TERA MERA SAATH{RN FIC}PRT11/PG44 - Page 27

Originally posted by: pinkorblack

naina is so caring and sweet towards raj......

omg.... i luv their jodi soooooo much.......

major nair ko ulta mila brigadier se..... that was soooo gud......

Originally posted by: Deepanwita

HII GUGLU HOW R U?
SUPERB
MINDBLOWING
FANTASTIC
I LOVED IT
YE RAJ APNA KHAYAL KYUN NAHI RAKTA
NAINA HI USE SAMHAL SAKTI HAIN
OKAY WAITING FOR THE NEXT PART

LOVE
DEEPA

Originally posted by: Lion_Priya

Hey...guglu...toh ab mana ne dhamki department join karr liya hai...chalo achha hai...mujhe company mil jayegi... 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

vaise yeh part itna chota kyoun tha...???😕 😕 😕

parrrrrr...maam...is ud k liye kya kahun...just fab...👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

vaise kahin is bomb blast k piche huda ka toh hath nahi...!!! varna sahi tym par voh raj se kyoun takrata...???

raj ne sahi kaha naina se ki dushro k batane se mahual jayada bigad sakta hai...

raj ne sabb ko chale jane ko kaha...par naina...naina...naina...voh sawal kiye baigar kahin ja sakti hai kya...???😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

naina ko apne room me hi rahne ko kaha raj ne...ab is kya matlab hai...!!! arre tum mat samjhayo...main apne capt rajveer sir ko achhe se janti hun...

ab naina ne pakka phoolan devi wala kaam kiya hai toh...dekhna baki hai ki Rajveer us ki class kaise leta hai...???😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

kitna chota ud kiya tune is baar...???

ab plz jaldi se aa ja...aur next ud post kar...😃 😃 😃

Originally posted by: Revolutionbreez

Guglu !! Update kab karna hai??? bina daante kaam hota nahi hai kya?? 😡

Courtesy: Yogi 😆 😆 😆 😆

Originally posted by: suhana_dixit

Hi Guglu

How r u?

How come I missed this RN fiction I dont know..

Its better late dan never...😛

Today I read all the parts n they were just fantastic..LRL ki yaad dila di tumne..I know its not all the same but still it has that magic..

Raj is hurt n he he too angry to see Naina in pain too..Poor guy!! he doesn't know wat has stuck him in the form of Naina.😉😆😆..It will b a matter of few days n our dashing captain wud b head over heals in love with his favourite cadet..

Update soon

Bye

Pls pm me whenever u update..

Originally posted by: pinkorblack

i m glad ur continuing ur fics......i do not know what allegations ur talking about and ppl who are trying to pester u....but i know that each and every fan fic writer puts its soul in its work and absolutely nobody has the right to trouble u.....
u write beautifully and all ur fics make day of each and every rn fan......

Rajveer went to the blast site where Suriji and Lolita Sen were still on duty.

"Arey Raj puttar. Tu itni subah subah aa gaya. Kaisi tabiyat hai teri?"

"Mai thik hun Suriji. Aap dono saari raat yahan the, aaram tak nahi kiya?"

"Aaram ki zarurat nahi padi puttar. Hum dono saari raat yahan baithe baaten karte rahe, raat kaise kat gayi pata hi nahi chala."

Raj smiled at this. The prospect of spending time with Lolita Sen was always a major attraction for Suriji. He had seen it from his cadet days. These two were always together, yet they had not married till date. He addressed them again. "Aap dono ka bahut bahut shukriya. Ab aap dono jaiye aur thoda aaram kar lijiye. Kaafi thak gaye honge."

He then crossed over to the bar and started looking for clues there. The blast had ripped the table and the racks apart and the rest was consumed in the fire. Rajveer had very little hopes of getting any clues, but still he persisted because giving up without any effort was not a part of his training. He kept searching here and there; his sharp eyes darting from one one corner of the room to the other in search of some clue, even a small scrap would help. Suddenly a silver glint caught his eyes. He moved forward and picked it up.

"Ye toh koi silver button hai. Ye kiska ho sakta hai?" he wondered.

"Sir!!!" A silky soft voice broke his chain of thoughts. He looked up to see Naina standing in the door way.

