Chapter 27

Well guys, this was the second last chapter of Vanished ever!! I'm sad to be ending it, but it is the right time. There is one more part, which I'll be posting this weekend, and then a few days after that I'll be beginning a new fic (My Cadet will be continuing as normal!)

Chapter 26:

Yudi, Alekh and Ali had arrived the following day, but Alekh was still kept in custody since the case hadn't been decided yet. Feeling unhappy about this, Yudi decided it was time to confess his part in Captain Rajveer's rescue and asked to be arrested too. The officers were a bit shocked about this, but decided it would be best to take him into custody and prepare charges against him for the hearing as well.

Ali would've liked to confess too, but in the end he hadn't actually committed any crimes. Therefore the only thing he could do was to go and visit Naina in the hospital.

The reunion between the friends was a happy one, but all of them missed Yudi and Alekh. Ali could see the change in Naina that had happened over the past few months, she seemed years older, as if she had seen and experienced far too much in far too short a time. For the next two days, Huda, Priya, Pooja and Ali divided themselves between Naina, Raj and Yudi and Alekh, trying to distract them all from the upcoming hearing. However Naina didn't seem nervous at all, ever since she heard about the hearing, she has been perfectly calm, as if she no longer feels any fear. On the other hand, Raj seems to be on edge, barely able to contain his emotions inside.

On Wednesday, Naina's parents arrive in Delhi. When they visit her in hospital, they're surprised by her calmness, her complete acceptance of the situation.

"It will all work out." Naina tells them, "There's nothing to fear anymore."

Whatever happens, even if she receives a jail sentence, her mission has been completed.

It is a bittersweet reunion for Naina and her parents, they're happy to have their little girl back again after months when she was missing. However the question remains of whether they've gotten her back only to lose her again. Naina's parents no longer trust the justice system after what it did to Navin.

They also notice the change in Naina, and wonder exactly what has happened over these past months when she was missing. She's no longer the same girl she was when she left. But Naina is unwilling to say anything about the time she was gone, she avoids their questions, asking about how they've been instead.

Naina's mother had been hoping that once she returned, Huda and Naina's engagement would be back on again. However looking at the two of them, it seems that neither has the slightest regret that their engagement has been broken off. Although she notices the new ring on Naina's finger, Naina's mother doesn't ask about it. Naina's unwillingness to talk makes her think it would be better to ask after the hearing is over.

On Thursday morning, Naina is transferred to the court under armed guard. Since they aren't members of the military, her parents can't attend the hearing and they wait outside. Huda, Priya, Pooja and Ali will all be testifying, so they are able to attend.

They arrive early, and Huda speaks to one of the guards quietly, who shows them into a nearby room where they can wait. Five minutes later, when Huda's just beginning to think that something has gone wrong, the door opens and Raj enters, accompanied by Amhimanyu.

Naina immediately stands, her gaze completely fixed upon him. Her eyes shine with so much happiness and love that only a blind man wouldn't be able to see it. Raj stares at her like she is the most beautiful sight he's ever seen, it feels like it has been an age since he saw her, an age since he touched her.

Coughing self consciously, Abhimanyu makes a gesture to the rest of them, and everybody leaves the room as quietly as possible, shutting the door behind them. Neither Raj nor Naina respond to them leaving, both can't take their eyes off the other.

Raj is the first to move, crossing the room quickly, he crushes Naina to him, enveloping her in his arms. Closing his eyes, he buries his head in her neck, inhaling her scent, feeling her skin under his.

Tears slip out of Naina's eyes as she clings to him. A few days ago she had believed that she might never be able to hold him again, today it seems as if a miracle has occurred.

Taking Naina's face in both of his hands, Raj caresses her cheeks, determined to look at her to his heart's content.

Bending down, he kisses her with so much passion and feeling that Naina is left shaken and weak in the knees. She kisses him back, combing the fingers of her good arm through his hair.

When they finally part, Raj sighs, his breath warm on her face and tickling her ear.

"I missed you." He tells her.

"I missed you too." She replies, "But now everything will be alright."

