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PART THIRTY TWO : :
"Arey tumhe ek baat batana toh bhool hi gaya! BC ne tumhara naam President's award for exceptional talent keliye recommend kiya hai. Aur iss trial mein tumhari performance ke baad it was very obvious.",Raj informed Naina later as they were alone in his quarters.
" Sach??"
He nodded.
" You know sir, jitna credit mujhe aur mere friends ko jaata hai, utnahi credit Gunny Sir ko bhi jaata hai. Warna itni asaani se main yeh sab kuch, jaise case reopen karwana and all that...nahi kar paati. You know, he was the one controlling my anger...warna Salve ko toh main pehle hi din maar deti !"
She was telling him excitedly. Raj didnt know why, but was not feeling good. Somebody else helping Naina, instead of him, he wasn't able to digest it.
" Oh ! I need to thank him personally then...", he said dryly , " Kya tum jaanti ho, woh iss waqt kaha honge?"
" Woh toh main nahi jaanti, par jaha bhi honge, chain ki saans le rahe honge !"
" Kyun?"
" Ab main jo unhe pareshaan nahi karungi ! "
" Matlab??"
" Why would I trouble him now? Now that you're here, I'll bug you. Now don't tell me, you werent expecting this..."
Raj's lips curved into smile.
" Actually, it's not about expecting...I know that very well, Cadet Naina singh."
She smiled , " Okay Sir, ab main chalti hoon."
She reached the door and turned back,
" Sir !!"
" Yes, cadet!"
" kal ki pehli class aapki hai na?" , She asked with certain excitement.
Raj nodded, smiling broadly.
" We'll be waiting.", she said.
She smiled and left his room and he leaned on the couch.
" Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat! Iss tarah ke immature behaviour ki umeed aapse toh nahi thi..." , he said to himself , " Ab toh aap Naina se kisi aur ki tariff bhi bardaasht nahi kar sakte!"
He grinned and shook his head.
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Raj wasn't able to sleep tonight.
He was thinking about what all Naina went through in his absence.
He vowed to wipe away all her tears and difficulties and fill her life with nothing but happiness.
Suddenly he was reminded of what Shalini told him...
About Naina visiting his room, daily around midnight.
He wondered whether she'll come tonight.
And in an anticipation to see her, he got up quickly and opened the door.
And to his astonishment, sure enough, she was standing there...right in front of him...
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Naina was restless around midnight.
She was still feeling like it was a dream that Raj was there with them now.
She was scared, what if she got up tomorrow morning and the dream wither away.
She felt like assuring herself once.
To check, whether even today there was a lock on his door or he had returned for real and his room is open.
She got up and sneaked out of the hostel.
Slowly and without making noise, she headed for his room.
As soon as she neared the room, she closed her eyes for a while, in prayer. And slowly approached the door.
A broad smile and relief appeared on her face on not seeing the lock on his door.
But it was shortlived... as at the same time Rajveer opened his door...
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" Cadet Singh, aap yahan? iss waqt ?" , he tried to keep the happiness and excitement away from his voice.
She was baffled and was just staring at him, not knowing what to say.
He shook her, " Naina...Naina..."
But she was standing just like that.
Finally he shook her hard, " Naina!!"
" Huh? ye..yes Sir?"
" What yes sir? kya main jaan sakta hoon tum itni raat ko yaha kya kar rahi ho? I hope, phirse tumhara koi rumaal nahi gira ho!"
" No...no Sir."
" Then??"
" Woh...woh..."
" haan...main sun raha hoon."
" Woh main... Shalini maam...haan..main Shalini maam ke paas ja rahi thi."
" Shalini ke paas???Kyun? tum theek toh ho?", he asked concerned.
" Woh I was having a headache, aur ek ghabrahat si ho rahi thi aur neend bhi nahi aa rahi thi...toh..."
" Naina, kitni baar kaha ki take care of yourself, par tum maano toh na? Ab chalo..."
" Kahan?"
" Kahan? Naina , shalini ke paas! Tumhe theek nahi lag raha hai na?"
" No Sir...i mean yes Sir...I mean...", She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, " Sir, main chali jaungi. Aap aaraam keejiye."
