The servants notice her running away through the lengthy and giant corridors. It doesn't take much time for them to realize that she is eloping. They are completely aware that if they don't prohibit her from eloping they might be in grave danger. The anger of Captain Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan isn't hidden from anyone there. And hence one of the servants when finds the right opportunity cages her, holding her by her wrist.
She is caught! She is doomed! The thought; the realization send shivers to run down her spine. She turns to look towards the man who held her. The elderly servant Brijesh Kaka he is. Naina looks towards him with a look of horror on her face. Brijesh Kaka notices how she is sweating profusely.
He pulls her with himself turning around.
"Kaka... Kaka please... Please mujhe jane dijiye!",
pleads a terrified Naina, crying as he drags her with him, holding her by her wrist.
She knows she is destined to get a harsh punishment if taken to back to Abhimanyu.
"Kaka main yahan nahi rehna chahti. Dum ghut ta hai mera yahan!",
Naina finally confesses.
The servant doesn't stop dragging her with himself.
"Naina yahan Naintara Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan bann kar reh gayi hai. Nahi pasand mujhe ye naam. Nahi chahiye mujhe ye anchaha rishta. Mera khudka naam mujhe bojh mehsus hota hai. Aur ye naam... ye naam to mera hai hi nahi. To kyun sahun ye bojh? Aur mujhe jab iss naam ko paa kar koi khushi hi nahi to kyun khudko jod kar rakhun iss naam se? Bataiye Kaka?",
cries Naina.
But it feels to Naina as if all her pleas are striking deaf ears!
her throat chokes out of too many emotions; out of helplessness.
She gets so much engrossed in her melancholy phase that she doesn't notice that where they are walking towards.
As she does notice, she realizes it's the storeroom. She gets nervous why has he brought her here? Her furrowed brows and sweat on her forehead tell all about her nervousness that she is facing right now.
Unlocking the door of the storeroom, he lets her in. She gets into the room nervously, unable to comprehend with anything.
As she gets into the room, the man bolts the door after getting inside himself. Before bolting the door he makes sure that no one has followed them this far. Having done that he turns to look towards Naintara.
Naintara stares him, confused.
Folding his hands in front of her, lowering his eyes he says,
"Hum jante hain ki jo hum karne ja rahe hain, humein nahi karna chahiye. Hum ye bhi jante hain ke agar hukum ko pata lag jaye humari ye gustakhi, wo humein kabhi yahan rehne nahi denge."
Laughing sarcastically, he adds,
"Shayad zinda hi gaad de!"
Naintara lowers her eyes, feeling guilty. The thought sends shivers to run down Naina's spine.
"Par aap bilkul chinta na karein. Humne dekha hai jis din se aap yahan ayi hain, apki ankhon mein koi khushi nahi hai.",
he says, feeling sad and sympathetic towards her.
Naina looks towards him, numb, unable to understand what to say.
"Aise kayi utsav aye jis mein apne bhaag (participate) to liya par apke dil mein khushi ke juzzbaatt nahi the."
Naina wonders how did he guess? She had always tried to fake smile in front of all. Did she fail miserably? Naina keeps her eyes lowered out of shyness.
"Par yakeen maniye hukum apse bepanah mohobbat karte hain.",
he assures her, looking into her eyes.
Smiling sadly, Naina says,
"Janti hun. Bohot pyar karte hain mujhse wo."
Walking ahead, drowning into the pool of memories, Naina says,
"Aap jante hain pyar do (2) tarah ke hote hain."
The man looks towards Naina who has walked past him, whilst reciting her thoughts.
"Ek jo apko jeena sikhaye!"
As Naina says this a smile touches her lips as Rajveer's face comes floating in front of her eyes. His all teachings; motivations come rushing back to her making her heart to flutter and her cheeks to blush.
"Har mod par apka saath de!"
Naina remembers how Rajveer never left her side not even during the days when she had hated him for killing her brother.
"Apki niji baatein khud tak rakhe, dusro se chupaye!"
Naina remembers how he had kept her identity under wraps after he discovered who she really is!
