Monica: We were supposed to meet at the headquarters, right?

Saurav: Yes, we were. And we will.

Monica: Then what are we doing here in this restaurant, right now?

Saurav: I wanted to tell you something important and I don’t think the headquarters is safe enough for that.

Monica was meeting Lieutenant Colonel Saurav Upadhay. He heads a classified department of the army called JOKER that investigates anti-national elements and provides information for Intelligence. Monica headed a team that worked on field and her team was one of best in the department. Both were sitting in an almost empty restaurant on nearby seats facing opposite directions. Both had their headsets over their ears to make it looked like they were on phone and Monica had a cap that covered her head. The headsets were not fitted in to their ears because if they are fitted, then they won’t be able to understand how loud they are speaking. They used a very low voice.

Monica: Our headquarters is the safest place that can ever be.

Saurav: Not anymore. Our department is compromised.

Monica: What do you mean? That’s impossible.

Saurav: Do you think I would ask you to cancel your leave and come here so that I can crack a joke?

Monica: What happened?

Saurav: Make sure that you don’t reply by raising your voice no matter whatever I am going to say now.

Monica: Okay.

Saurav: The man you caught, I mean your team caught before you went for leave right? Our officers were trying to interrogate him. As he had severe bullet wounds, we had to wait for two weeks for the interrogation. Our men tried to make him speak and they couldn’t.

Monica: But why?

Saurav: His tongue had been cut off. That too only a month or two ago.

Monica: A Sleeper.

Saurav: Yes.

Monica: So, what else do we know?

Saurav: With the documents that you found, all we know is that he has something to do with the new allotment of IAA. That’s all we could extract.

Monica: Why would a sleeper be interested in IAA cadets? Why can’t we get an expert and study his actions?

Saurav: We can’t because he is dead. Someone poisoned him.

Monica: That is impossible. He was in our facility.

Saurav: That is why I said that we are compromised. There is no one else I can trust in our team other than you and I want you to carry out a mission for me.

Monica: What should I do?

Saurav: There are new batches of all forces joining IAA this week. They are now in Delhi and would leave for IAA tomorrow. I want you to join them. You can go by our special forces train along with them. You are alumni of IAA and it won’t be an issue if I send you there as a guest to interact with the cadets and to train them. It will be only for a month. You must figure out what these sleepers are up to by then. We can’t let this mission be known by anyone. The trust in our establishment will go in to thin air if anyone comes to know that someone in the armed forces in involved with sleepers. I have already informed Brigadier Shah about your arrival and he is excited. I have also said about the impending security threat at IAA and he said that he would take care of it. You go and figure out about what the sleepers want with the IAA and till then, I will find out who is selling us out in our own department. Figure out if anyone at IAA is associated with the sleepers.

Monica: I understand.

Saurav: I will meet you at the headquarters in an hour. You can leave now.

Monica: Okay.

Monica got up from her seat and walked towards the counter and paid her bill and walked out of the restaurant.

*******

Ansh: Hai, you are Ali Umer Baig, right? I saw your name in the list I was in. I will be in your batch and in your room. And of course, I am Ansh Saxena.

Ali was standing at the NHQ of the forces. All the selected cadets were asked to come there for the last round of interviews and after that they were allotted in to batches. They will be taking an armed forces special train to Phascat and from there by road to IAA. The security had been beefed up this year.

Ansh extended his hand forward and Ali shook it.

Ali: Hi Ansh, I was looking for you. There are two more in our room, right? Rahul Varma and Krishna Upalapathy. The names are a bit new for me. Sorry, if I am mispronouncing.

Ansh: It’s alright.

Ali and Ansh were checking the list when two cadets walked towards them.

Diksha: Hello boys, I am Diksha, Diksha Roy and this is my new-found friend Kajal Soni and she has a crush on you.

Diksha said this looking at Ali and he got shocked hearing that. He looked at Kajal and smiled awkwardly and Kajal smiled shyly.

Diksha: But, I think you are not army material, you are way too cute for that.

