Hey guys! Well I do have some bad news... there are only going to be three more chapters after this one! That's right, the story is drawing to a close now... but I hope that you'll enjoy the rest of it!!

Chapter 24:

"We won't let them get away with this," Navin muttered to Tanu the next morning. He had snuck away to see her while Raj was taking a shower.

"Well what are we going to do then, confront them?" Tanu asked, wondering what it is that Navin had planned.

"No, that wouldn't be nearly cruel enough," he told her, "We need to give them a taste of their own medicine… all this time they've been pretending to be depressed and making us feel guilty… now it's their turn."

Tanu nodded in agreement, "And this time…" she told him, "We don't trust anybody else with our plan!"

"Agreed!" Navin told her, and they quietly high fived each other.

When Raj came to the mess, he found everyone at a table together chatting happily, especially Navin and Tanu who seemed to be grinning most of all.

"You all look happy today," he told them, "What happened? Did you finally think of a plan?"

"Yes I think we have," Navin told him in a very serious tone, "Of course it still needs some work, but it could definitely solve our problem."

"Excellent!" Raj told him, "So then go on, tell me what your plan is."

"Not yet," Tanu said, "Actually we feel so bad for what's happened with the two of you that we thought it would be nice if we all went for a picnic today… you know, just to relax for a bit."

"And we all means?" Yudi asked excitedly, happy at the thought of a picnic.

"We all means everyone here," Navin told them, "We'll go to that nice spot just out of town, I've already ordered some lunch for us from the local dhaba.

Oh yes, they were all going to go together… and nobody would be able to escape…

They set off shortly after that in Abhimanyu's jeep… being a prince had some benefits after all, like being able to have your own car at the academy.

They stopped on the way, first to pick up the food and then to pick up Naina and Neelu from Yudi's house. As Neelu stepped into the jeep she spotted a spare spot next to Aalekh and quickly squashed in next to him, trying to look innocent while she did so.

Raj was glad that the jeep was so crowded, it gave him an excuse to sit even closer to Naina without having to worry about Navin getting angry. She grinned at him as she got in and he lent over to offer her his hand, pulling her up into the back of the jeep. Settling beside him, he put his arm around her shoulders, glancing quickly at Navin to make sure that he wasn't going to object.

However Navin had a rather mysterious smile on his face.

"So you're going to join us today too, sis?" Yudi asked Neelu, "I thought you might have had plans with your friends."

"No way bro," Neelu told him casually, "Naina hardly ever comes to visit, I want to spend some time with her now that she has."

She certainly wasn't going to mention to him who else she wanted to spend time with…

"And besides," she added, "I like your friends, bro. It's fun hanging out with them."

Aalekh was trying very hard not to look at her right now, afraid that if he did, his face might give something away.

"So then…"

"Don't even ask!" Shalini told him sternly, "Don't even think about it!"

Yudi decided that he'd better not. It had taken him this long to convince her to go out with him, if he annoyed her any more then she might end up changing her mind.

"This was so nice of you bhaiyya," Naina told him sweetly, "Raj and I really need something to distract us from this terrible situation right now." She gave another melodramatic sigh and rested her head on Raj's shoulder.

Navin nodded sympathetically, but inside he was thinking 'Nautanki, you can't fool me anymore…'

He and Tanu exchanged a glance, missed by Naina and Raj who were now smiling at each other.

Navin had to admit, they did make a cute pair. In fact they were so cute that he was finding it harder and harder to stay angry with them, but that didn't mean that he was going to let them get away with this…

Not at all.

Once they arrived at the picnic spot, everybody climbed out of the jeep, stretching after the cramped ride.

"Do you think that Bhaiyya is behaving a little weirdly?" Naina asked Raj, "I mean he and Tanu don't seem to be worried at all today…"

"Even I think they're acting a bit strangely," Raj whispered back, "But Navin said that he had a plan, so maybe they finally figured out how to fix the situation for us."

"I certainly hope so," Naina tells him, as they walk hand in hand to the spot that's been chosen for the picnic, "If we could find some sort of solution before the end of this weekend then I would be so relieved, there's not too long before you finish your training after all."