" Naina, I'm perfectly alright aur main tumhare saath aa raha hoon. Just give me a sec, I'll just lock my room."
" Maine kaha na main chali jaungi?", she raised her voice out of frustration.
" Main tumhare saath aa raha hoon.", he said in a no nonsense tone, which shut her up.
" Oh god ! ab main kya karu!" , Naina muttered.
" Kuch kaha tumne?"
" Maine? Nahin toh Sir..."
" ohk...Chalein?"
" Sir, aap kyun pareshaan ho rahe ho, main chali jaungi.", she tried again.
" Issmein pareshaani ki kya baat hai Naina? Tum mera itna khayal rakh sakti ho, toh kya main tumhare liye itna bhi nahi kar sakta? Aur waise bhi, I need to ensure that you are okay, nahi toh mujhe chinta lagi rahegi. Baaki baatein baadmein karenge, abhi chalo. "
They started walking. Naina was nervously chewing her nails, thinking of some way out while he was walking calmly besides her, observing her from corner of his eye.
She suddenly stopped.
" Sir, ab main theek hoon. I mean...headache bhi kam hogaya hai aur ab koi ghabrahat bhi nahi ho rahi...toh kyun bekaar mein Shalini maam ko pareshaan karna, hai na? Toh ab main apne hostel waapis jaati hoon."
" Naina, par ek baar chalke dikhalo. Agar phirse tumhe koi takliff hone lagi toh?"
" Toh main tab aa jaungi na Sir...abhi main chalti hoon."
" Par Naina..."
" Actually Sir, mujhe bahot neend aa rahi hai...So, bye sir. Good night."
And she ran away even before Rajveer could wish her back.
Here, Rajveer leaned on a pillar and began laughing.
" Cadet Naina Ah' Singh!" , he said and closed his eyes...a smile playing on his lips...
He already knew that she was lying about her health and was there only to check whether he was really there or not.
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NEXT MORNING...
Naina got up with a jerk... Today it was Rajveer sir's class !
After such a long time!
She looked at the time, she was late today! she had to go to give him medicines also.
She got up fast and got ready with the speed of lightening.
" Pooji, main ja rahi hoon."
" Arey, Naina itni jaldi..."
" Sir, ki medicines deni hai.." , she screamed while leaving.
" Uff ! Yeh ladki bhi na!" , Pooja shook her head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raj had woke up early and went for a walk, as he was still not in condition to jog due to his leg injuries.
He was happy,excited as well as nervous...
It was after a long time, he was going to teach the cadets...he hoped everything turn out fine...
Also flashes from the night before were buzzing before his eyes...
Finding Naina standing in front of him as soon as he opened the door...
Her flustered face and her staring at him as if she has been given a shock of her life...
Her blurting out a lame excuse for being there...
Her standing dumbfounded as he offered to accompany her...
Her cute blabbering to get out of there...and literally running away from there...
A smile appeared on his face...
He shook his head...
Walk is doing nothing good to clear his mind, infact the more he tried to keep those flashes away, the more he recalled them...
He looked at his watch,
" Oh god! It's late...Naina aati hi hogi..."
He turned back and headed for his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And sure enough, no sooner did he freshen up and got ready than there was a knock on his door.
And there, the love of his life , was standing , all dressed up for the day ahead and with a beautiful smile on her face.
" Good morning, Sir."
" Very good morning, Naina...", he smiled brightly as he ushered her inside.
" Ab tabiyat kaisi hai tumhari?" , Raj asked.
" Tabiyat?? Mujhe kya hua hai?"
Raj raised his eyebrows, " Naina, kal raat ko...headache...restlessness...sleeplessness...kuch yaad aaya??"
She at once realised, " Ye..yes Sir...Woh bass mamuli sa headache tha, toh I kinda forgot."
Raj smirked, " Yeah...it happens."
She smiled self consciously.
" Ah...Sir,yeh...", She handed him the medicines he need to take before breakfast.
" Sir, sirf ek chotisi request hai meri."
" Request???"
" Hmmm...Please mana matt karna."
" Pehle bolo toh sahi."
" Woh... peechli baar ki tarah mujhe poore class ke saamne daant matt dena! Yaad hai aapne first lecture main mujhe class mein khada kiya tha?"
He laughed recalling the incidence.
