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May 2020

Pune

Indian Defence Station, Indian Air Force.

Quarter No. 15

A longing; a dire need to catch even the tiniest glimpse about that particular something at times, is so strong. It might be a tad bit easier if we simply talk about things, but how do we justify this fathomable yet inexplicable feeling when this feeling is related to a person? This emotion is good enough to spark our urge. Well, it does not necessarily mean that we feel this yearning only when we do not have the person in our vicinity; it is rather stronger and painful when you have the person in front of your eyes and still feel them farther away more than you know but well-known to your consciousness. Perchance, let’s just say it is one of those moments where holding yourself deep-rooted with all your emotional strength is not a choice but a demand, a desideratum.

Floating in the waters of something along the lines of the former sense of longing, were Karan and Monami. They were simply calculating the tic-tocks of the never-ceasing circular moments of the clock, unable to wait further for navigating their way back to each other, after an elongated period of non-communicative distance from each other.

Well, it was the day when the verdict would come if the officers are safe to go back to their quarters or if there has to be yet another lambi judaayi. The highlight of this day was that as much as it was spent in an excited anticipation, it was equally frowned upon, for taking too long to transition in the evening hours.

(Prolonged separation.)

Karan was sprawled on the bed like a lazy bum, almost throughout the day, doing everything insignificant. His face had carried the expression of what you can call a ‘couldn’t care less’ throughout the hours after he woke up. Oh so much for the news he wanted to hear. But wait this wasn’t it. It was also his health, which was acting as a catalyst in ruining his mood.

Karan had woken up with a bad muscle spasm in his right calf, so evidently he had taken extra precautions while carrying on with his routine tasks but to no avail, in haste to pick up his ringing phone, he managed to sprain his ankle when he rushed on the wet floor, where he just washed his feet.

Sighing at his already bad day and fate, he screamed in irritation and then limped to his bed and after settling down carefully, he let his body fall on the mattress and closed his eyes. His midnight orbs fluttered open while some curses escaped his mouth when his ears heard the ringtone of his mobile yet again. He raised his body and keeping his weight on his elbow, he leaned on his side to retrieve his dancing on vibrations phone.

“Bol Saand.” He grumped out as soon as attended the call after seeing the caller id.

(What is it, ox?)

“Kya ho gaya janab? Itne ukhde ukhde kyu ho? Ya phir Monami ki yaad ne kiya koi haseen sitam?” Faizi spoke from the other side or rather jumped right on his favorite task of teasing and grilling Karan.

(What is it, Mister? Why are you grumbling? Or are you missing Monami so much that it is now torturing your poor heart?)

“Ah.” Karan groaned a little in pain when he tried to change the position of his leg and once he was well settled he disinterestedly said, “Bakwaas na kar oye! Kasam se bilkul bhi mood mein nahi hoon, yaar!”

(Don’t talk rubbish, as it is I’m not in a mood bro.)

Faizi easily caught up with the pain and fatigue in his best friend as his tone suddenly changed to concerned, “Karan, what it is? Are you okay?”

“Zyada kuch nahi hai reh, thand rakh! Bas pair mein halki si moch aagayi hai.” Aur nas khich gayi hai aur bohot pain ho raha hai. The last sentence never breathed in the fresh air because Karan was not in the mood to have a mother hen version of his otherwise chilled-out buddy.

(Calm down, it is nothing much. I’ve just sprained my ankle.) (And there is a muscle spasm and it is excruciating.)

“Sahi sahi bata tu hume. Tu kabhi bhi apne dard ka sahi se nahi batata.” Faizi was dubious and for all valid reasons.

(Are you speaking the truth to me? You are never truthfully vocal about your pain.)

“Haan Faizi, mai bilkul theek hoon.” Karan emphasized each syllable he spoke.

(Yes Faizi, I am absolutely fine.)

“Tu dawai laga aur hume video call kar, ammi ko bhi tujse baat karni hai.” Faizi twitched his lips and said before hanging up, making Karan smile at the well-known antics of his brother from another mother.

(You apply ointment and then give me a video call, even Ammi wants to talk to you.)

Karan smiled, now in a little better mood, and did as asked. His face immediately lit up like lights on Diwali when he saw Zeenat. It has been almost four days since he last saw her.

“Kaisa hai mera baccha?” Zeenat affectionately asked Karan.

(How are you, my child?)

“Bilkul theek Ammi.” Karan too reciprocated with the same affection.

(I am absolutely fine, Ammi.)

“Khaana khaaya?” The man smiled at this most expectant question and then shook his head and curved his lips like a kid whilst throwing a distasteful glance at the side table where his food was kept covered in a plate.

(You had your food?)

