimized the screen, pulling up the soft copy of the details of Euphoria. He scrolled to near bottom, pausing at the photo of the owner. His eyebrows furrowed. Different person. He nodded. 'Has to be a terrorist.' He played the footage again, trying to get a better angle of the man.

"Karan", Faizi said, entering the mess. "Arey yaar, tum toh sach mein yahan hi kaam karne lage. Hume laga tha thodi der mein aa jaoge. Yahan aise mat baitho. Aa jao kamre mein. Hum tang nahi karenge."

"Idhar aa", he said, pausing and zooming when he got an angle of the face. Faizi leaned over him. "Terrorist."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Tumhe kaise pata yeh terrorist hi hai? Koi worker bhi ho sakta hai."

"Ho sakta hai par bartender isse kaafi darr raha tha. Club ka owner toh hai nahi. Kaafi unlikely hai ki kisi aur worker se woh itna dare, unless use yeh pata hai ki woh use maar sakte hain. If I have to bet, yeh yaa toh terrorists mein bhi higher up hoga yaa phir unka fighter hoga. And bartender bhi drugs ke dhande mein involved hai. Shayad bridge ki tarah act karta hai."

He grabbed the cup, going to sip the coffee. He looked inside, sighing when there was no left.

That was some good coffee.

"Hum informers se bhi pata karwaate hain", Faizi said."Shayad unhe kuchh pata chale."

"Main bhi message karta hoon. Sanju ko bata dena."

He glanced at the empty cup. He wanted more. He heaved another sigh.

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

"Tu sure hai tujhe koi problem nahi hai?" Sid said, pushing the laptop towards her. "Main reh leta hoon tere saath. Tu bhi thoda toh relax kar. Nahi jaana bahar toh bhi poora din thodi naa padhti rahegi."

Monami heaved a sigh, rolling her eyes. "Tu mujhe laptop de, aur academy se nikal." She glanced around, leaning closer. "Sanjana ma'am bhi tere saath jaane mein eager lag rahe hain mujhe."

He looked at her in interest. "Tujhe kaise pata?"

"Mujhe sab pata hota hai", she said, smiling.

"Arey, bata, na? Kaise pata? Tujhse kuchh kaha unhone?"

"Nahi... woh bas khush lag rahe the."

Sid leaned back in disappointment. "Khush toh kisi bhi reason se ho sakte hain."

"Correct." She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Par tujhe kyun itna achha laga ki woh tere saath jaane ke liye khush hain?"

"Bro..." He smiled a little. "She's... very different. Main aaj tak unn jaisi ladki se nahi mila. Mujhe bahut interesting lagte hain woh. I'll like to spend time with her and be friends."

"Sirf friends?"

"Abhi tak toh haan. Aage ka kisko kya pata hota hai." He smiled. He kissed her forehead. "Main tere liye aate hue ice cream le aunga." She grinned. "Chocolate." Her grin widened.

"Love you, bro", she said excitedly.

He laughed. "Bye."

He dashed out of the room. Monami clapped her hands happily. "Ice cream."

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

"Chachu!" Baby screamed happily, running to him.

"Aaja, mera baccha", Karan said, hauling her up in his arms. He kissed her head, smiling at her. He carried her inside, sitting down on the couch.

"Tu aa gaya?" Param said, walking out.

He looked at his brother. "Nahi. Raaste mein hoon", he said. Param slapped the back of his head in retort, and he glared at him.

"Khabardaar, Papa!" Baby said. "Karan Chachu ko bilkul nahi maarna."

"Nahi, nahi, tu ban jaa iski waqeel", Param said, sitting down on the couch. He winced slightly, rubbing the place where his leg met his prosthetic. Karan's gaze dropped to it. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Kya hua, Bhaiya? Koi problem?"

He rolled his eyes. "Karan... koi problem nahi hai. Hoti toh sabse pehle tujhe hi call karta. Chalte chalte thoda dewaar par lag gaya pair. Isliye rub kar raha tha."

He nodded. "Agar kuchh hua toh-"

"Haan, Karan", he said exasperatedly, making Baby giggle. "Tujhe hi call karunga."

"Karan, tum chinta mat karo", Bhabhi said, exiting their bedroom. "Mujhse pehle bhi tumhe hi call karenge yeh. Chaahe main doosre kamre mein hi kyun naa hoon."

