says Naina, looking straight into his eyes, that's only because he warned her not to look away or cascade down her eyes or else she wouldn't have dared to do it. But right now she knows she has to talk to him sternly.
But when did Rajveer say that he is going to accept her answer; her point in single go?
"Mujhey karni hai!",
he puts in front of her his heart's desire, sternly.
Before she could say anything, he continues,
"Ye to shuruat hai Naina, abhi to tumse bohot baatein puchni hain! Tumhe mere bohot baaton ke jawab dene hain!"
(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune continues)
Naina stares him, creasing her brows, she asks him,
"Mujhey dene hain? Ya apko dene hain?"
Her eyes blazing with anger tells Rajveer that she is upset about something. But what? And suddenly he understands, and his expression changes. It has to be about Nandini!
"Mujhey laga tumhe koi interest nahi hai?",
asks Rajveer, gauging her.
His idea about what she must be wanting, irks her. She keeps staring him, jealousy surging through her body. How can he think that she wouldn't like to know? How the hell can he think that something related to him, won't matter to her? And how can he make assumptions about her, without knowing her properly? But who is she kidding? He does know her in and out too well, doesn't he? Whatever it is, now she desires to listen to him; to get some answers from him, right now!
"Mujhey...",
she trails off, out of anger and jealousy. She looks away.
Relaxing herself, she turns to look at him again, and says,
"Anyways, mujhey apse kuch puchna hai!",
she says in a strict tone.
Smirking, Rajveer says,
"Correction, tumhe 'bhi' mujhse kuch puchna hai!",
stressing on 'bhi'!
Smiling, he says,
"Alright, puch lena but pehle meri baat ka jawab do!"
"Pehle aap meri baat ka jawab dijiye",
says Naina, sternly.
"Arey ye kya baat hui? Pucha pehle maine tha!",
says Rajveer, irritated.
"Aap koi bachey hain kya? Ke pehle apne pucha tha to apko hi subse pehle jawab milna chahiye?",
asks Naina, narrowing her eyes on Rajveer.
Blushing, Rajveer says,
"Acha pucho".
His blush does amazing things to Naina's insides. She tries to hide her own blush which she gets on seeing him blushing.
Hesitantly, Naina asks,
"Ahmm... apart from giving you physical pain, kya Nandini ne apko kisi aur way mein dard diya? Kisi baat se?"
(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as Naina notices the shift in his expression from a smile to horror).
His changed expression pierces her heart. Her heartbeat picks up pace. She knew this is coming. She will have to endure seeing him in pain. She had prepared herself for that, but to her dismay, all her preparation is going in vain. But no, she cannot stand it. She can't endure seeing him in pain! Quickly she comes up with an idea and asks him away, although nervously, but thankfully she succeeded in keeping his expression of nervousness at a bay.
Lowering her eyes out of shyness and hesitation, she asks him, fidgeting with her ring out of nervousness,
"Aur... aur... kya apne iss dauran, Nandini ke liye, ek pal ke liye bhi kuch mehsus...",
she couldn't bring herself to complete the line.
Rajveer stares her. Naina who was so nervous about asking this question to him, gets surprised on witnessing a sudden change in his expression. Soon she discovers a smile on his face rather than anger. She notices how his eyes are twinkling with happiness. But what has she said to make him happy? Oh god, did he... did any feeling culminate in his heart for Nandini during these days?
The thought makes her heartbeat to pick up pace. She gets anxious to listen to him; to get his reply! But what if he says that he did? How is she going to react then? Is she ready for that?
"Tum itni eager kyun ho janne ke liye ki mere aur Nandini ke beech kya baatein hui?",
asks Rajveer, mockingly.
Naina who had been holding her breath this whole time, roles her eyes on getting such a reaction from him.
Taking a deep breath she scolds him, knitting her brows out of anger,
"Apko mazak sujh raha hai?"
She realizes that her anger isn't on Rajveer but Nandini!
"Please bataiye mujhey...",
she requests, getting irritated with each passing moment.
"Oh I am sorry. I am sure tum bohot serious hogi, right?",
he asks, staring her, pursing his lips to control his laughter.
(Fast Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins)
Naina shuts her eyes, calming herself down. Opening them, she stares him, seriously.
Rajveer decides to end irritating her.
Sighing, he says teasingly,
"Ek to main yahan beemar parha hun, aur tum bhi mujhse kya kya karwa rahi ho!"
Naina realizes that he is right, she must be forcing him right now. It might strain his mind. Her expression changes to feeling sorry. As she thinks of changing the topic, Rajveer looks towards her. By his look, Naina understands that he is willing to speak. His eyes tell her how after a mental battle, he has finally decided to open his heart out in front of her. And she feels glad about it.
Giving him a tight smile, she conveys to him silently, that she is there with him and is ready to listen anything and everything.
"Waise ye bhi janna hai ki maine kya feel kiya? Chahey wo ek pal ke liye hi kyun na ho?",
Rajveer asks her, teasingly.
Naina glares him. Getting serious he says,
"Ok fine... haan diya hai!"
(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins)
~*~*~
"Ma... Papaji... jaldi se haath dho lijiye bus khana serve kar rahi hun",
shouts Vidya from the kitchen whilst making a paratha.
"Haan beta abhi aye",
replies her mother.
Suddenly Vidya's cell phone rings. Switches off the gas stove, she runs to her bedroom. She checks her phone and finds an unknown number flashing on the screen. Confused, she picks it up. The breeze entering through the windows of her room makes her hair to flicker. Getting irritated by which she uses her right hand messed up with the flour to remove the tendrils of her hair. In the process, she doesn't realize that the flour leaves it's mark on her face.