"So how is the happy couple?" Abhimanyu asked them, as he and Nandini came up and began walking alongside them, "Have you had a good time here this weekend, Naina?"

"Of course," Naina told them both with a smile, "Now I just have to figure out an excuse to come back again soon, otherwise the next time I see you all will be at your graduation."

"You'd better find a good excuse then, because I don't think I can go that long without seeing you," Raj told her dramatically, "Either that or I'll have to run away from the academy to come to Nainital."

"What about you two?" Naina asked them, "Have you told your parents that you love each other yet?"

"Not yet," Abhi admitted, "We're thinking we'll introduce them to each other when they come for the graduation and hope that they figure it out for themselves."

"And if they don't?" Naina asked practically, "Then what?"

"Then we actually have to come out and tell them, but I'm hoping that they'll get the hint." Abhi says, "I don't think we should have too many problems."

"You're the lucky ones then," Neelu said quietly, having joined them as they lagged behind the rest, "I have no idea how Yudi is going to react when he finds out about me and Aalekh, I'm just glad that we're not planning on getting married anytime soon, that way we'll have lots of time to convince them."

"And if you can't convince them?" Naina asks.

Neelu shrugs with a grin, "I've got plenty of practice with running away," she tells them.

Further up ahead, Navin and Tanu glance back from where they're walking with Yudi, Shalini, Ali and Pooja.

"And so all the conspirators are in the same place…" Tanu comments quietly to Navin, "Just wait until they find out that we know…"

"I can't wait to see the expressions on their faces," Navin adds gleefully. "Now that will be something worth seeing."

"Navinbhai, it was so nice of you to invite us for a picnic today," Ali commented, "Otherwise we hardly ever get to go out of the academy."

"Ha, Ali's and my outgoing is very limited." Pooja agrees, "It's nice to finally spend some time together in the fresh air."

"Well today is a very special day," Navin says, a strange smile on his face, "Today we have Naina with us and hopefully we can finally solve this problem once and for all."

"That's wonderful," Ali replied very sincerely, "I've been praying that Rajbhai and Naina will be united once and for all, and I hope that finally it has come true."

"Oy, my Ranjha is so sweet," Pooja says lovingly, reaching up to pinch his cheek as Ali blushes.

"Pooja…" he protests.

"Oy rehne do," she tells him, "Everyone here knows, there's no need to keep our love on silent mode!"

This comment just made Ali blush even more.

Eventually sitting down by a small lake on a blanket, spreading out the food. The only couple that wasn't sitting together was Aalekh and Neelu as they were still trying to pretend that they weren't going out.

After everybody had eaten and were chatting happily, Navin clapped his hands to get their attention.

"Well everybody, I have an announcement to make!" he tells them, "As you all know, my sister Naina and our friend Raj are in love and want to get married."

There were quite a few nods at this, Raj once again had his arm around Naina's shoulders while she leaned against his side.

"Well Tanu and I have finally come up with a solution for them!" Navin announces, sounding very proud with himself, "It's not a lasting solution but it should at least help for the time being."

"Then tell us what it is, Bhaiyya." Naina says impatiently, hoping that it's something that really will help.

"We're going to get the two of them secretly married at the registry office!" Tanu announces loudly, and then stops to watch the reactions.

Ali, Pooja, Shalini and Yudi all look very pleased, although Ali looks like he might disapprove just slightly of secret weddings.

However the rest of them… Naina and Raj's jaws drop, as they both stare at Navin incredulously, before glancing at each other worriedly.

Abhimanyu is so shocked he spits out the soft drink he's been drinking, narrowly missing the picnic rug. Nandini stares back at the two of them before turning around to look at Naina and Raj, a question in her eyes.

Neelu tries not to laugh, finding the whole thing rather funny and Aalekh… well, he never reacts to anything so they hadn't really expected him to this time either.

"Uh, Navin…" Raj tries to recover the situation. "Don't you think that this solution is a little bit extreme…. I mean, shouldn't we come up with a plan to convince my parents first?"

