LRL: ’The Ties That Bind’ Upd pg 41 - Page 11

awesome part but does bhargav know naina already?
Did ritu find out about Naina?
just please upset as I am eagerly waiting to find that out...

The arrival of Major Bhargav had been like the arrival of a storm at the academy. Declaring that practically everything was not up to the correct standards, he had made as many changes as possible to their training routine, their food, and also to their appearances, making the boys cut their hair short and ensuring that the girls' hair was always tied in the regulation braid, completely plain.

All except one girl that was.

"I'm not changing my hair," Sherry had told him stubbornly. "Do whatever you like to me, the streaks are staying."

"Oh you are indeed going to change your hair, girly." Major Bhargav told her, "I can have you thrown out of this academy for disobeying me."

"Then throw me out," Sherry had told him with a shrug, "I never wanted to be here in the first place, if you throw me out then it will be an embarrassment to my father and I couldn't think of anything better than that."

And she had kept staring at him with a measuring gaze, as if to check if he would back down at the mention of the powerful Lala Saheb.

And sure enough he did.

"I can have you punished for disobeying an order, how would you feel about a week in solitary confinement?" He asked her angrily.

"I like being by myself," Sherry told him, "And anyway, there's no reason to be so jealous about my hair just because you don't have any of your own."

And so she had been thrown into solitary confinement for a day with no food, despite Raj's protests that she hadn't been long enough to be able to endure that type of punishment.

"Man, you've got to admire that girl's guts." Yudi commented to the rest of them, "I mean standing up to Mogambo like that, I would never be able to do that."

"Yudie, she doesn't just have guts, she's damn gorgeous too." Huda commented, "Now that's exactly the type of girl that's perfect for me."

"You've started again?" Ali asked him in disgust, "Hudabhai I can't believe you're thinking that way while she's in solitary confinement."

"She'll be alright," Aalekh suddenly spoke up, "She does have guts, and more importantly, she believes she's got nothing left to lose."

And as abruptly as he had spoken he shut up again, leaving the rest looking at him in surprise.

**
Naina and Shalini were both anxiously waiting outside solitary confinement for Sherry to be released the next day. Raj had felt terrible about not being there to meet her when she got out but Bhargav had threatened him with disciplinary action if he missed the drill that he was supposed to take.

Sherry stumbled slightly as she came out of the room, and her eyes were slightly bleary from a combination of lack of light and lack of sleep. Naina quickly supported her, putting her arm around the other girl's waist. Sherry made a gesture as if to shrug Naina off and then changing her mind, accepted the support.

"How are you, cadet?" Shalini asked her worriedly as they made their way towards Raj and Naina's room with her.

"I've still got my hair." Sherry replied perfectly seriously and Shalini looked at her in disbelief.

It was only when they reached the door of the room that Sherry realised where they had been heading.

"Why are we at your room?" She asked Naina, "Why aren't we going to my room instead?"

"Because I've got some food ready for you to eat," Naina tells her, "You need some after being in solitary confinement without anything to eat. Shalini will also take your BP and then you can go to your room."

Sherry looked like she wanted to protest, but Naina suspected she was probably so hungry that it took away some of her pride. She slumped onto one of the couches as soon as they entered the room, leaning her head on the back of the chair as Shalini took her BP.

"Well it's a little low, but that's to be expected." Shalini told her, "Make sure you eat now and then rest until tomorrow, you should be fine."

"Thanks Shalini," Naina told her, "We'll be fine now."

Nodding at Naina with a smile, Shalini left the room and Naina brought over the food she had prepared for Sherry. Sherry started eating ravenously before she eventually slowed down, and when it was finished she looked at Naina as if remembering something.

"Shouldn't you be at college right now?" she asked her.

Naina shrugged, "I was there this morning," she told Sherry, "I just left slightly early, it won't hurt me to miss an afternoon."

"You left so that you could make me lunch?" Sherry asked Naina and the expression on her face is truly indescribable. It is as if she wants to trust, wants open up to Naina but is still afraid that whatever she has gained will turn out to only be a dream. "You didn't have to do that, I can look after myself."