"Ab bas", Baby interrupted. "Bahut der ho gayi. Aap logon ne bahut baat kar li. Ab Chachu mere saath khelenge."

"Baby, hume bhi kabhi kabhi apne Chachu se milne de diya karo", Param said. "Jab bhi aata hai, bas ise apne paas rakh lo. Mera bhai bhi hai woh, sirf tumhaare Chachu nahi hai."

"Not my problem", Baby said, crossing her arms. "Aur waise bhi, thumb rule hai. Pehle Baby, phir koi aur. Hai, na, Chachu?"

"Haan, haan, of course", he said. "Baby se pehle kaun aa sakta hai? Papa ko batao, Baby. Unhe nahi pata."

Baby huffed. "Baad mein", she said. "Abhi aap mere saath aao." She hopped down from the couch, grabbing his head and leading him into her room.

Param looked at Barkha, who chuckled, shaking her head. "Bas Chachu mil jaaye toh koi aur chahiye hi nahi ise", she said, laughing.

"Achhi baat hai, na, ki yeh dono itna close hai. Karan jo itna serious rehta hai, thoda iske saath woh bhi relaxed rehta hai", he said. He shook his head.

"Achhi nahi, bahut achhi baat hai." She sat down next to him on the couch. She clutched his arm, resting her hand on his shoulder. "Jab humaari shaadi hui thi, toh Karan sirf 17 saal ka tha. Pata hi nahi chala kab itna badha ho gaya yeh."

He chuckled slightly. "Haan. Yaad hai tumhe? Jab tum pregnant thi toh kaise yeh tumhaare aage peechhe ghoomta rehta tha jab bhi aata tha? Aur tumhe koi kaam bhi nahi karne deta tha."

She laughed, straightening up. "Aur yaad hai, jab isne pehli baar Baby ko pakda tha, toh neeche hi nahi rakhna chahta tha. Hamesha godi mein lekar ghoomta tha."

His smile softened, amusement fading to fondness. "Aur mere aakhri mission ke baad, jaise Karan ne sabko sambhaala- tumhe, mujhe, khud ko- tab samajh aaya ki jis chhote bhai ko maine apne bacche ki tarah paala tha, woh baccha nahi raha. Badha ho gaya hai." He chuckled a little. "Karan ko sambhaalne ke baad Baby ko sambhaalne ka experience mil gaya mujhe."

The door opened behind them, and the couple turned around. Karan paused. "Main kuchh... interrupt kar raha hoon kya?" He asked.

"Haan. Teri burai kar rahe the. Woh kar raha hai interrupt", Param said.

Karan rolled his eyes. He glanced at Barkha, who nodded to the couch. "Aa jaa." He sat down on the couch next to his brother, leaning back. He heaved a sigh.

"Kya hua?" Barkha said. "Tum theek ho?"

He looked at her, nodding. "Haan. Bas... kaam." He straightened up, a small smile on his face. "Bhabhi, aap mere liye apni special waali coffee banaa sakti hain?"

She smiled. "Abhi laayi. Aur lunch mein bhi tera favorite khaana banaaya hai maine. Aur bahut saara."

Karan looked at the clock. "Abhi lunch nahi kar sakta?" He asked, making the other two laugh.

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

"Tune sach mein sadak par khade hokar kuchh nahi khaaya?" Sanju asked.

Sid shook his head. "Never", he said.

Sanju shook her head. "Tujhe pata bhi naa hai ki tuk ya kho raho hai. Kisi din, na, tujhe hum yeh sab kuchh khilaayenge."

"Good luck with that." He chuckled. "Kisi din main aapko kisi 5 star restaurant mein lekar jaunga. Aap wahan ka khaana bhi try karna. It's amazing."

She hummed in thought. "Chal, theek hai. Hum tere mehenge restaurant ka khaana try karenge toh yeh try karna."

"Par aaj nahi", Sid said.

"Aaj nahi", Sanju agreed.

"Then, deal!" Sid pointed to a small ice cream shop. "Ice cream?"

She shook her head. "Humse aur naa khaaya jaayego. Bahut khaa liyo humne." She kept a hand on her stomach and Sid chuckled.

"Oh haan, mujhe remind kara dena ki mujhe Monu ke liye ice cream lekar jaani hai. Main uske liye keh kar aaya tha ki main uske liye ice cream lekar aaunga. Ab nahi launga, toh woh meri jaan le legi." He grinned at her raised eyebrows. "I know Monu ko dekhkar lagta hai ki woh kisi ko kuchh nahi kehti hogi, par I swear, agar aap uski bad side par aa jao, toh noch degi woh. Sherni hai. And the easiest way to be on her bad side is to mess with her ice cream."

