Hey guys, sorry for the delay, I've been on holidays for a week!
**
"Was I having a dream or were you talking to somebody on the phone early this morning?" Naina asks Raj as she combs her hair, before plaiting it in preparation for the day ahead.
"No you weren't having a dream, my old friend Abhimanyu called me up this morning." Raj tells her, a contented smile on his face as he watched her.
"And what did he say, was he angry at you for not telling him about the wedding?"
"Well, we'll find out tomorrow because he's coming to KMA, he's been transferred here." Raj informs her, and Naina looks up, pausing in mid motion.
"Why would they be transferring him now?" she asks, "You don't think it has anything to do with us, do you?"
"I think that it's very likely it could have everything to do with us." Raj admits, "But I trust Abhi… I know he'll tell us the truth about why he's here when he arrives."
Naina resumes plaiting her hair, and Raj notices that when she had paused a few strands have escaped. Moving to sit beside her, he tucks them back into her plait deftly, his fingers then smoothing down her hair. Trailing his fingers down until they're brushing her neck, he leans over and gently kisses her cheek, lingering for a few moments before he moves his face away.
Naina blushes, not really sure how she should be acting around him now that she's admitted her feelings. He doesn't appear in any great hurry to take things further which relieves her greatly, but the small gestures of love that he expresses, make her heart beat faster and her senses hum.
They hear the door opening and both look around to see Sherry walk into the room.
"You still haven't learned to knock." Raj tells her.
She just shrugs, "If you don't want people walking in then you should learn to lock the door, how am I supposed to know if anything private is going on?"
Raj just shakes his head, knowing that there's no point trying to reason with Sherry on this issue. "What was it that you wanted?" he asks her, "Is anything the matter?"
"No, not really." Sherry tells him, "Actually I wanted to ask you a question."
"Well ask away."
"Has the great Lala Saheb called you yet? I mean, has he actually found out the truth?" and Raj swears that there's a smile hovering around her lips.
"Why are you so excited to find out?" he asks, "And no, he hasn't called… He's probably overseas, I expect I'll definitely get a call when he comes back." And for once, he's not looking forward to having a conversation with his godfather.
And Sherry grins, "Make sure that when he calls somebody comes and informs me, I would love to hear that conversation. Actually I have to thank you Bhaiyya, it's probably the biggest shock that my father has received in years and I can't wait to hear how he tries to deal with all his dreams for you being ruined."
Naina and Raj both stare at her in shock, unable to believe that she's so happy about this.
"Sherry… you shouldn't be saying that about your father." Raj tells her a bit disapprovingly and Sherry's entire attitude changes in a moment.
"I'll say whatever I want about him, I'm the one who's had to live with him all these years." Sherry tells him a bit angrily. "Anyway, I had actually come to tell you both that I've swapped rooms and am now with Pooja since it wasn't really the right time to discuss it yesterday."
"Thank you for letting us know," Naina tells her, "I'm glad you'll be with Pooja, she's a sweet girl and she'll be a good room mate for you."
Raj is thankful to Naina for trying to distract Sherry from his earlier comment, and aware that he is about to lose valuable ground with her, he decides to change the topic.
"Sherry you remember my friend Abhimanyu, right?" he asks her.
"Bhaiyya, as far as I remember you only ever really had two friends, both of whom I've met, so when I remember one then why wouldn't I remember the other?" she asks him sarcastically, "Anyway, why do I need to remember Abhimanyu?"
"Because he's coming to KMA, he's just been transferred here." Raj informs her.
"Well good for him," Sherry replies, picking up an apple from the fruit bowl and biting into it, "What am I supposed to do about it?"
"Absolutely nothing," Raj tells her, "I just thought it would be good to let you know in advance."
"Well thanks for the heads up, Bhaiyya, and now that you two know where you can find me, I'm off to class."
"I really messed that one up, didn't I?" Raj asked Naina once Sherry was gone.
"Don't worry about it too much," Naina tells him, "Sherry will be fine, I think we just have to avoid discussing her father as much as possible."
Raj nodded, it certainly did seem like the best option for now.
