Oy Chup, you know I was writing it and while it might be late in Australia, there's more than enough time left of the 3rd in India for me to post it
And now here it is, thank you everyone for being so patient with me, I'll try and get the next bit written while I'm over here! Love ya all!
***
Chapter Thirty SevenNaina had sat with little Veeru on her knees, bouncing him up and down as he giggled and clapped her hands. Aalekh had watched her silently not wanting to disturb the moment because it was so seldom that he saw her this way. In that one moment she seemed almost happy, in that one moment it seemed as if she would be able to forget, as if everything could be okay again.
As he watched Naina, her mood changed as she looked at his son, others might not have noticed but he saw the slight furrow of her brow, the sigh that escaped her lips, the sorrow that came to her eyes. Perhaps she thought of children that she would now never have, perhaps she thought of life cut short too soon.
As she stopped bouncing him, Veeru also sat quietly almost as if he understood her mood and Naina smiled sadly as she handed him back over to Aalekh.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow for a new assignment," she had told him without emotion, "It's in the north east. I might be gone for some months, we won't see each other for awhile."
"But you'll come back to us." Aalekh had told her, and he had wanted her to agree, wanted to bind her in a promise that she could not escape from. "When your duty there is finished you'll come and visit us first of all."
For a moment she was silent, perhaps she had not wanted to make a promise that she might not be able to keep, a promise which in all honesty she did not really want to keep.
"Yes Aalekh, I'll come back to you." She had finally told him.
But Aalekh had known that in that lifetime at least, Naina would never truly return to them.
**
The news that Raj had recovered his memory spread fast so that by the next morning Amiya, Hussein and Riti also knew. Hussein immediately called Naina to tell her while Riti after some initial weak complaints phoned HJ to inform him and then had to listen to about ten minutes of flirting.
Aalekh had called all of his friends and Neelu the night before to let them know as soon as Raj had left him and Abhimanyu. Some had cried and some had laughed, all had told him to give their regards to their Rajveer Sir and he promised that he would. He knew that they wanted to visit as soon as possible, but that under the current circumstances it would be impossible. All Aalekh could do was wait for the day when they would once again be together and to hope… that by that time Naina would also have remembered.
Despite Dhiraj remembering who he really was, life continued almost as normal as they all waited for Asha to regain her memory. There were small changes, Dhiraj could now be found more often with both Brigadier Chauhan and Colonel Sharma, apparently discussing tactics and developments in the situation.
The others also noticed that he was more reluctant to leave Asha's side, as if wanting her in front of his eyes at all times. Raj knew that he had to try and control his feelings, especially while he on duty but there were times when it was almost impossible, time when the fear of losing her almost choked him. All he wanted was to keep her with him at all times, to ensure that nothing ever happened to her. He felt such a fear of the past repeating itself that he could never reassure himself unless she was there with him.
While he was happy to wait as long as it would take for her to remember, he longed for her to call him Raj, for her to recognise herself as Naina. There were times when she would clutch his hand tightly or look at him in a certain way that he was sure a part of her was remembering, that she recognised the bond between them. All he could do was hope and pray and be there for her in every way that he could.
It had been a week since they had arrived back from the engagement when he knocked on her door in the morning, intending to walk to breakfast in the mess together. Amiya opened it and gave him a grin, waving at him on the way out. She knew that Samir had been given an early shift of duty and wouldn't be free until much later but she honestly wanted to give Asha and Dhiraj as much privacy as possible. Amiya kept hoping that somehow something would trigger Asha's memory, remind her of who she really was. She keeps hoping because she always notices Dhiraj's face when he looks at Asha, at the yearning there. Because as happy as Dhiraj is to finally know who Asha is, to have her by his side, Amiya knows that there must be a part of him, the part that is Rajveer that still yearns for Naina, yearns for her to recognise him for who he really is.
As Amiya walked towards the mess, Raj stepped into the room that she shared with Asha, smiling as she turned around to face him, still fastening a hair band around the bottom of her braid.
"So the gallant Captain Dhiraj has come to my room to walk me to the mess," she commented with a grin, "I'm honoured."
Stepping forward he leaned down to kiss her good morning, keeping it short for fear that he would not want to go to the mess at all. "It's my pleasure to do so, madam." He told her formally, his eyes twinkling, "Shall we go?"
She stood on her toes slightly to kiss him again, briefly running her fingers through his hair before she let him go. Raj gave her a look that clearly said at that moment he would've preferred not to go anywhere at all and she laughed, blushing slightly as she led him outside and locked the door.
"So I've got some news that you're not going to like," she told him, "Apparently Rajesh's channel has received permission to come on base and film interviews with us. They're especially eager to record interviews with the soldiers who have recently returned from Bangladesh."
Raj swore under his breath, he was hoping that he wouldn't have to see that idiot again in his entire life but it appeared as if fate had other plans for him.