"Well Raj knew that he wouldn't be able to be here when you came out of detention since Major Bhargav wouldn't let him miss the drill and the cadets have their classes…and I didn't want you to have to get food for yourself as well as make it to your room. And I know you can look after yourself, but sometimes it's nice to have someone else look after you."

"I'd forgotten what that was like," Sherry murmurs, and then looks surprised at herself for saying it. "Thank you," she finally tells Naina, "You know… my brother is lucky to have you."

"Actually I'm the one that's lucky to have him." Naina tells her, "If it wasn't for him…" And she stops abruptly, remembering that she shouldn't be revealing herself.

"You really love him a lot, don't you?" Sherry asks her, even as her eyes are beginning to close and she's clearly drifting off to sleep.

"Yes," Naina admits, as she helps Sherry to stand and assists her to the bed in the other room. "Yes I do."

And her heart feels so much lighter.

**

Raj enters an hour later, opening the door to their quarters quietly to find Naina studying in the lounge area.

"Sherry?" he asks, and she nods in the direction of the bedroom. Moving there quietly he finds his sister curled up into a ball on the bed, fast asleep.

"And she ate?" he asks Naina quietly, sitting down on the arm of the softa she's on and Naina nods again, both of them trying not to make any noise so as not to wake Sherry up.

"Thank you." Raj tells her, not needing to elaborate on what he's thanking her for, and Naina just smiles at him, and the look in her eyes is so understanding and affectionate that it feels perfectly natural for Raj to reach out and brush a strand of hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. And he allows his fingers to linger there for a moment before he reluctantly drops his hand back to rest on his leg.

"It's no problem," Naina tells him self consciously, "She might be your sister… but even I have a relationship with her to fulfill."

And Raj takes one of Naina's hands in both of his, holding it tightly. "Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you." He tells her honestly, "It was a lucky day the day I decided to come to your house."

And Naina blushes, because it's the closest that he's ever gotten to a confession of love, and she hadn't been expecting it at all.

Raj finally releases her hand gently and then gets up from his perch on the side of her sofa. "I'll let you keep studying," he tells her, and walks away to get some of his own teaching materials to go through, unaware of Naina's eyes on his back and the small smile on her face.

**

When Sherry wakes up she's initially confused by where she is and by the soft voices that she can hear coming through the door.

Switching on the lamp she realises that she's asleep in her brother's bedroom and rubbing her eyes, opens the door to the main room, finding Raj and Naina discussing something seriously as they stand in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

"How long have I been asleep for?" she asks them, and they turn around, surprised by her presence.

"About five hours." Naina tells her, "I was actually expecting you to be asleep for much longer."

"I had a dream…" Sherry said frowning, "That Mogambo was trying to shave my head."

Raj stares at her for a minute, not having heard the name that the cadets call him before and Naina struggles not to laugh.

"Well you've woken up in time," she tells Sherry, "Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. We thought it would be best if we all ate together rather than you having to go to the mess, and then afterwards you can go to your room to sleep properly."

And for once Sherry doesn't protest or say there's no need, instead she wonders over to watch what they're doing. She doesn't say anything, just watches them as they work, and Raj feels the need to break the silence.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asks her, "I'm sorry I couldn't be there when they let you out, Major Bhargav wouldn't let me miss the drill."

Sherry shrugs as if to say she doesn't care, "I know how it is Bhaiyya," she tells him, "Work always comes first." And he can't miss the slightly hurt tone in her voice that she tries to hide behind nonchalance.

"Well we'll be spending more time together in the days to come," Raj informs him, "Major Bhargav announced a mentorship program while you were in solitary confinement and I'll be your mentor. We're leaving for a camp the day after tomorrow."

"So did they ask you to take me?" Sherry asks, "Was I too much trouble for the rest of the teachers?"

"No," Raj tells her, "I asked for you. I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know one another again."

And Sherry, despite herself, almost smiles.

**

Ritu was also smiling, in fact she hadn't stopped since the package she had been waiting for arrived. She now had everything she needed, and had only been biding her time until the right moment.

