Guys I just realised that I should've warned you before now but I completely forgot! This is the last ever part of My Cadet!!!!! So I hope you've all enjoyed reading and I'll be launching a brand new fic tomorrow!
Epilogue
Three years later…
Mr Ahluwalia had been relaxing in his chair with a book when there was a knock at the front door. Knowing that his wife was in the kitchen preparing lunch, he got up to open it, wondering who it could be.
They didn't have many visitors these days, in fact the house had felt very empty, ever since…
Opening the door he didn't immediately recognise the young man in the army uniform who stood on the other side.
It was enough that it was an army officer standing at his door and suddenly the memories of all those years ago came back. There were only a few reasons why army officers in uniform might make a visit to the parents of a soldier, and most of them weren't good.
And more than three and a half years after he had told Naina to get out of the house, fear built up inside him that something had happened to her… that she might be…
Because no matter what, she was still their daughter.
"I don't think you recognise me, Sir." The young man continued, "I'm Captain Alekh Sharma, we met at Naina's graduation. I was wondering if I could come inside to speak to you?"
"Yes, do come in." Mr Ahluwalia told him, trying to hide the worry in his voice.
As soon as they had entered the lounge room and Alekh had settled into one of the chairs, Mr Ahluwalia called his wife out from the kitchen, knowing that whatever Captain Sharma was here for was important.
Mrs Ahluwalia turned white as soon as she saw him, also remembering the visits by army officers after Navin's death.
"Is Naina… is she okay?" she asked hesitantly, holding the back of one of the chairs for support.
Alekh turned towards her, his lips curved up in an unhappy smile. "So then it matters to you if something has happened to Naina?" he asks them bitterly, "You would be upset if she was injured or dead?"
"Don't talk like that!" Mr Ahluwalia told him sharply, "She's our daughter, of course we would be! Now tell us right now, is Naina alright?"
"Oh, so now you've remembered that you have a daughter." Alekh continued, taking his cap off and holding it in his hands. "That's funny, because I don't see that you've remembered any time in the past three years."
"Of course we've remembered," Mrs Ahluwalia told him, "We remember Naina every day. It wasn't our fault that we were separated, it was her choice. She chose to go with him… she chose to leave us."
"Naina didn't choose to leave you." Alekh told them angrily, "She chose to be true to her heart. She chose to follow the path her brother would've wanted for her. It was your choice to break ties with her and reject her."
"What were we supposed to do?" Mr Ahluwalia asked him bitterly, "She chose to marry the murderer of her brother. How could we ever forgive her for that? How could we ever forgive him?"
"I'm sorry for speaking so disrespectfully, Uncle." Alekh announced very shortly, "But your problem is that you want somebody to blame for your son's death, and instead of blaming those who trapped him, you blamed the one who set him free." His gaze was piercing, as he looked into both of their eyes, "Rajveer never wanted to kill Navin, it almost cost him his own life to do so. It was only because Navin forced him to by a promise of friendship that he did. Your son chose to die by a friend's hand rather than by an enemy's."
Both of Naina's parents are shaking their heads silently, trying to deny what Alekh is saying. All of these years later, somebody has turned up at their house to tell them that they were wrong and their daughter was right.
"You have to understand," Mr Ahluwalia told Alekh emotionally, "He killed our son, and we…"
"And you couldn't try to understand him or forgive him." Alekh finished for him, "Did you ever think that Rajveer never actually needed to tell you the truth? If he'd wanted to then he could've concealed it from you and if he'd done that, then you probably would've been happier than anybody else when he came and asked to marry Naina."
Both Mr and Mrs Ahluwalia have to admit that it's the truth, if Raj hadn't killed their son then both of them would've thought he was the perfect son-in-law.
"Please, just tell us what's happened to Naina?" Mrs Ahluwalia asks him, "Is she alright?"
"You would know that if you had bothered to read even one of the letters she's written to you." Alekh tells her, "What did you do with them? Throw them out or put them in a drawer unopened?"
