PART THIRTY-NINE:
Raj was sitting on rocking chair...his eyes closed...last few days were really taxing...a whole lot of series of events occured in these few days...
As the events played in front of his eyes again, he once again experienced the numb pain caused by Naina's indifferent behaviour.
FLASHBACK:
Raj was pacing his room.It has been third day since they returned from the hospital and since he had a glimpse of her...
Raj was not allowed to take their field drills yet as he wasnt completely fit,and he had no theory lectures scheduled for last three days...
Morever she was advised strict rest by Dr.Shalini...
And whenever he tried to visit her dorm, either she was asleep or she was somewhere else...be it in the infirmary or evening stroll...and always missed her by a whisker as he tried to catch up on her...
He sighed and went out of his room...today he had a lecture scheduled and morever, she was also joining the class from today.
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He was exhilerated seeing her in the class and gave her a bright smile. But she looked indifferent. The class went on well, all the time Naina avoiding his inquisitive eyes...and then she went away quickly as the class ended...
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He saw her coming with pooja from the opposite side of the passage...Naina had not seen him.
" Jaldi kar Naina...warna woh lolita maam hamara signal kaat degi ! "
"Ah...pooji...mujhe bahot pyaas lagi hai...tu chal aage, main bass abhi aayi.."
" Theek hai...par jaldi aana..."
Raj followed her under the pretext of drinking water himself...and tried to initiate a convo...but she made some excuse and left...
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Naina was sitting on a bench outside as cadets were having a free hour...
She was startled as she suddenly saw Raj sitting besides her.
" Kya hua?", he grinned, " Chaunk gayi?"
" Nahi sir woh...aapko aise achanak..."
" Chaunk to main gaya hoon cadet singh ! Keerti toh mere medicines ki responsibility aap ko dekar gayi thi...par Hospital se aate hi aap itni busy hogayi ki aapko aapke mentor ki health ke paas dhyaan dene ka bhi time nahi hai !"
Naina felt guilty...
" Woh sir...maine socha agar main baar baar faculty quarters mein aaungi toh..."
Raj smirked sarcastically...she was again lying...
" Really Cadet singh? "
Naina didnt know what to reply...
" Naina...kisi uljhan mein ho?" , he asked.
Naina's eyes watered at the concern in his voice...She kept looking ahead for sometime...and then when she felt she could control herself, she turned to him...
" Hmmm...hoon kisi uljhan mein."
" Kya problem hai Naina? mujhe batao..."
" Sir...kabtak main apni har chotisi problem ko lekar aapko pareshan karti rahungi...main har waqt toh aapki ungli thaam kar nahi chal sakti naa...apni mushkilo ka saamna mujhe khud karna sikhna hoga."
Raj couldnt believe his ears...he just stared at her...
She hated herself for what she was doing..but...
and before she would lose her control...
" Main chalu sir? "
and she got up before he could say anything...
Flashback ends...
Then the incident that day...when Maj.Nair punished Naina rigorously for a trivial thing...
Naina was determined to complete her punishment. She cannot let that Nair win...
She has to do it.
" Come on Naina! ", she said to herself, " Tu kar sakti hai."
Pooja ran into the hallway skidding to stop infront of Raj.
" Cadet Ghai??? Any problem? Aap istarah?", he asked, taken aback at the way she suddenly stopped in front of him.
" Sir, Naina..."
" Naina???? Kya hua Naina ko???", he panicked.
" Sir, muchchad ne use punish kiya hai...50 rounds of the ground. Sir, uss bechari ki battery toh already down hai.", she was worried.
When she looked up, she found herself talking to thin air...
She was confused...did she actually talked to Captain Rajveer...or???
" Kya hua Punjaban?" , Huda asked.
" Huda...lagta hai mera handset hang horaha hai...mujhe aise kyun lagraha hai ki maine abhi abhi Shahrukh se baat ki?"
Huda laughed at her plight.
" Arey meri Punjaban, tu sir se hi baat kar rahi thi..."
" Phir woh..."
" Abey, waha phoolan museebat mein hai aur woh kya teri baat poori hone ki raah dekhenge?"
