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Here's the next chapter.

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March 2020

Chennai

M.A Chidambaram Stadium

Isn't it rightly said that bahar ka shor sabhi ko sunai deta hai, lekin koi yeh kabhi nahi poochta ki ki tumhare andar kya uthal puthal chal rahi hai. It literally proves that this generation is so messed up; it is smiling for the reasons which are more concealing than the actual happiness. A smile even with a little bit of happiness, contains a contagiously twinkling glitter in it, but the one which is tailored for pretence, just do the work with utmost finesse, given you've mastered the practice.

(The noise outside, falls into everyone's ears but nobody even dare to ask as to why there is so much of upheaval within you?)

Amidst the noise from the limited audience that has gathered in the stadium to cheer and watch their favourite team to win, there was Karan too, wrapped up in an utterly chaotic mindset, praying for the safety of his wife more than anyone else, including the other people the Indian defence force has gone to rescue.

Karan never wished that something that he loves with all his life, should quickly pass, but yet he was here, praying that this slot of their match should end soon. It clearly does not mean that he wasn't doing justice with the game, he was, and it was just that he wished to hear specific news from the other end, the news of his wife's safe arrival.

The test matches starts generally in the morning and this one too, started at sharp 9:00 am, but even before that the team members needs to be a little disconnected from their phones for all the obvious reasons and since Karan was out of touch with them since last 1½ hours, he felt that the lunch break should be commenced soon so that he gets to check with the recent updates.

It was as if the luck and his dedicated prayers were with him, hence the break began and he rushed in, to quickly do his washroom business and then collected his phone from the locker area, meanwhile Faizi was quick too, to follow his best friend.

As soon as Karan turned his phone on, he was greeted with the same messages that Monami is back, safe and sound and his soul finally got the relief it was craving for since the last two days. His eyes quickly skimmed on the screen to find the text from his Mrs. and he was not disappointed. The text which his lips read, subconsciously pulled into a smile on his face.

I'm back Karan, all fine. All the very best for your match. You'll ace it, Karan."

"Going for the brief reports, will catch up later."

"Take care."

Seeing that curved in bottom lip smile, Faizi got the gist and so he finally interrupted the screen staring Karan by patting on his back landing his mind back in their locker room and the latter turned and took his best friend in a hug.
"Woh theek hai bilkul, abhi apni briefing ke liye gayi hain." Karan pulled back and said.

(She's absolutely fine and has gone for the briefing.)

"Haan haan, Bhabhi ki watan aur ghar vapasi ki khushi toh tumhare chehre se he jhalak rahi hai." Faizi chuckled, making Karan follow his actions too.

(Yes yes, the happiness of Bhabhi returning back to our country and home is radiating off your face.)

"Chup kar saand, ab hume yeh match bhi jeetna he hai." Karan's face was screaming a newly found determination.

(Oh shut up you ox, now we have to win this match too.)

Karan turned again, to reply to his wife.

"Chain ki saans aayi hai ab. Tum apna khayaal rakhna aur please rest bhi lelena."

(I finally can breathe in relief now. You please take care of yourself and have some rest too.)

"By the way, I hope you are fine?"

Putting his fingers in an efficient use, he typed the messages and shut his phone down and kept it back in its place before turning to face Faizi and then with a subtle nod, they made their ways towards the lunch area.

"Chalo." Karan said.

(Let's go.)

"Ji Janaab. Finally aapke chehre ke haav bhaav toh badle warna hume toh laga tha ki aaj apne emotions aur expressions isi locker mein band kar aaye ho." Faizi dramatically sighed, falling in step with his best friend.

(Yes sir. Finally your visage had a change of countenance; otherwise I thought that today you've locked your emotions and expressions in that locker only.)

Karan just scoffed and the duo walked the way, having a dialogue or two in between and then after the meal, and some after lunch rest, they went on to the field to let their bats talk for them.

The match was concluded for the day, with Karan getting out at a massive score of 125 runs and all he could hope for was finally resting his ass on the comfy bed and have a talk with his family back home.

