Chapter 13
Since they came back there is one elite smile on their faces which one can notice easily. But they have decided that they are not going to share their happiness with others immediately. They want to hide that they are officially' couple now. There is one unique reason behind it. Obviously it is Rajveer's proposal. He already suffered a lot because of their teasing. Undoubtedly he enjoyed all their banter. So he will let them do what they want. There is something other reason also which he didn't share with Naina.
He is feeling free today. Still it is difficult to believe for him that he did actually say it to her. He never imagined that he will get a chance to express his feelings to her. But now when he understood that it is high time, then he quickly has accomplished his remaining duty. After all he is Captain Rajveer Singh Shikhawat. He never left his any mission curtailed. He never cursed himself for loving Naina. That was the only best thing happened in his life in those days.
Only thing which preventing him from confessing his feelings was rules. Rules of KMA state that there can't be any personal relation between teacher and student. On the top of that he was guilty in her eyes. He has fallen for his student now turned his junior. Really? His junior? Is he still her senior? No. His army has not returned his position yet, his rank, his medals yet, his uniform yet. Still he is one court-martial soldier and she is one reputed Indian Military Officer.
This is the reason that why he doesn't want to let them know about their relation. He very well knows that they all are aware about it since their academy days. But still. He is also cognizant of the fact that Naina loves Rajveer and not Captain Rajveer. Her feelings will not change for him if he never get his anything back. It doesn't matter her at all but it does matter him. It is important for him that he deserves her or not.
He comes out from his thoughts when he looks at Naina while descending stairs. She is in dining area helping Pooja and aunty ji for arranging table for lunch. As soon as she feels his presence she smiles looking at him. He once looks at others who are as usual busy in fighting and arguing. Then again looking at her, he winks. Naina's heart skips a beat and she blushes hard. Looking blush on her face that too because of him he smiles wholeheartedly.
All this is not less than a dream for Naina. She waited too long for this day. There were the days when there was no hope for her. She almost lost most precious thing in her life, Love, a true love. Indeed it is her Navin bhaiya who is writing their story from the sky, flirting with stars because only Navin is a person who brought them together for one reason. They met because of him. They together fought for him.
She never thought that she could fall in love one day. That too the person would be her mentor. She laughs in mind remembering her equation with her mentor. In those days, only her brother's memories were haunting her, her innocent, patriotic brother who ended up being traitor of his motherland. She ought to prove her brother innocent and met Rajveer, who was already working on same mission. Now, they no more remain as mentor - protge, they are a couple who is completely in love with each other.
"Kya Naina, aaj daana paani dene ka irada hain bhi yaa sirf ghurne sehi pet bharana hain aapun sab logon ka?" Naina's thought process break as Aalekh comes there asking for lunch.
"Arrey puttar, tum logonko time bhi hain apni sharraratonse jo meri bechari Naina beti ko taana de rahe ho." Aunty ji scolds Aalekh lovingly. Naina thanks aunty in her mind and glances at Rajveer when he tries to hide his smile. Aalekh comes near Naina and whispers in her ear, "Aunty ji ko toh malum nahin pada ke aapun kya bol rela hain... lekin aapun ko lagta hain tu samajh gayi hogi. Kuch hua hain kya? Aaj ka mahol aapun ko badla badla sa lag raha hain."
Naina stares at Aalekh and says, "Kya hona hain Aalekh? Tu saaf saaf kyun nahin kehta. Ab meri jaasusi karna chod aur mujhe bata ke tum logone kya decide kiya hain? Baba ka 2 baar phone aa chuka hain Aalekh. Ab main unse aur jhooth nahin bol sakti."
"Tu kayku itni fikar karti hain Naina? Aapun sab hain na. Kuch naa kuch kar lenge. Waise bhi yeh Huda ki planning kabhi fail nahin hoti." Aalekh assures her.
"Kya bhai, kis chij ki planning ho rahi hain?" Rajveer comes from behind and asks them while seating on chair.
"Woh.. woh sir..." Aalekh tries to think of a reason.
"Woh Sir, Ali and Pooja's marriage. Unke shaadi ke liye hi plans ban rahe hain." Yudi comes and saves them.