**
The cadets were taking a break from Major Nair's drill when Yudi announced the news which he had heard from Dr Shalini while in the infirmary that morning.
"I heard we're going to have a new teacher, guys." Yudi announced to them, "He's arriving tomorrow."
"Yet another one to make us dance to their tunes…" Huda commented, sounding bored. "Well they'd better not try and tame this Jat or they'll regret it."
"Well do we know who the incoming call is and what messages they'll be sending to our inboxes?" Pooja asks, and everybody except one of them shrugged their denial.
"His name is Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan, but I have no idea what he'll be teaching us." Sherry suddenly spoke up and the others all looked at her in surprise.
"How did you find out?" Yudi asks her, looking impressed, "Even Dr Shalini wasn't sure who it was."
"Bhaiyya told me," Sherry replied, "He's his old friend and batchmate, I met him a long time ago."
"Arre wah, so finally our angry young woman has decided to share some information with her batchmates." Huda drawled in his usual style, "Why are you only telling us about some boring teacher, tell us something about yourself too, darling."
Sherry fixed him with a very no nonsense gaze before smiling sweetly, throwing Huda off guard. "If you're so eager to know then why don't you ask my Bhaiyya?" she suggests, "I'm sure he would be more than happy to tell you." And as the rest of them start to laugh at Huda's expression, she walked off, heading back towards the drill.
Huda watched her go, a smile coming to his face, because this girl would be a challenge… and Huda liked challenges.
**
The next day Raj was waiting outside the academy checking his watch, as far as he knew his friend, Abhimanyu would turn up exactly on time.
Sure enough a car appears at the gates, making its way to the front of the academy and Raj smiles as he sees a familiar figure step out. They haven't seen each other for more than a year, and he embraces Abhimanyu warmly before holding him at arms length to get a proper look at him.
"I think your hair has grown even longer since the last time I saw you." Raj comments and Abhimanyu grins.
"It's my camouflage," he tells Raj, "From the way I look nobody would ever expect me to be a hardened soldier."
"Well you're certainly right about that," Raj jokes and laughing, Abhimanyu puts his arm around Raj's shoulders as they walk inside, and Abhimanyu's servants carry the luggage in.
Raj takes Abhi to his and Naina's room before he starts making him some tea.
"So where's my bhabhie?" Abhimanyu asks, looking around the room expectantly.
"Chauhan Saheb, your bhabhie has better things to do than sit around the house all day waiting for you, she's at college." Raj tells him, an affectionate smile coming to his face at the thought of Naina.
"Well what time does she get home?" Abhimanyu asks him impatiently, "I've been waiting to meet her ever since I found out."
"Have some patience my friend," Raj tells him, "She should be home by four thirty at the latest." Wandering into the bedroom, he comes out with the wedding photo that sits near their bedside, passing it to his friend.
Abhi examines it for a long time, a smile on his face before he finally returns it to Raj. "You both look very serious." He informs him.
"We were… it was quite a serious day." Raj tells Abhi, "We barely knew each other and the circumstances at the time…"
"You did the right thing," Abhimanyu tells him seriously, "I'm ashamed to think that not once during these years did I ever check how Navin's family were coping, I only ever thought about my own grief. But you… you carried out your duties of friendship properly."
"It was the right decision," Raj agrees with him, "At the time all I knew was that I couldn't refuse, that I couldn't abandon them, but now…"
"You are happy, aren't you?" Abhi asks him, genuinely concerned, "And she is, too?"
Raj smiles, a smile that lights up his entire face, a smile that can leave Abhimanyu in no doubt as to what the answer is.
"So Rajveer Singh Shekawat has finally fallen properly in love." Abhi teases him. "I had expected when I arrived you would both need to be cheered up after what's happened but I can see that you're perfectly fine."
"I'm more than fine, as long as she's with me… I love her Abhi, I really do." Raj tells him sincerely, "Marrying Naina is the best thing that could ever have happened to me."
"Then I'm genuinely happy for you my friend, and for her as well." Abhimanyu claps Raj on the back and they smile at each other.
"So tell me what it is you're doping here," Raj tells him, "I know you haven't come to KMA just to enquire about my married life."
