"Nahi, kisi se kuch mat kaho, muft me dahshat fail jayegi. Mai iske piche jata hun, tab tak tum dekho ki wo pehle wala bartender kahan gaya.
"Right sir." And Naina moved towards the bar.
Rajveer went behind the bartender but collided with Huda on the way. "Cadet Huda, aap yahan?"
"Ji sir ji. Wo mujhe aap se kuch kehna tha."
"Cadet Huda, mai aap se baad me baat karta hun." Rajveer tried to escape but Huda stopped him. "Sir ji, bas ek minute. Aapne mujhe maaf toh kar diya na?"
"Maafi? Kisliye? Aur maine kaha na aapse, mai aapse baad me baat karta hun." Brushing him aside, Rajveer went behind the bartender, but he had managed to escape.
"Oh damn!!!" Rajveer went back to the party where Naina had found the original bartender unconscious and had managed to drag him to the open area where Dr. Shalini was attending to him.
"Kya hua Naina?"
"Sir, ye wahan bar ke piche behosh pada hua mila."
"Lekin ye hua kaise?" somebody asked from the crowd.
"Kisi ne isse kuch sunghaya hai, shayad se chloroform. Ye abhi tak behosh hai. Lekin ye hua kaise?" Shalini said while examining the man.
"Pata karna padega. Cadet Beig, Cadet Huda, aap dono jaldi se ye hall khali karwaiye, fast. Aur Cadet Sahani, aap aur cadet Aalekh iss aadmi ko infirmry me pahunchaiye. Dr. Shalini aap iska thorough check up kijiye." Rajveer ordered.
"Par Sirji, hua kya?"
"Cadet Huda, ye sawal aap baad me kariyega, pehle aap utna kijiye jitna aapse kaha hai." Raj replied sternly. After that nobody dared to ask any more questions. They simply did as they were asked to do. The hall had become vacant.
"Naina, tum jao yahan se."
"Aur Sir, aap?"
"Mujhe kuch kaam hai Naina. Tum abhi chup chap apne kamre me jao aur wahan se tab tak mat nikalna jab tak main a kahun."
"Par Sir, aap ko akele chodkar..."
"Cadet Singh, don't argue. Mai ek trained officer hun. Aisi situations se nipatna mujhe sikhaya gaya hai. I'm capable of taking care of myself. Aur ye mera order hai ki aap yahan se jaiye, abhi isi wakt." Raj gave her one of his stern look.
"Sir... maine aapki capability par koi sawaal nahi uthaya tha." Naina said in a small voice. There was pain in her voice, hearing which Raj felt guilty for shouting at her. He knew she was so lonely, yet he had committed the mistake of shouting at her. He could have told her softly, he could have made her understand the gravity of the situation, but a part of him knew that there was no time for that. He was having the feeling that something was going to happen, and that instinct was growing stronger with every passing second. "Naina, look I'm sorry but right now..."
"It's okay sir. You don't have to explain. I perfectly understand your condition. I'll take your leave now. Good night sir." And she turned to leave when suddenly a beep sound caught her attention. It came from Rajveer's mobile. He picked it up. "Haan Chaube, bolo."
"Sir, bar ke piche kuch rakha hai."
"Kya rakha hai Chaube?"
"Shayad bomb hai sir."
"What? OH damn!!!"
Naina had heard everything, the volume was at its peak. Naina stood rooted to the spot while Rajveer dashed towards the bar, but before he could reach there, the bomb exploded and its force picked Rajveer up and threw him crashing against Naina. Naina had sharp reflexes. She quickly pulled him behind a table. In the process they lost control and both of them went rolling down the floor. Many splinters went flying here and there. A piece of iron went flying and logged itself in his arm. He felt a sharp pain but didn't have time for it. His primary concern right now was Naina. "Naina... are you all right?" he asked. His voice was shaky and the concern could be felt very easily. "Naina... are you listening to me? Can you hear me?"
Naina controlled herself with a great effort. A splinter of wood had hit her on her head as a result of which her head was reeling. But she had seen the blood oozing from Raj's arms and pushed her pain to the background. "Haan sir, mai thik hun."