"Hello...",
she says.
"Hello ma'am main 'Ashirwad Club' se bol raha hun",
addresses the caller.
"Hanji boliye"
"Darasal humne ek game show organize kiya hai apke colony mein"
"Game show! Vidya ko kya karna hoga part lene ke liye?",
Vidya gets excited.
"Zada kuch nahi apko apne kuch details dene honge"
"Details? Kaise details?",
asks Vidya.
"Like apka naam, age, marital status"
"Oh to lijiye na. Naam hai Vidya Saxena, age 23 years, marital status wi...",
Vidya stops abruptly. Blood drains out of her face as she realizes what she was about to blurt. Clearing her throat, she lowers her eyes, getting serious she answers,
"Single! Unmarried!"
"Thank you ma'am. Abhi tak date decide nahi kiya hai ke kis din ye conduct hoga. Jaise hi decide hota hai, main apko inform kar dunga",
says the caller.
Vidya in a serious tone, replies back,
"Ji!"
Ending the call, Vidya remains serious and starts thinking about someone. Putting her hand under her pillow she pulls out a photograph. With a sad smile on her face she stares the photo for some moments. As her eyes reach on the verge of welling up, she quickly places back the photo under the pillow again and leaves the room.
Outside someone sitting inside a jeep checks out a picture clicked of Vidya!
Reaching back into the kitchen she washes her hands that suddenly she remembers...
'Yes? Whom do you want to meet?'
Her heartbeat picks up pace as she thinks about the incident.
"Vidya agar tu abhi se aise react karegi to wahan ja kar kaise rahegi? Vidya janti hai ke Vidya ka maksad KMA jakar hi pura ho sakta hai!",
mummers Vidya, creasing her brows.
"Kya kaha tumne?",
asks her mother, reaching the kitchen.
Vidya gasps in surprise on hearing her mother's voice. Getting scared she tries to cover up the situation.
"Kuch... kuch nahi Ma, main to...",
Vidya tries to think of a reason to change the topic. But her mother catches her,
"Main to? Vidya tu mujhse kuch chupa rahi hai. Such such bata...",
asks her mother sternly.
"Nahi... nahi Ma main... Vidya... bus...",
she starts taking deep breaths out of nervousness.
"Dekh Vidya, main bohot achi tarah janti hun tujhey. Tu ghabrahat mein aksar 'main' karke bolti hai. Main janti hun ke koi baat hai jiski wajah se tu disturbed hai. Bata mujhey, kya baat hai?",
asks her mother.
"Kuch bhi nahi hai Ma. Aap bhi na bekar mein itni chinta karti hain",
says Vidya.
"Pakka?",
asks her mother, sternly.
Looking towards her mother nervously, she stares her for sometime and her eyes well up.
"Vidya... kya hua beta?",
asks her mother, panicking.
She quickly rubs off Vidya's tears but fresh new tears oozes out of her eyes as soon as her mother rubs the previous set of tears. Vidya holds her mother's hands, crying, refraining her to rub them again as she knows it's useless, fresh new tears will come rushing down again within in seconds.
In between her sobs, Vidya informs her mother about her visit to KMA.
"Kya? Vidya...",
scolds her mother lightly, concerned.
"Tu janti hai na tere Papaji allow nahi karege? Fir kyun tu ne? Arey ek baar mujhse puch to leti!",
says her mother, confused, thinking what to do now.
"Ma please... please Vidya ko maaf kar do. Par Ma Vidya yun ghut-ghut kar nahi ji sakti. Vidya ko Vansh ke katilon ko saza dilani hai Ma".
"Chahey uss mein tumhari jaan chali jaye?",
asks her father, standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
His voice succeeds in skipping Vidya's and her mother's heartbeat alike. Nervously they turn to look towards him.
Where on one hand Vidya's mother looks towards him, afraid that he might shout at Vidya. There on the other hand Vidya looks towards him, silently pleading him to understand. Her eyes turned soft.
"Papaji please... Vidya janti hai Vidya kya kar rahi hai. Aur yakeen maniye Papaji, Vidya ne ye bohot sochne ke baad faisla kiya hai. Please, please aap Vidya ko mat rokiye",
pleads Vidya.
"Vidya hum tumhare dushman nahi hai. Vansh ke baad agar koi humara apna hai to wo tum hi ho",
says her father.
Vidya lowers her eyes.
"Vidya janti hai Papaji ke Vidya aap dono ke liye kitna mayine rakhti hai",
she says. Then looking back towards her father, she says,
"Aap dono bhi Vidya ke liye bohot maiyene rakhte hain Papaji. Mummy Papa ke jane ke baad, aap aur Vansh hi to hain jinko Vidya ne janna hai. Vansh ke saath badi hui hai Vidya. Mummy-Papa to abhi gaye hain Vidya ko chor kar, uss car accident mein..."
Vidya avoids talking about the incident as she knows it's of no use remembering the incident again and again. It gives nothing but pain.
"Par Vidya tujhey wahan jakar hasil kya hoga?",
asks her mother.
"Aap bhi kamal karti hain? Jab wo wahan jane hi nahi wali to issey kya matlab ke kya hoga aur kya nahi?",
says her father.
"Papaji please...",
she pleads, with teary eyes.
"Bus... maine keh diya hai... ab iss barey mein mujhey aur koi behs nahi chahiye...",
says her father, gesturing with her hand to end the topic.
Knowing that it's of no use to plead and with a choked throat, Vidya runs into her room and locks it behind her.
"Aap bhi na... kya zarurat thi iss tarah gussa karne ki?",
scolds her mother to her father.