And now… now finally the right moment had arrived.

It was time to put her plan into action.

It was time for Ritu to win for once.

**

On the day that the mentorship camp is scheduled to begin, Naina watches as Raj finishes buttoning up his uniform's jacket over the t-shirt and pants he's already wearing. He doesn't wear his uniform often but somehow whenever he does, she can't help but feel a sense of pride.

"It's only for 36 hours," Raj tells her, "Hardly any time at all." She knows that he's trying to reassure her, but it seems almost as if he's trying to reassure himself as well.

"I'll be fine," Naina tells him, "Suriji is here if I need anything. You don't need to worry."

"I'm not…" Raj starts to say, and then stops realising how obvious he's being. "Fine, I am, but can you blame me? Most of us will be away on the camp, and…"

"I really will be fine," Naina tells him, "I'll be leaving for college when you leave for the camp and I won't be back until the afternoon. I'll study as usual and then go to bed early."

"You're sure?" Raj asked her, "I mean…"

"What?" Naina asked him, unable to stop a smile, "If I won't be fine then you'll refuse to go on the mentorship camp?"

And realising how ridiculous he was being, Raj suddenly smiled.

"Just try to have a good time there with Sherry," Naina tells him, "It could really help your relationship to spend this time together alone."

Raj nods, agreeing with her, and then taking a step forward, folds his arms around Naina, hugging her tightly. When she puts her arms around his waist, hugging him back, he just increases the pressure, squeezing her tightly. Hearing the assembly bell, Raj realises that it's time to leave, and reluctantly letting go of her, he kisses her softly on her right cheek. When he looks down at Naina, the smile on her face almost makes him want to kiss her left one as well.

"Then I'll see you after 36 hours," he tells her, and Naina nods.

"I'll be here waiting for you when you get back." She promises him and Raj leaves after one last backwards glance.

**

The pairs have set off for their first destination, taking it at a light jog, and Raj makes sure to go at a slower pace, knowing that Sherry isn't as used to physical exercise as the other cadets yet.

"So why were you late this morning?" she asks him, having seen him be one of the last to enter the assembly area, "Couldn't bring yourself to leave your wife for a few days?"

And Raj stares at her, shaking his head slightly but refusing to comment.

"You know Sherry technically as well as being your elder brother I'm also your superior officer." He tells her, "Sooner or later you're going to have to get used to speaking properly to superior officers."

"Yeah right," Sherry scoffed, "If I don't speak properly to Mogambo, then what makes you think I'm going to do it around you, Bhaiyya?"

And Raj realises that they really do have a long way to go.

**

And as Aalekh jogs along with his mentor Dr Ritu, he notices that she seems exceptionally happy today.

"You look happy," Aalekh tells her, "Did you get some good news?"

And Ritu smiles, "It's just an exceptionally good day today." She tells him.

And for some reason he can't work out, Aalekh isn't sure that he likes the way she says that.

**

As they work setting up the tent, Raj asks Sherry the question he's wanted to ask for a long time now.

"Sherry, do you really hate me?" he asks her, "I know I haven't been around much, but I always tried to visit whenever possible… and you know that I missed you when I was away from you, that I worried about you."

And Sherry looks ready to fight, but then she suddenly deflates, as if all the air has been let out of a balloon. "No Bhaiyya, I don't hate you," she tells him, "But I've changed… I don't want to rely on you or anyone else from now on, no matter what happens, I can look after myself."

And Raj wonders what it is that could possibly have taken away all her trust, made her so hostile and so unwilling to rely on others.

**

That afternoon, Naina has returned from her college and rather than study alone in her room, she heads to the mess which is quieter than usual with most of the cadets gone. Suriji smiles at her fondly as she comes in, and she smiles back at him.

"Would you like some chai, putar?" he asks her affectionately.

"That would be wonderful Suriji," Naina tells him, "I'll just do some study here for awhile and then go to sleep early."

"Don't worry Putar, they'll be back in no time." Suriji tells her, "It seems so empty here without all of them, doesn't it?"

"It certainly does," Naina agrees, "Much less noise without our cadets for one thing."

