Weekend is here and all the cadets are excited for their first official off and freedom from classes.

"I am so excited we will be finally able to enjoy Deolali without reporting our trainers about our visit." Aman, one of the cadets said excitedly.

"Where is Monami..??" questioned cadet Suman.

"How does it matter she might not want this off or whatever, let us all leave" Aman walked off from the gates of the academy and other cadets followed him.

***

Karan is in his jeep, when he spots Monami looking for other cadets. He jumps down from the jeep and walks towards Monami.

"All the other cadets have left cadet Monami" Karan snaps her fingers in front of her.

"You.. I.. I didn't know about that.." Monami replies timidly.

"Shall I drop you somewhere ..??"

"I have very little idea about Deolali. But there is a park" Monami slips a chit out of her bag and shows Karan "Can you drop me here .. my.. my.. someone is coming to meet me here"

"Sure hop in the jeep"

Monami gets in the jeep.

Monami struggles with the belt and Karan notices it. He bends forward to help her and mistakenly grabs her hand instead of the belt. He looks into her eyes and she slowly frees her hand from his grip and the belt and gulps down her saliva, blinks her eyes shying away. Karan gets into his senses and buckled the seat belt.

An awkward silence is crept in the jeep, which they decide to maintain not trying to fade it away even by music. Karan drops her to the park.

***

"Hello, who is on the other side" Karan answers the second call from the same unknown number confused.

"Helloo... Karan Sir.." The other side answers him in a teary voice.

"Monami..."

"Yesss.. can you please pick me up from the same park, I am not able to find an auto"

"Why not... I can surely pick you up.. I will be there in 20 minutes, you please wait inside the park."

"Thank you Sir."

Karan reaches to the park in 20 minutes and calls her up. Monami doesn't answer the call. He parks the jeep safely and goes inside the park to look for her.

He finds Monami sitting on a bench shedding tears. He walks towards her and stands behind her. He hesitates to put his hand in her shoulder but after a few seconds of hesitation he finally places his hand on her shoulder comforting her.

This man wants to grab her waist but when it comes to just placing a hand on her shoulder, he hesitates.

Monami turns her neck and notices Karan with blurry eyes.

"Karan Sir" She immediately gets up from the bench wiping her tears.

"Let's go back to the academy. I didn't realise you are here"

"Because you were too busy shedding your precious tears."

"My tears are precious for you..."

"I .. I .. didn't mean that way. Leave me aside, your tears should be precious for you.. shedding them should have a strong reason."

"Actually.. actually.. there is no reason, I..I.. I...wa.. was just feeling homesick"

"Lie detected... I understand I am not a person who you would want to share your worries with because we don't know each other too well .. but Monami sometimes letting your heart out to strangers also helps."

"But you are not a stranger Sir, you are my trainer and we share a professional relationship"

"Stop calling me Sir and I bring my hand forward for you to be my friend" Karan moves his hand forward.

Monami slides in her hand into his curls up her fingers around his hand and they shake hands ...

"Karan"

"Only outside the training ground but"

"I understand"

"Now tell me what is that, that is troubling you..."

"Karan Sir"

"Come again"

"Karan" Monami giggles a little "I guess it will take time"

"Continue... don't deviate"

"Actually.. my boyfriend.. or should I call him my ex boyfriend just broke up with me.. " Monami bursts into tears and hugs Karan ... "He broke up with me.. a few moments back in this park.."

Karan hugs her back and dirty thoughts start creeping up in his mind again but he shakes his head putting them off.

She just went through a break up Karan, stay in your limits.

Monami breaks the hug.. and Karan cups her face wiping off her tears with his thumb.

"Monami, you are a strong girl.. the guy was not worthy of you.. breaking up with you is his loss, not yours... don't shed these tears as precious as pearls on a person who doesn't know how to value them."

"He said I am not worthy of him.. because I chose to serve the country over him.. I preferred having a long distance relationship with him rather than deciding not to join Parakram"

"Monami how a person who doesn't love the country he has been born and brought up in , would have loved you truly; how a person who could not be of his own country, would have belonged you; how a person not faithful to his own country would gave been faithful to you... a guy who asked you to choose between him and his own country...your country.. how could he be worthy of your love, your respect, your care... a person who can't be of his country isn't worthy of anyone."

"You love your country a lot, right..??"

"Over and above anything else, forever" Karan said proudly broadening his shoulders.

"Shall we leave now.. Karan..??"

"Sure."

Karan and Monami hop in the jeep and Karan shows Monami around the place and they get back to the academy in the night.

Karan stops the jeep in front of the academy and asks Monami to get down.. Monami follows the instructions and hops down from the jeep.

"I will go and park the jeep, till then you go inside.. Good night Monami " After waiting for a few moments for Monami's reply Karan drives off the jeep and parks it.

He enters the academy only to find Monami still waiting for him.

"Good Night Karan and Thank you" Monami hugs Karan sideways and Karan hugs her back..

"There is no need of saying thank you, we are friends now... Good night."

Monami and Karan both leave to retire to their beds...

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