Soon, the breakfast arrived and she quickly handed him his medicines and got up yo leave.
" Why don't you have your breakfast here?"
" No, actually I gotta go. i'm getting late.."
" Naina, classes shuru hone mein abhi poora one and half hour hai. Tumhe kaha jaane ki jaldi hai?"
"Woh...woh sir aaj new faculty member join ho rahe hai na...toh abhi half an hour mein courtyard mein report karna hai."
" New faculty member? kaun?"
" Woh...Captain Nandini."
Raj was shocked !
" Toh main chalu sir?"
He only nodded.
" Nandini, mera peecha kyun nahi chod deti tum! Kyun meri zindagi mein waapis aayi ho?Mere dosti ka galat faida toh utha chuki ho ! Meri life mein tumhare liye koi jagah nahi hai...itnisi baat nahi samajh sakti tum? " , Raj thought.
He was worried ... And the thing that scared him was Naina... He didnt want to lose her at any cost. Slowly his face showed a determination.
" Khair...main kyun tumhare baaremein soch raha hoon? Tumhare hone na hone se mujhe koi fark nahi padta. Aur rahi baat Naina ki, toh usse main kabhi bhi kisi bhi wajahse apne aap se dur nahi jaane dunga."
He came back to senses and saw the time. It was almost 20 mins since Naina left. He needs to be there in courtyard in another 10 mins.
He somehow finished his breakfast and got up to leave.
As soon as he opened the door, he found Naina standing in front of him.
" Naina???"
She looked over his shoulder and a frown appeared on her face.
" Kya hua? Aise kyun muh banaya hai?"
She gestured him to look back with her eyes.
He turned back and a had a look at his quarters from where he was standing and again turned to her...
" Kya hua? saaf saaf batao na!"
" uff ! " , she said and entered the room slightly nudging him aside.
He stared at her back trying to understand what she was doing.
She walked upto coffee table and picked glass of water along with something and came in front of him.
She looked at him sternly.
" Naina, kya main tumhare tough looks ki wajah jaan sakta hoon please? You see, we are getting late...we need to be in the courtyard now."
She held her hand in front of him.
He looked to find his medicines, which he had forgotten to take.
" Oh ! yeh medicines?" , he asked flabbergasted.
" yes...YEH medicines." ,she said giving a broad sarcastic smile , " Mere itne kehne ke baad bhi..."
" Look, I'm Sorry." , he said and quickly gulped the medicines.
" Aur koi mujhe kal lecture de raha tha, ki kaise khud ka khayal rakhna chahiye...an all that." , she rolled her eyes and left.
" Nai..." , but she was gone.
He hit his head and left his room in a good mood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the courtyard BC welcomed Nandini and informed that she will be teaching ' Artillery and Warfare.'
And then they were dismissed.
Naina noticed that Nandini tried to talk to Raj, but Raj gave her a cold shoulder.
" Welcome Captain Nandini ! I hope aapko yaha achcha lagega." , Shalini welcomed her with smile.
" Thanks doc. Aur sirf Nandini...captain Nandini nahi ! Aur rahi baat yaha achcha lagne ki toh agar mujhe yaha achcha nahi lagega, toh kaha lagega?? Don't forget, I'm a KMA pass out!", Nandini smiled back.
" Oh yes, aap toh Captain Rajveer aur Abhimanyu ki batchmate ho na?"
" Hmmm. Aur...aur Captain Naveen ki bhi.", she replied sadly with tears in her eyes.
Raj once looked at her and looked away.
" I think I should leave. Aaj first yrs ki pehli class meri hai.", Raj said.
" Par Captain, abhi toh poora aadha ghanta baaki hai class start hone mein! Aap itni jaldi kyun ja rahe hai?", Shalini asked.
But before Raj could reply,
" Dr. Shalini ! You're needed in the Infirmary." ,Gunny said.
and as soon as Shalini left, Raj too turned to leave.
" Veer ! Ruko !!"
Raj stopped reluctantly, because this was the last thing in the world that he wanted.
" Veer mujhe..."
" Captain Rajveer...I 'm Captain Rajveer, Captain Virani.", Raj said harshly.
" Veer please!", she said in a low voice.