"Apki nafrat ko seh kar bhi, apki bhalayi ke barey mein soche!"
Naina lowers her eyes as she feels guilty.
she takes a deep breath, as frustration and anger surface her heart.
Her frustration increases gradually.
She turns her hands into fists.
She says, spitting venom through her words.
"Fir ek din, apni kamiyabi ke chakachondh mein itna kho jaye ke aur kuch usse dikhayi hi na de. Ghamand se chur chur ho jaye!"
Her eyes turn teary. But she quickly controls her emotions.
"Ab ye wo Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan nahi rahe Kaka jinse maine shadi ki thi! Nahi rahe ye wo Abhimanyu!",
says Naina, feeling sorry for Abhimanyu. Regretful!
"Main janti hun wo mujhse pyar karte hain beinteha pyar karte hain. Par pyar karne se zada main unka junoon hoon. Mujhe pana unki zindagi ka maksad bann gaya tha. Isliye nahi kyunki wo mujhse pyar karne lage the! Balki isliye kyunki wo kisi aur ae beinteha nafrat karne lage the."
Naina's voice turn shaky.
"Main janti hun mera naam badalna... koi riwaz nahi hai yahan ka, jaisa ki unhone kaha tha...",
Naina raises her voice as frustration and anger heightens up. Her eyes burn with anger and turn teary afresh.
The man lowers his eyes feeling guilty and helpless.
"Wo bus mere naam se jude hue logo ko yaad nahi karna chahte the!"
She laughs sarcastically whilst crying and says,
"Kyunki wo jante hain Naina Singh Ahluwalia ke naam ke saath ek aur naam humesha se juda tha; juda hai; aur humesha juda rahega!!!",
her voice gets raised as she reaches the end of her line. Adrenaline rush that she could feel inside her becomes the reason of this rage.
She bursts into tears crying at her fate!
The man knits his brows, unable to understand whom is she talking about.
"Gustakhi maaf malkin, par kiska naam?",
he asks, eager to know the answer.
Naina's heart skips a beat.
The question succeeds in engulfing her with lajja!
No! She can't reveal the identity of the person she is talking about. How could she got flowed away with her emotions so much that she didn't notice what she is uttering?
Whatever it is, she can't forget that she is still a married woman! She is still in his court!
Realizing that she needs to reply back to him something, she says drowning into her thoughts,
"Wo naam jisne Naina ko kabhi na haar manne ki prerna di!"
"Wo naam jo agar iss haveli mein aa kar raj karne lage, to unse veer dusra koi purush dur dur tak apko na miley!",
and as she says this, her eyes glitter with joy and pride for him. Her chest expands as she silently claims him to be her teacher; her mentor; her friend; her many more things!!
She realizes that she can't reveal much to him. So she stops herself. She remembers yet again that Rajveer must have gone far away by now she needs to hurry up. She still keeps her hope up.
Looking back towards him, Naina requests him,
"Ab main aur waqt zaya nahi kar sakti Kaka. Ab main jana chahungi yahan se."
Her hands folded into a namaste!
"Mujhe jane ki ijjazat dijiye. Please mujhe jane dijiye."
The man smiles politely and pointing his right index finger, he says,
Naina knits her brows wondering what is it.
The man picks up a bag filled with Naina's clothes.
Naina stares him shocked!
Understanding her confusion, the man smiles and says,
"Aap ne apne kapde istri (ironing) karne ke liye diye the. Kaam ke chalte main apko dena bhool gaya. Shayad bhagwan ne bhi aaj hi ke liye aisa hone diya.",
he smiles.
Naina's heart skips a beat as she realizes that this could be true. She looks towards him in awe! He smiles at her politely.
Accepting it, she smiles in gratitude and turns to leave when he interrupts her,
Naina turns to look towards him.
"Ye baat dhyan rakhni hai na humein ke apko koi na pehchan sakey?",
smiles the man.
Naina smiles too in confusion. Confusion about which other path would she opt then?
Walking forth he opens a secret door built on the wall of the small quarter of the room they are in.