"They're in a box," Mr Ahluwalia tells him quietly, "We always thought that maybe one day…"
"You would finally have the courage to read them when you realised how wrong you had been?" Alekh asks, still angry but now a little bit softer, "Do you realise that when she left your house for the last time she didn't stop crying for a week? And it was us, her friends, who had to try to help her cope."
He stands up and suddenly paces to the fireplace where there is a family photo of Mr and Mrs Ahluwalia, Navin and Naina, all much happier and younger.
"Do you know," he asked them, "That the rituals you should've completed for her at the wedding were done by other people? That I was the one who did the kanyadan?"
They stare at him silently, it's something that they had both found themselves wondering over the years, about how had Naina's marriage been and who had conducted it?
"And it's not even Naina that I feel the most sorry for," Alekh told them, "It's both of you. Because at least Naina had her friends to stand by her in the difficult times, whereas you have missed one of the most important moments of your daughter's life."
Alekh turns back from the fireplace to look at them both in turn. "I never understood it you know," he told them, "I'm an orphan, I would've done anything for parents, but now I think I was better off without them. Because after losing your son, you threw away your daughter as well so easily."
Mrs Ahluwalia is crying openly now and even Mr Ahluwalia has tears in his eyes.
"And now, you must be wondering whether it's too late, whether you've lost her forever." Alekh tells them, "But I've come to tell you that you've got another chance. You have the opportunity to attend another important event in your daughter's life, because last night your daughter became a mother for the first time."
Mrs Ahluwalia gasps, partially in relief and partially in happiness, something that she hasn't felt properly for quite a long time.
"That's all I wanted to tell you," Alekh informs them, "Now I'm going back to Naina's side. If you want to regain your daughter before it's too late, then you can find her in room 512 of the military hospital in Delhi."
And without waiting for a reply, he put his cap back on his head and strode out of the house.
**
Naina was exhausted but happy as she held her son in her arms. She had been asleep for the last few hours after the delivery but after waking up all she wanted to do was look into her little boy's eyes. Raj sat beside her on the bed, one arm around her and one hand stroking the baby's thick black hair.
He couldn't take his eyes off either Naina or his son, and leaning over, he kissed her on the forehead, then leaned his head against hers.
"You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." He told her, smiling against his hair.
"Even in this state?" Naina asked him, knowing very well that she must look terrible.
"In every state." Raj told her, "And you better get used to hearing it because I'm still going to be telling you when we're both eighty with no teeth and white hair."
Naina laughed at this, and tilting her head slightly, gave him a short yet sweet kiss on the lips.
"I think he's got your nose." She told Raj, "And your chin."
"But he's definitely got your eyes, and that's a good thing, he won't have any problems charming girls in the future with eyes like those."
"We know what we're calling him, don't we?" Naina asked, smiling sadly.
"Of course," Raj tells her, "There was never any other choice if our child was a boy. The only thing we have to think about is what we'll call his future brothers and sisters."
"Arre bapre," Naina said, pretending to be shocked, "This one has only just come, why don't we wait a little while before thinking about those who are going to come in the future?"
Raj started laughing at this, and hugged Naina to himself even tighter.
"I really, really, really, really love you." He tells her, leaning over to kiss her again. "If I didn't have you then I would have nothing. You know that don't you, Naina? You're my everything."
Naina burst into happy tears at this and Raj tried to soothe her, rubbing her back and kissing her repeatedly on her hair. "I'm sorry," she told him, "I think it's just the hormones. What did I ever do to deserve a husband like you?"
There's a quiet knock on the door and Pooja peaks around it, "Can we come back in?" she asks Raj, "We're all waiting anxiously to hold our nephew again."
Naina smiles and nods at Pooja to call everyone inside, which she does. She walks in somewhat awkwardly as she's six months pregnant with her and Ali's first child. They were married six months after Raj and Naina, holding two ceremonies, one Sikh and one Muslim so that both of their families were happy.