She shook her head and gave him a big smile as they headed for canteen.
Naina was already weak. She was feeling her feet shaking and heaviness in her head, but she kept going. Unfortunately, she lost her balance, landing the wrong way on her ankle.
" Aaah !" , she yelped and was about to fall when a firm grip on her hand stopped her from falling.
She didnt require to see who it was...coz she knew...It can never be anyone, but him...
Her Rajveer Sir...
Raj made her sit and, " Naina, are you okay?"
She nodded, " Yes...i'm...i'm fine."
She was actually seething in pain clutching her ankle, knowing that she had sprained it.
" That I can see...", he winced seeing her in pain, " I think we should go and see Shalini, right now."
" No sir...I need to complete my punishment...main aise...", she tried to protest.
" Listen Naina, even I am the faculty member over here...and I order you to DISMISS..."
" But Sir, Maj. Nair ke orders...???...he is my drill commanding officer and..."
" Dont you worry about that...I'll deal with him.You need to go to infirmary first...come on!"
" But sir...", she tried avoiding going with him as she cant afford to be spotted taking his help.
" Dekho Naina...", he said sternly, " Mera dimaag pehlese hi bahot kharab hai. So just shut up and come with me. "
" Sir aap kyun zidd kar rahe ho?", she asked frustrated.
"
Tumne jo zidd karni chod di.", he replied.
She at once looked at him. The pain in his voice stunned her.
She didnt say anything further and quietly put her hand in his as he helped her to get up and carried her inside leaning her on him, placing Naina's left arm over his shoulder and supporting her around the waist with his right arm.
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But as they say, every dark cloud has a silver lining...
In these dark days something happened, that relieved him of a big burden...
Apne dost ke khun ka bojh...ek maa baap se unka beta chin lene ka bojh...
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All cadets had been for outdoor drill with Captn Abhimanyu and Captn Nandini...
As he was strolling through the corridor, Raj saw Maj. Nair behaving rudely with Naina's parents...
" Kya aap nahi jaante, ki ek traitor ke parents keliye iss academy mein koi jagah nahi hai..."
" Bilkul Maj. Nair...", Raj intervened, " Par president's bravery award winner cadet ke parents ko iss academy welcome hi kiya jaayega...don't you think so? "
Then he looked at her parents...Both of them were looking at him stunned. Raj could see their eyes filled with tears, but their faces bored a big smile.
" Oh ! Mr. and Mrs. Ahluwalia...welcome ! Waise Cadet Singh toh iss waqt outdoor drill pe gayi hai...Tabtak aap mere quarters mein unka wait karsakte hai...mujhe badi khushi hogi."
And took them with him before Maj. Nair could react.
They entered his room...
" Main bata nahi sakta Captain, aapko milkar kitni khushi horahi hai.", Naina's dad said wiping his tears.
" Thank you,Mr. Ahluwalia...",and very much overwhelmed to say anything, he just asked them to sit and be comfortable as he ordered some snacks for them.
" Haan beta...aaj tumhe yun saamne paakar bahot achcha lag raha hai...", Naina's mom said.
" Iska shrey Naina aur mere cadets ko jaata hai...", Raj said.
And then there was no conversation for some time... He felt Naina's parents staring at him in between when Naina's dad suddenly asked...
"You love her don't you?"
Raj first felt he hadn't heard it right.
This was the last question which he had been expecting.
Now, which father would talk this way to his son's killer?
"You do, don't you?" he heard the question reiterate articulately.
He decided to stick to the truth and quietly nodded.
There was a momentarily convoluted silence.
"Naina has always been the obdurate and staunch one. Wohi toh hamare pariwaar ki jaan hai...Jaante ho beta, Naveen ke captain ban ne ki khushi usse jyaada Naina ko thi.Those priceless moments of cheerfulness, joy and color had been shattered with Naveen's untimely death and the false declared accusations. Those harsh moments days, are still quite etched in our memory. Aur phir...Naina ka Army join karne ka decision...In the academy, both your paths crossed – paths different but destiny same. Tumhare saath jo kuch hua...beta...humein samajh nahi aaraha kya kahe...Tumne hamare bete ko uska samman dilane keliye apne career ki parwah nahi ki...kin shabdo mein shukriya adaa karu ? I haven't thanked you enough for your undeterred support and guidance you had showered our daughter with, during those crucial moments of immaturity and loneliness."