After letting his body wave off all the excess muscular and mental stress in the shower, he slouched on his bed and video called in his family group which was soon getting received by everyone, one by one. Barkha, Baby and Atul were at home only hence they were from joined in via Barkha's and Param and his wife were joined in from the office and her room respectively.

"Haanji Shergill's, how are you all doing?"Karan asked.

"Hum sab toh super awesome hain chachu, chachi toh rockstar hain ekdum, bilkul super hero ke jaise woh aache logo ko bad logo se bacha ke le aayi." Baby's voice albeit filled with little stutters and imperfections was strongly laced with awe; awe for her chachi and this made both her chachi and chachu smile, along with others who chuckled. "Lekin aap out kyu ho gaye chachu?" Baby frowned with a pout, unhappy with this.

(We all are super awesome, uncle. Aunty turned out to be a rockstar, just like super heroes, she too fought with the bad people to rescue good people.) (But why did you get out, uncle?)

"Aww, sorry mera baccha. But bowler ne aisa ball dala ki chachu ka six bhi catch out ban gaya." Karan's lips were twisted into dissatisfactory twitch too.

(Aww, I'm sorry kiddo. But that bowler bowled such a ball that your uncle's six turned into a catch out, too.)

"How are you mere sher?" Atul asked.

(My lion.)

"I'm fine, papa. Just a little tired." Karan softly sighed.

"It was bound to happen, chhottey, koi nahi." Param passed him an understanding nod, to which Karan chortled with a nod.

(It's not much.)

"Take enough rest today, tomorrow is going to be a long one, too." Barkha sweetly comforted him, like she always does.

"Ji Bhabhi, it's not much." Karan smiled at the care, the care of the person who had always treated him like a son and a brother.

Monami smiled, seeing the interaction and their call did not lasted for more than a few additional minutes. The Shergill's sans the couple in the long distance, mutually decided to hang up from their sides so that Mr. Shergill gets some much needed time and space with his Mrs. Shergill.

For a few minutes, when there were only they both on the screen, Karan just kept looking at his wife's face, without even uttering a single word. Seeing the deliberate and intense gaze fixated on her, something churned in her insides. She hoped he would either avert his eyes or would end the now rusted silence between them.

"Karan?" Monami mumbled when she could no longer control the heat that was marking its presence from her neck to the apples of her cheeks. She wanted him speak something, anything. The girl, who was accustomed to the silences, could no longer bear it, especially in his presence.

Karan let out a simper, downcasting his eyes for a second before raising them to glance back on screen. "Tum theek ho?"

(Are you fine?)

"Haan." Monami's eyebrows twitched unintentionally before affirming to what he asked and if Karan's orbs would not so intently focused on her, he would have missed it.

(Yes.)

"Monami?" Karan raised his brow and sighed before continuing softly, "Mujhse toh mat chupao?"

(Don't hide it from me.)

Monami tried a failed attempt at raising a single eyebrow. "How do you know that I'm hiding something?"

"I just know." Karan shrugged before leaning a bit more in the headrest and adjusted his phone. He then narrowed his eyes, "Monami, c'mon now. Out with it."

Monami huffed in defeat. "Kuch nahi hai, time he nahi mila kisi aur cheez ka, toh continuous up- down mein back aur thigh cramps aaye hain."

(It's nothing much, it's just that I didn't get any time to do anything and due to continuous ups and downs, I've got cramps in my back and thighs.)

Karan noticed the pussyfooted movement of Monami's brows again and he tried to be patient and not let out a frustrated grumble. He palmed his face from one side and sighed. Sluggishly, he dragged his palm back and asked in a stern voice, "Monami, I want to know the complete thing, so quick, out with it now."

Monami's was startled with this mood change, this was something she was yet to witness and she couldn't even blame him; for he was already back after a tiring day, another same day awaited him and yet here he was, trying to be as patient as he could, just for her. She downcasted her eyes and pulled in her lower lip before enunciating, "Woh jab hum vaapis laut rahe thhe tab aircraft mein thoda sa malfunction ho gaya aur balancing ke dauran haatho ki nerves par kaafi pressure pad gaya and hence, I'm under surveillance for my hand, for almost two weeks. And there are some blisters too, in the sole of my feet."