"Nobody can separate us again." He promises her.

Wrapping his arms around her, Raj hugs her against him. He wishes they could stay that way for longer, he never wants to leave her side again. But there is a knocking at the door and reluctantly he lets her go, taking her good hand in his instead. Pooja opens the door and peeps inside, checking that they're both ready.

"It's time to go." She tells them.

Raj holds Naina's hand until the reach the door to the hearing room, needing to reassure himself that she really is there beside them. When they arrive, he hears Naina make a sound of delight and turns to see what she's looking at. There, already waiting to go in, are Yudi and Alekh.

The four of them exchange quick hugs, knowing that they don't have much time left until they're called inside. The rest of their friends are already gone, as they will enter the hearing room from a different door.

"I can't believe that you admitted your role in this." Naina tells Yudi, "You could've gotten away with it and nobody would've ever known."

"Would I pass up my only chance to prove that I'm really a man?" Yudi jokes with her, and Naina smiles, reminded of old times and almost forgetting how serious the hearing they're about to go into is.

"Are we all ready?" Raj asks them.

Alekh shrugs, "It's not like it's the first time I've been to court." He tells them, "Hopefully this judge is better than the others."

The door opens and the guards usher them through, showing them where they need to be seated.

The hearing lasts for eight hours as each side presents its evidence and questions witnesses. All of their friends are questioned by both the prosecution and the defense about what happened over the past months, and evidence is presented to the judges. Finally it comes time to question the accused. Naina is the last to be questioned about her role in the events, as Yudi, Alekh and Raj have already told their versions of the story.

"Ms Ahluwalia, you masterminded a plan to free an accused traitor, in the process ambushing and injuring members of the Indian army and damaging government roads. What do you have to say in your defense?"

"I was careful that the soldiers shouldn't be injured, and they weren't." Naina tells them, "I'm very sorry about the damage to the roads caused but it was unavoidable."

"But what justification do you have for your actions?"

"If I hadn't done so, then Captain Rajveer would have been dead by now." Naina tells them, "And an honest army officer is worth far more than the damage I did to that road."

The questioning goes on for hours, until the judges finally declare that they have received all of the evidence they need and call a recess so that they can make their decision. Alekh slumps back in his seat, and Yudi leans forward with his head in his hands, exhausted.

"How do you think it looks?" he asks Raj, "Are we going to be acquitted?"

"I don't know," Raj replies honestly, "But I think that our chances are good.

Seeing the tired look on Naina's face, and the way she winces when she moves her arm, he leans forward and rubs her back comfortingly. She smiles at him, forgetting how tired she really is.

Finally, tearing her eyes away from Raj's, Naina turns to face Alekh.

"So I hear you'll be giving up drinking if we win the case." She tells him, obviously happy with the news.

Alekh groans, "I was a fool to make that promise, at that time I was desperate to say anything that would make it better."

"And will you keep your promise?" Naina asks him.

"Yes," Alekh replies, "If everything works out then it will be worth it."

He knows that Neelu will be waiting outside the hearing room, wanting to hear whether he's been forgiven or not. Yudi said she's been beside herself with worry ever since she found out he was arrested.

"If we're pardoned then I think we should all get a holiday." Yudi announces, "Surely they owe us some leave for saving the country from traitors."

"That would be nice," Naina tells them, "If they'll still admit me into the army then I wouldn't mind some leave before hand."

"Well at least Ali and Pooja could finally get engaged then." Yudi comments, knowing how hard it's been for both of them to keep refusing their parents for all these months.

"Yes," Raj replies, "And there'll be time for us to get married too."

Alekh and Yudi stare at him slightly shocked by the way he's said it so casually as if it's already been decided long ago. Naina just looks down at her feet, trying to hide the small smile that's come onto her face. Raj reaches out and takes Naina's hand again, entwining her fingers with his.

Yudi grins at Alekh, who smiles back in return. Even though Naina hasn't said anything in reply, they know what her answer is.

"So Alekh, if everybody else is getting married then when are you marrying my sister?" Yudi asks him, only half joking.

