Ab tho forever..
It seemed just like yesterday when she came to KMA. She came there in order to search for proofs, find a lead to her brother's mysterious death. She had no clue where to begin with. She just laid all her hopes on destiny.
But now things were different. Her life had changed. She had changed probably with time. Instead of fighting ruthlessly against a system and revolting she had begun to accept it. She now knew that it is wrong to blame the entire system for the wrongdoings of few people. She was more focused and decided to make measured steps to prove her brother's innocence.
She had also made quiet a lot of friends. Though reluctant to get attatched to anybody, she was unknowingly attatched to kma, almost against her will. Apart from her batchmates, she also had found a good friend, a guide and a true mentor in him, her rajveer sir.
In the corridors of KMA, he was the first person she met. Later on what followed was a beautiful journey…of friendship, trust, hope, care….and possibly love.
They have always had a special bond. They were aware of their circumstances, they can never be together as it was against all norms.
All he wanted was to protect her from harm. She wanted to believe in him and only him, no matter what.
They were bonded together in such a beautiful relationship that he would be glad only to see her happy. She did not want anyone to speak against him. It was a mixture of true adoration and respect.
Days rolled by.
There were instances when she got into trouble with Major Nair for no fault at all. It was raj's intrusion that helped her from being expelled. He many times saw fierceness in her eyes, which reminded him of someone he knew very personally.
Later when he found out that naina was navin's sister, he went through a emotional turmoil. He was glad and guilty at the same time. He knew that he could trust and share with naina all the proceedings about navin's case and at the same time afraid at her reaction when she finds out the truth about her brother's death. But for now raj decided to wait for the right time before telling her the truth.
Because for naina's impulsiveness he was sure that she would take drastic measures which would harm them both.
As for naina she was a bit apprehensive about telling him the truth, partially out of fear. Always in the past her friends had abandoned her on knowing that she was related to a traitor. When she knew that raj was navin's batchmate, she decided to confide the truth in him.
In the beginning she was scared if he too would abandon her, coz even after knowing him for so little time she found immense protection with him and did not want to lose it now.
She was glad that he understood her and nothing changed between them after that. Infact their bond seemed to have strengthened more and they talked more and more these days. Now that they had a reason to be with each other rather than searching for opportunities just to spend time together as it had been in the past.
****
The day she was exposed as the sister of a traitor in front of the whole academy, it had hurt him the most. It was coz he believed and knew that navin was innocent and also because he did not want anybody to shatter her, her self respect, her modesty, her confidence….something which made her the person she is today.
He stood beside her at all times. Even when her friends betrayed her trust he was there to support his cadet, his naina. Naina started to feel immensely protected with rajveer. She began to share all her feelings, her queries and also her apprehensions and as always he was there to support her.
Then came the mentorship camp. He was her mentor. This was the most exciting phase of her life in KMA. She got to spend more time with him.
But there was a difference this time. It seemed as if he was having a duel with himself, fighting with himself. He was not in his own self. He was concealing his feelings. A fact that confused naina.
She was worried. What was he thinking? Why is behaving strangely? This is not the rajveer sir she knew. He was not opening upto her and she didn't know why. But even she did not have the courage to confront him as she was not sure if she had the right.
She decided to wait for the correct time. She thought may be the mission was taking it's toll on him.
All she wanted to do was to tell him it was ok. There was no need to risk his life too. But he seemed determined. He no longer cared about the outcomes. All he wanted to do was to fulfill his duty as a friend, a soldier and a good human being.
This was his way of paying homage to navin's martyrdom. His way of showing respect. Expressing regret for the decision he had to make.
Also this was his way of telling her that he cares for her. He would gladly lay down his life protecting her. He wanted her to be away from danger as he knew how dangerous these people could be. He wanted to take all the responsibility upon himself and keep her out of it.
Time flew away.
Many things had happened in these days. After returning from the camp rajveer was sent to the solitary confinement. Thereafter he had deliberately kept a distance between them. She was torn within inside. She did not like this alienation between them. But it seemed like she couldn't do much either. Little did she know that he was in a worse position than her. (A fact that he revealed to her afterwards.)
When there was a rumour regarding their alleged relationship, rajveer was furious. Not because he did not want it but he did not like anybody hurting naina or playing with her feelings. He had badly wanted to console her but knew his boundaries very well as such an action could turn the rumourmills running again.
*******
Things slowly started to get normal again. Naina considered herself lucky to have him back again. Rajveer and naina were back to their own self, talking and sharing their feelings together. They were one step closer in finding the spy. When it was revealed that it was Dr. Mishra, raj decided to play along and got engaged to her.
Naina felt her whole world reeling around her. She did not want anything to happen to him. Why was that she feared that somebody might trap him and snatch him away from her? She could not come up with a satisfactory explanation for that except that….that …she deeply cared about him.
She tried hard to work out her feelings but in vain. It seemed to her that rajveer had already worked it out and was trying his level best to distance himself much to her agony.
Why was she not comfortable seeing him with someone else. Was it because it was Dr. Mishra who ruined her brother's life, causing them insufferable pain and humiliation or is it because……naina did not dare to complete that thought.
Her only concern was whether she would lose rajveer forever???
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
54