Chapter Thirty Two
She waits for him after the class has finished, gathering her books up slowly while she waits for everybody else to leave.
He finishes rubbing the writing from the blackboard before he turns to her, a small smile on his face.
"Sir… I wanted to ask a question actually." She tells him. If she was honest then she would admit that she understands everything clearly, that in actuality she is simply searching for an excuse to be near him.
"Go ahead Cadet Singh," he replies, "You know you can ask me anything."
"Sir, today when we were discussing strategy you said that sometimes an army may choose to lose a battle… why not simply avoid the battle in the first place?"
"Naina, losing a battle can give the enemy a false sense of security from the victory, making the next battle easier for them. Sometimes it's necessary to suffer losses for future gains."
She nods, thinking about it as he watches the look of concentration on her face.
She turns to go and then pauses as if trying to think of something else to stay, some other reason to stay there with him.
"Thank you, Sir." She tells him with that small smile that always makes his heart beat just that little bit faster and then she is gone.
And Rajveer wonders of all the battles that he has left to fight, how many of them must he lose before he finally tastes victory.
**
Dhiraj and Samir walked into the room fully alert, saluting Brigadier Chauhan, Colonel Sharma and the rest of their superior officers and nodding at those who were the same rank as them. The meeting had been called suddenly and Dhiraj is guessing that it must be about the decision that the United Nations was due to reach. It had been next to impossible to get any action taken previously due to China's seat on the Security Council, and if India had not also had a seat then the issue would have been long since purposefully forgotten.
They take their seats and turn their full attention to Brigadier Chauhan who has been in a video conference with headquarters in Delhi for the past two hours.
"We have scored a significant diplomatic victory today," Abhimanyu informs them, "After heavy pressure from the European Union, as well as severe losses on the battlefield, China has agreed to withdraw its forces from Bangladesh and for a United Nations Peacekeeping force to monitor their borders."
The room erupted in cheers as everybody celebrated. The Indian Army had also suffered losses on the battlefield, and most people in the room had at least one friend who was currently deployed in Bangladesh. When the room became quiet again, Dhiraj raised his arm to ask a question and Abhimanyu nodded to signal him to go ahead.
"Sir… I don't trust this new move of theirs. It's unlike China to admit defeat so soon," Dhiraj tells him, "Could it be that they're trying to lure us into a false sense of security by appearing to be defeated."
"You're completely right, Ra…Dhiraj." Abhimanyu replied, covering up his slip of the tongue quickly. "Even I suspect that this might be their main motive in admitting defeat so easily. It's possible that Bangladesh was never their prime target in the first place, that it's simply one step in a greater plan."
Most of those assembled in the room nodded their agreement, and Abhimanyu sighed, disappointed with himself. However when Dhiraj had made that point it had sounded exactly like something Raj would say.
As if sensing Abhimanyu's unease, Aalekh continued the briefing, having already been told which topics were to be covered.
"In further good news, our translators who had been sent to Bangladesh are no longer needed and will be returning home this afternoon." He informs everybody when the rest of the topics have been covered, "Thankfully they're all returning home safely, Lieutenant Chatterjee was the only one to be injured."
Dhiraj breathes a sigh of relief at this, he knows quite a few of the soldiers that had been sent to serve as translators, had worked with them and led them on patrol. He could never forget that Vijay had come back to rescue him, despite being injured himself.
"We should go and tell the girls and Hussein straight away." Samir tells him, "They'll be thrilled."
Dhiraj nods, he also knows that it has tortured Asha to have come back early when her fellow soldiers were still doing their duty. She never would have returned before time if Amiya hadn't threatened not to go home without her. Checking his watch, Dhiraj sees that they're both due to come off duty in ten minutes having been picked for the morning guard duty.
Dhiraj and Samir head to the mess, knowing that it's the first place that Asha and Amiya will head to after their duty. They have each others times memorized and will always meet up between shifts, even if it's only for ten minutes. He will take every opportunity he can to see her, to be honest he feels unnerved being away from her, likes to have her in his line of sight whenever possible.
He has never been the possessive type, has never felt this type of need for anyone before. He has accepted his feelings for her but they still scare him. If he were ever to lose her then he would never be able to survive the shock.
Sure enough, Asha and Amiya are already in the mess when they arrive, sitting at a table with Riti. Hussein is on a patrol and due back the next day, with Amiya joking that she'll tell embarrassing stories about him in his absence.
"Hi everyone," Samir announces to them brightly, before turning to his soon to be fianc, "Hi Amiya." She beams at him and Asha hides a smile.
