THE LAST INSURGENT

Five

2009

Miss Ann smiled
coquettishly , fully relaxed behind her swivel chair and her oval shaped face away from the computer which was on her desk. Smartly dressed in light blue T-shirt and black jeans, she sipped her coffee then said, “how nice to see you Captain.”                                                                               Kamal smiled back. “Thanks Miss…..”                                                                                                                                        

“ Cut the miss, Captain. For the umpteenth time, I am Ann.”                                                                                                               
“Okay Ann. So let’s get even, Call me Kamal and cut the Captain stuff.”                                                                                         
“That’s cool. I wonder how you  look in mufti, Cap…..oops! I meant  Kamal.”                                                            
“ Yeah, I am lucky you have never seen me in mufty. I am told I look more awful.”                                           

“Nonesense.  You know you are cool. I wonder if you have a life after military.”                                                   
“I wonder myself. ATOF has taken over my life.”                                                                                                          
“ Your wife must be understanding.”                                                                                                               “Yeah….cause I will tell her before she comes in.”                                                                                               

She eyed him, swivelling her chair slightly, took another sip then said, “Still single?”                                    
“Just left NDA four years ago, still young and planning. I am just twenty  seven.”                                                      
“ You are starting hard.”                                                                                                                                                
“ I started hard from the day I decided to join the military.”                                                                          
“ You need go easy.”                                                                                                                                                
“With bombs blowing frequently, I think it’s just getting harder   except if you and I could have time to talk this over dinner. I have never seen you away from this computer. You away from the computer , I out of my khaki.”                                                                                                                                                          
“ Are you asking me out ?”                                                                                                                                          
“ Sounds like it. I will be free on Saturday night.”                                                                                                  

“ Do I have your number?”                                                                                                                                                  
They exchanged numbers.                                                                                                                                         
“ You have our office number, don’t you?”  A voice said from behind. Kamal turned at a young man, slightly older than him, dressed in well-cut fawn coloured suit. He was of moderate height, wearing a swaggering moustache that gave him a cushy expression. This was Detective Derrick Etoh of the CID. A sagacious and quick witted agent, he had been  considered as one of the best in the department.   “ Of course I do. I was taking her number in case you  need my help.”  Said Kamal.