"Cadet Singh, aap??? Kya baat hai kahiye?" His voice was cold, very official. It was enough to sent shivers down the spine. That sort of voice from Rajveer meant business. Naina had heard this voice many times. He used it with his colleagues, especially with Major Nair and Dr. Mishra and sometimes with his cadets when he had to control their unruly behavior. But he had never used it with Naina till date. But with her, she understood that it denoted anger. Anger, which was directed at her because he had asked her to back off but she had refused. Last night, he had been too caught up and tired to say any thing. Also he hadn't got any chance, but today, she knew she would have to face his anger. She decided not to be cowed down but to face it.

"Sir, aapka breakfast taiyar hai. Chalkar kha lijiye." She replied still standing in the door way.

"Thik hai, aap chaliye, mai aata hun." He dismissed her curtly and again turned towards the burnt bar. There was no sound of any foot steps so unable to contain himself any longer he turned back... but Naina had gone. She had moved so softly that he hadn't heard her go. He turned back to the blackish dust with a sigh. He had no further work there, but still he persisted. Afterwards he collected the remaining pieces of what was previously the bomb deciding to send it to the head quarters for check up.

"Maine toh use pucha bhi nahi ki wo kaisi hai, bas use bhaga diya. Mujhe kam se kam ek baar puchna chahiye tha. Aur mai use itna naaraaz kyun hun? Kya Naina ki jagah koi aur cadet hota toh mai aise hi react karta? Shayad haan... shayad nahi." He was mulling to himself as he walked down the corridor, towards his room.

"Captain Shekhawat."

"Dr. Shalini!!! What brings you here?"

"Ye medicine. Aap aur Naina dono ka haath jal gaya hai. Subah Painkiller ke saath mai ye ointment dena bhool gayi thi aap dono ko. Ye lijiye, ek aapka hai aur ek Naina ka, use de denge? Mujhe 2^nd year ke do cadets ko check karna hai, Major Nair ki drill se laute hain wo dono." she pleaded

"Sure doctor. Mai de dunga. Aap jaldi se unn dono cadets ko check kijiye." He took the two tubes which she held out for him and bidding her a good bye made way towards his room.

He had just closed the door and had reclined on the couch when there was a knock on the door. Muttering under his breath, he got up and opened it only to find Suriji there.

"Raj puttar, tera nashta lekar aaya hun. Chal kha le. Aur ye dawai bhi le. Chal ache bache ki tarah khana shuru kar."

"Arey suriji, maine aapko aaram karne ko kaha tha aur aap khana banane lage. Ye kya baat hui?"

"Tujhse kisne kaha ki maine khana banaya hai." Suriji came inside and laid the breakfast.

"Kya matlab hai aapka? Aap ne nahi banaya toh kisne banaya hai?" Raj was amazed.

"Naina beti ne. Usne kaha ki Dr. Shalini ne tumhe breakfast time par lene ko kaha hai, aur mujhe change karke aane me der ho jaati. Isliye usne tumhara khana bana diya. Sirf itna hi nahi, usne baakion ke liye bhi breakfast banaya hai."

"Aap ka matlab hai ki wo abhi tak kitchen me hai?" Raj somehow managed to ask.

"Haan. Pure academy ke liye khana banana koi kam baat hai kya? Keh rahi thi aaj usko ek din ki chutti mili hai, toh wo time pass karne kitchen me aa gayi."

"Time pass indeed." Raj muttered under his breath.

Suriji couldn't hear what Raj had said, he continued in a single breath. "Usne breakfast me halwa banaya hai, abhi shayad ek sabzi bana rahi hai."

"Ji???"

"Haan, oye puttar mai soch raha tha ki kyun na puri bana lun. Kaisa rahega?"

"Kya wo bhi Na... I mean Cadet Singh banaengi?" he found it really unbelievable.

"Are nahi, wo mai bana lunga. Wo aur kitna banaegi."

He gave an inaudible sigh..."Toh ek kaam karenge, use kahiye ki kitchen se bahar nikalte hi sabse pehle mujhse aake mile. Aur Cadet Singh se ye kahiyega ki its an order."

"Haan, thik hai." Suriji nodded his head several times and went out.

Rajveer finally looked at the table. She had prepared puri and chole for him; his favourite dish and also Navin's. Navin always used to praise his sister's culinary skills but Raj had never got a chance to taste her cooking. But today, here was a breakfast solely prepared by her. But Rajveer was angry, very angry. She needed rest, and here she was busy in the kitchen. What the hell made her go there when all that was most important for her right now was a complete rest? He looked at the ointment which was still in his hand, and then at his own hands. Suddenly he realized that his forearms had burned really bad; and the wound on his left arm was hurting badly. The iron splinter had pierced more deeply than what he had expected. If being a trained army officer, he was in so much pain than what would be Naina's condition. And he had been so blinded by rage that she had disobeyed his commands that he had left in the morning without even asking how she was. His mind was swirling with innumerable thoughts. He didn't hear as the door creaked and was shaken out by a slow knock on the door. He turned to find Naina standing in the doorway.