The rest of their friends followed her in, everybody crowding around to get as good a look at the baby as possible and arguing about who would hold him first and who was going to be his favourite aunty and uncle.
Neelu and Alekh had gotten married about six months after Ali and Pooja, leading to a joke among the friends that they would have to hold a wedding every six months until nobody was left.
However the next three months after that had been Abhimanyu and Nandini's wedding which was held in true royal style in his home kingdom.
It was five months after that that Yudi and Shalini finally got married, to everybody's delight. They were currently in the process of adopting a child and hoped to have a little son or daughter very soon.
With everybody else accounted for, the only one remaining had been Huda. For a long time he had very stubbornly refused to get married, stating that if he did then it would be unfair to the many girls who loved him. However one year ago he had finally met a girl named in his regiment that he had gone absolutely crazy for. Now after one year of wooing her, they had gotten engaged a month ago. Naina had warned him not to leave it any later than that or she might go into labour at the ceremony.
They had all progressed well in their careers too, everybody now at the rank of Captain. Due to his competitive nature, Abhimanyu had been very happy to finally become a Major as he was Raj's equal again. After completing their graduations, Naina and Pooja had both gone to join their husbands, working in the infirmaries and hospitals in the bases they worked on. Shalini had also left KMA so that she could be posted with Yudi, and the normally very independent Neelu was happy to find work wherever Alekh was posted.
It was currently Pooja and Ali's turn to hold the baby, and they were both cooing over him.
"I just know it, Naina!" Pooja told her, "When they grow up your son will get married to my daughter, they'll make such a sohni jodi!"
"Hey!" Neelu said indignantly, "And what if Naina's son wants to get married to my daughter instead? I think she would be a much better choice!" Although Neelu and Alekh hadn't started a family yet, they were planning on doing so very soon.
Naina just laughed at this, "Guys, stop it. Neither of you actually have daughters yet to get married to my son, so this argument is pointless. Pooja, how do you know you're not having a son instead?"
"Well if I am then you'll have to have a daughter." Pooja told her, "And then they can get married instead."
Naina just half laughed and half groaned, by the way she could feel Raj's chest was shaking where she leaned against it, she could tell that he was finding it all very funny as well.
Suddenly Naina looked around, realising that one of the most important people in her life was missing.
"Neelu, where's Alekh?" she asked, "He was here earlier this morning, where has he gone now?"
"You don't worry," Neelu told Naina, "He'll be back soon, he just had something to do."
Nobody wanted to tell Naina about Alekh's plan just in case it failed. They didn't want her to get her hopes up only to be disappointed.
Sure enough, Alekh arrived back soon after that, but he was alone. At Raj's enquiring look he just nodded once.
Making his way over to the bed, Alekh patted Naina's head affectionately and squeezed her hand, then going over to where Abhimanyu was now holding the baby he held out his arms.
"Come on, give me my nephew." He told them, "I've waited long enough to hold him."
Naina wondered why the atmosphere in the room seemed to have changed somewhat ever since Alekh arrived back, as if everybody was expecting something.
She had just turned to Raj to ask him what was going on, when suddenly he straightened, removed his hand from around her shoulders and stood up next to the bed.
Naina turned back towards the doorway, wanting to know what he was looking at.
There stood a sight that she had longed to see for three and a half years, her parents.
"Ma, Baba…" Naina said, tears coming to her eyes as she struggled to sit up properly. Raj helped her, propping up pillows behind her back so that she was comfortable, then stepped back at a short distance so that her parents could come forward. "You're here?" she finally asked them, unable to say anything else.
"Yes we're here," Naina's father told her, his voice filled with emotion, "We've arrived quite late but we finally made it."
Naina burst into tears again, and her parents rushed forward to hug her, as Raj stood back and watched. It was enough for him if they forgave Naina, he couldn't expect them to forgive him as well.
Raj made a sign to Alekh, asking him to bring the baby over. Carefully he put Raj and Naina's son into Mrs Ahluwalia's arms and stepped back.