“Chal khaa abhi chup chaap se.” Zeenat scolded and as if Karan was waiting for that one full scolding of warmth he immediately picked up the plate and tightly gripped it, while keeping his eyes hooked on it. He blinked rapidly to not to let the tears escape his orbs at the tenderness he had been craving to feel.

(Now keep quiet and eat.)

Karan nodded and ate his meal while continuing with the video call and eventually after the call; he drifted into his slumber after gulping a painkiller.

However, on one side when Karan was still dozed off due to the influence of his medicine, there, on the other end of the residential area of this unit, was a troop of soldiers was all pumped up to go back to the place they have grown to address as their home and well, a certain someone’s Officer Sahiba could not wait to be home, with her home, her man.

Monami was all euphoric to meet Karan and so she thought that it would be nice to simply barge in and surprise him. Even the thought of implementing this freshly brewed plan evoked a different level of cheerfulness within her. This was her first time surprising Karan like this and that was more than enough of a reason to feel happy but the fact that many of the members of their team were not declared negative in the Covid testing. The two flying and three field officers who were absent from the mission because they were down with this very virus, were yet to test negative, and on top of it, they were now joined by yet another group of 5 officers who were in direct contact with the innumerable people they were responsible for rescuing.

It was a bittersweet feeling. At one place she was glad to be all hail and healthy because she was allowed to be back at her place but at the same time, there were members of her team who weren’t even allowed to step out of their utmost closed confinement of quarantine chambers. But heaving out a sigh, she whispered heartfelt gratitude and with a silent prayer to look after the sick, she maintained her composure back, as she continued to march her way to the changing room.

Monami picked the alternative bunch of keys of her quarters from her locker space and clutched them in between her fingers before pocketing them, she with a rushed dawdle made her way towards the place she picked the keys of.

As soon as she was in front of the door of the entrance of her place, she curled her lip ever so slightly to mask the smile that was peeking to come on the surface, she put the key in the keyhole and twisted the knob of her gate open. The moment she stepped in, she inattentively closed the door and let her midnight orbs scan the space of the living room and finding no one, she opened her shoes and socks, and then with silent steps, she went towards the room with a watchful and alert gaze and senses.

A frown settled on her countenance when her eyes fell on the sleeping figure of Karan, for it was quite an odd time for the said man to sleep and the confusion glazed her mind too with a sprout of worry when she saw the empty plate on his nightstand. But shrugging it off with a small tender smile on her face, she registered the face of this human whom though she wouldn’t admit, but longed to meet. She stood there for a couple of seconds and just stared at the serene face of her man. She had to clench her fingers in a fist as she felt an enigmatic force within her that urged her to trace the contours of his face and slide the curtain of his hair and caress his beard which made his cheek a bit more hairy than when she left him.

She uncurled her fingers and heaved out a sigh. Raking her eyes once again at his soundlessly sleeping figure, she made her way straight to the washroom to take the mandatory bath. Once done with her business, she wiped off her body and as she turned to pick up her clothes, the realization dawned upon her that she had forgotten to take her clothes with her. Thankfully, she always used to keep two pairs of undergarments in the washroom so they came in handy but then what about clothes, she thought as she clicked her tongue in her mouth.

Whilst still figuring out a way to move out, her eyes fell on the hanging pair of shorts and a t-shirt on a hook at, the back of the washroom door. She carefully took her steps and stretched her arm to take them off the hook and then she smelled it once, just to make sure they are not stinking, well aware of her husband’s lazy bathing habits. Once satisfied, she wore them, making a mental note to change out of them before Karan woke up.

Quickly getting done with her routine, Monami went towards the cabinet below the sink and took out the bottle of sanitizing liquid and the mop, and the bucket. She had some cleaning to do before she busies herself in staring at her husband, lovingly.

Monami then speedily mopped the floor and the places she touched, then washed the dirty plate of Karan, and finally let her feet cover the distance to their room. Finally, she can do the needful, uninterruptedly.

She silently settled beside Karan and allowed her fingers to gently trace his calm features. He looked effortlessly peaceful when lost in his dreamland opposite to how he looked, when awake. She then mapped her fingers to his head and tousled them, tenderly.

Impatience sank in her heart, she wanted to wake Karan and hug him, she was longing for it, since the time she had left for her mission. But she was not heartless to snatch his or anyone else’s sleep for that matter, sleep was precious and she knew it very well. She was even getting worried for his health, for she could feel that there in fact… something off.

Covering him with the quilt, she picked up her phone as she trudged towards the kitchen and called her father while taking out the jar of rice and lentils from the cabinet drawer.

“Namaste papa, kaise ho?” Monami greeted and turned her phone on speaker and kept it on the slab.

(Hello Papa, how are you?)

“Monu bacche! I am good, how are you? How was your mission?” Deepak’s voice came as soon as he heard his daughter.

“I am your soldier Papa. I am fit and fine. The mission went well too, we did it.” Deepak could not miss the evident pride which came along with her last sentence.

