Mahajan's

December 2019

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                 (Monami's room)

                            •°•°•°•

Warm, homely and cozy are the words that would define Monami's room perfectly. Its simplicity and the feel of belongingness that resides in the room even when more than half of time Monami is not even here, is remarkable. And if you ask Monami, she would thank her father for maintaining it even in her absence. Maintaining because the room has a lot of plants that keep it lively.

After having the home tour, Karan and Monami were left alone to spend some time together in her room. The moment Karan entered into her space, he was held together with the same warm vibe too.

The room is in the shades of white and brown, with the hints of green in form of plants. In the centre of the room, infront of the glass that holds the green plants in the balcony, there's the bed placed with a ancient vintage chair placed on its left with two jute brown ottoman pouffe, just infront of the sliding door of closet. There is a study table in the right of the bed, adjacent to the door. The wall infront of the bed holds some of the best captured memories of Monami till date.

Monami asked him to sit on the bed while she takes the ancient chair that was kept near, but the gentleman in him denied and asked her to do the opposite. Thus, he was seated on the chair and she on the bed.

After settling in the silence for a few seconds, which Karan utilised to glance at her room, he began, "Monami, your room is homely. It's beautiful."Karan said, still watching the room with impressed eyes.

Monami saw his expressions and it give a fuzzy feeling inside that this guy is appreciating her space and too not out of a mere obligation. Because the expressions on his face gave was not rocket science to understand.

"Thank you, Karan. It is solely because of Papa. In my absence he is the one who makes sure that this room is well maintained." Monami said with a smile. "You know I get to spend very less time in here, but this room... nothing major changed over the last two decades and why because I am still very much in love with the space I've spend my later years of childhood and teenage in." It came out in a daze, she was lost for a moment while gazing her own room.

Karan glanced at her when she said, what she said. And he could clearly read behind those lines and the expressions, it was the longing she felt when she was away. How he could read behind those lines, is out of his mind. But it was probably because he too felt the same when he was away from his home for tours and stuff.

"You know I also feel the same when I am away, for my game. Home is definitely the comfortable space, but room is something more than a home, it's an emotion. More than anyone, these four walls are the ones that have seen us in our most vulnerable as well as the most insane state. These walls are a part of our sneaky night outs as well as our secrets that we need to protect from the world." Karan said with a lost smile on his face.

Monami was looking at him in amazement since she had no idea how he decoded her emotions so effortlessly, because even if she said about her room in a bit daze, her tone didn't reveal much.

"Karan, I don't know how you comprehended it so well. I'm literally bewildered. Aur mere papa ke baad main pehli baar kisi aise se mili hoon jo kaafi had tak vaisa he sochta hai jaisa mai." Monami said what she felt after hearing Karan.

(And after my father, I'm meeting someone for the very first time who on some extent thinks in the exact same manner as I do.)

Karan passed her a humble smile. He felt really good when she not only acknowledged what he said but also gave him her opinion. But what made him happier were the fact that she gave him an insight of what she felt and the way she mentioned her father while saying her thoughts to him. Why happier? Well it's not every day that a girl appreciates you in line with her father.

"I guess because we undergo the same feelings when we step out of our comfort. Moreover, no doubt that home can be a place or a person what's also true is that it is something or someone where your heart is happy. So yeah." Karan finished, raising his shoulders a bit.

"Totally." Monami said.

"Since you spend most of time at air base, how is it there? It must be somewhere close to your heart?" Karan said, taking the conversation further.

Monami looked at him and with a small sarcastic smile and then looking in his eyes, she said, "The place where we stay and the people with whom we stay, we cannot afford to get attached with the same. There is no doubt that when you are with some definite group of people for years, you develop a bond...even I share a bond with few people but that's it. We look out for each other, but then there are a lot of limitations as well. I mean it's like that we are not a team or someone has forced us to, in certain way yes but then again keeping our personal differences aside, we are always a team. And about the place, it hardly matters to us. Because the only thing that matters to us is that we carry out our responsibility towards our country to the best of our abilities." She finished with an expression that could not be discerned by Karan and looked away from him.

Karan was a little taken aback by the tone with which she said the entire thing, for yes this was not the tone he was used to, in these meetings and secondly because he was sure that there is something more than what she is letting out.

"Uh, toh aap ki posting abhi kahan hai? If only you can share this." Karan said breaking the awkward silence that settled in.

(Uh, so where are you posted currently?)

Monami recollected how she spoke to him with a tone, he is unfamiliar with but it is something she has grown accustomed to. She wanted to say something about how she sounded, but she couldn't bring herself to for there were a lot of unsaid thoughts that were better, if they remain the same.

Monami looked back at him and said, "I'm posted in Pune, until the next two years."

Karan squinted his eyes a bit and asked with confusion, "Oh. Uske baad? I mean are you guys aware about your next posting?

(After that?)

Monami didn't know how to answer his question, for this was a very sour topic for her. But the she began saying ,"Uske baad toh aayega he nahi kyuki...

(There won't be any next time since...)

Monami's sentence was interrupted in between by the knock on the door, making both Karan and Monami stand up from their places. And within seconds, the door opened revealing Vedant on the other side, tilting his head a little in.

"Haan Ved?" Monami asked.

"Di, sab aap dono ko neeche bula rahe hain, bas khaana he lagana hai." Vedant said, coming in the room.

(Di, everyone is calling you downstairs, dinner is almost ready to be served.)

"Haan chalo", Monami said but then looked at Karan who blinked his eyes with a little nod, confirming what she said.