Sanju's smile dropped slightly, as her cries echoed in her ears. "Siddharth... hum tujhse Monami ke baare mein kuchh puchhna chahte the."

He looked at her, nodding. He sat down on a bench on the side of the road, and she sat down next to him. "Puchho, na?"

"Parso... Monami raat ko kisi bure sapne ki wajah se uthi thi. Aur bahut dari hui lag rahi thi." His smile dropped. He looked away. Sanju's eyebrows furrowed together. "Siddharth... use kis baare mein bure sapne aato hain?"

"Honestly... mujhe exactly nahi pata", he answered. "Monu kabhi bhi apne sapnon ke baare mein kisi se bhi baat nahi karna chahti. Kya dekha, kya hua, nothing."

She nodded a little. "Isi wajah se woh itni dari dari, chup chaap rehti hai? Jo bhi... jo bhi uske sapnon ka kaaran hai?"

"Haan", he admitted. "Monu ne bahut kuchh jhela hai apni life mein. Bahut kuchh. And woh har situation se fight karke, jeeti hai. And... And yeh fear, yeh nightmares, yeh uske battle wounds hain, jo shayad... abhi tak bhi scars nahi ban paaye." He took a deep breath. "Mujhe... mujhe iske baare mein zyaada baat karna pasand nahi and... and I don't want ki main kuchh kahoon jo Monu nahi chahti. Can we talk about something else?"

"Haan." She nodded. She stared at his slightly disturbed expression. "Hum, na, tujhe... tujhe apne gaon ke baare mein bataato hain." He looked up, giving her a small smile and nodding.

"Go ahead", he said. "Main kabhi yeh village and all, in sab jagah par nahi gaya. It's like... a whole different world." Sanju opened her mouth. His phone rang before she could even get a sound out. He shot her an apologetic look, taking his phone out.

Sid stared at the phone, blinking a couple of times. Was he reading it right?

Daddy ji.

"Excuse me", he said to Sanju. "Mujhe yeh lena padega." He hopped up from the bench, accepting the call quickly before it disconnected. "Hello?"

"Sid? Kaisa hai tu?"

A smile spread on his face. "Main theek hoon. Aap? Aur aaj aapne mujhe kaise call kar liya?"

There was a short pause, and his smile faded slightly. Did he call because he wanted something? Was this call for a purpose? Not just for him? "Sid... mujhe teri yaad aa rahi thi", he admitted.

His chest tightened slightly. A smile spread on his face, and he leaned on the fence of the park, clutching it tightly. "Aapko...aapko meri yaad kaise aa gayi?"

He heaved a sigh. "Tere aur Monami ke bina... ghar khaali khaali lag raha hai. Tu... tu milne aa sakta hai kya? Mujhe teri aur Monami dono ki yaad aa rahi hai."

"Abhi toh nahi, Daddy ji. Woh training hai, na?"

"Koi baat nahi. Monami kaisi hai?"

"Woh theek hai." He paused a little. "Daddy ji... kuchh hua hai kya? Aap... Aap mujhe aise kabhi call nahi karte. Sab theek hai, na? Aap theek ho?"

"Mera ek dost hai, Pawan. Main... Main uske saath tha abhi. Bas abhi abhi ghar aaya hoon." Sid's eyebrows furrowed. "Sid, aaj uske bete ka antim sanskaar tha." His eyebrows raised slightly, eyes widening. "Jab...Jab main wahan tha, na, toh mujhe... mujhe tu yaad aaya. Phir yeh yaad aaya ki...ki jab tune aakhri baar call kara tha, maine tujhse baat bhi nahi kari. Aur phir yeh yaad aaya ki jab tu gaya, toh maine tab bhi tujhse baat nahi kari. Aur phir... main sochta gaya, sochta gaya, aur realize hua ki jab humne aakhri baar dhang se baat kari thi, woh itni pehle thi ki mujhe itna socha padha. Phir...Phir mujhe yaad aaya tu kahan hai, tu... tu kis cheez ke liye training kar raha hai. Aur phir, mujhe... mujhe Juhi yaad aayi. And..."