"Maine jo kuch bhi kiya bilkul theek kiya. Mujhey samjhane ke bajaye usse samjhao!",
scolds her father, loud enough for Vidya to hear through the close door.
His voice makes Vidya to sob all the more. Her father goes to his room in anger. The tensed mother of Vidya chooses to talk to her first. Reaching her room, she knocks the door,
"Vidya... darwaza khol beta..."
Controlling herself a little, Vidya says,
"Please Ma, Vidya ko akela chor do. Vidya ko kisi se baat nahi karni".
"Vidya beta aise nahi karte. Darwaza khol beta",
pleads her mother, her eyes turned teary.
"Please Ma... aap jante ho Vidya apko kabhi kisi baat ke liye mana nahi karti. Par Ma please Vidya ko abhi kuch der ke liye akela chor do please...",
pleads Vidya.
"Theek hai beta. Jab tujhey kisi se baat karne ka mann ho, to bula lio mujhey. Beta to kha le",
says her mother, sorrowfully.
"Bhook nahi hai. Aur main khud aa jaungi Ma! Please aap log khana kha lo",
says Vidya, sorrowfully.
Her mother doesn't fail to notice that she used 'Main' instead of 'Vidya'! This confirms her mother that she is tensed and pissed off.
"Theek hai beta",
says her mother helplessly and returns back.
Crying, Vidya talks to herself and apologizes to her mother,
"Vidya ko maaf kar dena Ma. Vidya apka dil dukhana nahi chahti thi. Bilkul nahi chahti thi".
Suddenly Vidya feels restless. Picking up the phone she dials a number, trying her luck.
"Vidya janti hai ke aap phone nahi uthayenge. Koi aur uthayega. Vidya nahi janti fir bhi Vidya aisa kyun kar rahi hai. Kyun?",
cries Vidya, whilst waiting for someone to receive the call, she waits particularly for him to pick up the phone. Counting under her breath, she shuts her eyes tightly, out of nervousness.
'Ek bechaini,
ek betabi,
dil mein ajab si,
kyun hulchul hai?
hai ye... ek,
ek dho..ka hai,
fir bhi dil kyun,
yakeen kar rha hai?
Aas laga raha,
hai kyun firse,
dil mein baat,
chupi hai kabse,
ajab uljhan,
zindagi mein ayi...
Jee... uthe the,
hum ek pal mein
bujhi har baati,
nahi hum saathi,
nahi hum saathi.
Ankh se teri,
ankh mili to,
aah uthi zara si,
nahi hum saathi,
nahi hum saathi'
The phone keeps ringing but no one receives the call. Vidya desperately waits and prays for him to receive the call.
Captain Randhawa happens to cross Brigadier Chandok's room and realizes that Brigadier Chandok hasn't picked up the call for more than the time period usually a person takes to receive a call. He had been hearing the phone ringing since the time he started walking on the corridor, just in front of Brigadier Chandok's cabin.
Choosing to ask him what's the matter out of concern, Captain Randhawa knocks the door of his cabin. On receiving the permission to get in, he discovers Brigadier Chandok engrossed in some important work. The phone still continues ringing.
Captain Randhawa as a gesture of help, asks Brigadier Chandok,
"Sir, may I receive the call on your behalf, if you are busy?"
"Sure Captain, it would be a great help",
replies Brigadier Chandok.
~*~*~
"Kaisa dard diya hai? Bataiye?",
asks Naina, getting anxious to know.
"Sunn paogi?",
asks Rajveer, creasing his brows, looking towards her, all serious.
"Try me!",
challenges Naina.
This brings a sad smile on Rajveer's face. It clenches her heart.
"Bataiye...",
she encourages him with this one word which holds so much potential. Which conveys to Rajveer how ready she is to listen to anything and everything he wants to tell her.
"Naina kuch baatein hain jo main dusro ke samne nahi bata sakta",
he confesses honestly.
Her heartbeat picks up pace, as she realizes that he wants to share it with her!
"Main tumse kuch nahi chupana chahta Naina. Main chahta tha ki main tumse akele mein baat kar paun. Par na mauka mil raha tha aur na...",
he stares her, his eyes turning dark.
"Na...??",
asks Naina, nervously.
"Na tum mujhey mauka de rahi thi tumse kuch kehne ka!",
he tells her honestly.
(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)
"Aap... aap chahte the ki main subke samne apse baat karun?",
asks Naina, knitting her brows a little.
Her heartbeat picks up pace as she asks him the question.
"Kyun? Kya galat hai? Kyun nahi baat kar sakti tum mujhse subke samne?",
demands Rajveer.
Naina lowers her eyes out of hesitation and shyness, all serious.
Smiling, Rajveer asks her,
"Humein shabdon ki zarurat kabse parhne lag gayi baat karne ke liye?"
Naina looks towards him instantly. A smile creeps on her lips.
(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins)
"Lekin usse pehle main tumse kuch puchna chahta hun?",
says Rajveer.
Now that skips Naina's heartbeat. What does he want to ask?
"Puchiye!",
she permits, nervously.
"Tum kyun mujhse dur bhaag rahi ho Naina?",
asks Rajveer, his eyes soft, as if pleading her to stop running from him.
His question skips Naina's heartbeat. Her eyes well up not only because his question scares her but also because it hurts her to the core, seeing him vulnerable in front of her.
"Main...",
she begins to explaining, shaking her head into negative but her throat chokes out of so many emotions.
Feeling her helplessness Rajveer's eyes well up and the tears roll down his cheeks. Unable to control herself any longer, especially after seeing him crying, Naina ends up crying too. She knows it very well how strong Rajveer is. If he is getting weak, that really means that he is hurt. She stares him, crying profusely. Rajveer reciprocates the gesture.