And they both laugh before Naina sits down with her books and Suriji begins to prepare the chai.

She has just opened up one of her textbooks, turning to the correct page when Brigadier Chandook enters the mess and looking up Naina smiles at him, but he doesn't return the smile, giving her a stony gaze instead.

And it is his next words that shock her.

"Naina Singh Ahluwalia." He says, and Naina's heart almost stops beating.

"No," she tells him, "Naina Singh Shekawat," her heart now beating so loudly it's the only noise she can hear in her ears.

"But that was your name wasn't it?" Brigadier Chandook asks her, "Before marriage?" And she notices that he's holding an envelope and a piece of paper in one hand, a piece of paper that looks like a copy of her marriage certificate.

And Naina realises that she's finally been exposed, that she can't run from her past anymore.

"Yes," she admits, "Before marriage I was Naina Singh Ahluwalia, sister of Navin Singh Ahluwalia."

And Suriji drops the chai he had been bringing to her, the mug shattering on the floor loudly.

And Naina wonders whether she'll be able to stop herself from shattering as well.

Oh my god it wat will happen yaar, am dying wid this suspense

Hey sorry was so tensed forgot to mention ur FF is Simply fabulous, 👏 awesome, 👏 👏 cool 👏 👏 ,fantastic, 👏 👏 beautifull 👏 👏 excellent.. Its perfect mix of evrything. HATS OFF 👏

a very cool & interesting update... very nice..toooo gooddd..superb... 👏 please do post the next part soon.. 😊 😛 😃

its wonderful please update asap

hey too good

it is become interesting

pl continue soon

And as the chai spreads slowly across the floor while Suriji looks on in shock, Brigadier Chandook's face darkens in anger.

"How dare you come to this academy?" he asks her, "Kanchanjunga Military Academy keeps no connection with traitors."

And Naina meets his eyes, scared but not defeated. "I didn't want to come here, Sir." She tells him simply, "You asked my husband to bring me here and when he requested me to come I came."

"Without admitting who you were, without letting us know anything." He continues, "Carrying out such a large deceit here."

"I never meant to deceive anybody," Naina replies quietly, a tremour coming into her voice, "I wanted to leave the past behind, to start a new life here."

"Well I'm sorry Ms Ahluwalia," Brigadier Chandook tells her, "But this academy can not allow a traitor's relatives to stay here. I want you gone by tomorrow morning."

"It's Mrs Shekawat," Naina tells him with a trace of fire, even as her voice breaks, "And I'm not going anywhere until my husband comes back."

But Brigadier Chandook fixes her with a fierce gaze. "You'll be gone by tomorrow morning," he tells her, "Or I'll have you removed."

Then he strides out of the mess, leaving Naina alone with Suriji who is still staring at her as if he's seen a ghost.

"Suriji…" Naina begins to say pleadingly, tears coming to her eyes.

"All of this time…" Suriji says, "You're Navin's sister? You never said a word…"

"What was I supposed to say?" Naina asks him, practically crying now, "Would anyone have accepted me if they knew? I tried to forget… tried to hide it… for Raj's sake at least."

And seeing the normally calm young woman crying in front of him, suddenly fragile and seeming as if she might break at any moment, Suriji makes his decision.

"I'm so sorry, putar." He tells her, crossing to place his hand on her head kindly, "I'm so sorry… but what can I do to help? When the Brigadier has made his decision…"

"Please Suriji, just… find some way to let Raj know what has happened." Naina begs him. "I said that I would be waiting for him… I said that…." And she breaks down into tears as Suriji tries to calm her, patting her hair.

"I'll go and bring him back for you, I promise, putar." He tells her, "You go to your room and rest for awhile, and when Suriji returns, your husband will be with him."

And all Naina can do is trust that he'll keep his promise.

**

It's already night time and the cadets and their mentors have sat down to dinner when Suriji appears, out of breath from having run the distance from where he left the jeep to where they're camped. Knowing what Naina's state is like at the moment, he's reluctant to leave her alone for too long, wanting to bring Raj back as soon as possible.