"Ma, Baba, meet your grandson." Naina told them.
"What have you decided to name him?" her mother asks.
"There was never any need to choose," Raj tells them, "If we had a son then his name was always going to be Navin."
They both stare at Raj in astonishment, really noticing him for the very first time. They see the quiet sadness in the way he stands before him, and the deep love in his eyes when he gazes at their daughter. The way that Naina gazes back up at him, a look of complete adoration on her face.
"Forgive us, son." Mr Ahluwalia announces very suddenly, before he loses the courage to do so. "We never tried to understand you, all we could do was blame you. And because of that we not only lost our daughter, but our son-in-law as well. Too much time has been wasted, I don't want to waste any more now." And standing up from where he had been sitting by Naina's bed, he made a small motion to Raj to come to them.
Raj could barely believe that this was happening after more than five years of heartbreak and rejection. Moving carefully he stepped forward, then bent down to touch both Mr and Mrs Ahluwalia's feet. When they both placed their hands upon his head to give him their blessings, he couldn't help but begin crying. Mr Ahluwalia pulled him into a hug, and Raj hugged him back fully, filled with an indescribable happiness. Glancing back at Naina he saw that she had begun crying again too, as had just about everybody else in the room.
"Abhi bas hai, Naina." Her mother told her, "No more tears. We've all cried too much and now it's time for some happiness. I can't believe how much time we've wasted and we would've wasted even more if it hadn't been for this young man." She indicated Alekh who had been standing quietly until now.
"Alekh, you did all this…?" Naina asked him.
"And who else?" Huda asked, "We knew that if we wanted a miracle, the only thing that would do it was our Qaidi's jadoo."
"I've finally fulfilled my duty," Alekh tells Naina quietly, "Or how else could I ever have the right to call myself your brother?"
As Naina looked like she was going to burst into tears yet again, Raj quickly took her hand, "No more crying." He told her, "Not ever. Well at least not until the next time you give birth."
Naina started laughing at this instead, and kissed Alekh on the cheek and hugged him when he came forward.
"Alright, I promise." She told him, "No more crying, at least for today. But what else am I supposed to do when I'm so incredibly happy? Finally I have all of the important people in my life with me, and they all happen to be in the same room."
**
Hours later after much talking and catching up everybody has gone home for the night and Naina's parents had booked into a hotel, little Navin was sleeping in his cot, and Naina and Raj sat on the bed together alone.
"Everything is finally complete," Naina whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder, "What else can I possibly want in life now?"
"As long as I have you in my life I don't need anything else." Raj told her, "You're right, everything is complete now."
Sighing happily, Naina entwined her fingers with his.
"Did you ever think, all those years ago when we first met, or even when we first began this relationship that it would work out this way?" she asked him, "Back in those days when I was your best cadet and you were my Rajveer Sir."
Raj smiles at this, "You're still my best cadet, Naina, and you always will be." He tells her, "But no, I could never have imagined it would turn out this well. We had to go through a lot of challenges and heartbreak to reach this point, but we finally have."
"I love you," Naina tells him sleepily, "I know I say it a lot, but I always just want to say it more."
"I love you too," Raj replies, "And you can say it as often as you want, it's my favourite thing to hear. But right now, you need to get some sleep."
Naina nodded, agreeing with him and lay down on the bed, making sure to leave enough room for Raj to lie down with her. Doing so, he placed an arm over her waist protectively, moving closer so that she was cradled against him.
As Naina's breaths grew deeper and she drifted into sleep, Raj couldn't help thinking how lucky he was.
If somebody had told him six years ago that he would end up falling in love with and marrying his best cadet he would've told them that they were crazy.
Now he couldn't imagine any possibility for his life other than this.
Naina was his past, present and future, she was his everything. And now with the birth of their son Navin, they were finally complete.
Raj felt himself drifting off to sleep and allowed his eyes to close.
There would be plenty of time to savour his happiness in the morning.
And every morning after that.
For the rest of their lives.
The End
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