Dhiraj nods to both Amiya and Riti before taking the seat beside Asha, smiling at her.
"How was the meeting?" she asks him. "Any new developments?"
No matter what, he always briefs her on what has happened during the meetings that are held. He trusts her judgement, enjoys hearing her perspective on the situation, loves arguing about strategical points with her.
"There's good news," he announces loudly enough that the rest of the table can hear, "A deal has finally been reached at the United Nations and they'll be putting their own peacekeepers into place, that means that our troops will be coming home soon."
They all grin at the news, as relief washes over them that their friends will soon be back in their own country, at least marginally safer than they are now.
"Excellent!" Amiya exclaims, "It's about time too… I was worried that HJ wouldn't be able to make it to our engagement."
"Amiya, really…" Asha tells her, shaking her head, "The fate of an entire country is at stake and you're worried about HJ not making it to your engagement."
Amiya rolls her eyes at Asha's statement, "Don't think that that's my only concern," she tells her, "I'm just as worried about everyone as you are, but just think what fun it's going to be now, all of us together!"
"The next bit of good news is that the remaining translators are arriving home this afternoon," Dhiraj adds, "Now that there's officially a ceasefire in place their services aren't needed as badly, and they're able to return to us."
"Thank goodness… I've been worried about them." Asha says, "When we were leaving I hated to leave them behind there, still in danger."
"And Akash and Vijay…"
"Can also come to our engagement." Samir finished for Amiya, knowing exactly what she had been planning to say.
"Am I really that predictable?" she asks nobody in particular.
They all try very hard to keep a straight face and avoid nodding at all costs.
As Amiya begins chatting away to both Samir and Riti about her plans, Asha turns to Dhiraj, regarding him seriously.
"What do you think about the latest development?" she asks him.
"It's good news for Bangladesh… and means that with most of our soldiers returning to India we'll also be more secure." Dhiraj tells her, "But…"
"But winning one battle does not mean that you've won the war." Asha replies with a slight frown on her face, "Right?"
"Exactly… and to me this seems like a battle that has been purposefully lost to win a longer war." Dhiraj agrees.
Asha nods, considering his words deeply before her forehead crinkles slightly. "Why do I feel we've had this conversation before?" she asks him, "I've got such a sense of dj vu right now."
"It feels familiar to me too," Dhiraj tells her, "Maybe in another lifetime." He jokes.
And Asha smiles.
**
The translators arrive back in the afternoon and are greeted with much fanfare, General Chauhan thanking them for their sacrifices and bravery. As soon as the speech is done and they are dismissed, everybody goes looking for the friends they left behind, eager to reassure themselves that they really have returned, that they are back amongst those they love.
Asha and Amiya both hug Vijay and Akash tightly when they find them, the young men seem exhausted, it's clear that the last few weeks have been a strain on them.
"We're so happy to have you back safely," Samir tells them.
"Come and get some warm food and then go and rest," Dhiraj advises them, "You'll sleep well in your own beds after all this time on the battlefield."
They nod tiredly, and Vijay turns to Amiya. "Are you fully recovered now?" he asks her, "Dr Shalini told us that you were recovering well but we've been worried."
"Oh yes, I'm perfectly recovered now!" Amiya tells them, "In fact I'm so recovered that…"
"Here we go again…" Asha whispered to Dhiraj leading Amiya to glare at her with mock anger.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Amiya continued, "I'm getting engaged and you're both invited! It's in Kolkatta so you can visit your families at the same time."
Vijay and Akash look at each other and from Amiya to Samir and back again.
"Uh… just to check… who are you actually getting engaged to?" Akash asks, feeling awkward but not wanting to assume in case he's gotten it wrong.
"Oh sorry, I forgot that you weren't here for all that!" Amiya replies, "With Samir." And she once again beams happily.
Asha can't help but smile too, her friend's joy is infectious, once she starts smiling nobody can resist smiling along with her.
"Congratulations, Sir." Vijay tells Samir very seriously, "I'm sure you and Amiya will be very happy together…"
"As long as you can put up with her craziness." Akash finishes off for him, "Which reminds me that there's some stories about her from our academy days that I should…"
"You're lucky that you've just returned from the battlefield or you would be in serious trouble." Amiya informs them, "I'll spare you today but…"
She's interrupted by one of the orderlies approaching them, who stops in front of Asha.
"What is it?" she asks him.
"Lieutenant Dutt, you have a visitor." He informs her.
"Who is it?" Dhiraj asks, a heavy feeling developing in his gut.
"A Mr Rajesh Bannerjee," The orderly informs them.