"Oh we'll still come up with a plan to convince your parents," Navin reassures him, "But at least for the moment you'll both know you're married and they can't marry you to anyone else. After all…" and he gives his best filmy impression, gazing at Naina with brotherly affection, "After all those rakhis my sister has tied for me, how can I abandon her now? How can I bear to see her so depressed and worried?"

He walks over to where Naina and Raj are sitting, and pulls Naina to him, hugging her fiercely and patting her back. "Don't worry Naina, this brother of yours won't let anyone separate you from your love!" he declares dramatically, "I'll bring the smile back to your face!"

It's Tanu's turn to want to clap, but she manages to resist. In fact she has so much self control that she doesn't even give him a thumbs up while Raj and Naina aren't looking.

"Bhaiyya, that's so sweet of you…" Naina tells him, "But…"

"But what?" Navin asks her, "You're worried that our parents will be angry, right? Don't worry, I'll handle them!"

They are very rapidly running out of excuses for not going to the registry office and Raj is starting to worry.

"But you have to give notices of marriages 30 days in advance!" He tells Navin, "That means that Naina and I can only get married after 30 days."

"No problem," Tanu tells them, "We already bribed them so that they would forget about the waiting period."

Raj wondered why he hadn't thought of that when Naina and he decided to get married…

"But it's a Sunday," Naina pointed out, "The office isn't open on Sundays."

"Oh yes it is," Navin tells her, "We gave them such a big bribe that they're going to open it just for us. Now we'd better get going or we're going to be late!"

"But…"

"You two are making an awful lot of excuses," Tanu points out innocently, "You do want to get married don't you?"

"Of course…." Raj starts to protest, and then his eyes narrow and he stares at both of them. "You know, don't you?" he asks.

"Know what?" Yudi asks them, completely clueless.

"Yes, know what?" Pooja adds.

Nandini and Abhimanyu both suddenly look very awkward, Aalekh looks like he's planning an escape route and Neelu just seems like she's enjoying the dhamasha.

"Yes we know," Navin tells them a bit angrily, "And we also know that you were there, and you, and you and you." He says, pointing to each of the culprits in turn.

"Wait, where were they?" Yudi asks, still confused, "And why was Neelu wherever they were??"

"Why? I can't go anywhere without you, bro?" she asks him, rolling her eyes.

"Navinbhai, exactly what is going on?" Ali asks him, "Has something happened?""

"You're damn right, something has happened!" Navin tells him, "What happened is that my sister and my best friend got married behind my back without telling me!"

"Um, sorry?" Naina offers, "But honestly bhaiyya, would you have let us go through with it if you knew? You kept saying that we weren't allowed to elope!"

"And I see that you didn't listen to what I said!" Navin tells her, glaring at them both angrily.

"Navin, can you really blame us?" Raj tries to defend them, "And it's not like we've gotten married properly behind your back, we just went to the registry office… you'll definitely be there for the rituals!"

"And what if I go and tell both sets of parents what you've done?" Navin threatens, "Then they'll get your marriage annulled before you can even do the rituals!"

"But you won't do that, will you Bhaiyya?" Naina tries to tell him soothingly, "Because you love us both so much!"

"But I still don't know what Neelu was doing there!" Yudi interrupts, and everybody rolls their eyes.

"Bro, I was there because I picked Naina up from the bus station." Neelu tells him.

"Oh yes, there's some lovely photos of Neelu at the ceremony…" Tanu tells her, shooting her a piercing gaze.

Neelu suddenly starts to look a bit nervous, remembering exactly who it is that she's standing with in those photos.

"I'm sorry Navin," Raj tells him genuinely, "We honestly thought that you would try to stop us if we told you… are you really very angry?"

"No…" Navin admits, "Not that much, I was at first, but then I was quite proud at how sneaky the two of you had been in order to pull it off."

They look at each other and both of them burst out laughing, everybody else relaxes, realising that the most serious part of the situation had finished.

"So we're forgiven?" Naina asks a bit nervously.

"Come and touch my feet and I'll think about it," Navin tells her, "As your elder brother I have to give you both my blessings."

Raj gives him a funny look, "Navin I am not going to touch your feet." He tells him, "Forget about it."

"Then you can forget about my forgiveness and I really will be telling your parents." Navin tells him stubbornly. "Now come and touch your wife's elder brother's feet."