Naina gets shocked on discovering the secret passage.
"Hukum ne aise kayi khufiya darwaze banaye hue hain haveli mein. Jiski jaankari kewal kuch chuninda logon ko hi hai. Ab isse khushkismati kahein ya badkismati, humein bhi inn darwazon ke barey mein pata hai.",
he says.
wonders Naina.
Smiling, he says,
"Kabhi kabhi kuch baaton se agar hum anjaan hi rahein to acha hai. Jaan kar bhi agar hum unn baaton ko apne bhale ke liye istemal na kar sakey to usse badi ghutan kisi baat se nahi hoti."
Naina's heart clenches on hearing that. She smiles sadly looking at the man and hugs him warmly.
advices the man as Naina ends the hug.
Naina smiles and through the secret passage she leads the way to the outside world!
As she escapes the palace, Naina falls in a dilemma as to which road to opt for? Which road must Rajveer had taken?
Engrossed in her dilemma and confusion, she doesn't realize that the passerby are staring her as if she is some kind of animal escaped from a zoo, a place where she had been tamed.
Afraid that any of them might inform Abhimanyu about it right away, Naina runs. Few of Abhimanyu's secret men wandering around on witnessing her there, start following her. But Naina's speed of a soldier helped her a great deal to escape from her predators.
As they follow her, there comes a turn where the road winds towards the left and fortunately she finds it busy. With a crowd of saints and followers chanting the name of god 'hare rama hare krishna'. Finally she gets a little smile of relaxation on her face. She gets camouflaged in the crowd.
She notices Abhimanyu's men walking past the crowd. She sighs in relief as she gets assured that they have passed them and won't return now.
The group of devotees gets stopped by a police which makes Naina to go breathless. She gets terrified as she wonders if these police were sent by Abhimanyu.
After checking the identity of the leader of the devotees the police allow all to leave. Nervous Naina who had been peeping behind her just to make sure that she is not being followed, doesn't realize when the group she was with starts walking forth in front of her.
The inspector reaches her and asks for her identity that skips Naina's heartbeat and makes her to turn to look towards the inspector.
"Madam apki identity card?"
Naina stares him dumbstruck.
Naina starts fumbling out of nervousness.
"Aap inn ke saath ayi hain kya?",
asks the inspector, pointing towards the group.
Naina vigorously shakes her head into positive as if god has shown her a way to escape this situation.
"Ji... Ji... Main inhi ke saath hun.",
replies Naina, nervously, avoiding to meet their eyes.
"Apke mathey par itna paseena kyun hain?",
asks the inspector.
This skips Nina's heartbeat yet again. She stares him shocked.
"Ap log bottles kyun nahi rakhte apne saath? Itni kadi dhoop mein bhajan kirtan karna konsa itna asan hota hai?",
saying so the inspector hands her a bottle of mineral water.
Naina sighs in relief and quickly shows her gratitude,
She leaves as fast as she could.
Naina quickly joins the group again.
As the journey continues, Naina goes into a deep thinking about her life.
"Tu abhi bhi sochle Naina, kya jo tu kar rahi hai wo sahi kar rahi hai?",
asks Pooja, adjusting Naina's maangteeka.
Naina halts at her process of wearing her bangles and looks towards Pooja into the mirror.
Pooja stares back towards her into the mirror, nervously.
"Mujhe nahi pata Pooja kya sahi hai kya galat. Main bus itna janti hun ke Rajveer Sir ke jane ke baad mere Ma Baba ne bohot kuch sunna hai inn duniya walon se. Aise mein Abhimanyu Sir hi hain jinhone humara saath diya. Har kadam mere parivaar ki hifazat ki.",
says Naina, determined.
Adjusting Naina's gajra, Pooja's eyes on gajra as she avoids to look towards Naina out of fear and hesitation, Pooja reminds Naina,
"Hifazat to... Huda ne bhi ki hai Naina!"
This skips Naina's heartbeat. Naina goes still.
Realizing her stillness, Pooja looks towards her on the mirror.
