"Huh?", Naina was breathing fast.....
Colonel Priya Gill, stood in front of her......stony faced.....
"Mera Rahul....mera bachha......main...main...."
Naina maintained her silence. She felt, for the first time.....that someone, shared......bore the same pain.....the same ordeal.....as she did.....
"Rajveer Sir ko yeh....."
"Nahin....."
"Aapne....."
"Nahin bataya.....", she said, her eyes moistening, but face still expressionless.
"Huh?"
"Na usne kabhi fon kiya....", she said, ".....na hi kabhi maaf kar paya!"
"Aapne....."
"Main kya batati? Kayee mahino tak chutti bina ek kamre main baithee rahi.....kya kehti.....rona bhi shayad bhool gayee thi!"
Naina stared at her......standing in front of her.....was another sister.....like her......dying everyday...........every second.....for her innocent brother.....
"Fir ismain se bahar aane ke liye, kaam pe lag gayee.....mission pe mission leti gayee.....pata hi nahin chala.....kab din saalon main badal gaye.....", she closed her eyes, as if saying something very painful..."....apne bhai ko....."
"Cadet Naina Sigh, aapko.....test ke liye bula rahe hain!", orderly yelled.
This bought Naina back to life....she didnt know, when her cheek went pale, when her eyes reddened....when her face stained in tears......she quietly walked out.....
"........aur shayyad......Naveen ko.......", Priya finished her sentence, as Naina closed the door behind her.
***************************
She entered the room. The test was to begin. Rajveer stared at her tear stained face....red eyes....he read them!
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AND PRIYA HAD REMEMBRANCES...
"Ek baar Priya....."
"Main koshish...."
"Koshish nahin! Damn it! Koshish nahin!"
"Naveen......"
He sat on that stone in his cell with a thud!
"Main...."
She put her hand on his shoulder.
"Himmat....."
"Ek baar....sirf....."
"Maine Raj ko bataya.....woh Lalaji se baat karega....."
"Lalajee?", he yelled.
"Kyun?"
He looked around, to find the guard sitting outside.
"Nahin......kuch....."
"Ab hearing postpone karwadi hai. Humare paas aur hafta haii....Naveen....hum ab bhi haare nahin hain....."
"Priya, ek baar Ma-Baba se milna hai...", he pleaded, "....hearing se pehle...."
"Aasan nahin hai...."
"Tum kuch nahin janti....."
He smiled. There was something immensely painful in that. Priya couldnt see that. She stood up to go.....but he held her hand in his feeble grip....after his fingers werent spared from the torture....
"Priya...."
She didnt reply. Priya Gill, in that cell, was very different from the dignified, strict woman today. She was immensely pretty. He black hair tied up, a simple army uniform, and big, honest eyes.............would win anyone....but Naveen could see his loosening life line in them.....he knew....she was weak!
"....Suno...."
She looked at him. He eyes, looking at him.....tearfilled.
"....tum bohot khubsoorat ho....agar kabhi yahan se chut gaya, to pehle tumse shaadi karunga.....fir yeh sab tute phute parts repair karwane hospital....."
She stared at him for a while. He was the first one she had met. Sitting in a cell, accused of selling of National secrets, and smuggling Nuclear Triggers.....his death sentence to be announced any moment...........trying to cheer his defence lawyer!
"Naveen!!", and her eyes jerked open....satring at the ceiling fan....going round......fast.....as the time passed......but he had remained in her.....still.....alive!
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Edited by colours_endless - 17 years ago