(Yes, let's go.)

With this, the trio made a move to go downstairs. Vedant gave a teasing look to Monami, making his eyebrows wiggle but was a greeted with a glare in return, as if asking him to stop with his goofiness, but of course it was blatantly ignored.

Monami looked at Karan and nodded at him to walk first on the stairs, followed be her and then Vedant.

As they reached in the living room, Monami scurried towards kitchen with Vedant to help their mother with heating the food and placing on the dining table. When they entered in, they saw Barkha helping Juhi in the arrangements.

Sensing the footsteps, the ladies in the kitchen spared them a glance and Barkha smiled at the duo, Monami returned back the favour and said in a soft voice, "Di, aap baitho na sabke saath aaraam se, mumma ke paas main aur ved hain."

(Di, you sit with everyone and relax, I and Vedant will help mumma.)

Barkha softly chided Monami and said, "Come on Monami, mai sabke saath bahar baithu aur tum sab andar kaam karo, aise thodi na chalega."

(Come on Monami, you all are doing the work and I sit leisurely, it is not happening.)

Monami gave her a polite smile for her humbleness. Then she turned towards Vedant and said to him, "Ved yahan par hum teeno dekh lenge tu jaa aur living room mei sofa arrange karle near table and take chairs from the dining if it is required, khaana wahi khayenge sabhi."

(Ved, we three will manage here you go and arrange the sofas near the table and take extra chairs from dining if it is required, everyone will have food their only.)

Vedant gave her a confirming nod with a yes and made a dash to living area, because the dining table could hold only 4 people on it, so the arrangements were made in the living room if there are guests.

After the sofas were aligned with a little help from the Shergill brothers even after Vedant's refusal, the ladies came with the casseroles and bowls of food and placed them on the centre table. Vedant brought in the plates and smaller bowls, along with spoons and then he and Monami served the elders and allowed the younger ones to fill their plate themselves.

Having meal with the people who gives you happy vibes, is such a mood. And just like the statement everyone was in a good mood, enjoying a scrumptious meal.

In between some light tittle - tattle, Param broke the slight chattering calling for Monami. "Monami", He said in a bit loud voice since Monami was sitting on the other side of table.
Monami looked up from the plate and saw the owner of the voice, "Ji Bhaiya?" She said with a slight nod.

(Yes bhaiya.)

"Kaisa chal raha hai tumhara kaam? Kahan par posted ho abhi?" Param made an attempt to know more about her and strike a conversation as well as he is the only one who hadn't talked to Monami much.

(How is your work? Where are you posted currently?)

"Sab accha chal raha hai Bhaiya, abhi toh Pune posted hoon. Aap bataiye, aap kaise hain?" She almost stopped after giving her answer but the she felt she should also ask something in return as a polite gesture.

(Everything is going well; I'm posted in Pune currently. You say, how are you?)

Param smiled and said, "Hum toh bilkul theek hain. Aur protected aur safe hain because of you guys." He took a pause and looked at his father and remembered when the two siblings and their mother had to wait for long to meet and spend some time with Atul. It was always Nation before self for him, and he grew up in the arms of gratitude and courteousness. He then asked, "By the way how many years officer, since you're soaring up in the sky?"

(We are absolutely fine, as well as safe and protected, because of you guys.)

Monami smiled at how this family is so delightful and effortless to talk with. "It's almost 11 years, Bhaiya."

Karan was left in amazement and awe after hearing this answer, he never knew about this piece of information. He was keenly observing as how she was having a talk with his brother. More than anything, he felt her aura captivating. It was like when she is having a talk, she demands attention.

After having some more chit chat and a few rounds of laughter, the elders decided to call this a day. When they were leaving, Barkha poked Karan a lot as to be a man enough and ask Monami for a date the next day and Karan was a little under confident, but nonetheless he walked towards Monami who was standing near the dining table, keeping her phone. Meanwhile Barkha made sure that no one disturbs them.

"Uh Monami". Monami was about to turn and hurry towards the main door but as she turned; she was greeted by Karan's voice who was standing at a respectful distance from her.

"Haan?" She replied with a little confusion in her voice.

"Uh I know that you'll be busy with your best friend's wedding functions from tomorrow and although we'll meet, it won't be really possible to sit and talk for long. So I was just hoping if we can meet tomorrow morning?" He asked with a little hope.

"Uh, we can. But then it has to be really early, because I'll have to leave by 11 for the venue." She was actually looking forward to meet him, because they were supposed to have the main conversation yet and amidst the wedding celebrations, albeit they will spend a lot of together, but the time is not appropriate for having such conversations. Besides, if they they're quite acquainted with each other, then the days of happiness will be spent in more comfort.

"Not at all an issue, even I was about to ask the same. Around 6:30, near FS?" He asked.

"We can proceed with it." She said with a little formalness in her voice, because it is the way she generally respond to the query. But the deed was done and she looked at Karan, who was looking at her with amusement. So she corrected herself quickly, "I mean done. And we should go now; everyone would be waiting for us." Saying this, she walked with Karan keeping no expressions on her face, although Karan was enjoying this but didn't made a comment that will make the vibe uncomfortable.

The moment they were outside, they greeted each other's families and bid their adieus for the day. Deepak didn't forget to remind them of the invite of the next day for Sidharth's wedding festivities.

With this another day passed, with a main leads taking a step more towards each other. Oh and what a meeting time they have have selected to talk about such a serious issue is commendable!

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(Living room.

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Much love,
Nehal.