Chapter 18
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Chapter 17:
Naina sat on her bed clutching a small card, looking at the small package in front of her with an amused smile.
Naina,
This dress is from Raj – and me – (but mostly Raj) to you, as a token of 'thank you' for supporting him throughout this entire episode… I'm sure you'll like it; it's his choice after all!
N. Virani
Incidentally, she had perfectly matching shoes and accessories. She looked up as the door opened, grinning at the sight of her blushing friend.
"Wow… Pooja Ghai, blushing? Come on! What happened?!" Naina asked, a bit unlike herself.
"Naina! Well… Ali…" she blushed even harder. She described dreamily how Ali had opened up with her, and how much she loved being loved by him. Her eyes spotted the small package on Naina's bed. It was Naina's turn to explain everything, and by the time she was done, it was her blushing with Pooja teasing her. Pooja took out her cell phone, holding it out to Naina.
"Call him up!" she ordered.
"No! What would I say? And…" Naina stuttered.
"Don't you want to thank him for the gift? Tell him you love it and the one who chose it! I'm dialing the number Nandini gave-" she stopped talking at the knocking on the window. It was Ali! The girls looked at each other in shock, but grinning nonetheless.
Pooja let him in, and was about to close the window when Ali stopped her. Huda's head could soon be seen coming up. After a few minutes, Yudi and Naina were sitting at her bed, Huda, Ali and Pooja at hers and Aalekh on the floor in between.
"What are you guys doing here? What if Suriji or Lolita Ma'am-" Naina stopped on her tracks, smiling to herself. "Never mind… so what's up?" The rest grinned at her change. It was about time she loosened up!
"We just thought we'd pay you girls a visit… it's been a long time since all of us hung out like this together!" Huda answered.
"Well, good timing, because Pooja was about to call Rajveer Sir up!" Naina told them, gaining more confidence to talk to him now that she was with her friends. "Won't you guys wish him luck for his trial tomorrow? It'll really make him happy!"
Pooja dialed the number, putting it on speaker. Nandini answered, and handed it over to Rajveer.
"Hello?" His voice didn't affect Naina only though; the rest grinned widely as well, their general confidence boosting high. They greeted him enthusiastically. Hearing him laugh lifted the atmosphere.
"Sir, we just wanted you to know that no matter what happens in the trial, we're always going to keep supporting you!" Aalekh said determinedly.
"And that our networks will always be connected. Your number is in the VIP list of our contacts!"
"Exactly, Sir! We're always ready as your students and soldiers to help you!" Yudi added.
"Don't worry about the trial; like you and my mummyji say, I believe 'jeet hamesha sach kii hoti hain'!" Huda said coolly.
"And you are one of the truest and finest soldiers this country has had the honor to have!" Ali told him boldly.
"Thank you cadets, so much! Truth be told, I was quite nervous about tomorrow," he didn't say 'trial' since it wasn't the only thing he was nervous about, "but not anymore, now that I know my six brightest cadets are with me, fighting for the truth… right Cadet Singh?" They all turned to look at Naina expectantly, making her blush.
"Yes Sir!" She said confidently, shaking off the shyness. "We'll be waiting to greet you tomorrow to the Ball. And… thank you." She added on a lighter tone. The guys looked at Pooja for an explanation, but all they got is her looking happily at the package on Naina's bed.
"Thank you? For what?" he asked unsurely. Pooja and Naina exchanged glances.
"Umm nothing Sir… just… for being such a wonderful mentor to all of us!" she fumbled with the explanation.
"Anytime, cadets! Now, it's very late, so go to bed now. And boys, if Suriji or Lolita sees you, remember that I'm not going to be able to make an excuse for you now, so careful!"
"How did you know we were in the girls' room?" Huda asked, confused.
"Cadet Huda, I was once a cadet at KMA too… girls never take the risk to go to the boys' hostel! They think it's a waste of time." He said in a teasing tone. They all laughed, but quieted down a bit. Soon later you could see the dark figures climbing out of a certain room of the girls' hostel and running cautiously to their own.
~*~*~
"Pooja, could you please help me with this?" Naina asked while they both got ready for the Ball. Naina was wearing the one she was sent - {Click here}, and Pooja the one she had bought the night before - {Click here}. Their maturity could clearly be detected now; the transformation they'd both gone throughout the academic year was evident in their aura.
"This is the first party I'm going to with my husband!" Pooja exclaimed the last part excitedly. Naina laughed happily at her friend's exhilaration. Soon, they were completely ready, wondering what the evening would bring for them.
"I'm really worried about Rajveer Sir though… I know he probably won the trial, but no one's confirmed it yet…" Naina told Pooja.