It gets difficult for him to utter even a single word through his choked throat and amidst all the pains, not only physical but emotional too.
Rajveer tries to get up to rub off her tears. Anticipating his move, Naina quickly pushes him lightly by his shoulder, forcing him to stay in his sleeping position. Rajveer smiles at her concern. But he knits his brows again, with in moments as her tears hurt him to the core.
Naina realizes that it's hurting him; disturbing him, her tears. She quickly wipes them away, for his sake. Rajveer smiles sadly as he realizes that she is doing this for him. A feeling of having authority on her, fills Rajveer's heart and succeeds in twinkling his eyes but deep down the pain; the hurt remains intact.
Sighing, she looks towards him and tells him,
"Main nahi chahti ke meri wajah se aap ko aur koi bhi pareshani ho!"
Her words succeed in hurting him yet again. He stays quiet for several moments, staring her.
"Kya hua?",
she asks, in hoarse whisper.
Continuing his stare, he asks her calmly,
"Naina tum janti ho ke main kab shant hota hun?"
Looking towards him quizzically, Naina asks him,
"Kab?"
He tells her,
"Jab tum pareshan hoti ho!"
This was indeed unexpected! Naina widens her eyes as she tries to rethink about his reply. Did he really say that, or is she hallucinating?
"Jab... main... pareshan hoti hun... to aap shant hote ho?",
she asks, still not sure that he actually said that!
Her gesture makes Rajveer to laugh but he purses his lips to control his laughter and shakes his head into positive. Naina stares him, dumbstruck, waiting for him to explain himself.
Naina turns to leave but Rajveer holds her hand immediately as if he cannot bear seeing her going away.
"Kahan ja rahi ho?"
Turning to look towards him, Naina plasters an infectious smile on her face and tells him,
"Dr. Shalini ko bolne ke apko ek injection ki sakht zarurat hai! Apka dimagi santulan bigad raha hai!"
Her reply makes Rajveer to laugh out loud. Naina blushes as her heart flutters seeing him laughing.
"Naina, tum chahti ho ke Dr. Shalini mujhey injection lagaye aur mujhey dard ho?",
asks Rajveer and frown comes on his face like a small kid, unhappy on knowing that his dear ones want him to get injected.
His expression makes Naina to blush but she controls herself.
"Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat ko injection se darr lagta hai kya? That's a revelation!",
mocks Naina.
Smiling sarcastically, Rajveer says,
"Captain Rajveer ko bus ek cheez se darr lagta hai...",
and stares Naina.
It skips Naina's heartbeat as the realization dawns on to her. She lowers her eyes. Rajveer lowers his eyes too, smiling, as he realizes that she has understood perfectly, his unsaid words!
Clearing her throat, she asks him,
"Anyways... bataiye kaise dard diya?"
Sighing, Rajveer looks towards her.
*Flashback*
"Raj! Raj! Raj! Mujhey samjh nahi aata, kaise hai tum mein itna patience?",
asks Nandini walking horizontally in front of Rajveer, giving a devilish smile.
"Ek wo hai jo tumse baat karna to durr, tumhari taraf dekhti tak nahi hai..."
Coming closer to Rajveer, adding the honey of seductiveness in her voice, her eyes reflecting her compassion for Rajveer, says,
"Aur ek main hun... jo tumhare liye kisi bhi hadd tak ja sakti hun..."
"Nandini when did you update your information about me the last time?",
asks Rajveer, taunting her.
"Confidence in your voice Raj! It won't shake right?",
asks Nandini, spitting venom through her voice.
Rajveer glares her with an infectious smile on his face. This irks Nandini all the more.
Burning with anger she shouts at Rajveer,
"I know the reason for that sign of confidence on your face... tumhari wo NAINA!!!"
Smirking, Rajveer says,
"Nandini I cannot even begin to describe what a pleasure I got, thanks to you. Jis tarah se Naina ko tumne mera kaha... Yes she is indeed mine! Meri Naina! Rajveer ki Naina",
Rajveer's heart swells with love for Naina.
Glaring him, raising her voice out of anger, Nandini says,
"Todungi Raj! Todungi tumhara ye confidence! Ye jo tumhare dil mein hai na Naina ke liye... wo sub chur-chur kar dungi! That bloody..."
Rajveer's loud shout interrupts her.
"Nandiniii...!!! Agar tumne ek lafz bhi kaha ab uske khilaf..."
Arching a brow, Nandini smirks,
"Bura laga? Haye... kya pyar hai..."
Rajveer feels disgusted as he hears the word 'pyar' through Nandini's voice that too addressed for himself and Naina. Those pure words are sounding venomous when spitted from Nandini's mouth. The purity of Rajveer's and Naina's relationship is being spoiled, is getting contaminated because of Nandini.
"Jante ho Raj mujhey kaisa feel hua tha jab Ritu ne mujhey bataya tha ki tum uss Naveen ki behn Naina se pyar karte ho?",
asks Nandini, blazing with anger.
This comes as a shock for Rajveer. When did Dr. Mishra contacted Nandini? Since when did they know each other? He waits for her to continue, holding his breath!
"Jab uss din usne mentorship programme ke time tumse wo questions puche the!"
And this indeed drains the blood out of Rajveer's face. He remembers her asking the questions!
"Tumhe kya lagta hai Raj, wo questions tumse puchna, wo uski soch thi?",
asks Nandini, smirking.
Rajveer looks at her, as the realization dawns on to him, it was Nandini who asked Dr. Mishra to do something to bring out the truth from him.