“Yeh toh hona he tha! Aise he meri Monu sabse best soldier thodi na hai.” Monami’s lips curved in a sweet smile as she heard her father.

(This was bound to happen. I do not say it without any reason that you are the best soldier, my child.)

“But be truthful, you sure na that you aren’t hurt anywhere?” Deepak was concerned.

Monami kept the small bowl on the slab from which she was putting rice in the bigger one to soak it. She held her phone and whispered, “No papa.” Her eyes turned misty and her voice, heavy as she continued, “Papa…I miss you.”

“I miss you too, gudiya.” Deepak said thickly. After a couple of silent seconds, he changed the topic and said, “Juhi is sleeping at the moment and Ved is busy in a meeting, otherwise I would have made you talk…”

“Okay now, no hurry and no worries. I am here only; we’ll do a video call during the dinnertime.” Monami assured and resumed her task.

After talking for some more time, she hung up. She then dialed Atul’s number.

“Hello, Namaste Papa.” Monami greeted Atul the same way she did, to Deepak.

“God bless you, beta. When did you come back, Karan didn’t say anything to us!” Atul spoke from the other end.

“It was a surprise for him too, papa.” Monami explained while chopping some onion and tomatoes.

“Oh, okay. Anyway, how are you doing beta? How was the mission?” Atul in so many ways reminded her of Deepak.

Monami’s lips curled up in a yet similar smile as she spoke, “Yes papa! I am doing fine and the mission was successful too.” She then inquired, “How are you? Is your health good now?”

“Oh puttar ji, aapke papa bhi fauji hain aur koi bhi beemari itni khatarnak nahi hai jo faujiyon ko hara sake.” Atul said triumphantly which made Monami laugh.

(My dear child, your father is an army man and no disease in the world can defeat people like us.)

“Of course.” She chuckled. And then glanced at her phone as she heard some unclear noises from the other side but before she could ask about it, a childish voice greeted her.

“Hellooo, fighter chachi.” Baby excitedly greeted on the phone.

(Aunt)

“Haww, you think I only fight, baby?” Monami dramatically said.

“Offo, aap toh dadu jaise sol-soldier ho na, toh fighter he toh huey.” Monami could envision her niece shaking her head at her failed attempt at understanding.

(Oho, aren’t you a soldier like Grandpa? That makes you a fighter only, isn’t it?)

“Hm hm, bilkul baccha.” The response from her aunt, made the little child smile in glee.

(Yes yes, absolutely kiddo.)

They talked for a few more seconds before deciding to have a video call with family at night and hung up.

Monami then quickly stirred the rice with a spoon and turned the knob off and simultaneously she added the spices in the cooker in which dal was getting cooked and covered the lid. Then going towards the sink with the strainer, she strained the water from the rice and started to put it in the casserole so that it stays warm till they eat. It was going to be an early dinner for them, or at least her.

While on the one hand, Mrs. was busy catching up with the people she was supposed to have a come-back conversation with, Mr. was up from his sleep too and after a few lazy seconds came back to what is called after sleep consciousness, he got up and took his phone to see if there was any notification from his wife and his lips twitched in displeasure when he found none.

Tossing his phone on the bed, he carefully got up and winced when the pain hit him. He supported his figure by placing his palm firmly on the wall and once sure, he took his hand off and made his way to the washroom, paying no attention to his surroundings, whatsoever.

He went to the washroom and with a solemn resolve to finally have his bath of the day, he shrugged out of his clothes and stood under the shower to let the falling water unknot all the knots in his mind and set him free. Once the water did its work, Karan’s mind finally registered the reality he was in.

Once done, he patted himself dry and wrapped the towel around his waist as he walked towards the door to pick his clothes to wear, which he hung the previous night. Since he was busy ruffling his hair to let out the excess water his eyes missed the absence of his clothes. He looked up when he could not find any fabric. His eyes squinted in obvious confusion as he was sure that the clothes were there this morning. But then shrugging it off, he walked out of the shower room and walked to their room.

As Karan’s eyes traveled across the confines of the room, he saw the closed door and now he was sure that there was indeed someone because the door was open when he fell asleep. Oh, and the delicious smell of the food being cooked and the whistle of the cooker was the biggest hint his mind absorbed. His midnight orbs glimmered with a sparkle as his mind reflected the possibility of who could be there.

Without paying any heed to his lack of clothing and he opened the door and carefully made his way out. He could hear some voices but the moment a particular voice, which he longed to hear, reached his ears, he stood still in his place. His heartbeat was definitely at a dangerous pace and his mind was blank, he gulped the lump in his throat and then walked further.

