PART SIXTEEN :
Next day Rahul went to shalini'
"Shalini , I want to know something about this.", he showed the photo.
She hesitated for a moment and said "Andar aaiye, captain"
*******************************************
Naina was teaching in her classroom, when she received a SMS which said ' Meet me in my room, NOW 'Rahul'
" Isko kya hua abhi????", she thought.
Hurriedly she went to his room .
Rahul was standing in a corner holding something which seemed to her like a parchment'..
"Rahul????" she asked him curiously'
"Dhoka diya Naina tumne mujhe."
And he threw the photograph on the floor''it had the photo of Naina and Raj at pt 1857'
Naina was shocked.
"Main, tumhe sab kuch batane wali thi ... par"
"Par ??par kya? Tumne kaha tha main tumhara dost hu, phir bhi Naina?"
"Trust me , Rahul, Main tumhe'.."
" Main tumhe kya?? You know what, you've hurt me a lot....Naina how can you do that????"
"Rahul....."
" Tumne mujhe tumhari dosti ke bhi kaabil nahi samjha?"
"Yehi...yehi wajah thi...." , she shouted , " Tum kabhi doosre ko kuch bolne hi nahi dete..."
And She started crying, she fell on the floor, that accusation was too much for her'..
" I'm Sorry Naina... " , he said quickly realising his mistake, " I know main kisiko kuch bolne hi nahi deta....Bachpan ki problem hai... !! Parr, Mere kehne ka woh matlab nahi tha...."
"Toh kya matlab tha?", she shouted back, " kya keh rahe the tum? maine dhokha diya? mere past ke baare mein tum kuch jaan na nahi chahte the....maine tumhe kai baar kehne ki koshish ki apne past ke baare mein..... Aur abhi jab tum aaye ho, tabse ek baar bhi mauka nahi diya mujhe bolne ka...."
"Ab rote aur mujhpar chillati rahogi , ya usse jake rokogi?????"
" Kya??"
" He is leaving today itself. Maine information nikalwaayi hai. Captain Shekhawat aaj hi ja rahe hai."
Naina was startled by these words''.
she was unable to believe her ears''is that what she heard?
Rahul nodded.
She started to leave,but stopped again,
" Rahul, I...i mean...you...I didnt ....I mean..."
" Kuch kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhe kya lagta hai Naina? Ki maine yeh baat notice nahi ki ke tumhare haath mein aaj bhi wohi watch hai? yeh watch tumhe Rajveer ne hi di hai naa? yaa maine Rajveer ke laut te hi tumhare chehre ki lauti hui raunak notice nahi ki? yaa maine tumhare aur Rajveer ki aankho mein ek doosre ke liye pyaar aur tadap notice nahi ki?"
As she looked at him, " Maanta hoon ki main 'tubelight' hoon...but it's not because I have less brains. It's because of ' Attention deficit disorder' I'm suffering from, since I met you. Parr...khair !! Der se hi sahi...dimaag ki batti toh jali ! I guess, I should have eaten MENTOS much earlier, what say?"
Naina just stared at him.....
" Stop staring at me. Agar aise dekhogi toh mujhe phirse tumse pyaar ho jayega, aur baadmein main tumhe jaane nahi dunga."
"Rahul''."
"Jaao IDIOT !!! He will be leaving soon.", he nudged her forward , " Hamare accounts baadmein clear karlenge ! Aur phir mujhe Captain Shekhawat ko condolences bhi toh dene hain, ab unhe tumhe zindagi bhar jo jhelna padega !"
And her happiness knew no bounds'..she moved'..
"Suno''meri ring" , he called her .
She hit her head for forgetting it and gave him her ring .
He continued , " Ab kisi achchi ladki ko yeh ring pehnaunga'..tumhari jaisi boring type ko nahi."
she smiled and him, she approached him and kissed him on his cheek'.
"Thanks for being there'.." , and she added, "I will miss you and your PJ's"
she looked at him for the last time and quickly ran to Raj's room''
Rahul shedded a tear from his eyes and looked at the ring.
' It belonged only to you Naina. love happens only once ,Naina"
*************************************************
Huda and Aalekh entered Rajveer's room.
Raj saw them and tried to smile.
" Aalekh....Huda....main tumhe bulaane hi waala tha. Main abhi kuch hi der mein nikal raha hoon. Pata nahi phir kab mulaqat hogi ??? Hogi bhi yaa nahi ??" , he tried to keep sadness out of his voice, " Humesha khush rehena aur ek bahot hi kaabil officer banana....Itne kaabil, ki sab mujhe tumhara teacher hone ke naate jaane ! Aur...."
"Aur....???" , Aalekh asked.