Everyone looks up, surprised to see him there, especially Major Bhargav.

"I don't recall calling you for the mentorship camp," he announces, "What are you doing here?"

"I just need to speak to Captain Shekawat for two minutes, Sirji." Suriji tells him, and intrigued, Major Bhargav nods.

Suriji draws Raj aside as the others look on curiously, and as Suriji whispers to Raj furiously, Raj's expression changes from one of shock to one of panic.

When Suriji has finished he turns back to Major Bhargav, his face pale and lined with worry.

"I'm sorry Sir… but there's an emergency, I need to return to the academy." He tells him.

"And has Suriji brought official permission from Brigadier Chandook for you to return there?" Bhargav asks, a sly smile on his face.

"No Sir, but I need to go back immediately." Raj tells him, "Please grant me leave to."

By now the cadets, Lolita and Shalini are glancing at each other, concerned. Glancing at Ritu, Aalekh notices that she hasn't reacted much yet and then as he glances back at Raj, the colour drains from Aalekh's face as he guesses what's wrong.

"If you go then you'll have failed in your duties as a mentor," Major Bhargav tells him, "Do you really want to let your cadet down?"

"I'm sorry Sherry, I really am." Raj tells her, the edge in his voice evident to everyone now, "But I have to go."

And for once, seeing the obvious panic on his face, she doesn't have the heart to make a smart comment about always being left behind.

Raj doesn't wait for any further permission but sprints off, Suriji doing his best to keep up.

"Well… so Captain Rajveer has abandoned his protg to attend to some personal business," Major Bhargav commented with a smirk, "How sad for you, Cadet Gehlot."

And Sherry fixes him with a piercing gaze, "Well I'm not sad at all… Sir" she tells him, "And I think that whatever happens between a mentor and a protg should be their business."

"Still… won't you feel terribly scared staying alone by yourself tonight?" Bhargav asked her, "How could he leave you in this situation?"

"You can stay with me!" Pooja told her cheerfully, trying to find someone else to stay with her and Mucchad.

"Uh thanks, but no thanks Pooja." Sherry told her, glancing in Major Nair's direction.

She surveyed the rest of her options, Aalekh and Dr Mishra… no way was she spending the night with that shrink, Yudi and Ms Simran… that fruity yoga teacher would drive her crazy, Dr Shalini and Huda… definitely not. Finally she made her decision.

"I'll be spending the night with Lolitaji and Ali." She declared, much to the surprise of everyone and the obvious disappointment of Huda.

Pooja gaped at her.

Sherry just shrugged, out of everybody there they were the combination that she was least likely to get into trouble with.

As everybody else went to leave, Sherry motioned for Aalekh to step aside, waiting until the others were far enough away to speak.

"I saw your face," she tells him, "You know what's wrong, don't you?"

And Aalekh doesn't reply, but his face clearly speaks the answer.

"What is it?" she asks him, "Is it Naina?"

"If I'm right… then we'll all know soon enough." Aalekh replies before walking away and Sherry curses before following Lolitaji and Ali to their tent.

**

The moment the jeep pulls up at the academy with a screech, Raj jumps out, not bothering to wait for Suriji before running towards his and Naina's room, skidding through the hallway in his haste.

He flings open the door and runs in, shutting the door before turning towards their bedroom which is where he finds her, sitting on the bed with a blank expression on her face, packed bags by her feet.

And when Naina sees him her face first lifts in hope and then crumples in despair.

"I'm so sorry," she tells him, "I don't know how he found out… and now everything…" and she breaks down in tears again.

"Hey, hey, it's not your fault." Raj tells her, crossing over to where she sits, and takes her face in his hands, making her look at him. "I don't know how he found out either, but now that it has happened, we'll deal with it… we'll deal with it together."

And still crying, Naina shakes her head slowly. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning," she tells him, "He doesn't want me in the academy, and I can't endanger your mission… I'll go."

"You're not going anywhere." Raj tells her, "Do you hear me? I'm not going to let them send you away, you're going to stay here with me." And he crushes her to him, hugging her tightly as she continues to cry into his chest.