"Again?" Asha asks in disbelief, "I thought that he'd finally gotten the message."
"Obviously not…" Dhiraj comments, "Do you think that if I actually broke his nose this time it might get hammered into his thick skull?"
"Dhiraj… no breaking noses unless absolutely necessary." Samir warns him, "I don't think that Colonel Sharma can get you out of trouble again."
"Why don't you guys go get some food and we'll go sort this out," Amiya tells Vijay and Akash who laugh.
"Are you kidding?" Vijay tells her, "I wouldn't miss this for the world. I remember when that snooty guy used to visit our academy, I would love to see him get punched."
"So every single one of you is planning on coming to see Rajesh with me?" Asha asks them, trying to work out if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
"Well I'm not letting you go by yourself, and if he so much as tries to lay a finger on you…" Dhiraj replies angrily, leaving the newcomers confused, gazing at Amiya for guidance. She makes a sign as if to say that she'll tell them later.
They approach the gate walking slightly behind Asha, Dhiraj has to force himself to hang back, shocked by the force of the anger that he feels towards the young man.
Rajesh stands up as he sees Asha and then frowns when he sees the others waiting at a short distance.
"What's he doing here?" Rajesh asks, indicating Dhiraj. Asha doesn't even need to turn around to know who he's talking about.
"In case you haven't noticed Rajesh, there's four other people here too besides him, aren't you going to ask about them too?"
"I'm not concerned about them… it's your self proclaimed body guard that I'm worried about." Rajesh tells her, "Make sure he doesn't get any smart ideas about trying to be a hero this time."
"What is it that you actually want?" Asha asks Rajesh, irritated by even having to talk to him. "I thought I told you not to come here again."
"I thought your mood might have improved by now and you might have finally gotten some sense," he tells her, "Obviously that hasn't happened."
"Actually I've still got as much sense as I ever had, which is a problem for you." Asha tells him, "So just tell me what you want and then go."
"I heard that your friend over there is getting engaged and you'll be going back to Kolkatta for it." Rajesh tells her, "I thought I might as well come along too, it's a good excuse to visit home."
"Well that would be great except for one small detail," Amiya breaks in, not content to stay quiet. "You're not actually invited to my engagement."
Rajesh stares at her as if he can't believe what she's just said.
"You heard me," she continues, "I don't like you. I think you're slimy. Samir doesn't like you either… and Asha certainly doesn't like you, so stop wasting your time and go find some other poor girl to torment."
"I certainly do…" she tells him, "I've never liked you, Rajesh, and it's time that you gave up."
Rajesh glances from her to Dhiraj who has taken two steps forward and is ominously looming over them.
"Oh I can see perfectly well why you think this way," Rajesh tells her sneering, "You'll certainly get far in the army by sleeping with your superior officer won't you? Don't you think you've aimed a little low? You could've tried for a Colonel instead."
Dhiraj has already moved forward by the second sentence but he's too late because pulling her fist backwards, Asha has punched Rajesh in the nose. He reels backwards clutching it, blood pouring down his face.
"You bloody bi…" he starts to say, only stopping when Dhiraj grabs him by the collar.
"Don't finish that sentence if you want to leave here with all your limbs intact." He tells him, "And if you ever come back here again, then a broken nose will be the least of your worries."
Rajesh backs away, hatred clear in his eyes. "Don't think that this is over," he tells both of them, "And if you think that your parents won't hear about this then you're wrong." He informs Asha before leaving.
She sighs, she'll have to worry about her parents later, right now she's just glad he's gone.
"Now that was definitely worth it," Vijay tells Akash, "We can go eat now." They head back up the hill, leaving the others behind.
"It's a pity that Hussein missed that," Amiya comments, "He would've enjoyed seeing it too."
"Let's just hope that it's the last time it has to happen." Asha tells her, "I hope he's finally gotten the message."
"I doubt it… you know how much of an idiot he is."
"Do you think that he'll really tell Asha's parents about this?" Samir asks, "I hope it doesn't create any problems."
"Oh it will definitely create problems." Asha replies, "But I'm ready to deal with them."
She looks up at Dhiraj as if seeking support from him and he places his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her briefly before letting her go, knowing that they're in full public view.
Watching them together, Amiya could only hope that the majority of their problems were already over.
She couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were at a turning point, that very soon the day would come that they had all been waiting for.
All she hoped was that that day brought with it solutions rather than more problems.
Asha and Dhiraj… Naina and Rajveer.
Whatever name she chose to call them by, it did not change who they were.
They had suffered enough for one lifetime, let them find the happiness they deserved in the second.
**
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
98