"I've been posted at KMA as the new music teacher, I'll also help out with the drills." Abhi tells him.
"And?" Raj asks expectantly, knowing that that can't be the full reason.
"And… from today I'm also joining you in extra duties," Abhimanyu tells him carefully, "It's my job to help you protect the triggers."
"Ah," Raj's jaw tightens, he knows perfectly well what's going on. "So then they've lost their trust in me."
Abhimanyu looks uncomfortable, knowing how Raj might be feeling at this moment. "I think there's been some pressure from above after the truth was revealed…" he tries to tell him, "But I know that Colonel Shakti has no doubts about your integrity."
"Have they asked you to watch me too?" Raj asks him, "What exactly are your orders?"
Abhimanyu nods, looking embarrassed to have to admit it. "They did ask me to keep an eye on you and Naina and report anything suspicious. I think they thought that being your old friend you would trust me, be more likely to let your guard down around me. Don't worry, I'll tell them that you're the same honest officer you've always been and that Naina is the sweetest girl I've ever met."
"You haven't even met Naina yet," Raj points out, a smile hovering on his lips due to both Abhimanyu's words and his honesty.
"That doesn't matter." Abhimanyu answers, "She's our Navin's sister, how can she be anything other than sweet?"
"I've really missed you, yaar." Raj admits, "So many times I wanted to tell you about our marriage, so many times I almost did."
"It doesn't matter," Abhi tells him, "I'm here now and I'm sure that if Navin could see us together right now he would be smiling."
And Raj smiles too because he's sure that Abhimanyu is right.
**
Abhi has just exited Brigadier Chandook's office after reporting for duty when he runs into a cadet, colliding with them.
However unlike most cadets who would apologise immediately, she just stands there, one hand on her hip, looking him up and down. The first thing he notices about her is the bright red streaks through her hair.
"Nice hair, cadet." He tells her, "But don't you think it's a bit unsuitable for the army?"
"I could say exactly the same thing to you." She responds, completely unbothered by his comment.
"Do you usually speak like this to your superior officers?" he asks, not sure if he should be amused or offended.
"You don't recognise me, do you?" she asks him with one raised eyebrow, "I suppose that Bhaiyya forgot to mention that I was here."
"Who's 'bhaiyya' and where am I supposed to be recognising you from?" Abhimanyu asks her, now quite confused.
"Well, 'bhaiyya' happens to be your best friend and we have met twice before now." Sherry informs him, waiting for realisation to dawn.
Abhimanyu finally looks at her properly, trying to remember what Raj's sister had looked like the last time he had seen her.
"You're Sherry?" he asks, with a tone of slight disbelief, "I can't recognise you at all, you've changed so much since I last saw you."
"Yes people generally do call me by that name." Sherry replies, "and considering that it's been more than five years of course I've changed, I would like to think that I've developed a certain sense of style since then."
"And you're a cadet here now?" Abhimanyu asks her.
"No, I just thought I'd come and visit and dress up in the uniform for fun." Sherry tells him, completely deadpan.
And Abhimanyu finally decides that he's definitely amused rather than offended.
"So Miss Sherry Gehlot has become a KMA Cadet," he comments, "But why is it htat I feel you're still trying to rebel against something?"
"And what makes you think there's only one thing that I'm rebelling against?" Sherry asks him, "Maybe it's the whole world I have a problem with… or maybe my problem is only with myself." She turns to go without explaining her comment before turning back abruptly. "Welcome to KMA… Sir." She tells him before disappearing around the corner.
Abhimanyu stares after her, a bit bemused. Because if all current KMA cadets are like her then he has no idea how this semester is going to turn out.
**
Ritu finished her phone call and hung up, a satisfied smile on her face.
Right now she was one of only three people within KMA that knew the real purpose of the arrival of Captain Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan here.
Well that was fine by her, Ritu was perfectly willing to change her plans. In fact, perhaps a change of plans was exactly what she needed.
Whoever she used to get her work done, the outcome would still be the same.
Whether Captain Rajveer or his friend, eventually… one of them would fall into her trap.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Tum Se Tum Tak
Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
29