EPISODE-26

 

Four of them stayed away from each other for the rest of the day.They didn't meet before dinner.Even at the dinner table they all sat quietly.Rajveer was staring at the food and had no intention to eat.Neetika was advised by the doctor not to skip meal so she was trying hard to eat but without much success.Naina was fiddling with the fork to divert her mind... Even she wasn't hungry but she was hurt. Rajveer was not even looking at her.But Alekh was the only one there who looked callous.Neetika finally gave up her attempts and pushed the plate.

"I can't eat."

"Nor can I." Rajveer said.

"Mera gussa khaane pe nikaalne ki zaroorat nahin hai." Naina said hitting the plate with a fork. Alekh took the fork out of her hands and kept it on the table.

"Waise tum khud kya karne ki koshish kar rahi ho by not eating."

"Forget it Alekh...Hum kal yahan se Kapurthala ke liye kitne baje niklenge?"

"Raj....plans mein thode changes hain.Hum kal nahin parso niklenge."

"What?? But why?"

"Passports ready hone mein thoda time lagega."

"Lekin kyun? Afternoon mein everything was ready, right."

"Raj you didn't get me...I said PASSPORTS....Tumhara aur..... Naina ka.I was about to talk to you about this after dinner."

A smile ran over Naina's face as she heard that.She could not believe that Alekh was supporting her but as of now she didn't care.

"Alekh please....not you atleast."

"Neetu...I know what I am saying."

"Alekh you are not being practical."Rajveer said.

"I don't take impulsive decisions Raj."

"I don't think so..."

"Raj please maan jaao."Naina intervened.

"Out of question Naina....No changes in the plan Alekh... hum kal hi nikalenge."

"Raj listen to me...Abhi-abhi ek war over hui hai.....Army ki nazar wahan har ek naye chehre pe hogi.Tum agar akele gaye to problem zyada ho sakti hai but if you go with Naina you can easily disguise as a couple.Koi shak bhi nahin karega. And then as they say....Ek se bhale do."

"Alekh are you trying to say that in order to play safe I should put Naina in trouble....Sorry but I still beg to differ."

"Neetu what's your opinion?"

"Alekh...I agree with your idea.... You do have a point....."

"Neetika please..."Rajveer cut her in between.

"Raj let me finish...Main sirf yeh keh rahi hoon ki Alekh has a point but even I don't think Naina should go....No-ways."

"Listen guys...main jaanta hoon ki Naina has always been a protected and pampered child for you all but give her a chance. Tum jaante ho main Naina ko yun hi bewajah support nahin karoonga. Main maanta hoon Naina trained soldier nahin hai but she has one quality that might help. She is a RJ.... and because of that it's easier for her to mix up with people. She knows how to deal with strangers aur isliye she can actually be a help. Aur agar koi problem hui to I know that you can handle Raj."

 

"Alekh woh sab theek hai but Navin ki absence mein Naina hamari responsibility hai and we cannot do this. Navin yahan hota to kya woh kabhi agree karta?"

"Lekin tum bhool rahi ho Neetu....yahan pe problem hi yehi hai ki Navin yahan nahin hai."

"Neeti please....aur tumne bhi to kaha tha na ki Raj ko akele nahin jaana chahiye.I can take care of myself....Mujhe kuch nahin hoga, I promise."

"Naina...." Neetika was at the loss of words.She didn't know what exactly she should do. She could not have let Rajveer go alone but allowing Naina was also not possible.

"I don't know." Was the only answer she had.

"But I know...Naina is not coming with me infact tum kal subah hi Delhi wapas jaa rahi ho."Rajveer was adamant.

"Kyun nahin aa sakti main tumhare saath?"

"Naina I don't think I need to answer you for that."

"But I need an answer."

"Naina it's too dangerous..."

"To kya sirf mere liye dangerous hai....tumhare liye nahin?"

"It's no use arguing over it Naina...."

