Chapter 9
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Chapter 8:
"This is one of the best days of my life!" Yudi exclaimed as Naina did the traditional ritual before letting Pooja and Ali in the huge two floor mansion that belonged to Yudi's uncle. Yudi exaggerated wiping fake tears from his face, making sure no one noticed the real drop of tear threatening to fall. Aalekh saw it though, but didn't say anything because he had a similar feeling inside him; for the first time in his life, he had a chance to be happy for his friends, his true friends!
Pooja entered the house, and everyone immediately noticed the change. She was wearing a sky blue sari with embroideries and matching accessories and make up; her hair was let down which ended at just above her waist. The sindoor on her forehead and mangalsutra hanging down her neck seemed to fit in perfectly. They could barely recognise her, as the biggest change was the look in her eyes… it finally matched the happiness they had only seen on her face!
Ali was a bit behind her, looking flustered and shy, like the old Ali, except for now they could see he was a man, with not only his principles and the sense of right and wrong, but also the knowledge that nothing is black or white. They had both matured in their own ways.
The five friends hugged and greeted each other, while Rajveer took the documents from Ali and went to the living room to sort out everything. The guys followed after a while, and the girls went to the kitchen where Naina was making dinner to fill each other in with the latest happenings. Naina told Pooja (with a blush of course!) the feelings she had developed for Rajveer… along with everything else that had happened.
"Finally you two are catching each other's signals! It's about time… even Ali and I were in each other's networks within a few months!" Pooja teased her best friend.
"But I'm not even sure if he thinks of me like that or not! And you and Ali were meant for each other, so no surprise there…" Naina teased back. "Oh Pooja I forgot to tell you… you should wear saris more often. It really suits you, and I'm sure Ali likes it too!"
"He's the one who bought it for me." She replied shyly. "Oye! Your curry is boiling!" Saying this, they both got busy with cooking, with a bit of teasing and joking here and there. Hearing their laughter from the kitchen, the guys exchanged a glance that said 'typical girls!'
"How did you come to Simla? And that too, with the Army jeep?" Ali asked the others. Rajveer didn't look up, knowing Yudi would describe it a lot more enthusiastically than him.
"It was almost as if revolution was taking place! You should've seen it man,-"
"Seen what?" a voice interrupted him from the entrance of the house. Yudi and Ali stood up in surprise, while Rajveer and Aalekh exchanged nervous glances. A young girl stood there in a very simple and traditional salwar kameez. Yudi stepped forward uncertainly.
"Orn- Orni?! Oh my God! It's you! Still in a salwar kameez!!" He went over and hugged her. "Guys it's OK, she's Neelu and my childhood friend… when we were kids her family used to live in the first floor, so whenever we visited Simla, Neelu, Orni and I used to hang out together all the time. But I thought you guys left a few years back?"
"Yeah, but I still visit it a few times a year for Chachaji (Yudi's uncle). What are you doing here… with…" she left off, looking at the rest of them. Just then, Pooja came out from the kitchen.
"You guys can stop wasting your talktime and help us in-" she stopped as she noticed Orni. "How long have I been out of reach?" Orni let out a giggle at Pooja's language.
"Hi! I'm Orni… Yudi's friend. But who are you guys?"
"We're his friends as well… from KMA… and he," she nodded at Rajveer, "is our teacher, our Shahrukh, Captain Rajveer!" Rajveer tried to object but Orni interrupted him.
"You needed help in the kitchen? I've always wanted to learn cooking…" she started, her eyes shining.
"… but ended up creating a disaster whenever she tried!" Yudi finished for her, earning a playful glare.
"It won't hurt to help though, I'm sure. Come on in!" Naina gave her a warm smile. "You can tell us more about Yudi and Neelu!"
"Only if you guys tell me about KMA! I find the Army so inetersting… Yudi's dad always used to…" they went into the kitchen, chatting away happily. It left the guys in wonder; it had been less than five minutes that they had met, but were acting like they were old friends reuniting after years! After a while of fooling around with Ali and Aalekh, he turned to face Captain Rajveer.
"Sir… you never told us how you escaped! You have to tell us now… come on guys, some support needed!" Yudi said looking expectantly at his friends. Ali joined in as well.
"Yes Sir, we want to hear it! Right Aalekh? Oh for God's sake, would you stop drinking for at least a few minutes?!" Ali snatched away the bottle from Aalekh, who just looked at Captain Rajveer.
"Well… Aalekh actually already knows the story. He-" Before he could continue, Yudi started to bombard Aalekh with questions, but Rajveer calmed him down. "As I was saying, he is the one who arranged it, so I asked him not to tell anyone. It was better if you guys really were clueless about my whereabouts."