Her hair had become disheveled and a few strands were falling on her face. They covered her wound, so Rajveer couldn't see it. "Par sir, aapko chot lagi hai. Aapko isi wakt infirmary me jana hoga." She couldn't say anything more. The bottles kept behind the bar had shattered to a million pieces and the alcohol had caught fire. The heat produced could be felt by these two even from a distance. "There goes the hope for some clue down the drain." Raj muttered to himself.
"Par sir, pehle iss aag ko bujhana hoga."
"Haan Naina." Together they dashed towards the fire extinguishers on the wall. Each of them picked up one and quickly tried to douse the flame. However it was difficult. "Naina, piche hato. Tum jal jaogi."
"Nahi sir, aag bhishan hai. Mai peeche hati to aap akele in lapeton ka saamna nahi kar payenge." Naina refused to back off.
Rushing footsteps could be heard down the corridor and Subedar Suri burst into the hall. "Oye, yahan ho ke raha hai? Raj puttar, tujhko to chot... hai rabba." He quickly brought another fire extinguisher from an end of the room and joined Raj and Naina in extinguishing the flame. Finally the three of them succeded.
"Oye puttar, tum dono thik to ho? Naina beti, tu toh kaafi jal gayi hai. Aur Raj, tumko to chot lagi hai."
"Nahi Suriji, mai thik hun." Raj said and got up. He looked around the hall with hawk eyes."Oye, tu kaise keh sakta hai kit u thik hai. Teri bahn se kitta khun nikal raha hai. Naina beti, ja apne sir ko infirmary le ja. Aur wahan jakar khud ka aur sir ka ilaj kara. Ja."
"Ji suriji. Chaliye sir." She said.
"Ooff!!! Maine kaha na ki mai thik hun."
"Lekin yahan hua kya hai?"A voice boomed from the door. Raj turned to find Major Nair and Brigadier Sareen standing in the doorway. It was Major Nair who had put this question to Raj. Now he advanced into the room. "Aur aap yahan kya kar rahin hai Cadet Singh?" he turned his face towards Naina.
"Aap bhul rahen hain Major Nair ki aaj Fresher's Ball tha, isliye Cadet Singh yahan hain." Brigadier Sareen was aware of the deep hatred that Nair had for Naina. So he came in between them. "Lekin Captain Shekhawat, aap mujhe ye bataiye ki yahan hua kya hai?"
"Bomb blast sir."
"Yani ki dhamaka ho hi gaya. Par nishane pe kaun tha?"
"Thik se to pata nahi sir, par shayad nishana mai tha."
"Yaani ki Independence Day ka attempt barbaad hone ke baad inn logon ne aap se sidhi dushmani than li hai."
"Lagta toh aisa hi hai Sir, par mai umeed karta hun ki iss baar aap ye nahi kahenge ki ye ek civilian ka kaam hai." Raj said pointing indirectly towards Major Nair, because he had vehemently refused to believe that the bomb planted on the Independence Day was an insider job.
"Lekin ye back to back do bomb blast kaise ho gaye?" Major Nair tried to change the topic. "Aur agar aapko iss blast ke bare me pehle se hi pate tha toh aapne isse roka kyun nahi?" he tried to put the blame on Rajveer.
It was Brigadier Sareen who answered. "Sirf Captain Shekhawat ko hi nahi, mujhe bhi pata tha. Aur bhale hi captain Shekhawat iss blast ko nahi rok paaye, par iss blast me koi casualty nahi hai. I think we should give him the credit for that."
"Yes sir, s...sure sir." Major Nair didn't have the guts to say a single word in front of Brigadier's ice cold voice.
Rajveer smiled at his situation and decided to give him a further shock. "Sir, casualty rokne ka shrey to Cadet Singh ko milna chahiye. Inhone na kewal bartender ko wakt rehte dundh liya balki meri jaan bhi bacha li."
"That's really great Captain Shekhawat. Waise bhi independence day ke din bhi inhone Dr. Mishra ki jaan bacha li thi. Agar wakt rehte wo Dr. Mishra par na khudti toh aapke pahunchne tak Dr. Mishra ghayal toh jarur ho jaatin." Brigadier Sareen praised her. "Par captain Shekhawat, aapko abhi infirmary me jaana chahiye. Aap ghayal hain. Aur Cadet Singh, aap bhi infirmary me jaiye."