Raj broke in, "Nahi, sir, it's quite unneeded. It was my duty as her mentor to…"
He was interrupted,
"You stood beside her even before she was your protege. Woh bilkul tut chuki thi beta... I still do remember how she broke down regarding your abandonment in her struggle and the deep void you had created in her heart.I'd just like to say that never bring anymore tears to her eyes. It's time both of you have your share of happiness."
Raj was speechless. Was this a dream or did he really have the unmentioned permission of his love's dad. He was lost.
Then slowly, he bitterly realized that Naina might not have told her parent's of him being responsible for Naveen's death.
Gathering up courage, he painfully spoke up, "Thank You, Sir, but you probably are not aware of the grave dark moment of my life which regards your son too. Aap shayad nahi jaante..."
This earned him a sharp stark look.
" I am not worthy enough for your kind respect. Main aapke pyaar aur iss samman ke layak nahi...Naveen...", Raj was finding it difficult to speak...he felt an immense burden crushing his heart...he was unable to breathe...He wished he could disappear...but he has to do it...Agar woh aaj nahi keh paaya toh fir shayad kabhi nahi kehpaye...
" Mr. Ahluwalia...", Raj spoke with heavy voice, "Nav...Naveen ki maut ka jimmedar... ."
A soft voice broke in," We know, beta. Hum sab jaante hain."
Shocked to the core, he looked at Naina's mom. She got up from her chair and walked towards him. Slowly she sat besides him and placed her hand on his head...then she hid her face in her palms and cried as she spoke in between...
" Tum apne aap ko doshi mat maano beta..."
Raj's eyes filled up with tears...
" Aaj main...uski Maa yeh kehti hoon ki agar main tumhari jagah hoti, toh main bhi yahi karti...jaante ho kyun? Kyunki main bhi apne bete se behad pyaar karti hoon...Kyunki main bhi usse woh jindagi jeete hue nahi dekh paati jismein woh har roz...har pal marta ho...Maine...maine dekha tha na usse ussdin lock up mein...", she turned to her husband, " aapne bhi dekha tha na? kis tarah mera beta..."
she cried bitterly..." kya haalat bana di thi unhone uski...kaise mera bachcha mujhse keh raha tha ki ' Maa...main deshdrohi nahi hoon...Main toh deshdrohi ho hi nahi sakta na...tumhara beta toh deshdrohi ho hi nahi sakta...'..", she wiped her flowing tears, " Aur fir...tumhare saath jo kuch hua...uss din court mein tum...Kahi na kahi Naina ke pyaar ne tumhe weak..."
"Nahin Aunty", Raj managed to speak up, "Pyar ne mujhe bebas nahin banaya, ek vahi to hai jiske balbute par main aaj apna samman pa saka hun. Naina's my strength not my weakness."
" Rajveer...", she joined her palms..", Mere bete ko mukti dekar tumne mujhpe jo ehsaan..."
"Nahi Auntie...", Raj was choked...he was not knowing what to say...but as she caressed his face affectionately, he broke down...
Trying with great difficulty to stop the unfaithful tears...
" Maine...maine usse kaha tha auntie,...i swear maine usse kaha tha ki hum koi na koi raasta dhundh nikalenge...par woh nahi maana...I am sorry...I am sorry...main yeh nahi karna chahta tha...main yeh sachchi mein nahi karna chahta tha...par main usse yun ghut te hue bhi nahi dekh sakta tha... par main yeh sachmein nahi karna chahta tha... maine aapse aapka beta cheena hai...main..."
She wrapped him into a hug...
" Aise mat kaho Rajveer...kya tum hamare bete nahi?"
Raj looked at her...
