GALATFEHMI:

Karan tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, caressing her face softly with his thumb.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she tugged lightly, pulling him closer. He leaned down, kissing her forehead gently.

Movement caught his eye, and he turned his head slightly, his gaze scanning the area. It was a fairly secluded area, and at this time of the hour, there shouldn't be any people around.

A bright colored shirt caught his eye, and his jaw clenched a little as he recognized the familiar built of Aneesh.

"Kya hua?" Monami asked, scanning the area as well. She probably couldn't see him though, because of the unnatural angle.

"Kuch nahi", he said, a devious idea springing in his mind. His eyes traced her features, and he leaned closer, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. His head ducked down, and he kissed her neck gently.

She let out a slight moan above him, and his arms snaked around her waist, pushing her against the wall gently. He pulled away slightly, meeting her eyes, and leaning closer.

She stared back, her cheeks reddening lightly in a blush and she kept a finger on his lips, halting him. "Patience... Agent Shergill." She stared at him shyly, a hand on his chest. "Late ho raha hai. So jaana chahiye."

His gaze flicked to Aneesh, who was watching with a clenched jaw and fisted hands. He bent down, picking her up in his arms, and she laughed a little, hands around his neck.

"Karan, koi dekh lega", she said, glancing around.

"Tumhaare pair mein chot lagi hai", he gave her an excuse and her smile widened. She reached up, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Phir toh tumhe mujhe room tak chodhkar aana hi chahiye", she said, lightly trailing a finger down his face.

"Jo hukum", he said, walking to her room.

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

Aneesh entered the mess, where the cadets were all lounging around, talking about random things. Faizi and Sanju listened quietly as well, occasionally pitching in their opinions.

"Dr. Aneesh, aap itne pareshaan kyun lag rahe hain?" Suman ji asked.

He suppressed a smile of victory. He shook his head. "Kuch nahi", he said.

"Kuch samasya hai toh bataiye. Hum sab milkar pareshaani ka hal nikaalenge", Prem ji said.

"Wo... actually, maine... Karan Sir aur Monami ko... ek saath kamre mein dekha tha", he said. "Abhi abhi."

They looked at each other, and Aneesh eyed them, unsure of what they were thinking.

"Haan, toh wo dono toh #friends hain, na?" Chitra asked. "Sid bhi toh Monami ke #room mein bahut baar jaata hai. Is mein pareshaan hone ki kya baat hai?"

"Matlab... never mind."

"Nahi, nahi, bol", Sanju said. She seemed ready to pull out her gun and use him as target practice. "Ke keh raho tha tu? Baat adhuri nahi chodhte."

"Wo... wo hug kar rahe the aur... aur kiss rahe the", Aneesh said. "Aur phir, bed..."

"Aneesh, tumhe pata hai, na, tum kya keh rahe ho?" Faizi asked.

"Haan, #big deal hai yeh", Chitra said.

"Aur kar bhi rahe the, toh aise sab ke saamne kyun bol rahe ho tum?" Sid said. "Unka personal matter hai."

"Tumne hi toh poochha pareshaan kyun ho?"

"Haan, toh je wo yeh sab kar bhi raho hain, toh tu kaahe ke laane pareshaan ho raho hai?" Sanju asked.

"Wo... actually..."

"Aneesh, iss baat ka kya saboot hai aapke paas?" Suman ji asked. "Aise Karan Sir ji aur Monami ke baare mein yeh sab baatein bolna achha nahi hai."

"Ek kaam karte hain", Faizi said. "Hum jaakar khud hi poochh lete hain. Hume poora vishwaas hai ki Aneesh ko koi galatfehmi hui hai."

Sid immediately nodded in agreement. They might not know what was happening exactly, but they knew their best friends inside out. They were dating for a total of 2 weeks. The most the two might have done is a kiss, and Sid was doubtful about that too.

'Yeh dono abhi bhi Monami ke kamre mein hi hone chahiye', he thought. 'Karan itni jaldi nahi jayega. Yeh toh aur bhi better hai.'

"Theek hai", he agreed, acting a little reluctant.

Faizi discreetly took his phone out, texting Karan as they all walked to the girls' dorm. 'Karan, tum kahan ho?'

The reply was immediate, and Faizi didn't even need to read the message to know he wasn't with Monami. 'Kamre mein. Kyun?'

'Kiske kamre mein? Aur Monami tumhaare saath hai?'

'Main humaare kamre mein hoon, aur Monami apne mein hai. Kya hua hai?'

'Aakar batate hain. Hum sambhaal lete hain sab kuch. Abhi ke liye bas Monami ke kamre se door rehna.'

Karan replied with a 'thumbs up' and Faizi pocketed his phone back.

"Distraction ki zaroorat hai?" Sid muttered to him and Faizi shook his head.

"Karan apne kamre mein hi hai, aur Monami apne mein", he muttered back. "Isko sach mein koi galatfehmi hi hui hai."

They all paused, before Sanjana hesitantly peeked in. She looked back at the cadets, before pushing open the door. Monami, of course, was the only one in, tidying her bed and clearly, getting ready to go to sleep.

"Kya hua?" She asked. "Aap sab yahan?"

"Karan kahan hai?" Aneesh asked.

"Mujhe nahi pata. Aneesh, tum... tum mujhse kyun poochh rahe ho? Mujhe kaise pata hoga?"

"Monami, Aneesh keh raha tha ki tu aur Karan Sir ji... bistar par..." Suman ji said.