"How on earth did he get permission for that?" he asked, "I would've thought that Chau… that Brigadier Chauhan would never have given the permission."
Asha sighed at this, "When he called to gloat about it he said it was part of the deal to ensure that he didn't complain about either of us punching him." She replied, pausing slightly. "I still think it was worth it."
"So what time is he coming?" Raj asked, "I'll need to prepare myself properly to ensure I don't decide to punch him again the moment I see his face."
Asha laughs, "After breakfast I guess, he'll interview both Amiya and I as well as Vijay, Akash and the others. He told me that I'd better keep you away from him or this time he really will be making a complaint."
Raj shrugged, "As long as he doesn't do anything to annoy you he's got nothing to fear, he'd better behave himself or else…"
"Or else we'll both be facing disciplinary action." Asha finished for him and they both grinned at each other, making their way towards the mess.
**
Sure enough during breakfast Rajesh turned up with a film crew, and the soldiers that had been deployed to Bangladesh were summoned to a separate room to give their interviews. As Asha and Amiya walked away with Vijay and Akash, Raj shot one look at Rajesh that clearly said he had better not try anything. Rajesh looked away rather quickly.
Raj, Hussein and Riti were just exiting the mess when they ran into Aalekh who gave each of them a warm smile and Raj a slight nod in greeting. Unable to salute his former mentor due to the difference in their ranks and years it was now the closest he could come to acknowledging the debt he owed him.
"I was just on my way to observe the interviews," Aalekh told them, "Since none of you are scheduled to begin duty for another half an hour would you like to join me?"
"I think I'd like that very much," Raj replied, even as Riti's eyes sparkled and Hussein tried to hide a smile.
"Just remember to keep your cool." Aalekh told him, "I don't think that Abhimanyu Sir and I can get you out of trouble again if you do something this time."
"I promise to be on my very best behaviour." Raj replied as they walked towards the room where the interviews were taking place.
They opened the door quietly, walking in as Amiya's interview was taking place, the journalist asking her questions about how she had been injured and what it had felt like to return home victorious. It seemed as if Asha and Vijay's interviews had already been concluded as they sat to one side, while Akash and the other soldiers waited for their own turns.
Catching sight of Dhiraj, Asha smiled at him even as he gave her an enquiring look. She shook her head slightly as if to say that Rajesh had not done anything objectionable yet and Raj nodded in relief.
As Amiya's interview concluded and the crew began setting up for the next one, Rajesh wandered over to them, his gaze wary as he took in Dhiraj.
"I trust the arrangements are to your liking, Colonel Sharma." He told Aalekh, "There was no need to bring such a large group to inspect them."
"Actually Mr Banerjee I was thinking that it's about time that you resolved your differences with Captain Kapoor." Aalekh told him calmly, "The conflict with China will probably last for some time now and it would be in your best interests to not have any enmity with anybody on base."
Rajesh looked like he wanted to reply rudely to this but instead merely glared at Raj where he stood calmly by Aalekh's side, surprised by the other man's move.
"Well shall we go outside to talk then?" Raj asked, as Asha gave him a curious look.
"Fine." Rajesh replied shortly and they stepped outside the room.
"I agree with Colonel Sharma, it would be in everybody's best interests if there was no more bad blood between us." Raj told him straight, "I know that you've known Asha for a long time, that you've even believed that you'll marry her for quite some time now but the fact is that she's made her decision."
"Which is what I don't understand," Rajesh replied, "How could she have so little taste as to choose somebody like you instead?"
"Well it's certainly not for my money or family background so I'd like to think that she's chosen me for my personality and dashing good looks." Raj replied with a straight face. As Dhiraj he had never been able to control his feelings, the emotions rising in him too fast and urging him towards action without feeling. With his memories recovered he had also recovered his self restraint, the calmness that had often been missing in Dhiraj.
"Admit it, you're only after her money." Rajesh sneered, "And as soon as she figures that out she'll realise what a mistake she's made."
"I couldn't give a damn about her money." Raj told him calmly, "What we both earn as army officers will be enough to support us, neither of us require a luxurious life."
"Then you won't give up?" Rajesh asked, "You're not going to leave her alone?"
"I'll never give up, come what may I'll never leave her." Raj told him, a smile on his face as he thought about the statement.
It was then that the door opened and Asha came out to stand beside Raj, her gaze taking in both of their stances, Rajesh's quite hostile and Raj's calm, unbothered.
"I hope that you two have sorted things out now," she told Rajesh, "Because honestly I'm getting sick of all this. I've made my decision Rajesh, and I'm not going to change it. There's no lack of girls waiting to marry you, stop being so damn stubborn and just get over it."
Raj couldn't help his smile, amazed at her confidence and calmness. If he had lost his patience in the present lifetime then Naina had gained some, had learnt from her past mistakes. Yet he missed it sometimes, the Naina who would fight with everybody and stubbornly insist that she was right. If there was one thing that hadn't changed about his Naina then it was her unwillingness to compromise on her life, her belief that whatever decision she took was right.