Karan stood at the threshold of the kitchen as his eyes captured the sight of his wife, his partner after a prolonged period. He simply stood there as he figured out whom she was talking to. But his eyes were stuck on her as soon as he registered that it was his clothes, his wife was dressed up in. The waistband of the shorts accentuated her waist where a layer of skin was easily visible, thanks to her tying a knot of the hem of his extra long t-shirt for her and turning it in a close substitute of a crop time. His Mrs. was looking so like his, from top to bottom as his gaze followed the length of her toned bare legs before fixating on her face.

Monami had called her her buddies after her call with baby. She was talking to Sidharth and Sanjana and simultaneously stirring the tadka she was preparing for the dal. She turned off both the knobs of the gas as she continued to talk and this was the exact time when Karan took notice of her.

“Chup karo tum dono.” Monami chided them.

(Shut up both of you.)

So basically, the crazy couple from the other side was busy showering her with ideas of how to wake Karan up and some more ideas to spend the night, which were a shame to even an ounce of decency. Sanjana had just said how amazing it would be if she’ll wake Karan by straddling on his stomach and Sidharth was even one step further when he added that this was indeed one of the sexiest ways and enough to turn on a guy. And it was on this that Monami had to finally shut them both up.

“Arrey toh isme kya? Karan he toh hai. Agar ussey nahi toh kya Mr. Bean ko uthayegi aise?” Sidharth scoffed, making Karan’s ears perk up at his mention.

(So what’s the big deal in this? It is Karan we are talking about. If not him then who are you going to wake up like this, Mr. Bean?)

“Seriously bro? Mr. Bean?” Monami rolled her eyes.

“Monu topic mat change kar. Aur na he is chirkut ke example pe jaa. Yeh toh aaj bhi kabhi kabhi doraemon dekh leta hai.” Sanjana mocked her husband. “Aur yaar tu toh aise react kar rahi hai jaise maine tujhe tere pati ko ek lap dance dene ka bola ho.” She sneered, making her husband laugh and Monami looked wide-eyed at the phone and Karan’s breath was stuck in his throat as heat scrawled on his ears.

(Monu, don’t change the topic, and don’t even think about this buffoon’s example. He still watches Doraemon at times.) (And bro you are reacting in such a way as if I have told you to give a lap dance to your husband.)

Monami was appalled at the shameless best friends she had. “Tum dono kya kahin bhi shuru ho jaate ho kya? Aur maine tumse koi advice maangi…” She tried to reprimand them but was cut off.

(What are you guys? You can start with your shamelessness anywhere? Moreover, I did not ask for advice from you…)

“Ohh chup kar kamini. Dekh pehle toh best friends ki advice humseha bina maange he aati hai. Phir jitni late lateefi aur sharafat ali ki sharmo haya hai na tere andar, usme tujhe humara he sahara hai. Karan will literally thank us.” Sidharth stated the facts which according to him were in the duty list of a best friend.

(Oh shut up, moron. Look, first of all, you do not have to ask for a piece of advice from your best friend, it comes automatically. Then the way you are so slow and the amount of coyness that resides in your Ms. Too Modest soul, you are dependent on us only.)

“Chal chal… ave” Monami just started but as she sensed a gaze on her, she turned and there was Karan, staring at her amused. Hence, the last words barely survived.

(Oh get…lost.)

The moment their gazes found each other’s, everything in this moving world became senseless to them. It was just them, in their own world, in a conscious proximity. Monami didn’t know when she abruptly hung up the call nor did she know when she took feeble steps in his direction.

All the pangs of longing and yearning which earlier seemed to wreck their patience were now as still as water. Their feelings were now on the shore, of togetherness. Karan and Monami did nothing except silently gazing at each other, taking in all that the tranquility between them was bestowing them with.

Karan finally took a small step, to be in her personal space after taking wordless permission from her. He raised his arm and cupped his face with all the softness he could gather and caressed her cheek with his thumb, making Monami close her eyes.

Monami’s eyes opened and her lips curved up in a smile when she felt his breath hit her forehead before his lips decided to whisper a sweet kiss there. She extended her arms and held his biceps, leaning on him. Her fingers then left his upper arms as they escaped from the gap in between to hide in his congenial warmth, that felt like home.

Sensing the moments, Karan’s strong arms enveloped her frame against his as he pulled her close. They basked in the uncorrupted, unrushed, uninhibited comfort that cocooned them in their safe and secure quilt of familiarity.

Their reunion was nothing like they both expected. It was everything that their soul longed for. An intimate affection, a touch that reflected home, a presence that bridged the void their hearts were filled with, the craving for care that they wanted to dissolve themselves in, and a moment that belonged to them, in all the senses, by all means.

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4k+ words.

I hope you all liked the chapter. Do tell me your opinion.

I'm sorry since it took way too long! Firstly I had a badddd writers block. Then my college searching and official work took time.

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Much love,
Nehal.