Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 8- Consuming Memories

CHAPTER 8

CONSUMING MEMORIES

"Sahab, pakki khabar hai", Laxman said. "Wo Eupho waala pub hai, na?"

Karan's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Euphoria?"

"Haan, Sahab. Wo hi. Angrezi naam. Sunne mein aaya hai, wahan drugs beche jaate hain. Aas paas ke saare sheharon mein yahan se supply karte hain." He leaned in closer. "Aur bataate hain. Yeh bhi sunne mein aaya hai, koi bahut upar ke log dhanda chalaate hain."

"Upar ke log matlab?"

"Yeh pakka nahi keh sakta. Par hamle badh rahe hain, na? Apun ko badhi... aise strong feeling aa rahi hai. Yeh aatankwaadi waala locha hai."

He hummed. "Aur kuchh pata hai?"

"Nahi, Sahab. Par jo bolega, apun wo information laakar dega."

"Abhi ke liye, bas ek kaam kar." Laxman nodded."Yeh Euphoria par nazar rakh. Tujhe smartphone diya tha maine? Photo kheench. Andar bahar, jitni bhi kheench sakta hai. Videos bana. Par risk nahi lena hai. Safe rehna. Kisi ke peechhe jaane ki zaroorat nahi. Koi bhi problem ho, immediately mujhe call karna. Apne doston ko bhi kaam par laga."

"Ho, Sahab."

"Chal, jaa."

Karan pulled his phone out. "Faizi. Informer se kuchh information mili hai. Main 15 minute mein academy pahunch raha hoon. Tu mujhe Batra Sir ke cabin mein mil."

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"Tum logon ko spy ke baare mein koi aur information mili?" Colonel Batra asked.

"No, Sir. Karan ne jitni files analyze kari aur humne jitne logon se baat kari, un mein se kisi se bhi kuchh bhi aisa nahi pata chala jisse yeh lage ki academy mein koi spy hai", Faizi said. "Humne pehle security check karwaaya tha, par personally nahi."

He nodded. "Since humaare paas koi evidence nahi hai, hum yeh spy waali theory drop karte hain. Agar koi aur evidence milta hai iss theory ko support karne ke liye, hum ise dobara pickup karenge."

"Yes sir."

"Tum dono apne informers ko iss Euphoria ke baare mein pata lagaane ko kaho. Ek baar hume yeh confirm ho jaaye ki yeh terrorists se related hai, hum tab action lenge. Otherwise, we'll hand it to the local police."

"Sir."

"Dismissed."

The two saluted him, before walking out of the cabin.

"Ab toh iss cabin se hi nafrat hone lagi hai",Faizi said, typing on his phone. "Jab bhi andar jaate hain, kaam ki khabar hi milti hai."

Karan rolled his eyes. "Toh aur kya, teri shaadi ka card denge?"

"Very funny." Faizi lowered his phone. "Informers ko toh inform kar diya. At least, jab tak yeh information nahi dete, thoda kaam toh kam hai. Aur Sunday bhi aa raha hai. Finally, aaram karenge."

He hummed. "Main bhi ghar jaunga. Yahan aane ke baad, ghar jaa hi nahi paaya. Bhaiya daant rahe the kal."

"Kal? Kal kab?"

He pushed open the door to his room. "Tab hi, jab tune Koel ke saath flirt karne ke liye, mujhe dhang se khaana bhi nahi khaane diya." Faizi sighed happily, plopping down on his bed. He raised an eyebrow. "Sach mein pasand karne laga hai kya tu use? Kya chal raha hai?"

"Janaab, wo kaafi alag hai. Pasand ka toh pata nahi, par achhi zaroor lagi. Interesting hai. Waqt bitaana achha laga hume uske saath."

Karan sat down on his own bed. "Cadet hai wo. Yeh dhyaan rakhna. Personal life ke chakkar mein professional life mein farak nahi aana chahiye."