"Arrey haan bhai, apne usool aur punjaban ki shaadi jo hain. Aisa rang jama denge ke sab yaad rakhenge." Huda says looking at Ali and Pooja. Both blushes hard. "Waise kya kisiko pata chal raha hain ke kaun jyada Sharma raha hain inn dono mein se?" asks Huda.
"Chup kar khotye. Pareshaan naa kar mere bachhon ko." Aunty scolds Huda.
"Kya mummyji. Aap hamesha mujhe hi daant deti hain. Arrey iss jat ki bhi koi ijjat hain. Aise mere sirji ke saamne aap daant doge toh meri personality ka toh kuch khayal rakho." Huda strengthens his collar.
She holds his ear and says, "jat ke bachhe koi jatni toh milnese rahi tujhe. Dekh tere doston ki shaadi ho rahi hain aur tu baitha hain kunwara. Saari jananiyon ke piche firta hain lekin bhav ek bhi nahin deti."
All are suppressing their laughter with so much difficulty. Huda glances at all poorly and replies, "Arrey mummyji, kuch toh socho. Personality dekho meri. Aaj toh aap mera band bajake rahegi. Ab main kya karu ke koi janani mujhe pasand nahin aati. Ek woh Minal aayi thi usse iss Phulandevi ne bhaga diya."
This time everyone couldn't hold back their laughter and starts laughing madly remembering Minal's incident.
"Mujhe nahin pata tha ke tu uss nautanki Minal mein sach mein interested tha Huda." Naina says while laughing.
"Tujhe sach mein aisa lagta hain Phulan ke main uss Minal mein interested tha?" Huda asks her seriously.
Naina looks at Rajveer first and then at Huda. Rajveer was still smiling. Now all stop their giggle and start looking at both. "Yeh toh academy ke shurwat ke dinno ki baat hain guru. Tab toh aap dono bas ladhte rehte the." smiles Ali remembering their fights.
"Waise bhi woh Minal ka sim Huda ke mobile ke liye wrong tha. Woh sim kabhi uske mobile mein insert hi nahin hota." Says Pooja.
"Choddo naa yaaron, kya tum sab yeh topic leke baith gaye ho. Main naa bas timepass kar raha tha. Uss Patel shatel mein mujhe koi interest tha hi nahin." Says Huda lightly.
"Tu aisa karta hain naa isiliye tujhe koi ladki nahin milti. Kab serious hoga tu? Huda's mummyji asks him.
Huda looks at Naina and controls his emotions. "Jaane do na mummyji. Kya aap bhi yeh topic leke baith gayi. Chalo. Khaana do. Phir sirji ko time pe dawaai bhi toh leni hain." says Huda while avoiding everyone's gazes. They all are aware about the fact of why Huda is avoiding this topic. But all prefer to stay quiet.
-----
All are enjoying evening breeze at the bank of river. Everyone is roaming here and there, engrossed in nature. Naina and Pooja are talking about Pooja's shopping which they have to finish in next few days. Ali is talking with his abbu about arrangements. Without Ali, he is the only man in the house. Thus, Huda has given him promise that boys will manage everything from here. Ali ends his phone and looks at other boys. They can see tension on his face.
"Kya hua be Ali? Tere thobde pe aise baara kyun baja hua hain?" asks Aalekh
"Ab kya batau guru aapko? Abbu sab akele sambhal rahe hain. Nikaah hamara hain aur hum yahan hain. mujhe toh samajh hi nahin aa raaha ke kare toh kare bhi kya? Iss umra mein abbu ko aise tanav mein nahin dekh paa rahe hum." Ali opens his heart to them.
"Don't worry Ali bhai. Take a chill pill. Sab thik ho jayega. Ek baar kal ka sab thik se ho jaaye." Yudi tries to calm him down.
"Yeh Yudie sach keh raha hain. Kal tak sab thik ho jayega yaaron." Says Huda.
"Yeh sab ab itna seedha nahin hain Huda. Woh Naina bhi aapun se keh rahi thi ke sab thik se hoga bhi yaa nahin. Uske baba ka bhi phone aa raha hain." Aalekh informs Huda.
"Uncle ji ki chinta tu mat kar qaidi. Main woh sab manage kar lunga. Iss jat ne saari planning kar rakhi hain ke kab aur kisse kya kehna hain. Iss baar agar hum gaol huye toh shayad khudki najaron mein kabhi nahin uth paayenge." Huda promises them remembering something.