Naina after going quiet for few moments, very calmly tells Pooja, looking towards her on the mirror,
"Pooja main Huda se pyar nahi karti! Wo mera ek bohot acha dost hai. Par usse zada maine uske liye kabhi nahi socha hai."
"To kya Abhimanyu ke liye socha hai?",
asks Pooja, looking straight into Naina's eyes in the mirror.
(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)
Her question sends shivers down her spine! She goes numb.
"Kya tu taiyar hai apne naam ke peeche... Naina ke peeche... Rai Chauhan lagane ke liye?",
asks Pooja though softly yet there is an urgency in her voice, knitting her brows.
(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune continues)
Naina lowers her eyes, feeling lajja on realizing for the umpteenth time that hence forth she won't be called Naina Singh Ahluwalia, she would rather be called Naina Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan! She could feel the tension knots building up on her shoulders and her chest's expansion and contraction in quick succession.
But among all this where did Naina Rajveer Singh Shekhawat vanish? Where does it lie now? The name she by now must have written innumerable times on the last pages of innumerable copies of hers! What would be the weightage of that name in her life henceforth? How much would it be important to her now?
"Maine tujhe kaha tha waqt rehte ke sochle Naina kya tu iss baat ke liye taiyar hai? Kya tum Captain Abhimanyu se humesha ke liye apna network jodne ke liye taiyar hai?",
reminds Pooja.
And the word 'waqt' reminds Naina of Rajveer yet again!
"Apna haath agey badhao..."
"Apna aur apne waqt ka khyal rakhna!"
"Maine sub soch liya hai Pooja. Sub soch liya hai!",
Abhimanyu gets out of the bathroom after taking a shower which succeeds in relaxing his mind. Wearing a white kurta pajama, he stands in front of the magnificent mirror putting the third button of his kurta.
Naintara usually would reply on his first call itself. Not getting a reply comes as a surprise for Abhimanyu. Nevertheless he tries again.
His this try too goes fruitless.
Abhimanyu turns around and discovers that there is some difference in the air of the room. The fragrance of Naintara seems to be missing.
He gets restless and goes in search of her in his haveli.
he shouts, whilst walking ahead, outside his room.
Madhur, one of his servants come running to his room, joining hands in front of Abhimanyu, his eyes lowered; his head bowed down, he asks,
"Pehle to aap ye haath jodna band kariye humare samne.",
scolds Abhimanyu, looking towards Madhur. Abhimanyu's hands still working on the second button of his shirt.
asks Abhimanyu, looking towards him.
Madhur who is aware of her eloping, gets nervous and starts shivering lightly.
"Ji... Hukum hum... humein...",
This pisses Abhimanyu off!
"Bataiye kahan hain wo?",
"Kyun chilate rehte ho sub par?",
interrupts an old lady entering Abhimanyu's room.
Abhimanyu peeps towards her.
smiles Abhimanyu, though tensed about Naintara, but he can never talk impolitely with his elders unless they give him the reason to do so.
"Haan apki daijan jisse milne ki fursat nahi hai apke paas.",
Abhimanyu lowers his head apologetically, smiling naughtily, apologetically.
Daijan takes her seat on the sofa placed at the sitting area.
Abhimanyu gestures his man to leave. His that one look makes it clear to the man that he needs information about Naintara as soon as possible. Bowing his head, indicating that he understood his demand, the man leaves.
"Kyun itna chilla rahe ho? Naintara agar kahin chali bhi gayin hain kahin to aa jayengi na wapas? Wo bhi nahi reh saktin apke bina. Jaise aap tilmila uthte hain unke gairhazri mein. Humne unhe bhi dekha hai der raat tak jag kar apka intezar karte hue.",
says Daijan, scolding him mildly for being impatient.
This makes Abhimanyu to blush and swells his heart as he realizes that Naintara too waits for him.
"Aur agar apne abhi apna gussa thanda nahi kiya, to bhuliyega mat hum apki daijan hain. Honge aap subke liye kunwar, maharaja, hukum ya jo bhi. Par humare liye aap humare bachey hain. Humein agar gussa aa gaya...",
saying so she gestures with her right hand, calling him to her.