Rajveer remembers...
*Sub-Flashback*
"You know what Captain, actually main jab se aayi hun tabse main, ek baat zarur notice kar rahi hun... apka dimag kahin aur bhatak raha hai!"
"Just simple...! You know what main... main apse kuch sawal karungi. Simple se sawal. Aap bus jawab de dijiyega... just straightforward. Main apka state of mind bata sakti hun!",
says Dr. Mishra.
"Dr. Mishra aap... khamakhan pareshan ho rahi hain. Aap achi tarah se janti hain, mujhey na to bhatakne ki aadat hai, aur na hi mere dimag ko!",
says Captain Rajveer, confidently.
"Aur apke dil ko?",
asks Dr. Mishra, calmly.
Captain Rajveer stares Dr. Mishra, weighing the possibility. Smiling, he lowers his eyes and indulges back into his work. Ignoring, is he? Afraid of some revelation, is he?
A determined Dr. Mishra continues to convince him. His smile gives her all the signal she wanted to continue. It proved that she is going on the right path.
Walking to him, Dr. Mishra tells him, continuing with her convincing,
"Well Captain it's... it's just a simple game! Not difficult, bohot aasan sa hai".
Captain Rajveer listens to her whilst continuing with his work.
"Come on Captain, main ek psychatrist hun aur... aur apki dost bhi. I would like to help you",
says Dr. Mishra, hesitating a bit while uttering that she is his friend.
"Chaliye bataiye, bohot simple se questions hain...",
says Dr. Mishra, all set to begin with this game.
"Captain aap din mein kitni baar brush karte hain?"
This comes as a surprise for Captain Rajveer.
"Ji?",
he asks, surprised.
"Brush Captain! Aap brush to karte hain na?",
jokes Dr. Mishra, laughing.
"Bilkul karta hun",
says Captain Rajveer, laughing, blushing, lowering his eyes out of shyness.
Dr. Mishra laughs further, feeling shy.
"Din mein... do (2) baar",
replies Captain Rajveer.
"Aur... pehle",
asks Dr. Mishra, hesitantly.
"Pehle bhi do (2) baar...",
replies Captain Rajveer, thinking. Then rectifies himself,
"Nahi pehle actually... kabhi kabhi do (2) baar..."
Dr. Mishra doesn't fail to note this in her mind.
"Apka favourite colour kya hai?",
"Mera favourite colour hai, blue!"
Thinking a little more he rectifies his answer,
"Nahi I guess... black"
"Yeah black... I am sure",
says Captain Rajveer, after assuring about it.
"Are you sure?",
cross checks Dr. Mishra, looking towards him, tilting her head to her left, to notice properly, his expressions.
"Yeah I am sure...",
assures Rajveer.
Dr. Mishra notices no hesitation; shyness on his face. It's rather like it is not a big deal for him to answer such a mere question asked by Dr. Mishra.
"Okay!",
smiles Dr. Mishra.
"Apko kya pasand hai? Apko... suraj pasand hai ya... candles?",
asks Dr. Mishra.
"Dr. Mishra mujhey... candles pasand hai",
states Rajveer, clearly, looking towards Dr. Mishra. Surely he has no doubt about it.
"Lekin Suraj kyun nahi?",
asks Dr. Mishra, creasing her brows. Acting to be confused, she continues,
"Suraj to candle se zada roshni deta hai!"
"Dr. Mishra, apne kabhi suna hai ke... koi ' sunlight dinner' par ja raha hai?",
asks Captain Rajveer. Feeling weird himself, on even uttering those words. Having meal with a girl in the day time, seriously? How they would have felt had Rajveer called Naina to his room during the day time, that day before mentorship programme and there would have been sunlight instead of candlelight?
Oh wait! Naina? Dinner? Candlelight? Where are these words coming from? I mean why is Rajveer thinking about Naina right now? And that smile on his face, hasn't it widened a wee bit? No, actually a lot may be! But why?
"Log candle light dinner par jatey hain...",
chuckles Captain Rajveer.
"Kyunki wo... zyada romantic hota hai!",
blushes Captain Rajveer.
(Slow Rajveer-Naina flute tune begins)
"Yani apko maza tab aata, agar suraj har baar jalta? Abhi! Iss waqt! Ahmm... raat mein?",
asks Dr. Mishra.
"Bilkul nahi Dr. Mishra. Jab suraj humse chup jata hai, to kuch der ke liye, uski succhai bhi humse chup jati hai. Aur har waqt suchhai ki aag mein jalne mein bhi to, koi maza nahi!",
chukles Captain Rajveer.
"You know Captain... mere experience ne mujhey ek baat sikhayi hai - soch samjh kar diye hue jawab, humesha such lagte hain; lekin suchey hote nahi. Kyunki wo, dimag ka haal batate hain. Suchey jawab jo, dil se diye jate hain, wo humesha suchey nahi lagte lekin, lekin suchey hote hain! Kyunki wo... dil ka haal batate hain".
Unable to understand her, Captain Rajveer chukles and asks,
"To?"
"Bohot hi simple si observation hai Captain, YOU ARE IN LOVE!"
*Sub-Flashback Ends*
"You are in love Raj! You are in love!",
shouts Nandini and laughs devilishly.
Resting her hands on either side of Rajveer, holding the handles of the chair he is sitting on, Nandini bends on to him, such that she is hovering him.