" I'm getting late for my class. I hope you understand, Captain Virani!"
" Raj, aap ekbaar unki baat toh sun lijiye." , Abhi said , not being able to see tears in Nandini's eyes.
" Chauhaan Saab, I don't think I would like to discuss this with you."
And he left.
Here Nandini leaned her head on Abhi's shoulder as tears rolled on her cheeks.
Abhi comforted her, though he himself was tearing from within seeing Nandini still behind Raj and not reciprocating his feelings.
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Raj was in a bad mood after encounter with Nandini.
' From morning I was in such a good mood, par bhagwaanse yeh dekha jaayega tab na? Pehle toh Naina ko keh nahi pa raha hoon aur uparse iss Nandini ki museebat. Yeh Nandini waapis kyun aayi hai? Pehle baat aur thi...lekin ab main Naina se pyaar karta hoon...Bass...itni dua hai ki, ab yeh Naina mere aur Nandini ke baaremein kuch galat na soche...Oh god ! How am i going to take the class in such a foul mood?' , he thought.
" Don't worry Captain ! Woh toh waha hogi hi! And I know, uss ek chehre ko dekhte hi aapki saari problems aur tension udan chu hojayegi...kyun? sahi kaha na?", Shalini who was walking besides him from a long time said.
Raj stared at her with open mouth.
" Kya hua?", Shalini asked.
" Was I saying it aloud?" , Raj asked.
" What?" , Shalini laughed , " No Captain...aap toh chup chap chal rahe the."
" Toh phir, aapko kaise pata main kya soch raha hoon?"
" Mujhe kuch nahi pata. Bass, I saw you lost somewhere and tension and worry on your face." She said with a smile.
" Oh !"
" Captain, I don't know if I'm wrong, but I could sense some tension between you and Captain Nandini."
" Shalini...I.."
" It's okay Captain. Main aapse kuch pooch nahi rahi hoon. I know there must be something or aap unse aise behave nahi karte. That much I know you. Aur phir aapki unse engagement hone waali thi toh..."
" Doc aap galat samajh rahi hai.", he said quickly, " Main sirf Naina se..."
" I know Captain! Galat aap mujhe samajh rahe hai. Main bass itna kehna chahti hoon, aapne yeh baat mujhse kahi hai, par Naina se nahi ki aap usse pyaar karte ho. Bhale hi woh yeh baat jaanti hai, but woh yeh bhi jaanti hai ki kabhi Nandini aapki GF hua karti thi...Aap agar Nandini ko dekh kar aisi surat banayenge, toh woh pakka sochegi ki aap Nandini se rishta tutne ki wajehse nakhush hai."
" What??" , Raj was shocked.
Shalini grinned , " Just kidding !"
" Doctor aap kabhi serious bhi hoti hai ya..." , Raj said irritated.
" Sorry ! Main bass itna kehna chahti hoon ki aap baaki sab tension chodiye aur Naina ko confess karne par concentrate keejiye. Woh kittu mujhe phone kar kar ke pareshaan kar rahi hai."
" Aap dono bhi na !" , Raj shook his head , " Now, I think I should go."
" Yeah...all the best!"
" Thanks."
" Waise aapne mere sawaal ka jawab nahi diya? uss ek chehre ko dekhne ke baad aapki saari tension dur hojayegi ya nahi?"
Raj smiled, " Shalini, with you around, tension kitni der mere aas paas rahegi?"
" Oh my god Captain ! I'm flattered!"
Raj slightly pushed her head, " I'm not joking. Aapko aur Keerti ko dekhkar lagta hai, ki apne parents ka single child hokar maine kya miss kiya hai."
He saw a slight hint of moisture in her eyes.
" Sach keh raha hoon...aapmein aur Keerti mein bass thodasa fark mehsus karta hoon. You've more of a friend than a sister and she has more of a sister than a friend. "
Shalini smiled, " Aur phir bhi aap hamein 'aap' aur 'Doctor' hi kehte hai?"
" Shalini, I'm getting late. Ab tum apni baatein khatam karo! Good bye !"
Shalini smiled looking at his back as he walked away.
Tears were rolling down her eyes and a smile graced her face,
" I really missed you a lot captain! I missed you a lot! Thank God, you came back!!"
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