*Flashback*
…Aalekh getting to know about Rajveer's location through many of his old links…
…His former cellmate gathering up people on his request…
…A group of seven people busting him out without causing any suspicion after tiring days and sleepless nights of skilful planning…
…Aalekh and Rajveer communicating through various different links…
…Rajveer telling him to keep watch on the happenings at KMA for any useful or suspicious…
…Aalekh arranging for him to come to the meeting at KMA…
*End of Flashback*
"Wow… and this is all real! It's almost like hearing about a movie." Orni commented looking at Yudi with awe, giving him an extra surge of enthusiasm. She sat down on the couch between Yudi and Aalekh. Pooja and Naina came out of the kitchen as well, but stood at a distance, arranging the table. "What were you talking about when I arrived? Something about a revolution…"
"It was amazing!" Yudi said elatedly. Orni let out giggle, sharing his excitement. She listened to his story in wonder, encouraging him to go on when he paused, and cheering whenever something was in their favour. "He…"
*Flashback*
…Rajveer's voice on the speakers all around KMA pleading everyone to open their eyes and mind…
…The cadets stopping Major Nair from entering, and locking Major Bhargav in, interrogating both…
…A small slip of information by Major Nair giving his position as a conspirator away…
…TAW discussing where to go next, and Neelu (who came to visit Yudi and Aalekh) suggesting their uncle's abandoned house at Simla…
…Captain Rajveer and Naina leaving with the Army jeep fixed by Suriji, taking Yudi and Aalekh with them…
…Captain Abhimanyu, Shalini and Huda staying back and taking the opportunity to search for the documents…
*End of Flashback*
"Are you all going to keep wasting your credit or recharge a bit? It's been a tiring day, now come and eat!" Pooja called them. Ali smiled at his wife, feeling proud to be married. He knew happiness was on its way to their lives! What he didn't know though, was that he wasn't the only one feeling this.
Captain Rajveer was the last one to get up, as he was having similar thoughts, though they were slightly different. He wished that he was a husband, of the young woman bringing out a bowl of what looked like painstakingly cooked curry. He caught her attention, signing something that looked like 'the food looks great', but in reality they both knew he wasn't talking only about the food… and so did Aalekh, watching from across the table with a small smile playing on his lips. It was time to begin Mission RN.
"This is one of the best days of my life!" Yudi exclaimed as Naina did the traditional ritual before letting Pooja and Ali in the huge two floor mansion that belonged to Yudi's uncle. Yudi exaggerated wiping fake tears from his face, making sure no one noticed the real drop of tear threatening to fall. Aalekh saw it though, but didn't say anything because he had a similar feeling inside him; for the first time in his life, he had a chance to be happy for his friends, his true friends!
Pooja entered the house, and everyone immediately noticed the change. She was wearing a sky blue sari with embroideries and matching accessories and make up; her hair was let down which ended at just above her waist. The sindoor on her forehead and mangalsutra hanging down her neck seemed to fit in perfectly. They could barely recognise her, as the biggest change was the look in her eyes… it finally matched the happiness they had only seen on her face!
Ali was a bit behind her, looking flustered and shy, like the old Ali, except for now they could see he was a man, with not only his principles and the sense of right and wrong, but also the knowledge that nothing is black or white. They had both matured in their own ways.
The five friends hugged and greeted each other, while Rajveer took the documents from Ali and went to the living room to sort out everything. The guys followed after a while, and the girls went to the kitchen where Naina was making dinner to fill each other in with the latest happenings. Naina told Pooja (with a blush of course!) the feelings she had developed for Rajveer… along with everything else that had happened.
"Finally you two are catching each other's signals! It's about time… even Ali and I were in each other's networks within a few months!" Pooja teased her best friend.
"But I'm not even sure if he thinks of me like that or not! And you and Ali were meant for each other, so no surprise there…" Naina teased back. "Oh Pooja I forgot to tell you… you should wear saris more often. It really suits you, and I'm sure Ali likes it too!"
"He's the one who bought it for me." She replied shyly. "Oye! Your curry is boiling!" Saying this, they both got busy with cooking, with a bit of teasing and joking here and there. Hearing their laughter from the kitchen, the guys exchanged a glance that said 'typical girls!'
"How did you come to Simla? And that too, with the Army jeep?" Ali asked the others. Rajveer didn't look up, knowing Yudi would describe it a lot more enthusiastically than him.
"It was almost as if revolution was taking place! You should've seen it man,-"
"Seen what?" a voice interrupted him from the entrance of the house. Yudi and Ali stood up in surprise, while Rajveer and Aalekh exchanged nervous glances. A young girl stood there in a very simple and traditional salwar kameez. Yudi stepped forward uncertainly.