Glaring him, her devilish laugh erupting from her face gradually and anger replacing it, she asks him, with a throbbing heart, throbbing out of jealousy and anger,
"Jante ho... jante ho mujhey kitni khushi hui thi jab pehli baar ye baat sunni thi Ritu ke muh se ke you are in love? Aisa ehsaas hua ke tum bhi mujhey aj tak nahi bhuley, theek ussi tarah jaise main nahi bhuli tumhe!"
Rajveer looks away, out of disgust. Her mere presence in front of him suffocates him; makes it unbearable for him. While on the contrary, his mere presence in front of her, inspite of his vulnerability, gives immense pleasure to Nandini; sooths her to a great extent.
"Yeh chaar shabd sunne ke liye hi to maine Ritu ko kaha tha ki kuch bhi karey aur ye such tumse bahar nikalwaye ki kya tum kisi se pyar karte ho ya nahi?"
Rajveer listens to her in shock!
"Haan pehle zarur mujhey jhatka laga tha jab Ritu ne mujhse kaha that you are in love!",
says Nandini, spitting venom through her each word.
Soon the devilish smile returns back on her face and she continues,
"Par fir main samjh gayi thi, ki wo mere barey mein baat kar rahi hai!",
laughs Nandini as she relives the moment. Fantasizes what she felt at that time. How elated she felt!
The voice of her laughter, ignites the hatred for her inside Rajveer, yet again. And as he thinks that he'll have to endure for a longer period, the noise of her laughter, it stops abruptly. Rajveer looks towards her to know the reason for her to stop laughing. And he discovers the anger surging through her, yet again. Her face turns red gradually as if some reminder is causing her great level of anger.
"Par isse pehle ki main iss ehsaas ko zada der tak enjoy kar pati, Ritu ne mujhey bataya ke tum apni uss do (2) kaudi cadet se pyar karte ho!"
"Nandini...",
shouts Rajveer.
That's more than enough for him to tolerate. He shuffles at his seat where he has been tied up, trying to get up to reach Nandini and choke her throat until she dies out of lack of oxygen! He wants her to feel how he is feeling right now, as if someone has pumped out the oxygen out of his heart, left him to choke and die! Dying he can accept any day, but a word against his Naina, whom he considers the replacement of oxygen in his life; one of the reasons because of whom he is fighting this devil; this traitor in front of him, other than the quite obvious - his motherland India, he cannot tolerate it, not! at! all!
"Relax... relax Raj! Abhi meri baat puri nahi hui hai so..."
Rajveer interrupts her, shouting at her,
"Mujhey tumhari...",
but before he could continue, Nandini places her index finger of her right hand on his lips, refraining him from speaking.
"Shhh... Raj... shh...",
whispers Nandini, as if there is any third person to hear them.
Very slowly, leisurely, she removes her finger from upon his lips, deliberately making the process slow; focusing on his each lip; feeling it. In her mind she doesn't shy away from weaving thoughts about the million things she wants to do with those lips. How she wants to ruin them as well as sooth them at the same time!
Rajveer understands it perfectly where her devilish and improper mind is heading towards. He feels disgusted.
Tracing his lips, her eyes transfixed on them, she asks him,
"Aur kya kaha tha tumne tumhara favourite colour kya hai?? Black, was it?"
Rajveer glares her. Looking into his eyes she asks,
"Tumhara favourite colour to blue tha na Raj? Ye badla kab? Kaise?"
Her heartbeat picks up pace. Her eyes turn red out of anger.
"Uss Naina ki wajah se na?",
she shouts.
Rajveer creases his brows, unable to understand what gave her this idea that Naina is behind this change in him? I mean it is merely about a damn colour dammit! What's the need to make a fuss out of it?
But inspite of all that, Rajveer fails to understand, why, unlike the previous times is he not angry at Nandini for suggesting such a kiddish and stupid idea? Is it really because of Naina that he has suddenly started liking black?
He tries to remember if there is anything that relates Naina to black! The first incident that comes to his mind is the day when they went to POINT 1857! But that day it was rather the other way around, it was he who was wearing black rather than her. But he realizes that deep down it was for her that he chose to wear black that night! To make the night even more special! To make her feel special!
But anyways that's not when he saw her in black. Then when did he the first time saw her in black? He tries to remember. Many incidents where Naina was present flash in front of his eyes. But not surprisingly, in all of them she is in uniform rather than in black. Suddenly he remembers the last dance they shared...
And shiver runs down his spine as his heart skips a beat. His eyes widens; he silently starts taking deep breaths. He realizes that it was the last dance that they shared. It left a great impact on him. He was prepared to tell her a lot of things but the situation forced him to hold back his tongue for a little more time. Only if he would have listened to his heart rather than his mind, then today would have been a different situation altogether! Who knew that would turn out to be the last moment of bliss that he would share with Naina in KMA? He tries to focus and silently declares it to be the moment when he saw her in black.
But something still churns inside him, making him to realize that it is not the moment he is searching for! Inspite of the truth that she was in black but that wasn't exactly the moment. It actually calmed him down that night when he discovered her in black. It made him to go down the memory lane that he shared with her, all the moments with her.
Deep down Rajveer feels glad that the last dance they shared together didn't turn out to be the first and last moment when he saw her in black! Then when exactly did he see her in black the first time?
This time he chooses to begin from the beginning...
Closing his eyes he remembers his first encounter with Naina...
His heart skips a beat yet again. But this time he realizes that this skipping of his heartbeat is not because of Naina; but because of the realization that even that evening during mentorship programme, unconsciously, he had those feelings for Naina. Because that evening while Naina was fast asleep, Rajveer had thought about her. But the only thing that he didn't realize that evening was, he hadn't started falling for her recently but since the first day he set his eyes on her! Being a slow process, he couldn't realize that he was falling for his own cadet! By then, he didn't even have the slightest idea about the fact that this girl for whom he is falling for, gradually, would turn out to be the sister of his friend; his batchmate; a person with whom he shares a deep secret, a dark past, as dark as black.
