OUT IN THE OPEN:

"Kya hua?" Monami asked, as Karan closed the door behind him.

The cadets and trainers were going on an undercover mission. A year into the training, it wasn't the first time the trainers had involved the cadets in a mission. Field experience was unparalleled, Karan had explained on their first mission. The trainers, of course, chose the missions they were allowed on, and the group of cadets who would be allowed.

He slipped an arm across her waist, pulling her closer, and Monami smiled a little, staring up at him. She frowned in confusion when he didn't smile back, just staring quietly at her.

"Kya hua?" She asked again.

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, sighing. "Agar kuch gadhbadh ho gayi toh tum logon mein se kisi ki jaan bhi jaa sakti hai. Yeh dangerous hai." He sighed again. "Shayad tum logon ko naa hi lekar jaana behtar hoga."

"Kuch nahi hoga. Tum, Sanju, Faizi, teenon hoge. Aur tum hamesha har mission se pehle itna hi sochte ho aur hum hamesha theek hote hain."

He sighed, nodding. "Tum saath mein rehna", he said sternly. "Mere saath, mere paas. Okay?"

She tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, mere Khadoos Shergill. Tumhaare paas rahoongi." She leaned up, kissing his cheek, and he smiled a little.

"Taiyaar ho jao", he muttered. He leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth, before releasing her. He sighed a little, watching her leave, before getting ready himself.

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

Karan pulled Monami behind himself, as he pulled the trigger. It had all gone down south. It wasn't supposed to come to guns and bullets. It was supposed to be a short undercover operation, in and out with the information. A sneeze, of all things, had messed it up.

His eyes flicked around to the cadets, all hiding behind things, as he had ordered as soon as the first bullet had been fired. They were unarmed. His gun clicked empty.

Karan took a step back, clutching Monami's arm and pulling her behind some boxes, taking cover. He pulled out a magazine from his pocket, loading his gun again as he peeked out.

"Monami", he said, ducking again. "Hilna mat."

She nodded. He rolled out of the hiding spot, pulling the trigger again. The man fell down, a hole in his forehead, and he glanced around for any that was conscious, his senses working on overtime.

He straightened up when no one moved, letting his arms fall back, glancing around.

"Chalo yahan se", he ordered, gesturing for the cadets to stand up. "Siddharth, pen drive hain, na, tumhaare paas?"

"Yes, sir", he said, nodding, holding it up.

"Good. Move out, everyone", he ordered. "Go, go, go!"

He glanced around, gesturing for them to get out. He reached out, as Monami walked to him, his fingertips inches from her, his eyes on the rest of the cadets, as Faizi and Sanju led them out.

A gunshot rang out.

He raised his gun instinctively, head whipping to face Monami as she let out a strangled noise. His gaze immediately registered the blood stain growing on her white top and his blood ran cold.

He pulled the trigger, the bullet lodging itself in the head of the half-conscious man who had shot her.

Karan's gaze slid over to Monami, pain flooding in her eyes as her hands pulled away from her wound to see her bloody hands.

"Monu!" Siddharth yelled.

Her knees buckled and Karan snapped out of his daze, darting to her and catching her before she could hit the ground.

"Monami", Karan muttered, cradling her gently. He pressed down on her wound, and she gasped lightly, taking in a strangled breath. "Monami. Monami, you... you got to be okay."

"Doctor Madam", Bala said, as they all ran back to her. Faizi and Sanju raised their guns, eyes darting around.

"Monami", he muttered, fear clutching him as her eyes drooped. His arms slid down under her, lifting her and she let out a pained moan. Blood dripped from her wound as he carried her, staining the dirty floor underneath them.

He placed her gently in the jeep, clutching her hand as her eyes slid close. "Monami", he cried out desperately, his fingers searching for a pulse. "Monami, please, aankhein khuli rakho. Please. I love you, Monami! I love you."

"Karan", Faizi said, and he glanced back, tears blurring his vision. He kept a hand on his shoulder. "Use hospital ki zaroorat hai. Wo theek ho jayegi. Chalo."

He nodded, letting go of her hand and darting to the drivers' seat.

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

"Tum theek ho?" Karan muttered, a day later, a hand gently cupping her cheek.

She nodded, leaning into his touch. She closed her eyes, feeling the drowsy feeling from the painkiller and sedative.

"Monami..." He muttered. "Uh... sabko humaare baare mein pata chal gaya."

Her eyes snapped open. "What? Kaise? Aur-" She winced as the pain in her torso flared up and Karan straightened up, eyes widening.

"Aaram se, aaram se. Easy, Monami", he said. "Easy."

She held up a hand, and he helped her sit up. "Kaise, Karan?"

He glanced away, sighing. He took her hand in his. "Main darr gaya tha, Monami", he muttered. "Mujhe... mujhe laga maine tumhe... maine tumhe kho diya. 'I love you' bole bina raha nahi gaya."