"Why don't you go to Captain Abhimanyu and ask him? I'll meet you at the Ball… with my husband!" She looked extremely happy, especially when she said or thought about 'her husband'. Naina hugged her, which was enough to tell her how happy Naina was for her. They both left the room, and separated their ways outside the hostel, silently wishing each other luck.
"Naina!" A very familiar voice called her, making her heart nearly skip a beat. She slowly turned, seeing the face she was craving to have a glimpse of in the past few days. He was looking more dashing than anyone she had ever seen in a simple, formal suit - {Click here}. They walked towards each other, a few strands of her hair falling out of the stylish bun Pooja had done for her from the wind. He couldn't help but wonder how he had been alive without seeing her for days.
"I know this is late to ask, but would you be my date to the Ball?" he asked in a rush, perhaps trying to match his racing heartbeat. Naina smiled affectionately at his nervousness but put on a 'thinking' expression.
"Well… I don't have a date… neither do you… so maybe I might, Sir." She said teasingly. He chuckled, but played along.
"Oh yes Cadet Naina Ah Singh, I hear the one you wanted to go to the Ball with hasn't replied. I'm sure, though, it would've been a straight 'yes'." He said, stepping ahead and gazing down in the beautiful bright eyes. "After all, it's not every man's luck to have such an amazing young woman as his partner." She blushed looking down, and raised a hand to push the locks of hair behind her ear, but coincidentally, Rajveer had done so too.
"Ah, Major Rajveer Singh Shikhawat!" Brigadier Chandokh's voice with a tone of delight broke them apart. Rajveer took a step back, giving Naina the smile every girl would die for, and turned to look at BC.
"Sir! How are you doing?" He asked.
"Oh I'm quite fine Major, but definitely not as great as you'd be doing right now! Were you telling Cadet Singh about your promotion at the trial? It's never happened in the history of the Indian military system. I'm very proud that you and Captain Ahluwalia have passed out from KMA, and very sorry about the way I've treated both your titles!"
"We all have misunderstandings Sir, it's whether you realize your mistake or not that counts. Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia was misunderstood, but now will have the respect of a martyr that he had deserved all along!" He said proudly, looking at Naina, both with tears of happiness in their eyes. Neither shed the tears though, since it wasn't time for celebration yet; they still had to complete the mission.
"Oh by the way Naina, I remember telling you call me 'Raj'." They both laughed as they entered the hall, both aware of the pair of eyes following them.RJOpal 39291.9460648148
Naina sat on her bed clutching a small card, looking at the small package in front of her with an amused smile.
Naina,
This dress is from Raj – and me – (but mostly Raj) to you, as a token of 'thank you' for supporting him throughout this entire episode… I'm sure you'll like it; it's his choice after all!
N. Virani
Incidentally, she had perfectly matching shoes and accessories. She looked up as the door opened, grinning at the sight of her blushing friend.
"Wow… Pooja Ghai, blushing? Come on! What happened?!" Naina asked, a bit unlike herself.
"Naina! Well… Ali…" she blushed even harder. She described dreamily how Ali had opened up with her, and how much she loved being loved by him. Her eyes spotted the small package on Naina's bed. It was Naina's turn to explain everything, and by the time she was done, it was her blushing with Pooja teasing her. Pooja took out her cell phone, holding it out to Naina.
"Call him up!" she ordered.
"No! What would I say? And…" Naina stuttered.
"Don't you want to thank him for the gift? Tell him you love it and the one who chose it! I'm dialing the number Nandini gave-" she stopped talking at the knocking on the window. It was Ali! The girls looked at each other in shock, but grinning nonetheless.
Pooja let him in, and was about to close the window when Ali stopped her. Huda's head could soon be seen coming up. After a few minutes, Yudi and Naina were sitting at her bed, Huda, Ali and Pooja at hers and Aalekh on the floor in between.
"What are you guys doing here? What if Suriji or Lolita Ma'am-" Naina stopped on her tracks, smiling to herself. "Never mind… so what's up?" The rest grinned at her change. It was about time she loosened up!
"We just thought we'd pay you girls a visit… it's been a long time since all of us hung out like this together!" Huda answered.
"Well, good timing, because Pooja was about to call Rajveer Sir up!" Naina told them, gaining more confidence to talk to him now that she was with her friends. "Won't you guys wish him luck for his trial tomorrow? It'll really make him happy!"
Pooja dialed the number, putting it on speaker. Nandini answered, and handed it over to Rajveer.
"Hello?" His voice didn't affect Naina only though; the rest grinned widely as well, their general confidence boosting high. They greeted him enthusiastically. Hearing him laugh lifted the atmosphere.
"Sir, we just wanted you to know that no matter what happens in the trial, we're always going to keep supporting you!" Aalekh said determinedly.