"I hope Huda, tum jaise bata rahe howaisa hi ho." Naina comes there with Pooja and continues "Kyunki agar aisa nahin hua toh hum yeh aakhri mauka bhi kho denge."
"Aur Ali, tu chinta mat kar.. mere gharwale aaj hi Kanpur pahonch jayenge. Maine kaha hain ke wahan jaake abbajaan ki help kare. Waise bhi mobile kisibhi charger se charge kare, uski battery toh charge honi hain. waise hi kaam koi bhi kare, kya farak padta hain. waise bhi hamari Punjab mein itni vaddi family hain woh kis din kaam aayegi." Pooja assures Ali. All smile.
"Hum sab saath hain naa guys toh kyun chinta karte ho? Itne bade bade missions successful kiye humne toh yeh war toh jitni hi hain. Today is The Day. We all are waiting for it since long. Sab thik hoga. Come On!" Yudi extends his hand and everyone puts their hand on his.
-----
Rajveer smiles when he watches Naina approaching him. He is standing near the farm reminiscing those moments of morning. In the deep mind, he knows that Naina is going to come here that's why he waits for her. She proved him right. Again! She proved him right many times in the past. In her academy days he knew that she could be a cadet than him or Navin. She proved him right. He knew that she will continue his battle, she did that. But he can feel the difference between his cadet Naina and today's Lt. Naina. The girl he knew was so stubborn, short tempered, brave but silly. He feels proud on her, on her transformation. Now he assures himself that Naina doesn't need him as her saviour. She can fight her every battle alone. Now, she takes her every decision practically not emotionally.
"Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain? Andhera ho gaya hain." says Naina.
"Andhera kahan Naina, abhi toh kahi jaake roshni aayi hain." Rajveer stares her. She understands his unsaid words. He puts his hands in his pocket and starts walking slowly. Naina follows him.
"Pata hain Naina.." Rajveer speaks, "Academy ke baad agar koi jagah mere dil ke kareeb rahegi toh woh yeh hogi. Yahi issi khet mein. Jahan maine jindagi ki sabse badi khushi aaj mehsoos ki. Naina, academy mein maine bahot baar socha, mere inn feelings ke baare mein, hamare baare mein. Mujhe hamesha lagta tha ke main galat hun. Ek mentor apni protge se pyar nahin kar sakta. Uparse main tumhare bhai ko tumse cheena tha.. cheena hain."
"Aap phirse kyun yeh sab baatein soch rahe hain?" Naina interrupts him.
"Aaj mujhe sab bol lene do Naina. Kyunki jab tak main tumhe sab bata naa du mere liye saari baatein bhulna is not possible." Requests Rajveer.
"Toh phir thik hain. Aaj bata hi dijiye mujhe sab kuch. Main hi jaanna chahti hun par meri ek shart hain. Kal se purani baton pe hum dono mein se koi yaad nahin karega. Promise?" Asks Naina.
"Yaad kaise nahin karunga main? Waise woh din utne bhi bure nahin the. Mere zindagi ke sabse khubsoorat lamhein the woh." Rajveer smiles at his memories.
Naina wipes her tears. "Kaash maine aapko thoda pehle samjha hota Rajveer. Main apne hi problems mein itni uljhi huyi thi ke aapko kabhi samajh hi nahin paayi. Agar aisa hota toh shayad uss din mujhe pata chal jata ke aap focus kyun nahin kar paa rahe hain."
Rajveer turns at her swiftly. "Toh tumhe pata chal hi gaya ke uss din mein 10 baar kyun haara tha woh bhi tumse." He smirks.
"Aap kehna chahte hain? Kya main aapse kabhi jeet nahin sakti thi?" Naina angrily asks.
"Mujhe jeeta toh tumne bahot pehlehi tha lekin mujhse jeetna... itna aasan kam nahin hain Lt Naina ah Singh." Rajveer smiles at her anger sneakingly. "Kya tumhe tab sach mein laga tha ke main Chauhan ke karan focus nahin kar paa raha?" He asks her.
"Tab toh mujhe sach mein waisa hi laga tha aur aap bhi bina kuch bole wahanse chale gaye the. Main kya karti?" Naina accepts honestly.
"Kya sach mein meri aakhon mein tumne kuch nahin dekha? Kuch mehsoos nahin kia? Kya meri aankhein kuch nahin keh rahi thi tumse? He starts staring her while asking as if his eyes are asking hers.