Rajveer focuses back on Nandini and realizes that indeed his favourite colour was blue, that's the reason he chose to wear blue when he joined KMA as a teacher!
*Flashback Ends*
Rajveer looks towards Naina to witness her reaction.
Naina takes a deep breath and avoids looking towards Rajveer. She starts taking deep breaths again as the whole story repeats in her mind.
Rajveer understands what she must be going through right now and it hurts him to see her in that state.
Looking straight into her eyes, Rajveer says,
"Agar itne mein hi tum aise react kar rahi ho Naina, to I wonder jab main agey ki kahani sunaunga to tab tumhara kya haal hoga??!!!"
(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)
"Agey ki kahani?",
asks Naina, creasing her brows. His words make her to realize that the forthcoming story is more dreadful than this one. She gulps her saliva out of nervousness. She really doesn't want to listen but hell she doesn't want to remain unknown too! After all it is about Rajveer!
Taking a deep breath, Naina with full determination, looks into his eyes and says,
"Sunaiye, kya hai agey ki kahani?"
Arching a brow, Rajveer says,
"Alright! All the best!"
*Flashback*
She sits on his lap, looking towards him intently. Rajveer hates it to the core but being helpless he remains silent and lets her do as she wishes.
She wraps her arms around his neck, never ending the eye contact. Rajveer gives her a tough competition at it and why won't he, by now he has turned into a master of eye contact game, all thanks to Naina.
Bending her neck, reaching around his neckline, she inhales his cologne.
The closeness, makes Rajveer's skin to tighten as he tries very hard to resist covering the little gap left between them. He reminds himself this is so wrong. But for these brief moments it becomes very difficult to resist her, he feels tempted. All those feelings that fluttered in his heart once, when they were cadets, although for brief moment, something which was nothing more than infatuation, returns back to the surface of his heart at an accelerating speed! He is ready to forget tonight, for once, whatever chemistry of hatred they behold between them. For once he wants to entertain this idea of his, that everything is normal between the duo - between - Rajveer and Nandini!
He shifts a little in his seat, positioning her properly on him. It becomes difficult for Rajveer to enjoy this as he likes because of his tied hands. He pulls his hand in order to break free the hurdle but all his tries go in vain. He moans out of irritation. Opening his eyes he looks deeply into her eyes. His eyes turning dark with lust and passion that he is feeling for her, because of her. The increase in the speed of expanding and contracting of his chest doesn't go unnoticed by Nandini. Smirking on finding him vulnerable, Nandini says,
"You know what Raj, I love it when you are this vulnerable; totally at my mercy".
Smirking, Rajveer says,
"And I would love it when I'll get out of this hurdle and would be able to shower on you all my love that I had been holding for you, this long".
As Nandini hears this, she gets alert. Taking her face away from him, a little, she looks towards him, knitting her brows.
"Are you trying to play games with me Raj?",
she asks, anger surging through her, as the idea arrests her.
It really hurts Rajveer hearing her say that! How dared she?
"You really know how to hurt don't you?",
he asks, looking towards Nandini, creasing his brows.
"Kuch pal ke liye laga tha ki shayad meri Nandini wapas aa gayi hai. But hell!",
curses Rajveer.
Looking away, with an angry smile on his face he exhales. Then turning to look towards her, he says,
"Get away! You are suffocating me!"
"Hey Raj...",
whispers Nandini, melting gradually.
An apologetical smile comes on her lips and she focuses back on his lips. She moves towards his lips to attack them with hers, fiercely.
"Get away Nandini, now!",
shouts Rajveer, making it clear not to mess with him again, after hurting his feelings.
Away, she goes, staring him throughout. That look of anger on his face makes him look all the more desirable. Unable to resist any longer she climbs on his lap; engulfing his neck by her arms, without waiting from a consentment from him, she covers his lips with hers, indulging herself into a passionate kiss with him. Rajveer at first tries to resist it but couldn't maintain the resistance for longer period and ends up enjoying the passion. After some brief moments of enjoyment, Rajveer turns his face away, prohibiting her from continuing.
"Leave me alone Nandini",
shouts Rajveer, looking away from her.
Glaring him for the last time, she goes away.
As she leaves, Rajveer brings in front, his now free hands. He smirks remembering how while she was engrossed in enjoying the closeness, did he succeed in freeing his tied hands.
Getting up quickly he leaves the room. Thankfully no bodyguard was present there at that moment. He had been tied up for days now. He was weak. Despite of giving instructions to her men - not to touch Rajveer unless it's very necessary to teach him a lesson, Nandini's men didn't leave any chance to torture him.
No, it was not that they were seeking any pleasure in doing so. Hell! they didn't even know him, so why would they want to hurt him? They were just following orders. He was behaving like an adamant bast***, according to them. So they couldn't keep themselves long from teaching him a lesson about how he needs to stay in his limits.
Many a times they even joke among themselves, in front of him, saying -
'sala school mein har teacher apun ko marti thi; dant ti thi, jee karta tha wohin khicha kar kaan ke neeche lagaun. Par darr ke marey apun kuch nahi kar pata tha. Aaj sala bhagwan ne mauka de hi diya ek teacher par haath uthane ka!',
laughing they would slap their hands together. Celebrating their victory. Though a small one, but victory is a victory!
As he escapes the room where he had been tied up, he walks forth unknowingly where the road would lead him. Many a times he would slip down because of lack of strength in his legs, he would find the path slippery. Nevertheless like a true soldier he would never give up trying.
