Chapter 22

EPISODE-22

 

 

 

Rajveer didn't return to Delhi. Instead he called up Naina and asked her to reach Phagwara.

Neetika was expecting Rajveer but she was rather surprised to see Naina when she arrived.

"Naina tum yahan?"

"Haan Raj ne mujhe yahan aane ke liye kaha tha."

"Strange…he did call me up but didn't tell me that you are also coming."

"Waise Raj aayega kab tak?"

"By the evening."

 

 

Rajveer came late at night. Neetika noticed that he wasn't looking worried anymore. But she wasn't sure if that meant a good news.

"Kuch pata chala Raj?" She asked him.

"Not really."

"What does that mean?" Naina was confused.

"Jitne bhi logon se maine baat ki unka yehi kehna tha ki they haven't come across anything jisse yeh maan liya jaaye ki Navin is……..dead"

"Lekin hua kya tha? Bhaiyya suddenly disappear kaise ho gaye?"

"Us din jo officers hamare saath the unka kehna hai ki jab Navin ke shoulder mein bullet lagi thi uske kaafi der baad tak woh ladta raha. Kyunki main faint ho gaya tha to pehle mujhe Medical team tak pahunchaya gaya. Uske  baad when they were carrying him back to the camp to ek blast hua tha. The two soldiers who were carrying him were later found dead. But Navin went missing."

 

"So what does that leave us with?" Naina asked with moist eyes.

"HOPE!!" He answered in a firm voice.

 

Naina turned to him and she could see that in his eyes. He was right. They still had a hope. He immediately wiped her tears that was on her cheeks and asked,

"So what's next?"

"After ruling out all the other possibilities we are left with only one option"

"And what's that?"

Navin hamari army ko nahin mila kyunki ho sakta hai ki woh hamse pehle dushman ke haath lag gaya ho."

"How is that possible Raj….POWs ki list mein kahin bhi Bhaiyya ka naam nahin hai. You have seen that yourself."

"Nahin Naina…Raj is right. Some soldiers are not listed as POWs. But they are detained to seek confidential information about the strength and location of the army." Saying this Neetika turned to Rajveer.

"What do we do now Raj?"

"Wohi jo ab tak kar rahe the….we'll look for him."

"What?" Neetika and Naina shouted together.

"You heard it right and anyways we don't have much choice."

"Raj…are you out of your mind? I hope you realise what you are talking about." Neetika confronted him.

"I very well know what I am up to Neetika and I am gonna do it….come what may."

"You don't really mean that Raj. You can't actually……..cross the LOC…….illegally."

"That's exactly what I am gonna do Neetika."

"No Raj… you won't do anything like that." Naina was apprehensive. "It's not feasible"

"Then we will have to make it feasible…..anyhow."

Naina looked into his eyes that showed determination. He had made up his mind and nothing could change it.

"I know someone who can help us in this."

"NEETI????" Naina was surprised to see Neetika changing sides like that. She was supporting Rajveer's decision. But at that point of time neither Neetika nor Rajveer were interested in Naina's doubts. They were sure about them doing it…for Navin.

"Kaun?" He asked.

"Alekh."

 

 

Preview:

 

Their behavior towards each other was very cold. But none of them said even a single harsh word.

 

***

 

For the first time he didn't feel like bashing her.....In fact he felt Sorry.

 

***

 

He shook his head.

"Some things never change." He thought.

 

***

 

"Just stop it Alekh." Neetika scolded him.