She continues stares him and replies, "Keh rahi thi.. bahot kuch kehna bhi chahti thi. Par keh nahin paa rahi thi. Woh kya tha mujhe bahot baad mein pata chala." Tears again falls down from her eyes. Since he left her she was regretting for many incidences like this, that every moment when she couldn't realize his unspoken words.
He comes near her and wipes her tears. He hugs her. "Kabhi kabhi kuch cheejein waqt par chod dena hi achha hota hain. Time heals all wounds. Woh waqt hamara nahin tha lekin yeh aaj toh hamara hain. Aaj tum mujhe mujhse bhi jyada janti ho. Bas ek baat chodkar." Says Rajveer
"Kya?" asks Naina
"Yahi ke tum mujhse jeet sakti ho!" He smirks. She pushes him angrily. He very well knows her reaction. He laughs. "Aap has rahe ho. I challenge you. Abhi aap mujhse woh game khelenge aur main aapko haraake dikhaungi." She challenges him.
"Try your luck Lt." Rajveer creases his eyebrow.
"Aap yahi ruko main thread leke aati hun." Naina starts going when Rajveer holds her dupatta.
"Kya kar rahe hain aap? Mujhe jaane dijiye. Aaj main yeh prove karke rahungi ke uss din mein bychance nahin jeeti thi." Naina tries to retort.
"Agar tumhe chodna hi hota toh pakda hi nahin hota." Says Rajveer. Naina, with whom he is talking, was that old Naina. His Cadet Naina who never had listen him, who always liked to give challenges to her mentor. Rajveer smiles and says, "Aur raha saawaal dhaage ka toh yeh lo." He pulls her by her dupatta near him and hauls one dhaaga from her dupatta and gives to her.
He can feel his affect on her. Her blush couldn't escape from his eyes. They sit on the big stone in farm. They are traveling back in time on that stormy night when she was making him ready for the toughest test of next day in appraisals.
He was staring her continuously without even blinking his eyes for a second. He really didn't know what he was doing. For him the most important thing was, after so many days she is with him, she is talking to him. He wanted to express. He wanted to stop the time. He only wanted to stare her like that forever. Only he could have share his feelings he would have...
Even Naina was searching something in his eyes. She was trying to understand something in his eyes but she herself didn't know what exactly she wants.
He lost again when they both were staring each other for distinct purposes. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Your turn Cadet Singh." Rajveer commanded to his cadet. He looked upward. They played again and he lost again. Both were amused.
"Aap phir haar gaye dasvi baar." Said Naina. He smiled shyly and said, "Just try again." He rubbed his face and tried to concentrate which was next to impossible at that moment. He again looked upward in order to distract his mind.
"Sir, aap concentrate kyun nahin kar paa rahe?" Naina asked arranging the thread. He stared her and said, "aaj pata nahin kya baat hain. Main focus nahin kar paa raha hun."
"I understand Sir." Naina was still arranging the thread. "Dushman ke saath jung ki taiyari karna aasan hota hain, lekin doston ke saath..." He gazed at her again. "Mushkil." Naina completed her sentence. He passed his hand through the thread without saying or reacting to her and he lost again. He thought something and again looked at her. A small smile played on his lips. That smile was for her innocence, for his unexpressed feelings. Naina was unaware about his feelings. He curses his luck that she can't even guess true reason for his distraction. He smiled again and left from there. But Naina kept staring the way where he went with confuse state of mind. She thought, really is she thinking is the truth or is she missing something?
But today she has all the answers. Indeed she was missing very important thing. Love in his eyes. The feelings which his eyes are reflecting are full of love and care for her. She is grateful to god for giving her one more chance for edifies her mistakes, to save her from regret of lifetime.
"Aap phir haar gayi dasvi baar Lt. Singh." Naina's chain of thoughts break with Rajveer's words. She looks at her hand. She lost again in thread game.
"Maine kaha tha na mujhse jitna itna aasan nahin hain Lt. Singh." Rajveer smirks as today is his turn to defeat her.
She smiles at him. Today, first time she is enjoying her defeat. She shifts more close to him. Rajveer watches her astonishingly. She lays her head on his chest and says,
I Love You Rajveer..!
He closes his eyes and holds her tightly... contently..!
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