His unshed tears now began to flow unstopped. He now also had a family.. The love and acceptance made him feel wanted and required. He now was considered a part of their family, and he resolved to protect them at all costs and terms. His newfound treasure was too invaluable and it was his second most priority.
" Kya main...kya main aapko Maa bula sakta hoon?"
Naina's dad laughed aloud, " Abhi bhi tumhare mann mein sawal hai? ofcourse beta..."
Raj too joined him...and suddenly...the tense and grim environment became merry and cheerful...
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He was troubled by the fact that Naina was avoiding him...how immensely it hurted him...Then he could realise how much painful it might be for Naina when he was avoiding her, and that too giving her no clue ,after the mentorship camp...
Rajveer was pacing his room restlessly. He was not getting why Naina was behaving weirdly all of a sudden.Why? He had seen Love for him in her eyes...her behaviour after his return pointed to the same...and then suddenly...
Everything changed after that outing...
" Why is she avoiding me?"
He felt like one who is rebuked...thrown out...
" Kya woh ab bhi mujhe Naveen ka kasoorwar samajhti hai?"
His grip on the glass tightened.
" Parr usne khud kaha ki woh mujhe doshi nahi maanti...toh phir..."
Only he knew how it was creating a hailstorm in his heart and mindset at Naina's this demeanor.He was confused at her reluctance to share her thoughts.
His grip tightening on the glass in his hand,which was beginning to crack.
Just then someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
He turned back.
It was Abhimanyu. Abhi was very well aware of his friend's condition. He had just been on time and had noticed the glass cracking lest Raj would surely have broken it and hurt himself.
" Kya baat hai Raj?"
" Ahh...kuch nahi chauhaan."
" Aap humse chupa rahe ho?"
Raj smirked.
" Batane layak kuch hai bhi toh nahi..."
Abhi could sense the pain in his voice.
" Raj aap ...aap Naina se ek baar baat kar lijiye."
" Baat? huh...wahi toh koshish kar raha hoon kabse chauhaan...par woh shayad mujhse baat tak nahi karna chahti,training ke alawa. she is curt even while discussing about Naveen's case...pata nahi woh aisa kyun..", Raj said while pressing his temples.
He was having a terrible headache since his bad health, the stress of Naveen's case, Naina's safety and her recent indifference to him was too much for him to handle.
Abhi was worried for him.
" Patience Raj...everything will be fine."
" Patience...",Raj laughed sarcastically ," Yahi toh rakhte aaya hoon aaj tak chauhaan saab."
He was standing gazing outside window with his hands in his pockets,his back towards Abhimanyu.
" Hum samajhte hain Raj. Hum... Naina se baat karke dekhte hai...i will ask her why is she behaving weirdly with you these days..."
" Koi faayda nahi chauhaan, I know her.", Raj said and then throwing his hands up dramatically, " God !!! why is she so stubborn! pata nahi kya chalte rehta hai uske dimaag mein."
Abhi chuckled.
" Ab aapki GIRLFRIEND hai ! Aap bhi toh koi kam stubborn nahi ho."
Raj turned back sharply as Abhi called Naina as his girlfriend.
But Abhi was grinning. Though Raj was having a stern look, Abhi could very well make out the affection and adoration even for Naina's stubborness in his eyes.
Slowly, Raj also broke into a smile.
" Chauhaan Saab...", He sighed, " Naina , though unconsciously, is definitely ensuring that I end up in the mental asylum."
Abhi laughed.
" Raj you are really screwed up! Warna hamein aapse yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahi padhti."
Raj looked at him.
" What??? Don't look at me like that...don't you know?",Abhi asked.
Abhi went closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. He bent a little near his ear and whispered as if telling a big secret...
" Dost, aapki Naina ke dimaag aur abstract thinking process ki ek hi chaabi hai...", He continued as Raj looked at him, " Aalekh!!"
" Aalekh??? Arey haan...maine toh yeh...Par kya woh meri..."
" Jaroor karega Sir.Kyun nahi?"
Abhi and Raj turned to door.