"Par Sir, yahan sabut dhundna bhi jaruri hai. Yahan kaam khatam karke mai khud infirmary chala jaunga." Rajveer protested.
"No ways Captain. Aap pehle apni patti karwaenge, fir yahan aakar chanbin karenge. Tab tak subedar Suri aur Subedar Major Lolita Sen yahan rahenge. Cadet Singh, aap Captain Shekhawat ko Dr. Shalini ke paas le jaiye."
Dr. Shalini bandaged his arm and gave him a sedative because he was not ready to rest at any cost. He insisted on going back to the scene of blast. When there was no way to stop him, Dr. Shalini tricked him and gave him a shot of Sedative.
"Uff!!! Captain Shekhawat ka stamina dekhkar mai thak jaati hun." Shalini muttered when Rajveer had finally drifted off to sleep.
Naina smiled at this and said, "Ma'm, Sir ko jyada chot to nahi aayi na." Her hands had burned a little in the flames. Rajveer had insisted that Dr. Shalini should attend to Naina first. Now her hands were covered with antiseptic ointment and her head was bandaged. Her wound on the forehead was deeper than what she had expected. She could feel the pain now and clenched her teeth in an attempt to control it. Her hands were burning as well. She felt like crying.
"Oh no Cadet Singh. Lohe ka tukda jakar bahn me dhans gayi thi, maine wo nikal diya hai. Haan, khun kaafi beh gaya tha, isi wajah se thodi kamzori ho gayi hai. Aur haath jal gaye hain... and that applies for the two of you. Baki tum toh dekh rahi ho apne sir ko,unko aaram karna bhi pasand nahi. Isliye maine unhe need ka injection de diya hai. Ab unki neend kal subah hi khulegi."
"Ok ma'm. Toh fir mai kal subah hi aake inka haal chaal puch lungi. Waise, uss bartender ka kya hua ma'm?"
"Kisi ne chloroform sunghaya tha. Ab toh wo thik hai."
"Usne kuch bataya ki aisa kisne kiya tha uske saath?"
"Nahi Naina, usko sirf itna yaad tha ki kisi ne uske naak par ek rumaal rakha tha, bas aur kuch nahi."
"Oh! Fir toh wo kisi kaam ka nahi hai." Naina was a little disappointed. Then she brightened up a bit. "Ma'm usne wo haath dekha tha jisne use chloroform sunghaya tha. Ya usne kuch ajib notice kiya hoga."
"Ye toh pata nahi. Waise, Cadet Singh, ek baat bataiye."
"Ji ma'm puchiye." Naina looked at Dr. Shalini.
"Aap enquiry karne me itni tez hain, aisa lag raha tha mano koi trained officer sawaal kar raha tha."
"Nahi ma'm. aisa kuch nahi hai. Acha ab mai chalti hun. Good night ma'm."
"Aap kahan chali, aaj raat aap bhi infirmary me ruk rahin hain. Chaliye, aapka bed taiyar hai, so jaiye. Mai aapko need ka injection de deti hun."
"Nahi ma'm, mai aise hi so jaungi."
"Are you sure Cadet Singh?"
"Yes ma'm."
"Ok then. Good night Cadet Singh. Mai beech me aakar check kar lungi."
Naina heaved a sigh of relief after Shalini's departure. "Ooof!!! Bach gayi. Warna aaj Dr. Shalini ko kya jawab deti mai."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rajveer slept dreamlessly till the wee hours of the morning under the effect of the sedative. The effect of the sedative was however wearing off now. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. A sharp shooting pain flowed through his body when he tried to turn to his side which caused him to wince in pain. Immediately a soft hand took hold of him by his shoulders and made him lie on his back. He looked up to see his nurse and was surprised to see Naina near him. "Cadet Singh!!! Aap itni subah subah yahan kya kar rahin hain?"
"Good Morning sir. Kaisa mehsus kar rahen hain aap?" she smiled at him. A warmth emanated from her and seeped into Rajveer.
"I'm fine cadet Singh. Lekin aapne mere sawal ka jawab nahi diya?"
"Mai aapko dekhne aayi thi ki aap kaise hain."