"And?" He prompted softly. His vision blurred a little, and he took a deep breath, blinking his tears back.

"And mujhe uss moment mein itna regret hua. Tu hai mere paas, phir bhi main... main tujhpar dhyaan nahi de raha. Jab maine teri Mummy ji ko khoya tha, na, toh mujhe koi regret nahi tha. Mujhe uske saath jitni bhi zindagi mili, humne bahut khushi se bitaayi thi. Par... Par tere saath? Tere saath... Kabhi socha hi nahi ki... ki tujhe bhi kisi bhi pal kho sakta hoon. Bahut... Bahut granted ke liye liya hai maine tujhe." He took a deep breath. "I'm... I'm a very bad father, Sid. I know. Tu... Tu naraaz hai, na, mujhse?"

Sid wiped his tears. "Haan. Main... Main bahut naraaz hoon aapse. Bahut zyaada. Aapko lagta hai ki agar aap mujhse yeh sab kahoge toh main bhool jaunga ki itne saalon mein aapke paas mere liye kitna time tha?Kaise maan loon main ki aap aaj yeh keh raho aur kal aapke liye dobara aapka business mujhse zyaada important ho gaya toh?"

"Mat maan. Bas... ek request hai meri."

"Kya?"

"Tu mujhe... mujhe apni life mein dobara woh jagah banaane de jo main banana chahta hoon. Itne saalon mein hamesha tune effort kara hai. Ab main karunga. Bas tu mujhe effort karne de. Yeh request hai meri."

He sniffled a little. "One chance", he warned.

"Main waste nahi karunga."

He glanced at Sanju, who was typing something on her phone. "Main... Main kisi ke saath tha. Main ek baar unhe bolkar aaya ki mujhe thoda time lagega."

"Nahi. Tu jaa abhi. Jab... Jab tune mujhe phone kara tha, tune kaha tha ki tujhe sirf Sunday ko phone milta hai. Mujhe galat toh nahi dhyaan, na?"

He smiled slightly. "Nahi. Sahi dhyaan hai."

"Toh... toh tu abhi apne doston ke saath ghoom le. Jab tu free hoga, aaj hi mujhe call karna. Hum phir baad karenge."

Sid hummed. "Okay."

Avinash lowered his phone as the call cut, leaning back on the couch. He wiped the tears that had fallen from his eyes, lying down. He closed his eyes.

'I want my daughter, Avi', Deepak sobbed. 'Mujhe meri beti chahiye. I want her back. Avi, mujhe Monami chahiye. Mujhe bas woh waapas chahiye. Kaise bhi mujhe woh chahiye.'

'Mujhe kuchh nahi chahiye', Pawan yelled, slamming his fist in the wall. 'Mujhe bas mera beta chahiye. Sab le lo mujhse. Bas mera beta de do. Mujhe bas mera beta chahiye.' He slid down to the ground, crying.

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

Monami sang to herself, as she danced around the room. The academy was near empty, with all cadets and a fair bit of special agents out. She was all alone in the girls' dorm, and she was loving every second of it.

Movement caught her eye and she paused mid lyric in her personal concert, looking at the laptop. There was a person in the hallway just outside the door, captured clearly in one of their many cameras. He had what Monami had come to realize was battle gear- black, fitting clothes and a mask up to the nose.

'Kahin yeh hi attacker toh nahi?' Monami thought. 'Yeh toh jaa bhi andar raha hai kamre ke.' She grinned.

She darted out of the room, running up the stairs to the third floor. She slowed her pace down, walking quietly to the room. "Chal, Monu", she muttered to herself. "Kuchh toh pata laga. Kaun hai yeh?" She walked quieter, eyes darting around carefully. She tiptoed into the room, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Chala gaya kya?" She asked herself. She looked at the lockers. "Kuchh karke gaya hai kya?"

She roamed around the room, peeking in and checking the lockers. A slight noise made her freeze. She whirled around. No one. 'Koi chooha ya kuchh hoga.' She turned around. Doubt hit her. 'Ek baar dhang se check kar hi leti hoon.'

She turned around, gasping at the man who stood behind her. He swung something at her, and pain exploded in her head. Her vision went blank.

She opened her eyes, her vision swimming as she blinked groggily. Her head screamed in pain and she tried to walk. Something cold was touching her entire back. She was lying on the floor.