Aalekh was standing there with a smirk on his face. He had possibly heard everything. Raj was finding it uncomfortable to discuss this with his Cadet, but Abhi eased the matter by patting his shoulder.
" Par aap yeh apun ko kyun pooch rahe ho? Aapne toh yeh guess kar hi liya hoga...", he looked at Raj sharply, " Kyun Sir?"
" Main? Aalekh...mujhe toh..."
" Kya Sir? aapne bhi toh wahich kiya tha. Aap tab kyu usko avoid kar rahe the ?"
" Maine? maine kab usse...", and then he looked at Aalekh shocked! Has he guessed his feelings for her all throughout then?
The small smile on Aalekh's lips was confirming it.
Raj sighed. If there was anyone who he would have expected to guess this , then it would have always been Aalekh. This boy seems to guess almost everything. He smiled and placed his hand on his shoulder,
" Aalekh..."
" Naina ko line pe laana apun jaanta hai, Sir."
Raj chuckled.
" Thanks Aalekh."
" Boleto? yeh kisliye? "
" Tumhari help ke liye."
" Sir aap apun ke liye kabhi sirf ek teacher nahi the. ", Aalekh smiled ," Aur waise bhi, apun yeh sab aapke liye nahi uss hateli ke liye kar raha hai."
Raj and Abhi laughed at that.
" Apun chalta hai Sir...bahot kaam karna hai apunko."
" All the best!", Abhi raised his thumbs up while Raj just smiled.
Raj just kept his fingers crossed...
As he just can't bear her avoiding him...Her ignorance has terribly affected him...
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Next day, Naina was walking down a corridor.
She has been trying her best to avoid being around Raj alone as she feared he might say something which he shouldn't and also she was afraid of herself being not able to keep her feelings under control and she might reveal it to him...
It was then Aalekh put some brains into her...
Flashback
" Tu kya karne ki koshish kar rahi hai Naina?"
" Main kya kar rahi hu?"
" Apun se chupane ka koi fayda nahi hai. apun tujhe tujhse bhi achchi tarah jaanta hai. Tu Sir ko nazarandaz karke unko yeh jatana chahti hai naa ki tu unse koi pyaar nahi karti?"
Naina just looked at him and he understood.
" Parr yakin maan, uska asar bilkul ulta ho raha hai ! "
She looked at him shocked!
" Aur nahi toh kya? pehle sir aur ab tu... dono bhi wahi galati kar rahe ho. Tu jo kar rahi hai, isse sir ko pura yakin hojayega ki tu unse pyaar karti hai."
" Main unse pyaar nahi karti. Samjha tu? Mujhe koi farak nahi padhta ki woh kya sochte hai aur kya samajhte hai..."
" Koi farak nahi padhta naa? to phir unse dur dur kyun bhaag rahi hai? Pehle ki tarah kyu nahi rehti?"
And so,she now have to try to behave normally with him, so that he would not sense the war she is undergoing emotionally... she has to do this, at any cost...
For his sake...
She came to face BC and saluted him...
he acknowledged it with a smile...
He had began admiring this girl...
" At ease Cadet singh.", BC said ," Actually I was heading for Captn. Abhimanyu. Wanted to hand him this letter. It's quite important and can't hand over it to orderlies.I would have called him...but then thought of visiting my ex-cadet myself." , He completed with a smile.
He has softened a bit after the incidence of attempt to shut down KMA...
But nevertheless...was the same strict disciplanarian as ever.
Naina returned the smile.
Then changing his mind,BC said," Cadet Singh, I would appreciate if you hand over this to Captn. Chauhan."
" Certainly, Sir."
She took it from him and left for Abhimanyu's quarters.
She knocked the door and opened the door to go inside on being called.
What she saw was Abhi and Raj sitting on the opposite side of a coffee table. Raj concentrating deeply,frowning and with his head in his hands, scratching his head in between... And Abhi smirking...
Both looking at a chess board placed on a coffee table.
Naina couldn't stop herself from looking at Raj adorably...She found Raj's expression so cute...Even she didn't know when her lips curved into smile...She was broken out of her reverie on,
" Ah ! Cadet Naina...Please come in !" , Abhi called out cheerfully !