"You sent for me sir?" she asked in a small voice.

Raj's heart ached to see her like this. All the naughtiness had gone from her demeaneour and she had regained her cold and aloof behavior. "Yes Naina, come in. And close the door behind you." He commanded.

She came and stood behind him. For a long time there was complete silence between them which was broken by Naina honeyed voice. "Aapne nashta nahi kiya? Dawai nahi khani kya?"

Rajveer found himself incapable of answering. He controlled his emotions and said roughly. "Sit down Naina."

"Ji???"

"Maine kaha baitho." He indicated the couch. She obliged without a word and let him fight with his self directed anger, for Rajveer was very angry with himself. Slowly he turned and faced Naina who was looking at him with softness in her eyes. He knelt down on the floor in front of her and slowly removed her dupatta which covered her arms. Even as he did so, she sat there without a trace of hesitation, the trust which she had for him, showing in her activities. She neither squirmed nor fidgeted, simply kept looking at him with clear eyes which bared her pure, unsullied thoughts, mind and soul before Rajveer. Rajveer felt bad for keeping her in dark about his true identity, but reserved the matter for later. He then started applying the ointment on her arms. "Maine kal tumhe wahan se jaane ko kaha than na?Kyun nahi maani meri baat?"

"Sir. Aapko uss musibat me akele chodkar mai nahi ja sakti thi." She protested.

"Par tumhe jalna manjur tha?"

"Haan, manjur tha naha hai. Waise jale toh aap bhi hain, aur aapko chot bhi lagi hai." She tossed back her hair as he said this and it was then that raj caught the glimpse of a bandage on her forehead.

"Ye kya hua hai tumhare sar par?"

"Mamuli si chot lagi hai, kuch khaas nahi." She tried to cover up as quickly as possible but Raj was faster. He held her wrist and checked the wound, then looked angrily at her. "Tum apne aap ko samajhti kya ho? Itni chot lagne ke bawazud aaram karne ke bajaye tum kitchen me thi. Kal bhi maine tumhe jaane ko kaha tha par tumne meri baat nahi maani. Aakhir tum sabit kya karna chahti ho inn sab harkaton se???" Naina didn't reply and somehow looking at her Raj felt his anger melting away. He stood up and Naina followed.

"Aap nashta kar lijiye. Mai chalti hun." She turned to go.

"Tumne nashta kiya?" Raj couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Khana abhi bana hai, mai kha lungi."

"Mere saath khao, chalo baitho." He made her sit down and divided the food between them but when he handed it to Naina, he was startled to see tears clouding in her clear hazel eyes. "Naina, what happened?"

She didn't reply, only two tear drops escaped from the confines of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. He quickly wiped them away, then took her by her wrist and made her sit besides him on the sofa. "What has happened Naina?" he queried affectionately.

"Na jaane kitne din ho gaye jab kisi ne mere liye koi parwah ki thi. Ab toh bina kisi parwah ke, bina apni fikar kiye jeene ki aadat pad gayi thi. Aaj itne dino baad kisi ne pucha ki maine khaya hai ki nahi. Aaj pehli baar kisi ko apni fikar karte hue dekh rahi hun." There were tears in her eyes as she said so. It tore Raj to pieces to see her cry. He didn't stop to think twice before pulling her into a tight hug as she burst into tears on his chest. He slowly stroked her hair for a long time until she stopped crying, and then very lovingly fed her each morsel of food.

It was a long time later that finally they had finished their breakfast. Naina had given him the medicines and had applied the ointment. There was a long silence, and then she said, "Sir, aapse ek baat kahun?"

"Haan Naina, bolo."

"Kal aapne mere function ko yaadgaar bana diya sir. Academy ke mere first important function ko humesha ke liye ek khubsurat yaad me badal diya hai."

"Maine aisa kuch nahi kiya hai Naina." Raj protested.

"Nahi sir, aap nahi jaante kal aapne mere liye kya kiya hai....Mujhse ek wada karenge sir?" she asked

"Haan Naina, bolo."

"Aap mujhse wada kijiye ki aap meri zindagi ke har pal me mera saath denge, mere saath rahenge. Please sir."