Raj glanced at him and placed palm on his shoulder.....
"Aur Naina ka khayal rakhana...."
"Sir...kya aap phoolan ko bhool payenge?"
Raj shut his eyes tightly at this while tears rolled down his cheeks.
Before he could reply, Aalekh answered,
"Haan Huda, Sir yeh jaroor kar payenge. Unkeliye Naina ko bhoolna itna bhi mushkil nahi."
Raj's eyes jerked open and he looked at Aalekh in shock.
But he paid no heed to it.
" Oye jatt tu jaanta nahi hai kya ? Rajveer sir ke liye kuch mushkil nahi hai.... Woh toh yeh maante hai...woh kya kehta hai Yudi angrezi mein?? haan !! Impossible itself says, I'M POSSIBLE ! Issliye, Sir ko toh koi locha nahi hoga sab kuch peeche chodne mein....." , he said sarcastically.
He walked and came to stand infront of Raj.
" Ek baat kahu Sir?"
Raj looked at him and he took it for yes.
" Apun ko na aapke bheje ka setting kuch samajh mein nahi aata ! Seedha raasta saamne hote huye bhi yeh tedhe mein kyun ghuste ho, pata nahi !", Aalekh shrugged his shoulder, " Khair....bade logo ki baatein apunke jaise qaidi ke samajhmein toh aanese rahi ! Kya aap apun ko samjha sakte ho?"
Raj turned away from him, trying to control his emotions.
" Aap kyun samjhaoge?? Problem aapko thodehi hogi?? Problem toh apun ki Naina ko hogi na?? Bechari....ek jhatke se sambhalti nahi hai, tabtak aur ek bijli aakar uspe girti hai !" , despite being Aalekh, tears rolled down his cheeks, but he wiped it quickly.
Raj too was trying to control his tears.
" Pata hai Sir, apunko lagta tha, woh badha chadha kar apunki taariff karti hai ! Parr aaj yakeen hogaya ! Ki usko samajhne waale sirf do log hai.....ek Naveen aur dusra main. Aur koi nahi samajhta usko !! "
Raj couldnt bear this and he looked back at Aalekh. This accusation was too much for him. He didnt understand his Naina???
" Aalekh....", he started to reply, but....
" Parr aapki koi galati nahi hai! Jaha uske maa baap usse nahi samajh paaye, toh aap toh...."
" Parr Sirjee, kahi na kahi mujhe umeed thi ki aap Phoolan ko samjhoge.... Main yeh samajhne laga tha, ki agar usse sabse jyaada koi samajh sakta hai, toh woh aap ho.Parr...", Huda intervened.
Aalekh smirked, " Jaante hai Sir, aapke jaane ke baad ghut ghut ke jee rahi thi woh...... maut ke intezaar mein. Agar Naveen ko nirdosh saabit nahi karna hota toh...."
" Aa...Aalekh tum...Naina ke mom dad ke baaremein kya...???", Raj asked instead.
Aalekh shook his head frustratedly, " Naina ki zindagi mein khushi laane ki khwaish mein uski zindagi maut se battar bana rahe the...Aur usse har baar ki tarah ek baar phir haar maan ni padi..."
"Ma...matlab??"
" Jaante hai Sir, woh sab se lad jaati hai! Par...apni kismat ke saamne usse har baar ghutne tekne padte hai..", Aalekh said.
" Qaidi ka matlab hai ki....", Huda told him the story behind Naina's engagement.
Raj turned towards Aalekh in shock .
" Aap tension mat lo sir ! Aap araamse jaao !", Aalekh said , " Waise bhi Isse kya farak padhta hai agar uski zindagi aapse shuru hoti hai aur aape khatam..... ???"
He looked at Raj,
" Toh kya hua agar uske zindagi ka matlab hi aap ho? Iss baat se aapko fark pade, jaroori toh nahi? Hai na Sir? Waise Sir, aap usski maut par aansu bahane toh aaoge na??"
" AALEKH!!! " , Raj slapped him hard across his face and then clenched his fists.
Aalekh smiled sadly," Kya hua?? bura laga?? Woh aisa hi kuch plan kar rahi hai...."
" Aalekh???" , it was a mere whisper, out of shock !
And Aalekh went on and on and on....While.....
Rajveer was getting restless and feeling more and more guilty for behaving like that with Naina....
He knew he has to make up for his mistake and manaofy Naina as soon as possible before matters become worse but Aalekh was unstoppable.
Huda had a hard time controlling his laughter seeing Raj's expressions...... Qaidi was doing his job wonderful ! as usual !
while Aalekh continued.....