And Raj looked up immediately! His face lit up at the sight of her...
After wishing both of them ," Sir, Actually BC asked me to hand over this letter to you." , Naina said trying her best not to look at Raj. But then remembered Aalekh's words and smiled at him.
He returned it...' May be...Aalekh has accomplished his mission!'
Abhi understood her attempts and also his Friend's reaction...
" Well Naina, do you mind waiting for sometime...Anyways, Your Mentor is going to lose this game soon."
Naina felt offended at that.
" How can you be so sure sir?" , She demanded, a frown evident on her face.
" Well, have a look at the game yourself !", Nandini said coming out of a kitchen getting three mugs of coffee for them ," Would you like to have some coffee Naina? ", she asked while Raj glared at her statement. He tried his best to avoid her but ended up meeting her someway or the other...
That time also he had to be there only for Abhi...
Naina gestured negative for the coffee and said,
" But ma'am, abhitak game khatam nahi huyi ...", and then looking at Abhi ," And sir, I know my Mentor would fight till the end." , She completed with a smile.
Well...whatever may be the situation between them, how can she tolerate anything against him???
Raj smiled in return, pride evident in his eyes...
She sat on a chair , observing the game closely. Raj was playing with 'White' and Abhi with 'Black' pieces.
The game continued with Nandini giving tips to Abhi in between. He also gladly accepted it, secretly hoping, Raj would object and this would initiate the conversation between him and Nandini. He wanted Raj to give their friendship a chance.
Raj , not wanting to initiate any conversation with her under any circumstances, preferred to stay mum at that.
Naina chose to observe the game quietly, though she didn't appreciate Abhi happily accepting Nandini's help ,as it was against the norms of the game according to her.
" Check and Mate." , Abhi said finally, after seeming what to be an eternity.
Raj was thinking hard to find a way out, while Abhi smirked.
Naina didn't miss the twinkle in his eye.
' Abhimanyu will be Abhimanyu !! ' , Naina chuckled.
But she will never let her Rajveer Sir lose... She saw the chess board and broke into a grin, which Raj didn't miss as he unknowingly looked at her while on verge of a defeat. He looked at her questioningly.
Naina bent forward to lift a ' White Bishop ' that was standing behind a ' white Rook ', and leading it obliquely through chess squares hit Abhi's 'Black King ', which now stood un guarded as he had moved his 'Queen' to 'check-mate' Raj's 'King'.
And Raj Won !!!
" Brilliant Cadet Singh !", Raj exclaimed beaming at her... and she couldn't help grinning widely...
While Abhi made a face at them!
This made Raj and Naina laugh and they both hi-fived ! Well...when they both are together into something...then it means victory!
Both Raj and Abhi had failed to notice that Bishop.
" Raj, aaj toh aap Naina ki wajahse jeet gaye." , Abhi said finally smiling while Nandini too applaud.
" Well...Chauhaansaab, That's my Cadet Naina Ah' Singh for you...", Raj said beaming with pride and glee , " Always coming at the climax to save her Mentor!"
Naina felt herself on the top of the world hearing that !
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Raj was talking to Gunny in the corridor...
When they saw Naina talking on phone...
She was looking tensed and irritated, and seemed as if she is scolding someone...
Raj and Gunny looked at each other and then went closer to listen to it, hiding themselves behind the pillar.
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" Maine kaha na tumse ! Tum aisa kuch nahi karsakte ! samjhe tum?? Listen...",Naina ran fingers in her hair exasperatedly, " Theek hai...mujhe manzoor hai...par tum aisa kuch nahi karoge...",
She stared at the phone as the person on another side suddenly hang up.
Both of them saw her tensed and nervous as she left the telephone.
"Gunny...Naina kuch pareshaan lag rahi hai... aur phir peechle kuch dinose...", Raj paused as he thought for a while.., "Can you do me a favour? Trace the caller..."
" Sure Rajveer...I'll do that."
While Raj decided to confront her himself...once and for all !
Edited by Revolutionbreez - 13 years ago
Real Estate
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
13