Raj glared slightly, but they both came forward and touched his feet, very, very briefly. Navin touched them both on the head.

"There, you now have my blessings," he told them, then fixed Raj with a very strict gaze, "But they will IMMEDIATELY be withdrawn if I find you trying to do anything with my sister before you're properly married."

"Of course not," Raj told him nervously, "I would never even think of it."

"Well then let's enjoy the rest of the day with the happy couple," Navin said, "After all, my little sister has gotten married!"

Yudi pulls out his guitar and strums a tune while the rest sing along, eventually Raj pulls Naina up to dance, and they laugh, much more relaxed now that their secret is finally out in the open and they don't have to pretend anything anymore.

Raj realises that Abhimanyu was right, it really is much easier to just act naturally.

Finally it's time for Naina's bus and they drop her to the station. She hugs everybody goodbye, Navin and Tanu last of all.

"Thank you Bhaiyya," she tells him, "You're the best."

"No problem," Navin says, patting her head, "Don't worry, we'll come up with a solution soon."

Then they head back to the jeep, giving her some time alone with Raj.

"I want to kiss you goodbye," he tells her, "But I think Navin is still watching."

"Then you can hug me instead," Naina informs him, "And we'll save the kiss for when I see you again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He gives her a long hug, reluctant to let go of her. Every time that Raj sees Naina it becomes harder and harder to say goodbye to her. The only thing that allows him to do so is because he knows that the separation is only temporary.

"Have a safe trip back," He tells her, leaning over to kiss her on her cheek, Naina returns the kiss on his other cheek.

"I love you," she tells him.

"I love you too." He gives her one more kiss on her hair and then waves goodbye as the bus departs.

Sighing, Raj walks over to where the rest of his friends are waiting. Abhimanyu pats him on the back encouragingly, knowing that he'll be upset now that Naina is gone.

"Don't worry Jijaji," Navin tells him jokingly, "We'll think of something soon."

"You'd better," Raj tells him, "Remember that yours and Tanu's marriage depends on mine and Naina's."

"Well at least we're finally brothers-in-law." Navin tells him, "That's something to be happy about."

Raj smiles and slings his arm around Navin's shoulder, "Come on, let's go back to the academy." He tells him, "Very impressive plan today by the way, you really had us panicking for a minute there."

"Well, could you expect anything less from Tanu and I?" Navin asks, "After all, we had to catch up with you two."

Raj laughs, and they head back to the academy.

**

Two days later, Raj is informed by the orderly that he has a phone call and he rushes there, hoping that it will be Naina.

However it's not, it's his father.

"What is it, Dad?" Raj asks, not really in the mood to talk to him. He's still rather annoyed and disappointed with his parents.

"Actually Raj, we've been thinking about your marriage." His father announces.

"Really?" Raj brightens up, "Then you've decided to accept Naina?"

"Well no, actually we were thinking about Sahni's daughter."

"Neelu??" Raj asks incredulously, "Dad, I already told you that I'm not interested in her, and now you think I'll have changed my mind."

"Well we thought that you had," his father replies, "We'd heard from Mr Sahni that you two are getting on very well these days, that she even went to visit you at the academy."

It was Yudi. Raj just bet that this was all Yudi's fault, that he had blurted out something at home where his parents could hear it.

"Dad, I don't know what you've heard, but it's not true, Neelu and I are only friends." Raj tells him, "And we certainly don't want to get married."

"Well the best marriages start from friendship," His father announces cheerfully, "And we've already arranged to come and see the girl next weekend so you had better be prepared to go by then!"

"But dad…"

"No buts… we're going to go and see the girl, then we'll make a decision."

"But dad…"

"See you next weekend, Raj."

And he hung up.

Raj stared at the phone.

Yudi was dead.

That bloody….

He forced himself to calm down, and think about this logically. How could he get out of this situation without admitting the truth… how could he…

Suddenly an idea occurred to Raj, his most brilliant idea yet.

Yes, this could definitely work.

He would need help, and some fellow co-conspirators, but this could definitely work.

Come next weekend he would be going to see Neelu.

He couldn't wait to see the results.