"Mai wada karta hun Naina. Tumhari zindagi ka hissa banker mujhe khushi hogi." Raj promised her solemnly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raj leaned back and gave a resigned sigh. "Maine tumse wada kiya tha Naina ki har pal tumhara saath dunga, humesha tumhare saath rahunga. Par aaj hi mai tumhare saath nahi hun. Aaj tum logon ka last day hai, passing out parade hai aur mujhe pata hai ki meri cadet ko best cadet ka award milne wala hai aur mai hi wahan nahi hun. Aaj kitna bebas hun mai, tumhari oath taking ceremony hai aur mai... mai iss jail me band hun. Mujhe maaf kar dena Naina, please mujhe maaf kar dena." He closed his eyes sat like that for a long time.

"Kaise ho Raj aap?" Rajveer opened his eyes to see Abhimanyu standing in front of him.

"Aaiye Chauhan Sahab. Baithiye." He looked around for a seat, but found none.

"Pareshan mat ho Raj, hume baithne ke liye kisi khaas jagah ki jarurat nahi hai. Hum tumhare paas hi baithenge." And he sat down besides him.

"Waise aapne mere sawaal ka jawab nahi diya?"

"Kis sawaal ka?"

"Yahi ki aap kaise hain?"

"Saamne hi toh baitha hun tumhare. Khud hi batao ki mai kaisa hun."

Abhimanyu surveyed him carefully for sometime; when he spoke his voice had strange empathy for Raj. "Hum jaante hain ki aap iss wakt KMA me jana chahte hain. Aapki favourite cadets ki passing out parade dekhna chahte hain. Aur Naina ko best cadet bante hue dekhna chahte hain."

Raj didn't reply, simply stared at his friend for a long time with a soft smile hovering on his lips. "Itna kuch kabse jaanne lage ho Chauhan Sahab?"

"Jab se humne dard aur taklif ka asli matlab samjha hai Raj. Hum ne bahut saari galtiyan ki hai Raj. Aap humare sab se acche dost hain, ye jaante hue bhi chote bachon ki tarah aapse jhagda kiya humne. Aapse jalne lage the hum. Aaj aap yahan iss halat me ho isski wajah bhi hum hai aur humari jalan hai. Khud ko tumse upar dikhana chahte the, tumse jitna chahte the..."

"Arey arey bas bas. Aap jeete bhi toh hain."

"Nahi Raj. Hum jeet kar bhi haar gaye aur aap haar kar bhi jeet gaye. Hum kabhi nahi samajh paye ki Naina aur baki cadets aapki itni izzat kyun karte hain, aur jab samjhe toh bahut der ho chuki thi. Hume maaf kar do Raj, please hume maaf kar do. Hum bahut sharminda hain apne kiye par."

With that, he folded his hands begging for forgiveness from his best friend as tears flowed doen his eyes. Raj simply pulled him into a hug patting him and consoling him just like a grown up would do with a child while the great Captain Chauhan kept sobbing like a child in his friend's arms.

"Ab bas bhi kijiye Chauhan Sahab aur mujhe ye bataiye ki KMA me kya chal raha hai. Mai to yahan se nahi nikal sakta, par tumhari zabani wahan ka haal sun sakta hun... chalo shuru ho jao."

KMA:

Naina came and quietly stood in front of the closed doors of Rajveer's room. She was missing him badly. Her mentor, her Sir who had always been a source of support for her, had stood by her side through thick and thin, had always been a part of her life both in good and bad times was not there in the most important event of her career as a cadet and would be soldier. He was not there in the passing out ceremony. She looked at the lock hanging on the door, then stepped forward a little and ran her fingers softly on the closed door, hoping against hope that the door would open and he would greet her like he always did with a charming smile on his face... "Cadet Singh... aap. Please come in." With the passage of time she had completely lost the habit of knocking on the door and always used to barge in. But today, none of this was going to happen... he was not here and she was missing him like hell. Tears stung her eyes as she blinked them to keep the tears at bay.

A soft touch on her shoulders brought her back to present. She turned around to find a glum and sad looking Aalekh standing there with deep compassion and understanding in his eyes. "Apun ko pata tha ki tu apun ko idharich milegi." He said.

"Tujhe sab kuch kaise pata hota hai Aalekh?" she asked with a forced smile.

"Tu apun ko ye sawal kai baar puch chuki hai... ab to tujhe pata hona chahiye ki apun ko teri khamoshi bhi samajh me aa jaati hai." He said with an affectionate smile.

