Chapter 24

Hey guys, here's your next update! Not as much RN in this one, but we've got to sort out the other cadets problems too!

Chapter 22:

On the way they stop for lunch, and Naina sends Pooja an sms on Raj's mobile to let her know what time they'll be arriving.

While waiting for their food they start chatting, about Navin, about Raj's academy days, about when Naina was at college. She feels like she's seeing a new side to him, one which is much more relaxed and comfortable with her than he used to be. Once they're back in the car, Naina turns the radio on and they both sing along, neither of them very well. But their bad singing just adds to the enjoyment as they end up laughing at each other. Finally, two hours later, they had reached their destination. Raj pulled the car over just before Pooja's house so that they can say goodbye properly in privacy.

He hugs her to him tightly as if he doesn't want to let go, only releasing her after a few minutes.

"I want to kiss you," he tells Naina, "But I'm afraid that once I start I won't be able to stop. And that might get Pooja's neighbours talking."

Naina giggles, "Well then, I suppose the next time I see you will be at KMA."

"KMA? Why did you remind me? Well I guess I'd better kiss you one last time now then." Raj said in a mock serious tone, knowing that he wouldn't be able to get away with it once they're both back at the academy.

He leans over and kisses her lightly on the lips, resisting the impulse to deepen it. Leaning his forehead against hers for a moment, he smiles, looking into her eyes.

"I love you," he tells her, "I'll see you in a week."

"I love you too Raj, I'll miss you until then."

She grabs her backpack and gets out of the jeep, waving at him as he drives away.

Then Naina walked towards Pooja's house and rang the door bell.

It's only a matter of seconds before the door is flung open and Pooja bounds out, throwing herself onto Naina in a friendly hug.

"Oh Naina, I've missed you so much!" she tells her, "I swear that my parents haven't managed to catch my network properly since I've been back, at least you can make them understand."

Naina laughed, she had been missing Pooja too, but she hadn't expected this much of a welcome.

"Alright baba, just tell me what the problem is and I'll sort it out."

"Problem? What else, marriage. Ever since I came back for the holidays at least six boys have been to see me with their parents, and I can't stand it!"

Naina couldn't believe exactly how close her lie to her mother had been to the truth.

"Well Pooja, now that I'm here I'll fix everything."

"Thanks yaar," Pooja replied, "I managed to talk to Ali yesterday and he said that he was ready to talk to his parents. Now all I have to do is work out how to tell mine."

Naina put her arm around Pooja's shoulder, "Don't worry, now that Naina is here to help you, nothing can go wrong. But do you think that maybe we can go inside first?"

Pooja laughed, realising that she'd just been ranting to Naina on the front steps without even inviting her inside.

"I'm so sorry, Naina! And that reminds me, where's Rajveer Sir? Did he drop you off?" she gives Naina a meaningful look, "Did you get everything sorted out?"

A blush came to Naina's face and Pooja grinned, "Ai hai, you're so shy even when I mention his name. How are you going to get through the next year of KMA like this?"

"Honestly Pooja, I have no idea." Naina repled seriously, and they went inside.

After Naina had said hi to Pooja's parents and thanked them for allowing her to stay the two girls headed up to Pooja's room so that they could talk properly. Naina hadn't had a chance to tell Pooja anything before she left, so she gave her an update of the situation between her and Raj, leaving out only the bits that she wasn't comfortable in telling. Pooja seemed to understand as she didn't press for details. When Naina was finished talking, Pooja hugged her.

"I'm so proud of you, Naina." She told her, "You're so brave to be able to make a decision like that. And me… I can't even tell my parents about Ali." Pooja sighed unhappily, "Just wait and see, as soon as you've left here, there will be more boys coming to see me."

"Not if I have anything to do with it, just wait and see what magic I weave at dinner tonight."

They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about the academy and their friends, remembering all the good times from their first year. Pooja had received an email from Yudi the previous day, apparently Alekh was behaving so well that Yudi's parents thought he was the best son-in-law they could ever hope for. Only Yudi and Neelu knew that Alekh would secretly drink once they'd gone to bed.

Naina became slightly emotional after hearing this, "You guys are the best friends I've ever had, I don't know what's going to happen after we all leave KMA. We won't lose touch will we?"

"Of course not, Naina. Our connections with each other will always remain clear and strong." Pooja reassured her.

Finally it was evening and the girls headed downstairs to have dinner with Pooja's parents.

Just as Naina had suspected, Pooja's mother brought up the issue within five minutes of them beginning dinner.

"Naina Putar, why don't you convince Pooja to make a connection with somebody? She needs to delete Rohit from her memory and make a new entry in her phonebook."

"Auntyji, I think that Pooja is willing to make a connection with the right boy." Naina replied calmly, waiting to see what the reply would be.

"But we showed her six possible connections this week, and she didn't want to have talktime with any of them! You tell her that she should be trying harder, Naina."

Naina glanced over at Pooja, waiting for her permission before she spoke again. Pooja gave a small nod as if to say she trusted Naina to say the right thing.

"Auntyji, what if Pooja has already found a boy for herself?"

Pooja's mother's face lit up with joy, "Hai Rabba! Is this true? Nothing could be better than that, all we want is for her life to be settled." Putting down her fork, she stared at Naina, completely focused on finding out more. "Who is this boy?"

"Well, he studies with us at KMA. He's a very sweet and simple boy. He respects women a lot and he has loved Pooja for a long time. Everyone who knows him knows that he has a very pure heart."

"Who is it, do we know him?"

Naina was about to tell them when Pooja made a sign for her to stop. Naina sighed, thinking that Pooja had lost her courage, but then Pooja started to speak.

"His name is Ali, mummy, and I love him a lot." Then she stared down at her plate, too scared to say anything else.

Pooja's mother and father stared at her in astonishment, there was utter silence until Pooja's father spoke.

"And you never told us? For so many days we thought that you still loved Rohit, we brought so many boys to see you, and you never said anything?"

"I was scared, Papa." Pooja whispered, still not looking up from her plate, "I was afraid that you wouldn't be happy that I…"

"And why not?" Pooja's father asked, "He seemed like a very nice boy when we met him. If you've decided to make your connection with him then why should we object?"

"Really, Papa?" Pooja looked up, overjoyed, and seeing that her father was serious, she got out of her chair so quickly that it fell over and ran around the table to hug him. "And you, Mummy? Are you also happy?"

"Of course, Pooja." Her mother told her, getting emotional "We were worried that you would never forget Rohit, all we wanted was that you should settle down with someone."

Pooja was so incredibly happy that she couldn't stay still for even a moment. "Oh Naina!" she exclaimed, grabbing Naina's hands and jumping up and down, "Thank you so much! I'm going to go and call Ali right now to give him the good news!" And she ran off to make the phone call.

Naina smiled, at least somebody's problems with their parents had been sorted out.

Pooja's parents smiled at each other, glad that their little girl was happy. In the distance they could all hear Pooja talking excitedly on the phone with Ali.

"So Putar, do you have a special connection with anyone?" Pooja's mother asked Naina.

Naina smiled. It was lucky that they didn't know the truth. "Yes Auntyji, I do." She told her, "I just wish that my parents could be convinced as easily as you were."

"Just keep faith in God, Naina, everything will work out."

Naina certainly hoped so.