Chapter 7

AUGUST 22, 2009:

PLACE: NEW DELHI, TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS OF SOC

 

"I really don't understand...what should we do now. Their absence would have been noticed by now." Sneha voiced her anxiety.

"I know, but trust me, I myself don't know what should be done. It is for Ch... uh,,,Naina to decide." Aalekh replied.

"Better drop this habit of addressing her as the Chief. She will flare up." Sneha remarked.

"Yup, we will have to give up that habit. But what about the three?"

"They are still sleeping. Aditi and Prem were too tired yesterday, though..." she trailed off.

"Though what..."

"Did you notice Aditi's reaction when she saw Prem yesterday?"

"Well, yes. And also that she was dying to talk to Prem, but didn't get the chance."

"Who didn't get a chance?" Abhimanyu joined them with a cup of tea in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

"Aditi and Prem." Sneha informed him.

"I know, so better leave them undisturbed for the time being." He sipped his tea thoughtfully and then continued. "Everybody seem to know about them except those two."

"You are right Abhi, they are simply hopeless." Sneha agreed with him.

"But I am more worried about Major Shekhawat. He must be in great pain."

"I know, and that is why Naina is with him. But where is Ritika?"

"She went to bed just a couple of hours ago. Let her sleep." Aalekh broke in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was standing in front of the window lost in his own thought. The events of the previous day kept flashing in front of his eyes. Her distraught face kept coming back to him which had been replaced with relief when she saw him safe and sound. He too had been more than happy to see her there. He had been searching for a chance to talk to her but hadn't got any. He had forcefully stopped himself from going to her room, but now he felt he had to talk to her. He decided to have a word with her and went out of his room.

She was sitting in the bed with a grumpy face. "Didn't he understand that I was worried about him? At least he should have talked to me once. What does he think of himself?" she thought to herself angrily.

A knock on the door disturbed her flow of thoughts and she went to open the door intending to lash out at the person whosoever he might be. Instead she was surprised to see him standing there. His presence threw her thoughts out of gear and she could only manage to stand and stare at him.

"Can I come in for a minute?" he asked.

She moved aside to let him pass and stood quietly. Seeing him in front of him, she just felt tongue tied. She had wanted to shout at him, scream at him but right now she felt incapacitated of uttering even a single world. He surveyed her for a long time, taking in her appearance, her expression and understanding the variety of emotions which had rendered his bubbly and cheerful Aditi speechless. He knew words would be useless to explain the situation or to set the situation right. He simply opened both his arms wide inviting her to the comfort of his grasp.

Before she knew, she had rushed into his out stretched arms, snaking her arms round him and weeping like a child. "Please don't do this ever again Prem... please don't do this again... you have no idea how scared I was..." her voice was muffled against his chest while he held her tightly in his arms comforting her and at the same time deriving strength and comfort from her. "I am okay Aditi...see I am perfectly all right. Relax...just relax...!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked around. The first thing which caught his eyes was a pair of lovely eyes looking at him with concern. He smiled, "Naina...when did you come?"

She slowly bent down and placed her forehead on his. "When did I leave?" she said it very softly.

"Didn't you sleep last night?" In spite of his weakness, his voice was relatively stronger this time.

"Do you expect me to leave you alone in this situation?" she asked him with a smile.

"I am okay..."

"Okay...???" she asked him incredulously. "You had high fever all the night... you kept tossing and turning in the bed till well past midnight...and you are saying that you are okay...???"

He smiled at her lovingly. "Naina... m feeling hungry..." he said it in a childlike voice.

She immediately got up and helped him to get up. "It's almost 8 O' clock and you didn't eat anything properly last night. Go and wash up...but take care not to bathe today...you can sponge yourself if you want. I will see to your breakfast." With that she disappeared from the room leaving a smiling Rajveer behind her.

She was an angel. Within a span of a few days, she had broken into his reservations, and had made him fall in love with her. Did she even know what her very presence did to him? He had been unable to understand what had gotten into him. He only knew that she had become a part of him.

But he also knew that there was an enormous responsibility ahead. They would have to succeed at any cost. Did she realize the danger she was in? He remembered the incidents of the past day and closed his eyes in pain. He couldn't bear to see her in any sort of pain. Seeing her at gun point had almost torn his heart. The only thing he remembered at that time was that she was invaluable for him and he didn't want to lose her. Without wasting a second he had put himself in front of the bullet and had saved her.

"Did you even think of my condition before placing yourself in front of that bullet?"

He opened his eyes to see her standing in front of him with a spare set of clothes. He gave a half smile as he crossed his arms across his chest. "I didn't have time for that Naina."

"You didn't have time for that...!!! How can you say that...??? Do you realize what were you up to yesterday...??? How could you do it Raj...how could you??? You almost got me killed with.........."