"Haan... wo to hai. Khair, tu mujhe dhund raha tha kya?"

"Ye bhi puchne waali baat hai. Parade me nahi jaana kya?"

"Mai bhuli nahi thi Aalekh."

"Lekin idharich khadi rahegi to yahan se hilna bhul jayegi. Ab chal." He put an arm around her shoulder and steered her towards the ground.

PARADE GROUND:

Brigadier Sareen began his speech... "Respected faculty members, respected parents and my dear cadets... Today is the last day of the third year cadets in this academy... it is their graduation ceremony. But before we begin the actual process, I would like a say a few words about them and especially about the 'Super Six...' " He paused for a minute... every faculty member knew who he was reffering to... but the parents were clueless... what was this Super Six...?

Standing in the line, Naina watched BS as he climbed onto the stage. She could see Dr. Shalini, Suri ji and Lolita Ma'm there as well. But Abhimanyu was not there... where had he gone? Atleast he should have been here, especially when their favourite teacher Rajveer Sir was not there. Then she saw him join BS on the stage and he murmered something in his ears. Brigadier Sareen nodded his head and Abhimanyu took his place along the other faculty members.

"Three years ago with a disgusted, dissatisfied, unruly and disoriented approach,all of you came to this academy to realize your dreams and aspirations. But very few of you had the aim of becoming a true soldier. But KMA and her teachers changed your mindset and made you what you are today. It is not just your story, it is the story of every cadet who comes to this academy...."

Her mind began to wander. How true were these words... she hadn't come here to be a soldier... she had joined this academy to prove her brother innocent... But today as she surveyed herself standing there under the schorching sun, she realized what a great change she had undergone. And one person had played a leading role in that...

She thought of the day when she had barged into his room on the next morning of Fresher's Ball and had unexpectedly landed in the middle of his conversation with Bunty Chaubey... "Ohh sorry sir... mai baad me aati hun..." she mutterred and turned to leave. But he called her back.

"Aa jao Naina... its okay... waise bhi tum to kaafi kuch jaanti ho..." He smiled at her.

Bunty Chaube had aparently finished saying whatever he had to for he excused himself and went away to his haven ' the kitchen. Raj had a sealed envelope in his hand which aroused her curiousity. "Isme kya hai Sir?" she wanted to know.

"Naina, ye bomb blast bahar se nahi andar se karaya gaya hai, isliye KMA se koi na koi isme mila hua hai. Iss envelope me uski identity hai."

"I see..." she didn't ask any more because she was well aware of her limits. Instead she said, "Aap ne dawai li...? Breakfast ke time mess me nazar nahi aaye aap."

He smiled at this but was more interested in the envelope than in his medicines. "Leta hun... just a minute." And he opened the packet and extracted a photo. The next instant, his facial expressions underwent a change. "I don't believe this.." he exclaimed.

"Kya hua hai Sir?" she asked involuntarily.

In response, he handed her the photo. She was stunned to see the face smiling at her out of it... "Huda...!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Maine kahana tumse maine puri koshish ki thi... ab Captain Shekhawat bach gaye to mai kya karun...?" Huda was talking to a person hidden behind the bushes.

"Dekho... aise nahi chalne wala. Tum apni beizzati ka badla lena chahte ho ya nahi?" The man wanted to know.

"Haan chahta hun... isliye tumhara saath diya tha..."

"Aur saath dete raho... Captain par nazar rakho aur uske pal pal ki khabar hume dete raho..." The man left. Huda turned to go... his face was grim. His well made plan had back fired. Oh... how much he had wanted that Captain to fall prey to that bomb blast. But he survived and that too because of Phoolan.... his phoolan saved that captain... How much he hated him...!!!

In his anger, it didn't occur to him that death has no friends. It might have been possible for even Naina to fall a prey to that blast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't believe this..." Naina exclaimed. "Huda ek flirt jarur hai... par spy nahi ho sakta."

"Insaan ki shakal dekhkar hum ye thodi na bata sakte hain ki uske dil me kya hai. Filhaal to saare sabut uske khilaf hain."

"To kya aap usse arrest karne waalen hain?" she wanted to know.

"Abhi nahi... par uske khilaf agar kuch aur pata chala to usse arrest karna hi padega."

"I still can't believe this. Mai maan hi nahi paa rahi hun."

"Dekhte hain kya hota hai... Acha tumne dawai li...?" He asked her.

