Chapter 17

EPISODE-17

 

Naina came back home from the show. She wasn't even feeling like doing the show…for the first time in soo many years. And at the top of it she even got scolded by her boss for her idiotic mistake. She was disturbed by the thought of Rajveer and Navin at Pulwama. Besides last night could not get out of her mind. It was a usual evening with Rajveer but still she felt it was not. She didn't care to think much about it. She was more concerned about Rajveer and Navin who were on their way to Pulwama. Later that evening Navin called up. Rajveer was also with him. Naina felt better after talking to two them though she could not talk much.

 

Within next two days there was another attack at Pulwama. Gradually attacks at Pulwama were became more of a regular feature. Conditions were getting from bad to worse. Every news bulletin had the same news round the clock. Army operations were increasing in that area and the inhabited areas were being vacated.  There was no news from Navin and Rajveer. Naina was constantly in touch with Neetika. But even she was clueless about two of them. Everyday Naina would come across news of dying soldiers.

 

Finally after 10 days she saw a glimpse of Rajveer and Navin in a news bulletin. They were together. Naina was so relieved to see them absolutely fine. Due to heavy bombing, telephone connections were cut down. There was no way either Rajveer or Navin could contact Naina and Neetika. They couldn't even write letters because they had no time for that. But after that she could get no news about them. That situation prevailed in Pulwama for about 40 days and finally came an official announcement that Situation is completely under control.

 

During these 40 days Indian Army lost hundreds of its soldiers. Apart from that many were injured.  All the injured soldiers were shifted to the nearby hospitals. Special medical teams were called from the other parts of the country to assist the Army Medical Teams. 2 days later special flights from Srinagar were arranged to bring all the Army men to Delhi. Naina still had no news of Rajveer and Navin and she went to the airport. She was waiting for them to come out. There were three flights and she waited till the last person from the last flight came out. Navin and Rajveer were not there in any of the flights. They didn't return............

 

"Naina what if I don't come back?" She could hear Rajveer saying this. His voice was reiterating in her mind again and again.

He hasn't come….He really had not!!!

 

"C'mon Naina lets be practical…it's a warzone…anything can happen."

Nothing could happen to them…. She has told him to return….they should have come back. Tears were flowing out of her eyes….. But she didn't even realize…….

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