He quickly placed his palms on her lips and roughly pulled her closer to his chest. "Don't you dare say that again..." he hissed furiously.

"Don't dare do that again..." she retorted with equal spirit.

He looked at her for a long time in silence...then softly pulled her into the cage of his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest. Her soft touch on his bare chest was rekindling the dormant desires in him, but he knew it was better to control himself now.

She realized the desires surging through his veins... and also the efforts he was making to control himself. She smiled at his situation and hugged him more tightly...letting his warmth seep in to her... as if she was afraid to lose him and was therefore not ready to let him go away from her...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We need to have the fair surrounded. Rajesh will surely try to make his escape since his cover has been penetrated now." Abhimanyu looked at the trio sitting in front of him. "What do you think guys?"

"I don't think he will make his escape so soon." Ritika replied thoughtfully.

"But then he knows his identity has been pierced. He will be a fool if he stays any longer. Besides there is no news of missing Prem... and now Raj and Aditi are missing too....along with Naina...don't you think it will put him on his guard?"

"It will certainly put him on his guard, but he won't leave so easily." Naina came into the room along with Raj, Aditi and Prem in tow.

"What makes you think so Naina?" Aalekh pointed out.

"He won't leave this fair without setting up the deal he has in mind." Raj pointed out quietly.

"Even though his cover has been penetrated?" Aditi asked incredulously.

" Yes... even though his cover has been penetrated.... because the terrorist activities are more important to him than his own security." Naina replied.

"SO what do we do now?"

"I will call my team and together with you they will surround the fair. I'll go and deal with Solanki." Raj replied quietly from his seat.

"You are not going alone. I am coming with you." Naina said firmly. "It's neither safe nor advisable to go alone."

Raj didn't argue with her. As the head of the SOC, it was her responsibility to be in the middle of the situation. He didn't have the right to stop her; all he could do was to pray that nothing untoward happens to her.

For the first time in his life, Raj was scared. He was badly scared. Not for his own security... no.... not for the security of his colleagues, he knew he would be able to protect them, not also for Ritika... he knew she was safe with Abhimanyu around... he had noticed the bonding between them very quickly and had also realized the seriousness of their relationship. He knew that Abhi would go to any extent to protect her.

He was scared for Naina... he didn't know why but he was apprehensive about her security. He knew she wouldn't listen to him, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop her irrepressible nature... she wouldn't listen to him.... her duty was the first priority for her... And she would do anything for the security of her country. He couldn't ask her to back off... he cannot be that selfish... he didn't want to ask her to back off...

Howsoever great his love for her might be.... he didn't have any right to ask her to be unfair towards her duty. He suppressed his thoughts and emotions and his love for her and nodded in affirmative.

"Of course you are coming. I cannot possibly ask the Head of SOC to stay away.. I dare not..." he joked lightly bringing a smile on her lips and a chuckle from the others around.

"Even the major is scared of our Chief..." Ashank replied naughtily earning a glare from Naina.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EVENING:

SOC HEAD QUARTERS

GUEST ROOM:

 

"What is bothering you Raj?" Naina switched on the lights as she entered the room. Raj was sitting in a chair in front of the window lost deep in his thoughts. He jerked out of his chair and turned around.

"Nothing much... take a seat." He invited her.

She came and sat on the window sill facing him. She scrutinized his face carefully trying to decipher the thoughts running in his mind.

"Did you contact your group?" she asked in an attempt to make a conversation.

"Yup...had a talk with Naveen. He will be coming tomorrow morning. They are making their preparations right now."

"You have met my team... but you did not tell me anything about your team members... this is not fair." She complained playfully.

Her enthusiasm was infectious. Raj felt himself being drawn into the whirlpool of her energy. He smiled at her lovingly and started telling her.

"My team... what do you want to know about my team..? he smiled slightlu as he remembered each and every one of them.

She smiled inwardly at his expression. "Anything...whatever you choose to say."

"My TEAM..... my team consists of  Major Naveen Singh Ahluwalia, Captain Prem Juneja, Captain Aditi Sehegal, Captain Harsh Singhania and myself.... Major Rajveer Singh Shekhawat at your service ma'm." He smiled as he made a bow before her.

She smiled and got up from the window sill and went and sat on his lap. His hand came around her waist protectively to give her support while she wound her arms around his neck.

He stopped speaking and looked at her face longingly. She understood the war raging inside him and smiled comfortingly. Slowly she leaned forward and placed a light peck on his forehead.

"Continue please...." she prompted him.

"Well, you have met Aditi... a cheerful, bubbly girl full of life and unknown to herself loves Prem madly. But unfortunately everybody knows about it expect this hopeless couple themselves." He shook his head in  mock anger.

Naina laughed and dragged him towards the bed.