"I really thought that I could leave it all behind…" she finally admits quietly when she's calmed down a bit, "That I could begin again and nobody would ever find out. But the truth is that no matter where I go, for the world I will always remain a traitor's sister. And you…" Naina tells him sadly, "Your relationship with me will cost you everything… everything."

"I don't care," Raj tells her firmly, "We both know the truth about Navin, we know that he wasn't a traitor, and you haven't committed any crime and neither have I. Tomorrow I'll go and talk to Brigadier Chandook but you're not going anywhere, I won't let you."

And the fierceness of his voice almost convinces Naina that he's right, that he really will manage to sort everything out in the end.

He hugs her to him, rocking her back and forth to calm her while making soothing sounds, rubbing her back as she cries. Even while he seeks to reassure Naina he's seething with anger, cursing whoever it is that has put her into this state in the first place. And exhausted by everything she's been through today, Naina slumps against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.

Carefully Raj assists her to lie down on the bed and then not even bothering to change his clothes, lies down beside her, taking her securely in his arms. Reaching out, Naina clings to him as if clinging to a last support, and he tightens his embrace even more until there is hardly any space between them. Her breathing slows and she drifts off to sleep but Raj stays awake stroking her hair for hours afterwards.

He had sworn that he would protect her no matter what, that he would never allow her to be hurt again.

He wouldn't break that promise.

And nobody, no matter what, was going to take his wife away from him.

**

The next morning while Naina still sleeps, Raj gently removes himself from her embrace, careful not to wake her. After showering he dresses in his uniform, checking on her on the way out. But she's still asleep, obviously exhausted from the day before. He hopes that she'll remain that way until he gets back, not wanting her to wake up alone. He makes his way quickly to BC's office, knowing that the general will be there and knocks on the door before entering.

"Ah, Captain Rajveer," Brigadier Chandook says without any trace of a smile on his face, "I can guess what you're here about."

"Naina said that you've asked her to leave, Sir." Raj tells him, "I'd like to know the reason why."

"I would think that would be obvious, Captain Rajveer," Brigadier Chandook replied, still stony faced, "She's the sister of a traitor, I can't have her in my academy."

"Exactly Sir… she's the sister of a traitor, not a traitor herself." Raj told the General forcefully, "She can't be blamed for the crimes that her brother was accused of, or do you believe in punishing the innocent along with the guilty?"

"And how do we know that she isn't guilty as well?" BC asks him angrily, "She's kept her real identity secret all this time, how do I know she won't follow her brother's example or seek revenge?"

"Sir, all of these months that you've known Naina, have you ever gotten the impression that she would be likely to do so?" Raj asked him desperately, "All she wants is to live peacefully, to move on from the past. At the very least you can give her a chance to explain her position."

"Oh I agree completely," A voice interrupted from the doorway, "Naina Singh Ahluwalia should be given a chance to explain her position."

"Naina Singh Shekawat," Raj tells Major Bhargav with a steely voice, "…Sir."

"Oh yes, how careless of me," Major Bhargav replied, "Well she is your wife, so perhaps both of you would like to explain yourselves… you especially Captain, after all, it's not every day that patriots choose to get married to the relatives of traitors."

And Raj stares at him with such hatred that he's sure Major Bhargav can't help but notice.

"Fine," Brigadier Chandook arrived, "I do believe in doing what's fair, so this afternoon you'll have a chance to explain yourselves, if the answer is satisfactory then your wife can stay, if it's not then she'll leave as I've requested."

"Fine Sir," Raj tells him, "We're both prepared to do so," He knows that at the moment it's the best that he can hope for.

And saluting the General, he leaves the room, heading back to Naina as quickly as possible.

**

Meanwhile the cadets sit in the mess in a state of shock, having found out what had happened after the mentorship camp was called off.

"I can't believe it…" Pooja says, "I mean… Naina… I never thought that…."

"Oy Punjaben, Naina is still the same person she always was." Aalekh says, anger evident in his voice, "She hasn't done anything wrong and even if everybody else does, I won't be abandoning her."