(Actually, when we were returning at that time, there was a tad of malfunctioning in the aircraft and in order to balance that, the nerves in my hands got affected by severe pressure and hence I'm under surveillance for my hand, for almost two weeks.)

Karan immediately straightened up hearing this, the news had the power to get him all worked up. He didn't know how to react on the news, the news that his wife was in pain. There was pain in her limbs, back and feet too. Moreover he knew that due to the entire fiasco, there must be fatigue too, adding on the already too much of the induced pain. He felt really bad, for she was literally all by herself there. He undeniably wanted to be there, to take her in his arms and take care of her and simply, be there for her, with her.

Monami sensed the swirling spiral of emotions in her spouse's eyes and she somehow facilely understood what he must be feeling and thus, she softly attempted to calm him down, "Karan?"

Karan's trance got broken by the soft whisper of her and he stared at her, wanting desperately for these two days to pass so that he would be able to embrace the person, he is growing fond and affectionate of.

"Please don't take overthink, I know I'm not fine, but I'll be, promptly. As it is, it is hardly a matter of 15 days." Monami looked at him in hope, that he would be fine and when his face didn't changed its non expressive countenance, she tried to joke, "Don't worry, I've endured quite bad than this, this is like a needle in front of a sword." She chuckled.

Karan glowered at this, not finding this funny at all. His nose flared as he spoke, "Let me be the judge to decide if I should overthink or not, in your matter. And needle or a sword, both are equally important for me. And Mrs. Shergill, let me meet you once, because after that you'll very well understand the meaning of how to not empower yourself enough for getting entrapped into situations like this."

Monami felt that there is something ridiculously wrong with her mind, because she was feeling giddy after hearing his harmless threatening words. She should be either low-key offended for his last set of words but it was rather a complete contradiction in her feelings. She underwent a cascade of anticipation as she wanted to know how he was planning to make her understand.

Monami shook her head at her thoughts and said grumpily, "Haan, haan theek hai." But then her form took a complete 360 degree turn, as she adjusted herself to get in a comfortable posture, before asking, "Tum batao, tumhara match kaisa tha? You played so well. And by the way, what was it which you were muttering, when you almost bumped into the fielder?" She wriggled her eyebrows at last.

(Yeah, fine.) (You say how your match was?)

Albeit Karan had no qualms in sharing about how the match was, he most certainly was unprepared for the later question, how was he supposed to say what he was muttering, or rather, cussing out an infamous Ben Stokes. It was not like he committed some grave mistake or anything, but it was just he didn't knew if they were at this level of being completely unfiltered with each other or not, but anyway, he began, "The game was good, though I feel I could have done better."

Monami softly simpered at his words, it was the same feeling one gets when one finishes doing something and then later, when he himself is analysing his piece of work, there is always some sort of dissatisfaction is there, more than the satisfaction that should be there.

Though there was no need to say, yet she felt that there was and said, "Tumhare paas aise bohot mauke hain abhi."

(You'll have a lot many chances like this.)

Karan softly smiled but then this smile was replaced by confusion, when he saw his wife narrowing her eyes at him. "Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Poori baat batao mujhe, maine kuch aur bhi poocha tha." Monami wanted to know.

(Tell me the entire thing, I've asked you something else as well.)

Karan didn't knew whether to be overjoyed that his wife was behaving in an inquisitive manner like this and coming out of her shell, making efforts or rather be embarrassed as to what should be his answer to the question she asked.

He did his habitual eyebrow scratch with his forefinger "Uh kuch nahi, bas aise he... boys you know... just cussed out something." Karan was stuttering incoherently, but Monami caught it.

(It's nothing serious, just like that... boys you know... just cussed out something.)