Ali: If I were an army material already, then I don’t think I would have to join the IAA. I can simply start my career as an officer now.

Kajal and Ansh laughed to that and Diksha made an annoyed face.

Officer: All students are asked to assemble at the hall for Brigadier Arshad Khan’s speech.

Ali: I think we have to go now. We will search for the rest after the speech.

Ali, Ansh, Diksha and Kajal ran towards the hall and found the rest of the cadets already forming lines.

*******

Ardeep: Why didn’t you pick up my calls, Mona?

Monica: I was busy.

Mona was trying to avoid Ardeep since she had reached their facility.

Ardeep: What the hell is wrong with you? My mom wanted to talk to you.

Monica: I don’t think it’s working out between us, Ardeep. We need to break up.

Ardeep: What the hell? What did I do? I was being nice to you right? My mom even approved of our marriage.

Monica: That is the problem, Ardeep. You want to get married and I want to focus on my career. This is important to me. I am the first person from my family to ever get a government job and that too in the armed forces. I have a lot to do and a lot to achieve. I can’t marry and get pregnant and take a two-year break. At least, not at this point of time in my career.

Ardeep: You should have thought about that before fucking around with me. You are showing off your disrespectful western culture, right?

Monica: I didn’t rape you, did I? Whatever we had, was with both of our consents and I have been trying to break up with you since the third month of our relationship, even before we had any physical relation. Then, you wanted more time, you wanted to see if it would work out. I tried, I really did. These nine months, I tried everything I can to stay in this relationship and I think it’s time to call it quits. I can’t be your mother’s homely daughter-in-law. My life is different, my ambitions are different. And if my culture teaches me to have the guts to choose what I think is right for me, then I am proud of it. It’s over, Ardeep.

Ardeep caught Monica’s hand and tried to pull her closer but Major Sukhdev came and asked them to meet Lieutenant Colonel at the main office and Ardeep let go of Monica.

Ardeep: This is a mistake Monica. We should talk about it. Please. Give me another chance.

Monica: It’s not about you, Ardeep. It’s about me. I am not the right girl for you. My job is the only thing I can be committed to right now.

Ardeep: You will regret this Mona. No one will love you or stand by your side or beg for your love like I am doing right now. You know why? Because you don’t deserve it. You don’t deserve to be loved.

Monica didn’t say anything to that and walked away. She felt as though a rock had been lifted from her chest. What she had to do was important and Ardeep was a distraction and she was not ready to handle it yet.

The heads of all JOKER teams assembled at the Lieutenant Colonel’s office. Ardeep kept on looking at Mona. His eyes were red. He had liked her since she had joined JOKER two years back and he had the guts to open up to her only a few months back and even though she tried to break up many times before, he tried to hold on to her. Ardeep couldn’t believe that it was over. He fumed with anger and sadness.

Saurav: I called you all to inform about a few important changes in the department. Ardeep.

Ardeep: Yes Sir.

Saurav: You will lead JOKER field team from now on until further announcement.

Ardeep couldn’t believe it. Joker field team was led by Monica and he didn’t know what was coming next.

Saurav: Monica.

Monica: Yes Sir.

Saurav: For the next one month, you will be staying at IAA. The Academy has been requesting your visit since a long time.

Monica: I will be happy to be there, Sir.

Saurav: Good. I think you should leave now. The train will leave the station in sometime.

Monica: Yes Sir. Jai Hind Sir.

Saurav: Jai Hind.

Monica saluted Lieutenant Colonel and walked out of the office.

********

Ali was sitting at the single seat next to the window. He preferred that seat all the time. It made him feel free. The soft winds on his face and hair was always soothing. The train would leave in a few more moments. His mates were all talking and fighting and singing, all excited and happy but he could feel some strange drag in his mind. Ali got up and walked towards the door and stood there as though waiting for someone to come. He knew that all were on board and he knew no one in Delhi, so there was no point in waiting, but still he stood there.

Monica realized that she was late. It was a mistake changing to casuals before coming to the station. She ran towards the platform and found the train moving slowly. She ran faster towards the door that was close to her.