It's one of the longest and most emotional statements he's ever made, and everybody stares at him in shock. But Aalekh crosses his arms over his chest, daring anybody to say anything at all against Naina.

"But you have to admit that it is a shock, Chief." Yudi tells him, "I mean I never would've thought that Captain Rajveer would marry the sister of a traitor."

"If he did then he had his reasons." Aalekh replies shortly, "And Captain Rajveer knows better than us what he should and shouldn't do."

Throughout this conversation, in fact ever since the news was revealed, Sherry has remained silent. They all glance at her now, looking for some type of sign of what she's thinking or feeling, but the only emotion she shows is a slight frown on her face as if thinking about something deeply.

And it's then in that moment of silence that somebody else's comments drift across the canteen.

"Poor Captain Rajveer," Sonali remarks to one of her friends, "I can't believe that she managed to entrap him like that… she must have blackmailed him or seduced him to get him to marry her… what a characterless girl, and what a shame for him. I hope now that everyone knows the truth he divorces her and…."

Aalekh has already stood up, but somebody has moved too fast for him, and before Sonali can complete her sentence, Sherry has slapped her so hard across the face that the sound rings out throughout the entire canteen.

"Don't you ever…" she starts angrily, pointing her finger at Sonali now, "Ever dare say anything about my Bhabie ever again. Because if you do, then next time you'll wish that a slap is all you get." Then she turns to rest of the assembled cadets in the canteen addressing them all. "And that goes for all of you too, because if any of you dares to talk about this from now on I will hear about it… and you will regret it."

And as Sonali clutches her cheek in shock, Sherry turns and walks out of the canteen, leaving everybody else staring at the empty space she has left behind, too stunned to speak.

And a small smile spreads across Aalekh's face.

**

Raj is trying to get Naina to have some soup that Suriji has brought for her when Sherry wanders into the room, still not bothering to knock. They both look up, and Sherry can't help but notice as an expression of pain crosses over Naina's face. Her confidence is obviously shattered and she is expecting rejection now that Sherry knows the truth.

Sherry quietly crosses the room and comes to sit down on the other side of Naina. Picking up the spoon from the bowl of soup, she drinks some of it before putting the spoon back down.

"It's quite good," she tells her, "Suriji must like you because it's certainly a lot better than the tasteless crap they serve us in the mess."

And Naina and Raj both stare at her as if not sure exactly what she's trying to say.

"You know I met your brother," Sherry continues quietly, "I met him twice… I was much younger of course. He came home with Bhaiyya for the holidays and he was nice, I liked him. When I heard the news about him, I never believed it even for a second."

And tears come to Naina's eyes before she can stop them, rolling down her cheeks slowly. Because Sherry is the first person she's heard talk kindly about her brother apart from Raj and her mother and understanding is something that Naina has given up on receiving a long time ago.

"And so I wanted to tell you that you're cool with me, Bhabhie… and Bhaiyya… you're forgiven for not telling me about your marriage." Sherry announces casually, "That doesn't mean that everything else is fine between us though."

She stands up again, considering her work to be done and heads for the door, before turning around at the last moment.

"Oh and don't worry about anyone saying anything to you," Sherry tells Naina. "Aalekh and I are more than capable of taking care of that." And she leaves without explaining her statement.

"What did she mean?" Naina asks Raj, finally picking up the spoon and lifting some soup to her lips.

"I'm not sure that I want to know." Raj tells her, "Because whoever is on the receiving end of Sherry's anger is certainly going to regret it."

And Naina feels some of her confidence return, because she knows now that whatever happens, she at least has the support of those she loves.

Now all she has to do is prove herself to those who would prefer to see her gone.

But with Raj by her side, she thinks that she's finally ready to overcome her fears once and for all.

Oh my god it was so beautifully written i had tears in my eyes while reading, my hearts gone heavy yaar. It was so so so wonderfull. 👏

"" U Simply ROCK "" 👏 👏 👏 budyy

Brilliant,incredible,awesome,excellent.too good 👏 👏

really nice part...........
It was really wonderful written....
👏