Abhimanyu obliges smiling the whole time.
Abhimanyu obliges laughing softly.
Daijan holds his ear and twists it lightly. Abhimanyu makes faces as if he is hurt.
says Abhimanyu, acting to be in severe pain.
"Aur agar humein gussa aya na... to bohot bura hoga.",
Abhimanyu could feel her love mingled with her scolding. That makes him to laugh secretly but he purses his lips quickly. But nothing goes unnoticed by Daijan, which makes her to laugh too, secretly.
As she leaves his ear, Abhimanyu rubs it, soothing his pain, making all faces that tell Daijan that he is hurt. This makes both of them to laugh.
Abhimanyu realizes that his Daijan always makes him to realize his true identity. This is what he is - her grandson and shall always stay the same for her.
Abhimanyu places his head on her lap. She ruffles his hair and politely tells him,
"Beta jis din se Naintara iss ghar ki bahu bann kar ayi hai unhone apna har farz bakhubi nibhaya hai. Agar aise mein kabhi kabhi wo kahin chale bhi jayein to konsi badi baat hai?"
Abhimanyu tightens his hold on his Daijaan. That tells her his affection towards Naina.
"Abhi, maine humesha Naintara ko khamosh dekha hai. Khoyi hui, jaise usse sudh budh hi na ho ke uske aas paas kya ho raha hai!",
"Main to aj tak nahi samjh payi ke Naintara apke saath KMA kyun nahi chali jati wapas? Kyun wo yahan rehne ka hatt lagaye hue hai?",
"Yakeen maniye Daijan, humne kayi baar Naintara se kaha hai ke wo KMA wapas chale jaye. Humne kabhi Naintara ko iss rishte mein bandhe rehne ke liye force nahi kiya.",
says Abhimanyu, earnestly.
"Humne unse shadi ki, unki manzuri thi uss mein. Kya maine koi galti ki?",
His Daijan ruffles his hair.
"Humne to unhe iss baat ki bhi puri chuth di thi ke wo apna naam shadi ke baad bhi Naina Singh Ahluwalia hi rakhein. Unki marzi thi ye ke unhe Naina Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan hi banna tha.",
discloses Abhimanyu, feeling a hollowness in his chest.
"Naina??? Kya unka naam Naintara nahi?",
asks Daijan, in utter shock.
The identity by which Daijan used to call her this long, didn't it belong to her? But how can this be possible? Why did she lie? Why did her Abhimanyu lie to her?
Abhimanyu realizes that it's time to disclose in front of Daijan, Nina's truth!
He looks towards Daijaan, and begins with the tale...
"Naintara... Naina Singh Ahluwalia, KMA mein humari student thi."
His Daijan who already had this information isn't surprised on hearing this.
"Humein aaj bhi wo din yaad hai, jab wo call ayi thi Naina ki humein. Fir kis tarah se humne unhe unn gundo se bachaya tha.",
says Abhimanyu, remembering all these moments fondly.
Daijan's heart skips a beat and she holds him by his upper arm.
"Ghabraiye mat daijan, apka Abhimanyu tha na uss chakravyuh ko bhedne ke liye.",
says Abhimanyu, smiling, calming his Daijan's anxiety down.
"Fir dheere dheere sub kuch khud ba khud hota gaya.",
His eyes drifting towards the corridor every now and then to check if any of his servants has reached yet or not with Naintara's information. But none comes. He finds himself in a dilemma neither can he leave Daijan, nor can he drift his mind from Naintara.
"Humari shadi ke baad wo KMA chor kar aa gayin yahan humare saath.",
"Par aap wahan bhi to reh sakte the KMA mein?",
asks Daijan, wondering what made them to shift here.
"Agar wahan reh jate to Naintara humari pyari Daijan se kaise miltin?",
and he presses her cheeks.
"Baat mat ghumaiye. Humein such such bataiye.",
says Daijan, removing his hand, showing fake anger.