"Great then....meri baat dhyaan se sun lo....Agar jaana hai to hum dono jaayenge warna koi nahin jaayega....Aur uske baad Bhaiyya ka kya hota hai sochne ki bhi zaroorat nahin hai tumhein."Tears rolled down her cheek as she said this but Rajveer knew she meant it. Naina left the place crying.

"Raj...woh nahin maanegi."

"Lekin Alekh....."

"Maan Jao Raj."He insisted.

 

************

 

It was around 2330 hours. Alekh, Naina and Rajveer were sitting in the jeep that was standing a few kilometers outside Ferozepur and 1.5 kilometres from the Border. Rajveer and Naina were wearing all black to camouflage in the dark.

"Okay now listen to me very carefully.Iske aage main tumhare saath nahin jaa sakta. At one point of time yeh raasta smuggling and Human trafficking ke liye use hota tha but once....."

"What...Smuggling and human trafficking?" Naina loked shocked.

"Shut Up Naina...Tumhare Radio station ke baahar bhi ek duniya hai jiske baare mein shayad tumhein kuch nahin pata.Isliye main jo bol raha hoon woh suno. I'll come straight to the point. Ab yeh route shayad hi koi use karta hai. That's why even BSF isn't that alert here. Tum dono ko pehle yeh No Man's Land ka area cross karna hai. Uske baad wahan se North-West direction mein 3 kms pe ek village hai. Us village ke border pe tumhein mera ek aadmi milega. Just show him your passport and he will take you to your Hide-out. Is sab ke liye tumhare paas hain 150 minutes. Aaj ki raat aur kal ka poora din tumhein usi village mein chup kar nikaalna hoga. It's a border area village aur aisi jagahon pe stranger's aren't actually liked by anyone. Kal raat tumhari aage ki journey start hogi. He will take you to Raiwind and then you are on your own. Am I clear?"

 

Three of them got down from the jeep. Rajveer and Alekh were discussing something. Naina turned her back to them. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.There were apprehension cropping inside her but she could not afford them. She needed to calm herself down.

 

"Naina" Alekh called her and as she turned to him, he smeared her face with something black and sticky.

"Sheeeeeeeeeee.............Yuckkkkkk. Yeh kya kiya tumne? What the hell is this?"

"Ise warpaint kehte hain. It helps in camouflage. Don't forget ki tum ek bahut hi important aur dangerous mission ke liye jaa rahi ho kisi beauty pageant ke liye nahin."

Naina noticed a similar thing on Rajveer's face as well.

"Okay.... but maine kab kuch kaha...I was just.... asking."Naina answered making an innocent face. Rajveer could not help a smile from coming on his face as he saw Naina's reaction. Alekh shook his head and a smile came on his face as well.

 

"Raj you were right. Isko iske Radio Console mein hi chod kar aana chahiye tha." Alekh gave him a high five.

"Tum hamesha mere Radio Show ke peeche kyun pade rehte ho." Naina was fuming.

"Okay-Okay... just cut it out now.We don't have time. Hum pehle hi 5 minutes waste kar chuke hain. Now let's hurry up." Rajveer intervened to prevent a fight between the two.

"Ek minute Raj." Alekh stopped him as he saw him all set to leave.

"Take this." He handed him a box.

"Yeh kya hai."

"Satellite phone. Koi bhi problem ho to just give me a call. I'll do all that I can."

"Thanks Alekh."

"Anytime Raj. Anyways all the best...Tumhein bahut sakht zaroorat padne waali hai iski."He said signaling towards Naina and winked at him.

"Aisa kuch bhi nahin hoga... Right Naina?" Saying this he gave his hand to Naina and she held it tightly.He could feel her hands trembling.

"Sambhaal ke jaana tum dono."

"Sure... See you Alekh." Raj and Naina turned to leave but they have hardly gone a few steps when Alekh called out Naina. She turned.

"You take care of yourself."Alekh had a smile on his face and his concern for her was genuine. She too smiled back at him and waved. Both of them set out for their mission keeping aside all their apprehensions and taking along all the courage and hope to bring Navin back......