For a moment Rajesh simply looked at the two of them and then he shrugged, "Fine Asha, you win." He told her, "Give your life to this man if you want, we'll see how happy you really are with him after a couple of years and at that time… I'll no longer be waiting." Going back into the room he closed the door loudly behind him and gazing down at Asha affectionately, Raj placed one hand on her shoulder.
"Well at least that's over," Raj told her, "I think that he's finally gotten the message."
"You know don't you, that I'd do anything for you." Asha told him, placing her hand on top of his. "I'd follow you to the ends of the earth."
Unable to help himself, Raj enclosed her in a tight hug, briefly allowing himself to hold her, feel her heart beating against him. He let her go just as quickly fearing that somebody might see them.
"Whether you follow me or not I'll come back for you again and again." He told her, "You'll never be able to get rid of me."
All he wished, is that she would realise how true that statement really was.
**
Three days later Raj was leading a small group on patrol when the radio suddenly stirred to life, crackling with sound as he heard the operator calling for him, asking them to return to base immediately.
Checking his watch, Raj quickly replies "Estimated arrival time is 1500 hours, Sir. We'll come as quickly as possible."
The young lieutenants with him exchange worried glances, Hussein one of them.
"Right, let's get moving." Raj tells them, "We're needed back on base urgently so let's all get back as soon as possible."
They drive back to the base in record time, the lieutenants chattering amongst themselves about the problem may be and why their patrol has been cancelled.
When they enter the front gate the sentry nods them tersely through, his weapon gripped tightly.
Samir comes forward as the jeep pulls up, Raj and the lieutenants climbing out.
"We're on high alert." He tells Raj, "From our sources within the enemy an attack is imminent, there's a group on the move already and while some of our soldiers have been sent to try to cut them off we've been informed that they're likely to split up and attack the camp from different directions, we may even face a suicide attack."
"What are our instructions?" Dhiraj asked Samir, "Where do we need to report to?"
"You'll all be covering the Western side," Samir told him, "Major Ramachandran will give you further instructions when you reach, I'm headed towards the gate to give extra cover."
They clasped hands briefly wishing each other luck before Dhiraj and the four lieutenants headed for the western side, reporting to Major Ramachandran and receiving their instructions.
As he climbed to the top of the barricade he noted with relief that Asha was there also, her grip on her gun tight, her eyes wary as she surveyed the ground leading to the camp. Her gaze flicked towards Dhiraj and their eyes locked for a moment before they returned to their individual tasks.
The time passed slowly as day turned into dusk and evening began to descend. They concentrated, focusing on every movement within the nearby trees. It was 9pm when Aalekh came to visit them, stopping to exchange words with some of the troops, encouraging them. He stopped by Raj, who briefly turned from surveying the forest to face him.
"Is there any news?" he asks Aalekh.
"Our sources tell us that they've sent a team of fifteen to attack the outpost from the side." Aalekh tells him, "While we're busy fighting them off a larger contingent will attack the front gate. The villagers support us, they know how the Chinese will treat them if they take over… it was easy to recruit spies to place in their midst. We've sent a force to try to cut them off, force them back, but they're damn tricky… we've heard they're coming from all directions. We've concentrate the main force on defending the gate since it's our most vulnerable spot… we'll be relying on you all to make sure they can't infiltrate from this direction. Reinforcements are on their way since we don't know exactly how many of them there'll be, we'll need to hold them off till then."
"Don't worry Sir," Raj told him, "We have the Western Front covered, we'll have managed to defeat them before the reinforcements even get here.
"I have faith in that as well." Aalekh told him with a tight smile, before moving on, walking towards a different part of the barricade.
It was then that Raj heard a shout as one of the soldiers spotted movement within the trees.
"Everybody on alert!" he yelled at them, "Keep your guns ready."
The enemy soldiers had not even stepped out of the trees before they threw their first grenade and recognising it from a distance Raj screamed for everybody to get down, reaching out for Asha to force her flat to the ground. The gunfire started almost immediately afterwards and still on the barricade, Aalekh grabbed a spare gun, taking a position among the rest of the soldiers.
In the distance Raj could hear more shouts and gunfire and he hoped that Samir and the others were doing alright by the front gate. There was barely time to think as they all fired shot after shot and when another grenade was lobbed there was barely time to get down.
Hitting the side of the barricade near where Aalekh stood, Raj watched in horror as the force of the explosion threw him down to the ground inside, his body landing with a thud, blood beginning to pour from a wound on his head. Raj was already preparing to jump down, shouting orders to a fellow officer to cover his spot.
But even as he turns to do so he sees he's not the first one to act.
Because screaming Aalekh's name, Naina has already jumped down to the ground below.
**
Done! No complaints that it's short, it's more than 3000 words!!! And I hate writing action scenes... now give me lots of nice comments to keep me happy and I'll try to write the next one phat-a-phat
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
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