With a fading smile, looking away, Abhimanyu says,
"Daijan yun samjh lijiye ke Naintara thak gayi thi. Durr bhagna chahti thi har baat se jo usse KMA ki yaad dilaye."
Sighing, he looks towards his Daijan and says,
"To ye hai Naintara urf Naina ki kahani, Abhimanyu ki zubani.",
asks Daijan, ruffling his hair lovingly.
Abhimanyu looks towards his Daijan, smiling, blushing. Taking a deep breath, smiling throughout, he says, breathing in satisfaction,
Daijan takes Abhimanyu by surprise. He looks towards her. Staring her for moments he lowers his eyes smiling sadly. Turning back again he says,
Daijan smiles hearing that.
he adds keeping his voice low to make himself inaudible to Daijaan.
Abhimanyu remembers the conversation that took place between himself and Naina this morning.
"Naintara... Naintara... humara identity card kahan hai?",
calls out Abhimanyu reaching the room.
"Naina... apne humari identity card dekhi?",
asks Abhimanyu, reaching the room.
Opening the cupboard, Naintara brings out his identity card silently. Reaching him, she forwards the identity card to him and rectifies him, her eyes lowered,
Abhimanyu realizes the blooper and feels apologetic whilst taking the card from her, staring her throughout.
"Ahmm... Kabhi kabar purani aadatein yunhi wapas laut aati hain zindagi mein.",
smiles Abhimanyu, apologetically.
Naintara keeps her eyes lowered.
"Jaise purane log aa jate hain...",
mummers Naintara, hesitantly.
(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)
Abhimanyu's face expression drops.
He realizes that she is upset. Hence, to change her mood, he adds,
"Jaise kabhi kabar jab hum apko bulate hain, to aap bhul se 'ji Abhimanyu' ki jagah 'yes Sir' bol deti hain!"
This diverts Naintara's mind and makes her to blush, closing her eyes tightly. Which in return makes Abhimanyu to smile seeing her happy on his account.
She slowly looks towards him, blushing throughout, and adds,
"Jaise aap kabhi kabar apne busy schedule se time nikal kar apne music room mein jakar dil khol kar instruments bajate hain, theek waise hi jaise aap KMA mein kiya karte the."
This makes Abhimanyu to blush. 'She does notice' - the thought swells his heart.
"Jaise kabhi kabar humein Naintara ke ander chupi Naina ke darshan ho jate hain jab haveli ka koi kaam time par nahi hota? You know it's so good to be punctual Naintara. I am glad that you are that.",
The mention of her being Naina makes her go serious again.
"Main Naina nahi hun Naintara Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan hun!",
she says, her eyes burning with rage.
he whispers, understanding her emotions.
Naina embraces him into a tight hug. Abhimanyu hugs her back, comforting her.
"Naintara ya Naina whatever be your identity, aap sirf humari hain!",
Abhimanyu tightens his hold on her.
Blood drains out of her face! Naina could feel the tigtening of her muscles.
'Naina nahi... Naina nahi...!',
she repeats in her head and her eyes fill with tears.
"Hare Rama hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare... Hare Rama hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare",
the sudden increase in the speed of the chanting drags Naina out of her thoughts.
She realizes she has come a long way. She looks behind to make sure that she is not being followed. The confirmation makes her to relax.
The group decides to take rest for some moments. Naina decides to stay with the group. She realizes she is already clueless where to search Rajveer. Where did he disappear. As the group settle at the road side area, Naina too takes her seat on a footpath where there is a sitting area raised a little above the road to make one to sit comfortably.
She drowns into the thought of her life once again. She starts wondering how would all the people in the palace and outside it react on discovering that she has eloped from her home? For those few moments she feels extremely regretful of her decision.
She remembers Abhimanyu's Chachi whom he calls Badi Ma. She remembers the warm feeling she gets each time she visits the palace. When she embraces her into a warm hug, Naina within moments starts feeling all the baggage; all the burden started to be lifted up off her shoulders on getting hugged by Badi Ma.