"Dekhiye zara kaun kisse puch raha hai." She teased him.

He made a face and asking her to wait there, went inside to get the ointment. Naina noticed a book on the table and out of idle curiousity picked it up and rifled through the pages. A photograph fell out of it with its face down on the floor. She picked it up and was about to put it back in the book when suddenly for no reason she glanced curiously at the picture.

"Naveen Bhaiyya aur Rajveer sir...!!! Matlab Rajveer sir Naveev bhaiya ko jaante the...???" she heard the bedroom door open and quickly put the book back with the picture in it and began to inspect a magazine lying there.

"Kya dekh rahi ho Naina?" He wanted to know.

"Bas ye magazine." She lied.

"Thik hai, ye dawai lagao, chalo aao..." Just then his phone rang and he excused himself. Naina snatched this oppurtunity to look more closely at that photo but she found a few other pictures of her bhaiyya and Rajveer. Bewildered, she flipped a photograph to see something written on the back side.

"To Veeru... From Naveen..."

"Matlab... matlab mai isliye itni pareshan si feel kar rahi thi kal... Rajveer sir hi bhaiyya ke best friend aur mere phone friend VEER hain... Aur unhone mujhe iss baare me kuch bataya bhi nahi..."

The initial surprise had given way to indignation. Now she felt angry and let down... "Wo mujhe pehchaan chuke hain, fir bhi mujhe kuch batana zaruri nahi samjha unhone."

Raj meanwhile had finished speaking on the phone. He had disappeared into the sanctuary of his bedroom when the phone came. Now when he came back in to the living room to look for Naina, there was no trace of her. "Arey, ye ladki kahan chali gayi...?" he wondered. His eyes travelled over the room and caught sight of the open book and the scattered photographs on the table. "Hell... no...!!! Kahin wo naraz na ho jaye...!!!" He quickly picked up the keys and locking the door, went in search of her.

Rajveer was immensly worried. He had literally scaled the whole academy but there was no traced of Naina. She was neither in the mess, nor library nor in the infirmary. Nobody had seen her in the morning. Worst of all, Suriji told him that although the other five csdets were present there, Naina was not there during the breakfast time which meant she hadn't eaten anything in the morning.

Declining Suriji's repeated requests forhaving his breakfast, he rushed outside; for in a sudden flash of brilliance he had suddenly remembered that Major Nair was having his class with the first year cadets.

When he reached the grounds, he saw all the first year cadets working out in the hot sun while Major Nire was sitting comfortably in a shady area and shouting out instructions at them. Raj felt like shooting the man then and there. He knew pretty well that Naina was not in a position for this strict drill, but he was intentionally making them toil hard. But he kept his cool for he knew that he would need all his brains rather than his brawn to trick that irritating Major.

Raj knew that the only way to stop Major Nair from harassing Naina any further would be only at the commands of BS and for this purpose he needed the help of Shalini. He turned and walked towards the infirmary.

"Arey... Aaj captain Shekhawat apni marzi se meri infirmary me kaise aa gaye?" Shalini asked in an amused voice when she saw Rajveer walk in.

"Mujhe aapki madad chahiye doctor."

"Really...!!! I am honoured... bataiye kya madad chahiye."

"Doctor... I am serious... Major Nair ki drill se cadet Singh ko bachane ke liye mujhe medical certificate chahiye aur wo aap de saktin hain aur saath hi saath uss par BS ki permission bhi lijiye...jaldi."

Shalini had the uncanny ability of spotting the mood of a person, so without further delay she dropped her jokes and started her work. Within minutes, she had prepared a medical certificate and had gone to Brigadier Sareen with it.

Here in the ground, Naina faltered in her steps because of weakness. She neither had her food nor her medicines. If Ali wouldn't have supported her, she would have fallen down. But this gave Major Nair the much awaited chance to trouble her. "Well, well, well, Cadet Singh... aap ne do baar iss academy aur Captain shekhawat ko bachaya hai... Aur itni bahaduri ka kaam karne ke bawajud aap ek mamuli sa drill complete nahi kar sakti... Proves my point that girls can never be a soldier."

His words hit Naina to the core and before she could control herself, the words had slipped out of her mouth. "You are absolutely wrong sir.... because even girls can become very good soldiers. It has been just a few months of our training. How can you judge me in such a short time and that too on the basis of today's drill when I have out performed everyone in our first assessment?"