Her eyes widened, and her eyes darted to Aneesh, glaring at him. She looked at the rest. "Aisa kuch nahi hai!"

"Hume bhi #yahi laga tha, Monami", Chitra said. "Zaroor Aneesh ko koi #misunderstanding hui hogi."

"Par tumhe itni badhi baat kehne se pehle ek baar pushtikaran toh karni chahiye thi", Prem ji said.

"Push-what?" Sid asked.

"Confirmation", Faizi filled in.

"Haan, karna chahiye tha. Aap se yeh umeed nahi thi", Bala said.

"Chalo, ho gaya saara naatak?" Sanju asked. "Sab jhingoor jao, aur apne apne kamre mein se jao. Faizi Sir ji, hum bhi sote hain."

They all dispersed, nodding. "Sanju madam ne Doctor sahab ko bhi jhingoor kaha", Bala said, and Aneesh glared at them, as everyone chuckled.

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

Monami crossed her arms, blocking his path out of the way. Sid rested his elbow on her shoulder, raising an eyebrow as well.

"Baad mein baat karte hain, Monami", Aneesh said. "Abhi thoda kaam hai." He turned around, coming face to face with Karan and Faizi.

"Doc, itna kya busy ho?" Karan asked. "Abhi toh dispensary bhi khaali hai. Siddharth, darwaaza band karo."

"Lock kar dena", Faizi said. "Pata nahi kaun kya kya dekh le, aur samajh le. Nahi?"

"Copy that", Sid said, shutting the door and sliding the lock on.

"Toh, doc, kya bol rahe the aap?" Karan said. "Main aur Monami... one bed? Kuch aisa sa hi bol rahe the, na?"

"Wo... wo mujhe galatfehmi ho gayi thi", Aneesh said. "I'm... I'm sorry."

"Galatfehmi ho bhi gayi toh sabke saamne bolne ki kya zaroorat thi, bro?" Sid asked. "Tum seedha Monu se bhi toh poochh sakte ho?"

"Haan, tum dono toh college ke friends ho", Faizi agreed. "Old friends."

"Tum log kehna kya chahte ho?" Aneesh asked.

"Tum batao, Aneesh", Monami said. "Tum kya karna chahte the kal? Yeh toh pata hai tumhe ki main aur Karan ek saath hain, toh phir sabko yeh bataane ka kya point tha?"

"Wo... wo..."

"Aur yeh bol rahe the tum sabko, Aneesh?" She asked, taking a step forward threateningly, and Aneesh swallowed a little at her fierce eyes. "Bolo! Tum... tum mere baare mein yeh sab keh rahe the? Wo bhi sabke saamne?"

"Tum toh dost ho uske", Faizi said. "Tum yeh kaise kar sakte ho?"

"Answer me, Aneesh!" She demanded. "Mujhe lag raha tha ki shayad Karan ko hi koi galatfehmi thi tumhaare baare mein, par ab lag raha hai ki wo sahi hi tha. Tum mere baare mein yeh sab kuch kaho, maine yeh socha bhi nahi tha!"

Sid raised his eyebrows, watching interestedly as Monami slapped him straight in the face.

"Ooh", Faizi said, as Aneesh stumbled a little, clutching his red cheek.

"What the hell, Monami?"

"Yahi toh main tumse poochh rahi hoon. What the hell, Aneesh?" She asked, slapping him again.

The other three men watched in interest and satisfaction as Monami walked closer, giving him a few more slaps. His face was red by then, and he was pressed against a wall.

He pushed her back, and she instinctively punched his nose, his nose cracking. Sid hissed in sympathy as blood flowed out of his nose.

"Bolo, na!" She shouted. "Kyun bola yeh sab tumne?"

"Kyunki main pyaar karta hoon tumse!" He snapped back. "Aur yeh Karan humaare beech aa raha hai. Pehle bhi ise hataane ki koshish kari thi maine, par yeh phir bhi bach gaya, uss cave ke time."

Karan's fist found his face, and he fell to the ground. "Teri wajah se agar Monami ko kuch ho jaata, toh tadpa tadpa kar maarta tujhe", he hissed.

"Tum paagal ho!" Monami screeched, kicking him in the stomach. "Karan humaare beech nahi aaya hai, tum mere aur Karan ke beech mein aane ki koshish kar rahe ho. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki tum itna neeche bhi gir sakte ho, Aneesh." She kicked him again and again and he groaned in pain. "How dare you! Karan ko maarne ki koshish kari tumne! Aur mere baare mein yeh rumors spread kar rahe ho tum. Main trust karti thi tum par."

"Monu, bas", Sid said, pulling her back.

She glared at him, and Karan leaned down, clutching his collar. "Doctor, aapka career, zindagi toh barbaad ho hi chuki hai ab. Koi bhi aap jaise insaan ko job nahi dega. Par ek aur baat sun lijiye. Monami meri hai. Tujhe dost maanti thi wo, teri parwaah karti thi, usse khush rehta. Ab job, career, ladki sab gaya tere paas se, aur ab jail mein rehna. I hope you have a good life, doc. Oh sorry. Wo toh ab hoga nahi."

"Chalo", Faizi said. "Batra Sir ko bhi bata dete hain ab sab kuch. Unhe bhi thoda toh entertainment milega iss academy mein."

"Bro", Sid said, leaning over. "Tujhe hamesha yeh alien types hi kyun pasand karte hain? Pehle, yeh Khadoos Shergill aur phir yeh Aneesh." He looked her up and down, before gasping dramatically. "Tu khud toh alien nahi hai?"

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