"And that our networks will always be connected. Your number is in the VIP list of our contacts!"
"Exactly, Sir! We're always ready as your students and soldiers to help you!" Yudi added.
"Don't worry about the trial; like you and my mummyji say, I believe 'jeet hamesha sach kii hoti hain'!" Huda said coolly.
"And you are one of the truest and finest soldiers this country has had the honor to have!" Ali told him boldly.
"Thank you cadets, so much! Truth be told, I was quite nervous about tomorrow," he didn't say 'trial' since it wasn't the only thing he was nervous about, "but not anymore, now that I know my six brightest cadets are with me, fighting for the truth… right Cadet Singh?" They all turned to look at Naina expectantly, making her blush.
"Yes Sir!" She said confidently, shaking off the shyness. "We'll be waiting to greet you tomorrow to the Ball. And… thank you." She added on a lighter tone. The guys looked at Pooja for an explanation, but all they got is her looking happily at the package on Naina's bed.
"Thank you? For what?" he asked unsurely. Pooja and Naina exchanged glances.
"Umm nothing Sir… just… for being such a wonderful mentor to all of us!" she fumbled with the explanation.
"Anytime, cadets! Now, it's very late, so go to bed now. And boys, if Suriji or Lolita sees you, remember that I'm not going to be able to make an excuse for you now, so careful!"
"How did you know we were in the girls' room?" Huda asked, confused.
"Cadet Huda, I was once a cadet at KMA too… girls never take the risk to go to the boys' hostel! They think it's a waste of time." He said in a teasing tone. They all laughed, but quieted down a bit. Soon later you could see the dark figures climbing out of a certain room of the girls' hostel and running cautiously to their own.
~*~*~
"Pooja, could you please help me with this?" Naina asked while they both got ready for the Ball. Naina was wearing the one she was sent - {Click here}, and Pooja the one she had bought the night before - {Click here}. Their maturity could clearly be detected now; the transformation they'd both gone throughout the academic year was evident in their aura.
"This is the first party I'm going to with my husband!" Pooja exclaimed the last part excitedly. Naina laughed happily at her friend's exhilaration. Soon, they were completely ready, wondering what the evening would bring for them.
"I'm really worried about Rajveer Sir though… I know he probably won the trial, but no one's confirmed it yet…" Naina told Pooja.
"Why don't you go to Captain Abhimanyu and ask him? I'll meet you at the Ball… with my husband!" She looked extremely happy, especially when she said or thought about 'her husband'. Naina hugged her, which was enough to tell her how happy Naina was for her. They both left the room, and separated their ways outside the hostel, silently wishing each other luck.
"Naina!" A very familiar voice called her, making her heart nearly skip a beat. She slowly turned, seeing the face she was craving to have a glimpse of in the past few days. He was looking more dashing than anyone she had ever seen in a simple, formal suit - {Click here}. They walked towards each other, a few strands of her hair falling out of the stylish bun Pooja had done for her from the wind. He couldn't help but wonder how he had been alive without seeing her for days.
"I know this is late to ask, but would you be my date to the Ball?" he asked in a rush, perhaps trying to match his racing heartbeat. Naina smiled affectionately at his nervousness but put on a 'thinking' expression.
"Well… I don't have a date… neither do you… so maybe I might, Sir." She said teasingly. He chuckled, but played along.
"Oh yes Cadet Naina Ah Singh, I hear the one you wanted to go to the Ball with hasn't replied. I'm sure, though, it would've been a straight 'yes'." He said, stepping ahead and gazing down in the beautiful bright eyes. "After all, it's not every man's luck to have such an amazing young woman as his partner." She blushed looking down, and raised a hand to push the locks of hair behind her ear, but coincidentally, Rajveer had done so too.
"Ah, Major Rajveer Singh Shikhawat!" Brigadier Chandokh's voice with a tone of delight broke them apart. Rajveer took a step back, giving Naina the smile every girl would die for, and turned to look at BC.
"Sir! How are you doing?" He asked.
"Oh I'm quite fine Major, but definitely not as great as you'd be doing right now! Were you telling Cadet Singh about your promotion at the trial? It's never happened in the history of the Indian military system. I'm very proud that you and Captain Ahluwalia have passed out from KMA, and very sorry about the way I've treated both your titles!"
"We all have misunderstandings Sir, it's whether you realize your mistake or not that counts. Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia was misunderstood, but now will have the respect of a martyr that he had deserved all along!" He said proudly, looking at Naina, both with tears of happiness in their eyes. Neither shed the tears though, since it wasn't time for celebration yet; they still had to complete the mission.
"Oh by the way Naina, I remember telling you call me 'Raj'." They both laughed as they entered the hall, both aware of the pair of eyes following them.
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