Ali stood near the door for some time and when the speed increased he walked towards his seat. Monica ran to the door and jumped on to the train and held its handles. She got inside and took deep breaths. She walked towards the opposite compartment from where Ali was sitting.

*******

Ali and the rest of the cadets reached the main entrance of IAA. The place was huge. Ali had heard that it was vast and stretched to acres of land with fields for different sports and athletics, field, gyms, shooting area, helicopter pad and everything else that was amazing. He couldn’t wait to see it all. Ali walked towards the first check point and the officers there checked his temporary ID, his bag and him. Then he entered the gates and found officers standing guard with guns in front of them, they were machine guns attached to small concrete pillars on ground and they were standing on the pillars. Ali was both scared and fascinated. Ali was walking towards the academy when he was stopped.

Officer 1: What’s your name, Cadet? And where are you from?

Ali: My name is Ali Umer Baig and I am from Kashmir.

Officer 2: You, stay behind, the rest of the lot can go. We have to ask you some questions.

Ali: I already answered all at the check point and they searched my bags as well. Why do I have to do it again when the others don’t have to?

Officer 1: How dare you question us back Cadet? You will shut up and listen to us. Give me your bag.

Monica: For what Lieutenant?

Ali and the officers turned towards the person who was speaking and found a woman in casuals. She was well-built and had an air of command in her demeanor. Ali saw how her wavy hair flowed in the wind and how her chin was kept up with pride. She had no makeup on, but her lips were soft pink. Ali suddenly snapped himself out of his thoughts.

Officer 1: Who are you to ask?

Monica: Stephen Ronald. Major Monica Stephen Ronald.

Both the officers on ground and both on the pillars suddenly saluted Monica and their demeanor showed fear.

Officer: Ma’am, we were told to be extra careful because of security threat.

Monica: That is well and good but differentiating while security checking based on a cadet’s name and place of birth won’t do good for the forces. For us, all are equal. If you want to check, then check all, don’t get blindfolded by name, religion or place of birth and if you don’t want to check all, then learn to trust him as well.

Officers: We understand Ma’am.

Monica: And you, Cadet Ali Baig, we are looking for Army personals here and not crybabies.

Ali: I am not crying.

Monica: You are not but you would have if I hadn’t come. If the officers ask you something or want to check your belongings, don’t resist, let them do their job. They know what they are doing, and they don’t have any personal hatred for you, understand that. Whatever they are doing, it’s for the good of our country and learn to respect their instincts and stop fighting. Earn their trust by your actions. Your stay here will be more enjoyable if you realize that the real bullies are out there on the field and not inside IAA. Use whatever you face here as a lesson to toughen yourself up for the real world.

Monica smiled at Ali and nodded to the officers and they nodded back, and she walked in to the academy. Ali was sad and hurt and felt angry and defeated and then she smiled, and his heart started beating faster. Why the hell would she smile after literally humiliating him? Or was it not that? Ali didn’t understand what she actually meant but the officers did, and he found them looking at Monica with admiration.

*******

Ali: How can she call me a cry baby and insult me like that? It’s not fair, I am not a cry baby.

Ansh: Who Ali?

Ali: Major Monica.

Ansh: She is a senior officer and they have the right to scold us if they want.

Ali: It’s not about her scolding me, it’s just that I don’t want to appear weak in front of her. I don’t want to.

Ansh: And why is that? We are cadets and kids in their eyes. They will treat us that way. Don’t feel disheartened about it. Just go with the flow.

Ansh walked towards the bathroom.

Ali: I don’t want her to see me as a kid.

Ali murmured.

******

Brigadier Shah was all smiles when he saw Monica

Shah: Welcome home, Monica.

Monica: Thank you Sir.

Shah: So, when are you starting?

Monica: Today.

Monica smiled and saluted Shah and turned around and walked out of his office.

Brigadier Shah would have given her a warm hug if this was not a formal meeting. She was his favorite student and the officer who saved his life. He couldn’t be happier than having her in IAA.