"Main theek hoon", she muttered, squeezing his hand back.

He nodded, kissing her forehead. Monami tilted her head, eyeing his disheartened expression.

"Kya hua?" She asked.

He shook his head, looking down. "Monami, main... mujhe... mujhe laga maine tumhe kho diya", he said, his voice cracking a little. "I thought I lost you."

"Karan", she said gently, pulling him into a hug and he buried his face in her shoulder, clutching her close. "Main theek hoon. I am fine." They pulled away, and he cupped her cheeks gently, kissing her forehead again.

He leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers, and their eyes slid close.

"Sir ji", Sanju said, opening the door and they both pulled away. The rest of them piled in and Monami blushed slightly at Sid's teasing expression.

"#Hospital mein?" Chitra teased.

"Aap dono kahin bhi shuru ho jaate ho, na?" Koel said.

"Doctor Madam ko goli lagi aur Karan Bhai ji toh wahan bhi shuru ho gaye", Bala said. "Pyaar ka izhaar."

"Wo toh already kar chuka hai, gufa mein. Sach mein kahin bhi shuru ho jaate ho, na tum?" Faizi said.

"Main sazaa bhi kahin bhi deni shuru kar deta hoon", Karan said. "Yeh toh hospital bhi hai. Saath ke saath admit ho jaana."

The teasing expressions slid off, and they all shut up, looking away from Karan.

"Monami", Suman ji said, diverting the topic. "Kaisi hai tu? Theek hai?"

She smiled, nodding. "Main theek hoon. Bas thode sa rest karungi toh thode din mein back on my feet."

"#Awesome, Monami", Chitra said happily. "Tum jaldi se theek ho jao and academy waapas aa jao."

Karan held out a glass of water, holding up a tablet. Monami made a face, shaking her head. "Kadwi hai", she protested.

"Haan, toh saath mein Karan Sir se ek kiss maang le", Sid teased. "Muaah."

"Sid!" Monami said, scowling, her cheeks reddening. "You mad or what?"

"Boyfriend hai tumhaare, Monami", Koel said, chuckling. "Ek kiss toh maang hi sakti ho."

"Hume bhi #dekhni hai", Chitra said.

"Oh hello", Karan said. "Koi movie chal rahi hai? Hume bhi dekhni hai. Chalo sab! Waapas academy jao. Aur tum, Monami. Chup chaap dawaai lo."

He gave her a stern look, and she kept a finger of her lips, accepting the medicine with the other hand.

"Taaki Doctor Madam ke saath akele rahein?" Bala said.

"Bala, kamra pasand kar le", Karan said, keeping the glass Monami had drunk from aside. "Hospital mein. Tujhe main goli maar deta hoon. Yahin admit ho jaana. Chalo sab waapas."

"Girlfriend ka bhi kya faida jab mood toh waise hi rehna hai", Koel muttered, as they all went to the jeep.

"Humaare saath #trainer mode mein hi rahenge?" Chitra said. "Maine toh #dream dekh liya tha."

"Kya kya sapne dekh liye?" Bala said.

"Kam training, kam daant, kam sazaa", Prem ji said, and they all smiled dreamily.

"Par Karan Sir ko dekhkar toh nahi lagta ki wo aisa kuchh karenge", Koel said, and their smiles slid off to sour expressions. "Wo toh Monami par bhi hukum hi chalate hain. Girlfriend par kaun hukum chalata hai?"

"Sir ji, aap ne hume bhi naa batayo?" Sanju said, back in the room, arms crossed. "Faizi Sir ji ko bhi naa?" Faizi glanced away, rubbing his neck and Sanju stared at him. "Sir ji, aapko Karan Sir ji aur Monami ke baare mein pato tha?"

"Sanju, tumhe sach mein lagta hai Karan akele kuchh kar sakta hai? Hum nahi hote, in Janaab ko ehsaas hi nahi hota", Faizi said proudly. "Humaari wajah se hi toh inki love story aage badi hai."

Sanju whirled to Sid. "Tujhe bhi pato tha, Chirkut?"

"Of course", he said. "Monu meri bro hai. Sabse pehle mujhe call karke bataaya tha. No secrets between us, Sanju."

"Sir ji, phir humne ka paap karo tha jo aapne hume naa bataaya?" Sanju said.

"Aisa nahi hai, Sanjana", Monami said.

"Tu humaare kamre mein rehto hai humaare saath. Tune bhi nahi bataaya? Sir ji, yeh sahi nahi kiya aapne. Hume jhingooron ke saath bataaya?" Sanju said, crossing her arms. "Aur tu, Siddharth? Tune bhi nahi bataaya. Sab ko pato tha."

"Sanju, sirf Faizi aur Siddharth ko pata tha", Karan placated.

"Aur Papa aur Aneesh", Monami added, and Sanju stared at them in disbelief.

"Uss chipkali jaise doctor ko bhi pato tha? Sir ji!"

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