He was looking everywhere but on screen and seeing this and his antics Monami couldn't help but laugh, and this caught his attention in an instant and snapped his head in her direction in a swift motion. This was the first time she was laughing, laughing in front of him, because of him. He couldn't help but join in with her, he felt joyous that he unknowingly made her laugh and he got to know what she looks like, when laughing so freely. She looked so flawless and radiant. Yes, he remembered that they've shared a laugh when he teased her during their temple visit, but that was just a small fragment of laughter, a mere giggle. Karan badly wanted to be there, to see her without any hindrance, to swipe off and tuck back the flick that has managed to mark its presence on her face because of her movements, but alas, he could only sigh.

Monami composed herself when she felt that now only she was the one guffawing and he was just looking at her with his unwavering gaze. She delicately tucked the flick which he wanted to and closed her eyes for a moment before glancing at him and asked softly, "Tum jab bhi mujhe aise dekhte ho, toh kya soch rahe hote ho?"

(What do you keep on thinking, whenever you look at me like this?)

"Yahi ki kaash in lamho ko kaid kar pata, kyuki yeh pal na bilkul Eid ke Chaand ki tarah hain, mushkil se he meherbaan hote hain."

(Only if I would have been able to capture these moments, because moments like these are like once in a blue moon, we are blessed with them, quite rarely.)

Monami knew that somewhere along the lines, he said once in a blue moon because of their distance. They were literally separated by frontiers of their respective duties and that left them with seldom time to make memories and live in them. She didn't know what to say because even though it was truth but with the way he said it, she knew there was something more deep and she didn't wanted to disrupt it's tranquillity by saying something.

The couple just basked in each other's presence, in pure and soulful quietude. They let their eyes talk with each other and their breaths were tempered by the emotions that were rippling in those irises.

Karan broke the silence in an attempt to shift the environment in something light, "Vaise tumhe pata kaise chala ki maine kuch bola hai? Itne dhyaan se apne pati ko dekh rahi thi kya?"

(By the way, how did you know that I've spoken something? Were you watching your husband this keenly?)

A faint blush settled itself on Monami's cheeks at her husband's later statement question. She looked like his favourite look, though she was unaware of it.

"Karan!" She exclaimed, quite bashful.

Karan could swear that his heartbeats were like he just ran a marathon, but this was the effect his blood pumping organ had, every time she uttered his name, in this manner. "Hmm?" He raised his brow.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai..." She couldn't complete it.

(It's nothing like that...)

"Oh! Toh tum dekh he nahi rahi thi? Phir tumhe kaise pata?" Karan went on with his favourite chore of teasing his wife.

(Oh! So you were not watching? Then how you know about it?)

"Let me speak at least." Monami low key whined and requested. When she saw just a teasing smile playing on his lips, she said, "I watched it for some time, after my briefing session when you said something and it went viral, I guess? I actually gave attention when Sid pointed it out that it was all over twitter and instagram today! So, I was just curious. But I never knew that the reason of you being in highlights was this." She ranted a bit and then chuckled at the end.

Karan too chortled along with her and then shook his head before saying, "The audience find it amazing. Tumne abhi tak Virat Bhai ka nahi dekha hai na, isiliye bol rahi ho. In fact, he was the mastermind behind this."

(You're saying like this because you are yet to witness Virat Bhai's.)

The call lasted for a few more minutes until Karan was called for dinner and Monami instructed Kaptaan Sahab, "Karan, please take care, okay? You're playing with overseas players and there are quite a few cases of Coronavirus as well. Please be safe, okay?"

"As you command, Officer Sahiba." Karan mock saluted before saying seriously, "Don't worry, I'll look after myself. But more than me, you need more care and so you'll pay utmost attention to it."

Monami smiled at his authoritative tone, which surfaced when he was worried about her, she felt a sense of déjà vu hitting her, he said something similar to this; when she was going for a mission first time after they agreed to go ahead with this alliance, and if truth is to be told, this was one of those decisions that she gave her more reasons to be happy, she hoped it would stay the same in long run as well.

Sometimes, you undergo a plethora of emotions in one moment and sometimes it may take a lifetime. This one day was that one moment for them, to encounter sentiments some that they were familiar with and some totally new. These moments were enough to pave a way of light of a different sensation that was budding in their hearts. This was their peace after a lot of chaos, at least in this moment.

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3.4k+ words.

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Nehal.