The colour of his face changed, he ws not used to answering back. The last time somebody had answered him back was... "You are becoming just like your mentor..." he thought to himself but didn't want to comment on it now. Naina knew exactly what nair was thinking, for she knew pretty well what Veer had done with then Captain Nair during his cadet days. She stifled a smile and waitied for some punishment from Nair... she knew he was not going to spare her that easily.

"You are..."

"Dismissed...!!!" boomed a voice from behind.

Nair turned and found Brigadier Sareen in front of him. God...!!! How he hated this man... His predecessor Brigadier Chandook was a lot better... he supported Nair in his of his decesions. But Nair knew that this Brigadier Sareen had seen his interior in their very first meeting and therefore was not in a favour of giving him free rein.

"sir...!!!" He had to behave courteously with his senior, no matter how much he disliked him.

"Yes Major Nair. She is dismissed. Cadet Singh... you may leave now. Brigadier Sareen looked at her and she quietly left that place. "The rest of you are also dismissed. Come on now, move."

"And I am unable to understand how can you be so insensitive Major Nair? You know pretty well that she is unwell yet you made them do such a difficult drill...!!! Why do you choose to take out your frustrations on these cadets Major Nair...?"

"Sir... I was just..."

"Major Nair... in future if I ever see you harrassing the cadets in this fashion, I will see to it that you are transferred from this academy." With that Brigadier Sareen left the place leaving a fuming Major nair behind him.

Naina had been watching all of these from behind a tree. She bit her lips to stop herself from bursting out in laughter. She knew Veer was behind all of these. So he knew that she was angry with him. But she was not going to forgive him so easily.

Little did she realise that even as she was watching Major Nair, she too was being watched over by someone. And he knew the exact thoughts filtering through her mind. But then, it was nothing new... for he knew his Naina... she had always been impulsive and stubborn. It was very hard to make her understand something, but he also knew that he was the only peson who could make her change her opinion. He had a power over her and today he was going to use it.

Naina was walking past the mess when all of a sudden he mnaterialised in front of her from nowhere. She didn't say anything, simply tried to leave from there, but he had caught her wrist in his tight grip. "Had your breakfast?" he asked.

She didn't respond, simply tried to free herself from his grip but couldn't... his grip was too tight.

"Maine kuch pucha tumse Naina." He said in a stern voice.

"Kya farak padta hai ki maine khaya hai ya nahi...?" she said in a dry voice.

"What's wrong with you Naina?" He hissed through clenched teeth. He was gradually loosing his temper.

"Wo jaanne ki jarurat nahi hai aapko?' She again tried to free herself. Sounds of chattering and footsteps could be heard from the further end of the corridor. Students were comingdown that way. Raj decided at once and without a warning pulled her along with him. She wanted to react, wanted to ask him to stop but he wasn't listening to her. He pulled her inside his cabin and closed the door behind him.

"Ab batao kya problem hai tumhari? Subah to thik thak thi, fir achanak se kya ho gaya tumhe?" he faced her squarely in her eyes and was jolted to see not anger, but pain in her eyes. He was shocked beyond words for he had never imagined that hiding a small truth from her would affect her so much...!!!

"Naina..." He held her by her shoulders and brought her a little closeer to herself. "Meri taraf dekho Naina... please..."

The pain as well as deep understanding in his voice hit a nerve centre and she looked up in his eyes to see slight wetness in his eyes.

"Hua kya hai Naina...? Kyun naraaz ho mujhse...? Kiya kya hai maine itna to bata do..."

"Ye aap mujhse kyun puch rahe hain? Mai naraaz nahi hun." She still denied evrything.

"God Damn it Naina..." Raj, unable to control it any longer burst out. "Tum batati kyun nahi ki kya baat hai...?"

"Oh...to aapko pata nahi hai...!!!" she said this very lightly.

"Pata hai...lekin mai tumse sunna chahta hun...bolo..." he again persuaded her.

She didn't reply, simply looked away. She had long given up the struggle to free herself from his grip for she knew it was going to be useless.

"Naina please... tum apne sir ki baat ka jawab to de nahi rahi ho...kam se kam apne dost ki baat ka to jawab do...!!!" he pleaded with her.

She quickly looked back at him, tears clouding her hazel eyes. "Kya jawab dun... kis dost ki baat ka jawab dun... kaun se dost ki baat ka jawab dun...???" She was now clutching his shirt tightly in her fist just like any scared child afraid of being left alone would do. "Aap pehchan gaye the mujhe, fir bhi apni pehchaan batana jaruri nahi samjha aapne. Bakiyon ki tarah aap bhi mujhse dur ho gaye. Aapne bhi juth kaha mujhse. Jab aap hi chup rahen the toh mai kya kehti...???"