"Continue..." she unbuttoned his shirt and checked the wound. It needed to be dressed. She dabbed cotton in an antiseptic lotion and after taking out the previous dressing, started cleaning the affected area while Raj went on speaking.

"Captain Prem Juneja – our arms expert. He is a very good soldier, very sharp and extremely honest. His family has been in the defense for three generations now. His father retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, his grandfather too held the same rank during his retirement and he is here now. He will go far... he is very talented."

"Next in line is Harsh Singhania... the only son of a big business family... the Singhania group of Enterprises. He is the first one to venture into this field. He is a totally gadget freak... and it was his family business which helped us secure a place in this fair."

"Last but not the least... Major Naveen Singh Ahluwalia...."he stopped as a fond smile lit over his face. Naina stopped her task and looked at him. "Naveen...my best friend...the only friend I have till date... we had been friends since college times, applied for defense together, landed up in the same  military academy, were roommates, batch mates and even partners in crime..." He laughed at the memories.

"You know we never let go off a single chance to trouble our teachers or play a prank on them. We were the most notorious of our batch for our pranks... and yet the most famous in our batch for our good track record in studies as well as co curricular... Faculties always wondered how we did it...."

Naina had finished dressing his wound by this time. She sat beside him and looked at his face as he was lost in the memories of his past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EVENING

ARMY HEAD QUARTERS:

 

"Captain Singhania...have you checked out all the gadgets and ammunitions that we are supposed to carry with us.?" Naveen asked his junior.

"Yes sir. I have. They are perfectly in order."

"Good. We need to start as soon as possible."

"Yes sir. But sir...."

"Yes Harsh...what is the matter....tell me." Naveen looked at the hesitating face of his junior and turned towards him.

"I got a call from Dad in the morning. He said Rajveer Sir, Prem and Aditi were not there on the fair premises...nor were they in the hotel...."

"I know Harsh... When raj called me up, I could guess from his voice that he was a bit weak and that he was not in the hotel. But he has asked us to check into the same hotel and he will contact us... I am sure he has unraveled the mystery of that terrorist and the arms smuggling."

"I know sir... but it seems Raj sir was getting helped from unknown sources. Dad said that he had got a confirmation that he was very friendly with a reporter over there."

"Ohh...its quite normal... Reporters can dig out a hell lot of information....so maybe that's why..."

"I agree Sir...but that was not what I meant..."

"Oh come on Harsh....what harm will a poor reporter do....he won't be able to harm Veeru..." Naveen said fondly.

"That is the whole problem Sir... It isn't a HE....it is a SHE...."

"So wha......WHAT......??? You mean to say raj is getting cozy with  a girl....?"

Harsh didn't say anything...Naveen was too shocked to react.

"The guy who has dated a single girl till date,,.....is  getting cozy with a girl....my go....we will have to make it fast...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

SOC HQ: GUEST ROOM:

 

The door was firmly locked behind them. Raj was holding Naina in his arms.

"You should keep smiling often Raj...you look really charming when you smile."

He smiled at her and tightened his hold on her. "Will you please listen to a simple request Naina...?" he asked.

"Go ahead Raj.... she said gently knowing very well what he wanted to say so much.

"Please...please...keep yourself safe Naina....please... I have never been so much scared in my life till date...."

She smiled and leaned forward gently. "I promise Raj....now stop worrying." She put her forehead on his and closed her eyes.

Taking the cue from her, Raj softly placed a kiss on her lips....

Without wasting any time, Naina kissed him back neither trying to hold back he desires nor allowing him to hold back his emotions. Unknown to himself, his hands began to explore her body over her T – shirt.

She had changed into a cream coloured slacks and blue tee which was sticking to her slender frame. She shivered in pleasure when his hands grasped her sensitive mounds over her tee. If he was having this effect on her, then what would be the scenario if his hands touched her bare skin? She dared not think about it.

Raj perfectly understood the sensations coursing through her and his own heightened desire at the close proximity with her. His hands roamed over her back making her go crazy in anticipation... her arms snaked around him, holding him tightly, securely. He could feel the straps of her undergarment over her tee...but derived an erotic pleasure in teasing her, prolonging the moment of actual skin to skin contact.

Naina was finding it very difficult to control her sensations. He hadn't pulled away from the kiss even for a second... she was becoming breathless now. Slowly she pulled back to draw in a deep breathe... he smiled at her....

"You will kill me one day..." he muttered still stroking her back.

She smiled at him playfully, the bent forward to give him a soft peck on the neck. He held her by her long hairs and sought her mouth. The moment his lips touched her... fire jolted her entire body. She could never get enough of him... never cease loving him.... she wanted him...not just physically... but emotionally as well.

She had never loved anyone till date... she never expected to fall head over heels in love with someone...and that too in such a short time.

The dinner that night was a quiet affair. The rest of the night was spent in making strategies and hatching out various plans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~