Her head was exploding in pain and she blinked. Something tickled her face. A liquid. She lifted her hand. It felt like lead. She shakily lowered it, touching the spot that hurt. The pain increased, and her vision blurred again. She pulled away. Her hand was red.

That... shouldn't happen. That really shouldn't happen. Right?

Her gaze lifted. The man was still there. A few feet from her. It hurt. It really hurt. The thing crashed into her head again.

Her vision blackened.

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

"Bhabhi, main aapke haath ka khaana har roz khaa sakta hoon aur har roz mujhe itna hi pasand aayega", Karan said.

Barkha glared at him playfully. "Rehne de tu."

"Arey", he said in surprise. "Kyun?"

"Itna achha lagta hota tujhe toh aa jaata. Hafte mein ek din aata hai. Kaise achha lagta hai phir?"

"Use kaam bhi toh karna hota hai", Param said. "Sirf khaana hi thodi naa hai."

Barkha clicked her tongue, frowning. "Karan, tum yahin reh jao. Humaare saath raho. Academy kaunsa bahut door hai jo tum roz nahi jaa sakte."

"I agree, Mumma", Baby said.

Karan looked down at her in his lap, shaking his head slightly. "I wish main reh paata", he said. The girls shot him identical, doubtful looks and he chuckled a little. "Baby aapki carbon copy lag rahi hai, Bhabhi."

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he shifted, taking it out. He frowned. Sanket? "Hello?"

"Jai Hind, Sir. Sir, aap academy mein hain kya?"

He frowned. "Nahi. Kya hua?"

"Sir, woh humaare CCTV sab ek saath thodi der ke liye black out ho gaye the. Ab chal rahe hain, and hum problem identify aur fix karne ki koshish kar rahe hain."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Sab ek saath?" He confirmed. He picked Baby up, setting her aside on another chair. He stood up, walking a little way away for privacy. "Security breach lag raha hai kya?"

"Ho sakta hai, Sir. Humne abhi tak kuchh zyaada check nahi kara. Jaise hi CCTV waapas chala, maine aapko call kara. Pulkit check kar raha hai abhi. But Sir, agar aap academy mein nahi hain, toh main Faizi Sir se baat kar leta hoon."

'Kahin yeh sab uss supposed spy se related toh nahi?' Karan thought. 'Kuchh information nikaal raha hai yeh kya?'

"Main academy aa raha hoon", he said. "I'll be there in 20 minutes. Faizi ko main khud inform kar dunga. Tum problem figure out kanre ki koshish karo."

"Yes, sir. Jai Hind, Sir."

Karan cut the call, dialing Faizi's number. "Kya baat hai, Janaab? Humaari itni yaad aa rahi hai ki ghar jaakar bhi hume call kar rahe ho?"

"Sanket ka call aaya tha. Thodi der ke liye CCTV camera band ho gaye the. Technical issue bhi ho sakta hai aur security breach bhi ho sakta hai."

"What?"

"Main academy waapas aa raha hoon. Tu Sanket aur Pulkit ke paas jaa, aur yeh ensure kar ki koi bhi room mein naa aaye. Aur agar koi aayega, toh yaad rakhna ki kaun aa raha hai."

"Tumhe lagta hai ki... spy?"

"Ho sakta hai. Baaki ki baat wahan aakar karte hain." He cut the call, turning to his family. He smiled slightly in assurance, spotting the worried look on his brother's face. "Mujhe abhi ek important kaam aa gaya. Mujhe waapas academy jaana padega."

Baby huffed loudly. "Chachu, yeh galat baat hai!"

"I am sorry, baccha", he said, kissing her head. "Par kaam important hai, na? Main jaldi se jaata hoon aur jaldi se aata hoon."

She hopped down, walking back to her room. He sighed a little, looking at Param and Barkha.

"Karan, tum jao", Barkha said. "Baby ko hum manaa lenge. Tumse itni attached hai, na, woh, isliye bas use achha nahi lag raha. Poore hafte tumhaara wait karti hai. Par tum jao. Uski chinta mat karo."

"Thanks, Bhabhi."

"Dhyaan rakhna", his brother said. He patted his back and Karan darted out, hopping into his jeep quickly.

Note- I'd love to hear your thoughts, so if you have the time and will, consider dropping a comment below. If you like my work, check out my works as well.

Also, I posted a new work called 'Emotions Unsaid' which is a drabble collection, following a bunch of Karan Shergill's diary entries. If that interests you, please go and check it out.