"Mai toh thik hun, lekin Dr. Shalini ab thik nahi rehne wali. Unhone mujkhe sedative de diya, wo bhi mere mana karne ke bawajud." He tried to get up again and this time too he put the pressure on his injured arm. Naina stopped him in time and said in mock anger. "Aapko hosh hai bhi ya nahi? Aapko chot lagi hai aur aap usi bahn par dawab de rahe hain? Aur Dr. Shalini aapko sedative na deti toh aur kya karti? Aapko aaram ki jarurat thi par aap the ki investigations ki zid kar rahe the."
"Naina, tum samajhti kyun nahi. Kuch sabut aise hote hain jo wakt ke saath dhundhle pad jaate hain. Unhe wakt rehte dhundna jaruri hota hai. Agar mai kal check kar pata toh shayad kuch haath lag jata." Rajveer replied.
Something struck Naina with a full force. She had heard this statement before. What was happening to her since yesterday, why was her past continuously haunting her? Her confusion showed itself on her face and Rajveer was immediately alerted. "Kahan kho gayi Cadet Singh?" he asked.
"K... kuch nahi sir." She didn't want to reveal her true identity to anyone right now.
"Kya kuch nahi, tum toh kisi aur duniya me ho jabki mai yahan tumse baat kar raha hun. Kuch suna tumne maine kya kaha?" Rajveer asked her in mock anger.
"Aapne toh kuch bhi nahi kaha."
"Thik hai, ab kehta hun, jaake Dr. Shalini ko bulake lao."
"Jarurat nahi hai uski Captain. Mai khud hi aa gayi hun. Ab bataiye itni subah subah uth kar kyun chikh rahe hain?"
"Chikhun nahin toh aur kya karun. Maine aapko kaha tha ki mai thik hun fir bhi aapne mujhe sedative de kar sula diya."
"Aapko kaise pata chala ki aap thik hain? Doctor mai hun ya aap?" she asked moving towards him.
Aap itna bataiye ki mariz mai hun ya aap?" Rajveer asked.
"Aap. Isliye keh rahi hun ki chup chap lete rahiye aur mujhe aap ka blood pressure check karne dijiye."
"Dr. Shalini, mujhe discharge kijiye abhi isi wakt." Rajveer was adamant.
"Kar dungi kar dungi, par thodi si shanti banaye rahkiye jab tak mai bp check karun tab tak." She gently pushed him back and deftly fixed the bp cuff on his left arm.
Rajveer gave vent to a vexed sigh and leaned back on to his pillow. Finally Shalini smiled and said, "Aap ja sakte hain, par ek condition hai."
"Ab kya condition hai Dr. Shalini?"
"Yahi ki aap apne bahn par jyada zor nahi dalenge."
"Thik hai baba, ab mai jaun?" he begged to her. Shalini stiffiled her laughter and nodded in affirmative.
"Thank you so much doctor." And he got down from the bed.
"Ek baat aur Captain." She called him.
"Now what?" Rajveer was truly irritated this time.
"Aap apni dawai time se lijiyega. Cadet Singh, ye aapki zimmedari hogi, Is that okay with you?"
"Yes ma'm." said Naina and tried to escape from there, especially from Rajveer who was looking daggers at Shalini but was stopped by the latter. "Aap kahan chali Cadet Singh? Maine aapko discharge nahi kiya hai abhi tak."
Rajveer sat up straight at her words. "What do you mean Doctor?"
"Ye aap apni pyaari cadet se kyun nahi puchte?" Shalini said.
Rajveer didn't say anything, simply surveyed her carefully. She was wearing a sleeveless top over a Patiala. A white coloured dupatta was thrown across her shoulders which covered her hands, but a careful observation revealed her burnt hands. Naina backed away under his gaze. Without a word, she understood that Rajveer was not happy with her condition and if he got the chance, he would blast her then and there. He hadn't been able to see the extent of the burns last night. The bandage on her head was another factor which was attracting his attention.He was restraining himself because of Shalini's presence.
"Kya hua, puchenge nahi Captain?" Shalini asked.
"Puchna kya hai, dikh raha hai mujhe." Raj replied dryly. He then got up and left the lab in a huff.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Veer Hanuman
80