"Ask Neelu instead." Is the only reply Alekh will give him.

Two minutes later, all of the officials begin to return to the hearing room, but Raj doesn't let go of Naina's hand. He doesn't care what anybody thinks, no matter what the decision is, they're in this together.

After calling the room to order, the lead judge begins to speak.

"The charges against the four accused are serious indeed, all have misled the Indian Army and broken various rules and laws. However, as we have heard today, it was in an effort to expose traitors who were harming our country's security and progress. After a great deal of thought and deliberation, it has been decided that the four accused, Captain Rajveer Singh Shekawat, Lieutenant Alekh Sharma, Lieutenant Yaduvansh Sahni and Ms Naina Singh Ahluwalia, should all be pardoned, as the benefits of their actions far outweigh any illegal actions they have taken."

As soon as he announced this, the room erupted into cheers, Pooja couldn't control herself and began crying in happiness, throwing her arms around Ali and jumping up and down. Huda turned to Priya and hugged her, before awkwardly realising what he had done and letting her go. She didn't seem to mind though, and gave him a high five. "Yes!" Exclaimed Abhimanyu, happy that finally everything was over and they could all move on with their lives.

As soon as the judge announced 'Court dismissed', their friends surged forward to congratulate them, and about five minutes was spent with everybody just hugging each other in happiness and relief.

Finally when they had all calmed down, they headed towards the exit, Naina excited as she knew her parents would be waiting outside.

For the past eight hours, Naina's parents had barely been able to contain their fear or nervousness as they had sat with Neelu in the corridor, pacing up and down and drinking cup after cup of chai and coffee. Neelu had tried to reassure them as best as she could, but she had been nervous herself.

As soon as the courtroom door opened, they all looked up, barely daring to hope that it had all worked out.

Coming out of the courtroom, Naina ran forward to meet them. "Ma, Baba, we won." She told them, "We've finally won." And she broke down in tears. They hugged her to them, also crying over her. Neelu was also emotional, hugging both Alekh and Yudi, glad to have them both back with her.

"We knew you could do it, Beti." Naina's father told her proudly, "You're exactly like your brother, you could never fail in any mission."

Until this moment, Raj had hung back, wanting to give Naina time with her parents. Turning around to check where he was, Naina motioned to him to come forward which he did.

"Ma, Baba, you remember Captain Rajveer." Naina told them, and Naina's mother suddenly understood everything by the love she could clearly see shining out of her daughter's face.

"Of course," she replied, "Thank you for looking after our daughter all of these months."

"Uncleji, Auntyji, I don't know if now is the right time." Raj tells them, "But I know how short life is, and I don't want to waste any more time. I want to marry your Naina." Seeing the surprised looks on their faces he quickly adds, "As soon as possible."

While Naina's mother had guessed her daughter's feelings, she hadn't expected him to propose so quickly. Up until this point, Naina's father had been completely clueless and is staring at Raj while he tries to understand it. Before she left, Naina got engaged to somebody, and now that she's returned, she wants to marry somebody else.

However the look of happiness and shyness on Naina's face quickly convinces him, and he steals only one look at Huda to find that the boy does not seem in the least bit bothered, in fact he's smiling just as widely as everybody else there.

"You have our permission, Beta." He tells him, "We trust Naina to make the right decisions in life."

Relieved, Raj leans down to touch their feet and they give him their blessings.

Priya had been watching Huda carefully while this was happening, trying to find any trace of sorrow or regret in his face. Instead she realises that he's genuinely happy for the couple, and that he has moved on with his life.

"So Huda, did it all turned out how you hoped?" she asks him.

"It turned out even better than that." He replies, and for the first time Priya notices the question in his eyes when he looks at her.

"So what now?" Yudi asks them all. "I mean, we've won, we've completed the mission, and after all these months we're finally all together again."

"Now we celebrate." Naina tells him with a smile, all of the pain and hardship she's been through to reach this point forgotten. "And all of you need to apply for some leave, I think we all need a holiday."

Nobody can argue with that, after everything they've been through, they all deserve one.