" Usne bhale hi aajtak Rahul ko ek dost se jyaada aur kuch nahi maana....Parr isse kya hota hai??? Toh kya hua agar Rahul ke zindadili se Naina ko apna mission poora karne ke liye himmat mili ? woh mission jo ussne aapko promise kiya tha ki woh poora karegi...Toh kya hua agar woh zinda thi toh bas issi mission ko poora karne.....??"
Rajveer gave a helpless look to Huda, pleading for help !
Huda chuckled and walked towards Aalekh...
"Oye bass kar Qaidi....", Huda interrupted placing his hand on his shoulder , " Sir samajh gaye.." , and he winked.
" Saala Nautanki...", Aalekh shouted at him ," Tujhe yeh sab mazaak lagta hai? Udhar apun ki behen ke jaan par ban aayi hai..."
"Aur aap...", turning to Raj this time ," Achcha hai ki aap samajh gaye. Lekin ek aur baat samajh leejiye. Naina apun ki dost hi nahi , apun ki behen hai, family hai , apun ka sabkuch hai. Jo bhi usski aakhon mein aasoon laayega naa, apun usski waat laga dega."
Huda whispered , " Oye Qaidi , kya kar raha hai? Captain sir ko hool de raha hai...???"
Aalekh came back to reality....
He was feeling guilty for what all harsh words he said, especially in the end.
He was not able to face Raj and he looked down.
Raj broke into smile.....
He walked over to Aalekh.....
Placing his hands on his shoulder he said,
"Bole toh....Apun ki Shaadi mein Saale ki kami nahi hogi..."
Aalekh looked up with tears in his eyes and hugged him tightly.
Raj patted him on his back, " Thanks Aalekh ! And I assure you , mera bheja ab kabhi tedhe mein nahi jaayega !" , he said mischeivously.
Aalekh looked down embarassedly.
" Woh...boletoh Sorry Sir....apunka woh matlab nahi tha."
Raj raised his eyebrows.
" Kya Sir? Ab apunki ek galati bhi aap maaf nahi karoge kya?"
Raj laughed and ruffled his hair, signifying he is already forgiven.
"Guyz..", Raj said , " Now help me in this mission."
"MISSION???", they both asked in unison.
" Haan... Mission Manaofy Naina...!!" , he said in a low tone.
"Sirjee, jo kuch kiya aapne kiya. Ab aap hi manao usse...", Huda raised his hands !
"Cadet Huda...idea toh de hi sakte ho na....??"
" Idea??? Main??? aapko???"
" please???"
" Sir ek baat poochu?" , Huda asked, " Jab bhi baat Phoolan ki hoti hai,aapka dimaag ....."
But stopped abruptly seeing the look on Raj's face and said , " Sorry !"
" Bole toh sir aap usko koi gift kyu nahi dete , woh.. 'sorry' ke saath!" , Aalekh suggested.
"Koi faayda nahi Qaidi....Phoolan usse khidki se bahar phenk degi..."
"Teri toh..", Aalekh fumed as Huda rejected his idea.
"Oye thand rakh Qaidi....!!! Maine aise hi usska naam Phoolan nahi rakha hai..."
" Toh tu bol naa idea...!! khali phili dimaag ka dahi kyu bana raha hai...! ", Aalekh said.
" Oye mujhe lagta hai, captain sir ko naa Naina ke liye gaana gana chahiye.... kudi zaroor maan jaayegi..." , Huda suggested.
" Haan... taaki Sir ka gaana sunke Naina ke saath saath poori academy bhi gate ke bahar bhaag jaaye aur Sir akele hi gaate rahe..." , Aalekh replied immediately.
" Oye Qaidi teri toh..."
And then began their charade of coming up with one idea after the another and dumping each other's ideas, totally ignoring Raj's presence in his room.
Rajveer who was sitting with his head in his hands shouted atlast....
" SHUT UP !!!!"
Aalekh and Huda immediately stopped.
"Shut up guyz....help me out, please?" , Raj said.
" Kyun Sir? taare Gardish mein ?" , Huda repeated the dialogue Raj has once told him at the fresher's ball....He was having wonderful time teasing his Captain sir.
While they were discussing this.....
Naina reached his room and forced the door to open and Raj was shocked for a while looking at her''.
Aalekh and Huda quickly left the room.
She came near him and started hitting on his chest''
"Mujhe chodke jayenge aap'haan ...jawaab do.." , she asked raising her voice.
"Naina ...woh...woh ...main...."
While continuing hitting him and walking forward while Raj kept moving back.
" Phirse chodke jaoge ?"she shouted.
He shook his head quickly.....
She continued to cry while Raj kept looking at her'.
"Aapne soch bhi kaise liya ki main aapke bagair jee paaungi? Ki main aapko chod dungi???......kaise jaoge aap..haan? Bolo...."