"Aisa nahi hai Naina...." He stressed on his words. "Mai tumse chup nahi raha tha Princess. Bas tumhe ek surprise dena chahta tha... Mujhe to ummeed bhi nahi thi ki tum..."

"Surprise...!!! Kya aapke dimag me ek baar bhi ye khayal nahi aaya ki mujhe iss wakt surprise se jyada aapke saath ki jarurat hogi?" she wanted to know. "Aap bhaiya ki maut par ghar bhi nahi aaye... sidhe shamshan me gaye the... aur fir wahin se chale gaye..."

"Wo Naina... mai..."

"Mai aapse koi explanation nahi maang rahi hun Veer. Papa ne bataya tha ki aapke posting ke orders aaye the. I can understand that much... " He looked at her startled."Par yahan mujhse milne ke baad bhi aap mujhse chipte rahe... kaise dost hain aap???"

"Sorry...!!!" He left her and held his ears begging for forgiveness. She surveyed him thoughtfully for a minute before pulliung his hands away from his ears. "Rehne dijiye... aap aise udaas ache nahi lagte."

He smiled slightly and asked. "Toh matlab mujhe maafi mil gayi...?"

"Abhi nahi... ek shart puri karni hogi aapko."

"Wo kya?"

"Wo ye ki aage se aap mujhse koi bhi baat nahi chipaenge. Veer mai buri se buri khabar bhi bardash kar sakti hun, par juth nahi...please." she pleaded with him and he agreed readily enough.

"Anything for you Princess." She smiled at that.

She came back to reality when Aalekh slowly nudged her. "Kya soch reli hai tu?" he asked.

"Kuch nahi..." she lied and paid attention to what BS was saying. "These cadets not only proved themselves but they also proved one of the greatest soldiers of the army Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia who was a pass out of this academy and was unfortunately branded as a traitor as innocent."

"Oh... yahan inki speech yahan tak pahunch gayi hai aur mera dhyan hi nahi tha." She mused to herself. She could see Huda swelling with pride and smiled to herself. Some things never change and Huda was one of them.

Brigadier Sareen continued with his speech. "Not only that, they also saved the life of their teacher, Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat. But unfortunately, owing to some unavoidable situations, he is not here today."

Roght at that moment, a jeep driving through the curved roads of Ambala was heading towards the academy. The man behind the wheels was quite adept at handling the vehicle because even in high speed, the jeep was responding to his commands perfectly. He seemed to be in a hurry for he ws frequently glancing at his wrist watch.

"And now... its time to reveal the name of those six cadets. They are... Cadet Aalekh Sharma..."

The jeep stopped with a screech outside the gates. An officer resplendent in his green uniform descended from the vehicle and made his way towards the entrance.

"...Cadet Ali Beig, Cadet Amardeep Huda..."

The orderly standing at the gate quickly staraightened up and gave him a smart salute. He nodded his head slightly and strode in, his head held high, the boots making a faint clicking noise on the gravelled path.

"... Cadet Yaduvansh Sahani, Cadet Pooja Ghai and... Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia..."

The young officer stood at one end of the ground away from the eyes of the cadets as well as the assembled parents. His lips twiched in a faint appreciative smile as he heard the last name.

But his presence didn't go unnoticed. Abhimanyu saw him standing there and beckoned him to come forward but he declined with a slight shake of his head and indicated the vice principal of the academy to keep quiet.

"And now..." continued brigadier Sareen. "Its time to announce the name of the best cadet of the accademy... And this time, this title has been bagged not by a boy... but by a girl. The best cadet of this year is Cadet NAINA SINGH AHLUWALIA..."

Thunderous claps rent the air forcing Brigadier Sareen to keep quiet for some time. When the applause died down, he again spoke. "May I call Cadet Singh to please come on to the dias."

Her legs were shaking a little, but still she went forward. Oh...!!! How much she missed him. He was confident that she would win the title, his protegee would be the best cadet. "Aapka vishwaas jeet gaya hai Sir, par aaj aap yahan nahin hai. Meri khushi to adhuri hai." She looked up at the sky for a minute and closed her eyes. "Mai jeet gayi bhaiya." She thought.

A very dear voice hit her ear drums. "Congratulations on becoming the best cadet of the year Cadet Naina Ah... Singh."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi guglu !!! 😃