By the time Nandini discovered about his escape, he was already out of the place.
*Flashback ends*
Rajveer slowly takes his eyes towards Naina. Shell nervous as he is about witnessing her reaction, Rajveer holds his breath. He gives her time to accept everything and say something too, to make him know her current state.
Naina finds herself in a dilemma whether she should leave or stay. As much he needs her right now; she needs to remain alone too. She has to erupt her pent up emotions.
"I... I... need sometime alone... excuse me...!",
saying that, without looking towards Rajveer for once, Naina goes away in search of fresh air.
At that particular moment Rajveer gets the urge to grab her by her wrist, force her to look towards him and talk to him. He wants her to scold him if she likes; beat him until he dies, if that's what she wants but at least say something. But as much as he wants this, he needs to give her space too, to think clearly. So he doesn't stop her. And Naina leaves.
As she leaves and Rajveer gets assured that she is out of earshot, he bursts out into a fit of laughter. The bubble of laughter he had been holding for this long erupts at last!
~*~*~
"Hello Captain Randhawa speaking!",
addresses Gunraj as he picks up the call.
Tears roll down Vidya's cheek as she hears his voice.
"Whom do you want to speak?"
A gasp escapes from Vidya's mouth. It skips Gunny's heartbeat. Somehow he understands that it's Vidya.
"Hello, may I know whom do you want to speak to?",
asks Gunny, turning more polite.
But he doesn't get any reply as expected. Anger surges through him. Getting frustrated, he shouts,
"Agar kuch bolna nahi tha to call kyun kiya?"
Had it been any other situation, he would have straight away ended the call. But he doesn't understand why, he is unable to bring himself to end the call by being stubborn. Stubborn of course he is behaving in front of her, but deep down his heart throbs on even merely thinking about hurting her feelings. Hell, he doesn't even know her properly. He has met her only once. Then what's it that is holding him to her? Something that's making it impossible for him to let go off her that easily?
He keeps the receiver down, knowing that she won't reply.
"Kaun tha Captain?",
asks Brigadier Chandok, looking towards Captain Randhawa.
Gunny controls his anger, knowing that it won't be a wise option to show his anger in front of Brigadier Chandok.
Turning his hands into fists, in order to control his anger, Captain Gunraj turns to look towards Brigadier Chandok and in a calmer tone says,
"Pata nahi Sir, kisi ne baat nahi ki".
He looks away before Brigadier Chandok succeeds in witnessing the anger in his eyes.
"Oh! Koi baat nahi",
smiles Brigadier Chandok.
"Ahmm... Sir I shall take your leave now",
asks Captain Randhawa, maintaining the decorum.
"Sure Captain",
permits Brigadier Chandok.
~*~*~
At 1500 hours
Captain Randhawa exits Brigadier Chandok's cabin, blazing with anger.
"Good evening Sir",
wishes a random cadet, while Captain Randhawa walks towards his room in anger.
He doesn't care to reply. He tries to succeed his current agenda right now, which is to reach his room.
Reaching his room, closing the door behind him, he removes his tie and throws it on the bed in anger. He beats the dressing table in anger and frustration. Resting his hands on the dressing table, with his head bowed down, he starts thinking about Vidya. As he begins to think he doesn't realize when his anger starts melting down. A little smile creeps on his lips. He looks into the mirror,
"Captain Randhawa, you don't smile, remember?",
he scolds himself mildly.
Taking a deep breath, with his eyes closed, Gunny shakes his head.
~*~*~
"Vidya, tum jo soch rahi ho, ho sakta hai wo ho hi nahi?",
says Vidya to herself.
"Tum kaise bina unse miley ye decide kar sakti ho? Aur darne ki kya baat hai? Agar tum aise hi darti rahi to tum interview kaise dogi?",
asks Vidya to herself.
"Such tak pohnchne ke liye; ye janne ke liye ke ye itefak hai ya ...",
Vidya cannot bring herself to think otherwise.
"Nahi... itefak hi hai ye... bus itefak!",
Vidya tries to console herself.
"Aur ye prove karne ke liye tum jald hi KMA jaogi. Jald hi!".
says a determined Vidya.
"Par isse pehle ki Vidya wahan tak pohnche, Vidya ke samne ek aur chunoti hai, Ma-Papa ko samjhana",
says Vidya creasing her brows.
Vidya decides to take some rest in order to get relaxed.
~*~*~
Outside her room, sitting at the dining area, Vidya's mother tries to convince her father.
"Dekhiye, mujhey Vidya par pura bharosa hai. Agar wo chahti hai ki wo KMA join kare to iss mein harz hi kya hai?",
asks her mother.
"Kamal karti ho tum bhi. Vansh ko bhi shok tha na desh ke liye kuch karne ka, desh ke liye jaan dene ka. Dekha na kya hua uske saath? Desh ka bhala karne chala tha, khudke dushman itne bana liye ke unke haathon hi..."
Vidya's father breaks down.
"Bus kariye aap. Mat kariye ye baat",
says Vidya's mother unable to bear listening to him.
"Dekhiye yahan sunn tak nahi pa rahi aur wahan main uss bachi ko bhej dun uss nark mein jahan har pal usse Vansh ki yaad ayegi?",
asks Vidya's father.
"Main samjh rahi hun apki baat. Par agar Vidya keh rahi hai to ek baar uss par bharosa karke to dekhiye?",
pleads Vidya's mother.
"Mujhey ab iss barey mein koi baat nahi karni, that's final!",
saying that Vidya's father leaves.
Vidya's mother stays at her place, feeling helpless.
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