She continued hitting his chest, finally he bumped into the wall''..
And Naina hugged him tightly.
"Phirse aisa kabhi maat karna Raj''Aisa kabhi mat kehna....mar jaungi main!!"
He hugged her back with equal anticipation'..
"Kabhi nahi jaunga. I'm sorry ! I am an Idiot Naina ! Please...please forgive me !" he could say only those words'..
While she kept crying in his embrace.
" Tumhe kabhi apne aapse alag nahi hone doonga..... kabhi nahi....ek pal ke liye bhi nahi.....", He said after gaining a bit composure.
While they continued to hug tightly....
" Why did you say those things?" , Naina looked up at him like a small kid asking for an explanation.
" I...I..thought tumne apne marzi se engagement ki hai and now i was acting hindrance in your way...so...", he said in low voice.
She looked at him in disbelief !
" Par tumne bhi mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya?" , he complained.
She stared at him and he looked down, understanding his fault.
" Woh I don't know how? I always mess up things....! Sorry !", he said sheepishly.
Naina couldnt control her laughter hearing that and Raj gazed at her intently.
" Hmmmm.....", she said giving a slight push to his head, " Mujhe ab pata chala hai that u always mess up things! Parr ab pata chalke kya faida?? Too late ! "
" Hey !! Maine pehle hi tumhe warn kiya tha ? Yaad hai hamara mentorship camp?? Woh toh tum hi paagal ho jo mujh jaise complicated insaan se pyaar kar baithi!", he replied while kissing on her forehead.
" uhhunn ! Even today my answer is the same." , she said looking straight in his eyes.
" What??" , he asked, though he knew the answer.
" That I'm not mad, but the luckiest girl !"
" I love you, Naina !", he said with tears in his eyes.
She wiped them, " I love you too, Raj !"
He leaned forward to kiss her, while bringing her face closer at the same time.
Their lips were about to meet when Raj suddenly pulled back and asked,
" Arey ! Par tumhare Capt. Rahul ka kya hoga????" he teased her.
"Kaho toh vapas chali jau????" she played along.
As soon as she said this , he forced his lips on hers, kissing her hard and crazily. His passion knew no bounds as Naina too responded with equal fervor.
They wouldn't have stopped if everyone would not have been there''
"Shaadi kab karni hai???" everyone asked shouting including Aalekh, shalini, Huda,sureejee, and Rahul''..
"Anytime , SOON!" they both replied and hugged each other tightly''
EPILOGUE :
Raj and Naina left for Nainitaal the very next day to meet her parents. They greeted them with pleasure.
Everything was going on fine but Raj was really nervous....
He was sitting on a chair right in front of her parents as if he was being interrogated.
" Beta aap kuch kehna chahte ho? ", Naina's dad asked.
" Ji..woh main..woh..."
"Haan bolo...yeh woh main kya hai?"
Raj closed his eyes, taking a deep breath spoke superfast in one breath, " Jee woh main Naina se bahot pyaar karta hoon. Aur woh bhi mujhse bahot pyaar karti hai. Hum dono shaadi karna chahte hain. Main waada karta hoon main usse khush rakhoonga."
Both Naina and her parents were staring at him open mouthed...
And within a minute Huda, Aalekh, Pooja, Ali, Yudi and Abhimanyu along with Nandini( his wife) and Dr. shalini appeared from a room yelling, " SURPRISE !!! " and rolling in laughter at Raj's way of proposal.
" Wah sir... Kya haath manga hai aapne! ekdum shatabdi express ki speed mein !", Huda again teased.
" HUDA !! " , this was Naina taking Raj's side, " Ab bass. Aur taang kheechai ki naa tune Raj ki toh.."
" Oye phoolan... sorry yaar... main toh bhool hi gaya tha.... Ab jab ke tu sir ke saath hai, toh kisi kya majaal ki sir ko kuch kahe."
" Bilkul thik kaha aapne Huda.", Abhi said coming forward and he hugged Raj.
Naina's parents said 'Yes' and blesssed them.
There wasn't any reason they would deny their marraige as they have already forgiven Raj for shooting Naveen and Naina was finally going to be happy.
They cut the cake to celebrate the occasion while Naina's mother beamed at her 'Son-in-law ' who was more like a ' Son ' to her. Raj was also overwhelmed with the love showered by Naina's family, which was very much His family now!
Naina's parents want to hold a huge engagement and wedding for them, but Raj flat out refused as what mattered to him was Naina finally becoming his....
He didnt want to waste anymore time...
He was more than happy and contented to marry her alone !
And so the presence of their family and friends was more than enough for him !
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
35