"Orn- Orni?! Oh my God! It's you! Still in a salwar kameez!!" He went over and hugged her. "Guys it's OK, she's Neelu and my childhood friend… when we were kids her family used to live in the first floor, so whenever we visited Simla, Neelu, Orni and I used to hang out together all the time. But I thought you guys left a few years back?"
"Yeah, but I still visit it a few times a year for Chachaji (Yudi's uncle). What are you doing here… with…" she left off, looking at the rest of them. Just then, Pooja came out from the kitchen.
"You guys can stop wasting your talktime and help us in-" she stopped as she noticed Orni. "How long have I been out of reach?" Orni let out a giggle at Pooja's language.
"Hi! I'm Orni… Yudi's friend. But who are you guys?"
"We're his friends as well… from KMA… and he," she nodded at Rajveer, "is our teacher, our Shahrukh, Captain Rajveer!" Rajveer tried to object but Orni interrupted him.
"You needed help in the kitchen? I've always wanted to learn cooking…" she started, her eyes shining.
"… but ended up creating a disaster whenever she tried!" Yudi finished for her, earning a playful glare.
"It won't hurt to help though, I'm sure. Come on in!" Naina gave her a warm smile. "You can tell us more about Yudi and Neelu!"
"Only if you guys tell me about KMA! I find the Army so inetersting… Yudi's dad always used to…" they went into the kitchen, chatting away happily. It left the guys in wonder; it had been less than five minutes that they had met, but were acting like they were old friends reuniting after years! After a while of fooling around with Ali and Aalekh, he turned to face Captain Rajveer.
"Sir… you never told us how you escaped! You have to tell us now… come on guys, some support needed!" Yudi said looking expectantly at his friends. Ali joined in as well.
"Yes Sir, we want to hear it! Right Aalekh? Oh for God's sake, would you stop drinking for at least a few minutes?!" Ali snatched away the bottle from Aalekh, who just looked at Captain Rajveer.
"Well… Aalekh actually already knows the story. He-" Before he could continue, Yudi started to bombard Aalekh with questions, but Rajveer calmed him down. "As I was saying, he is the one who arranged it, so I asked him not to tell anyone. It was better if you guys really were clueless about my whereabouts."
*Flashback*
…Aalekh getting to know about Rajveer's location through many of his old links…
…His former cellmate gathering up people on his request…
…A group of seven people busting him out without causing any suspicion after tiring days and sleepless nights of skilful planning…
…Aalekh and Rajveer communicating through various different links…
…Rajveer telling him to keep watch on the happenings at KMA for any useful or suspicious…
…Aalekh arranging for him to come to the meeting at KMA…
*End of Flashback*
"Wow… and this is all real! It's almost like hearing about a movie." Orni commented looking at Yudi with awe, giving him an extra surge of enthusiasm. She sat down on the couch between Yudi and Aalekh. Pooja and Naina came out of the kitchen as well, but stood at a distance, arranging the table. "What were you talking about when I arrived? Something about a revolution…"
"It was amazing!" Yudi said elatedly. Orni let out giggle, sharing his excitement. She listened to his story in wonder, encouraging him to go on when he paused, and cheering whenever something was in their favour. "He…"
*Flashback*
…Rajveer's voice on the speakers all around KMA pleading everyone to open their eyes and mind…
…The cadets stopping Major Nair from entering, and locking Major Bhargav in, interrogating both…
…A small slip of information by Major Nair giving his position as a conspirator away…
…TAW discussing where to go next, and Neelu (who came to visit Yudi and Aalekh) suggesting their uncle's abandoned house at Simla…
…Captain Rajveer and Naina leaving with the Army jeep fixed by Suriji, taking Yudi and Aalekh with them…
…Captain Abhimanyu, Shalini and Huda staying back and taking the opportunity to search for the documents…
*End of Flashback*
"Are you all going to keep wasting your credit or recharge a bit? It's been a tiring day, now come and eat!" Pooja called them. Ali smiled at his wife, feeling proud to be married. He knew happiness was on its way to their lives! What he didn't know though, was that he wasn't the only one feeling this.
Captain Rajveer was the last one to get up, as he was having similar thoughts, though they were slightly different. He wished that he was a husband, of the young woman bringing out a bowl of what looked like painstakingly cooked curry. He caught her attention, signing something that looked like 'the food looks great', but in reality they both knew he wasn't talking only about the food… and so did Aalekh, watching from across the table with a small smile playing on his lips. It was time to begin Mission RN.
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