"Naintara, hum jante hain Abhimanyu thode ziddi hain. Gussa bohot hain unn mein. Par yakeen maniye, jitni jaldi unhe gussa ata hai na apno par, utni hi jaldi unka gussa shant bhi ho jata hai.",
says Badi Ma, rotating her hand in Naintara's hair.
"Wo pehle to aise nahi the?",
asks Naintara, hesitantly, keeping her voice low.
This makes her Badi Ma to laugh.
This skips Naintara's heartbeat, did she say anything wrong?
Badi Ma lovingly says,
"Abhimanyu ki zindagi aisi hi rahi hai Naintara. Jab wo yahan hote hain to unka thaat bilkul raja maharajaon, ek sahi Rajput jaisa hota hai. Jab nahi hote yahan to wo bus Abhimanyu hote hain."
"Par apko pata hai Naintara, Abhimanyu ye jo kuch bhi karte hain apne Baba Saheb ki wajah se karte hain.",
smiles Badi Ma, sadly.
asks Naintara, confused, knitting her brows.
"Unke Baba Saheb ko ye katayi manzur nahi tha ke wo apni shan-o-shaukat ki zindagi; apni aram dayak zindagi chor kar sena mein bharti hon.",
says Badi Ma, drowning into the moments when she witnessed many such arguments that took place between the father and the son.
Naina did have a little idea about it. She had seen him receiving gifts from his parents in the academy, but most of them he had returned back without even caring to open it to see what it was!
"Par zid karke Abhimanyu chale gayein sena mein bharti hone ke liye. Fir ek din phone aya aur unhone ye ittela kiya ke unhe sena mein bharti mil gayi hai. Koi 'Kan...' 'Kan...' ",
she finds it difficult to recollect the name.
Naina's heart skips a beat.
"Kanchenjunga Military Academy!",
she says, her eyes glittering and her voice containing the pride she feels about the place.
"Jab jab wo wahan se wapas aatey, hum unka badla andaz mehsus kar pate the. Wo khush rehte the. Zindadili dekhi hai humne unki. Par unka wo roop aney ke baad shuru ke kuch dino tak hi rehta. Jaise jaise samay beetta jata, wey firse Rajya Mahal ke rang dhang mein ghul jate. Na chahte hue bhi ve yahin ke bann jate. Aisa lagta jaise unn par kisi ne jadu kar diya ho. Ya unn mein koi kala ho ke jahan bhi rahein wohin ke bann jayein. Jaisa desh waisa bhesh!",
smiles Badi Ma.
Naina starts wondering about Abhimanyu. Drowning into his being.
Realizing that there is still a lot she needs to learn about him.
"Par Naintara apke unki zindagi mein aa jane se, humne unki zindagi mein ek sthirta mehsus ki hai."
This skips Naintara's heartbeat. She looks up towards her Badi Ma.
"Waise to Abhimanyu pehle se hi sambhle hue the par kuch kuch baaton mein wey apne gusse ko kabu mein nahi kar pate the. Aap unki zindagi mein sthirta layi!",
smiles Badi Ma.
Thinking about Abhimanyu, Naina feels guilty and thinks,
'Sthirta nahi Badi Ma. Par shayad uthal-puthal zarur macha di hai unki zindagi mein!'
"Kya main yahan baith jaun?",
asks one of the women from the group, smiling politely.
invites Naintara, to sit with her.
The woman smiles politely and sits next to Naina.
"Kafi thakan ho gayi hai nahi?",
asks the woman.
Naintara smiles politely.
The woman carrying a water bottle in her hand looks towards the group which is now subdivided and are chatting among themselves.
"Shanti milti hai kafi bhagwan ka naam lekar.",
smiles the woman.
Naintara smiles too.
Looking in front of her at infinity, the woman says,
"Warna apni zindagi to ek qaid jaisi lagti hai."
This drags Nainatara's attention. Knitting her brows she looks towards the lady.
the lady shares about her profession.
Naintara seems to be taken aback.
The lady looks towards her and laughs.
"Kya hua? Shocked, are you?",
asks the lady, laughing.
"Apko dekh kar nahi lagta...",
says Naintara, surprised.
The lady laughs again and says,
"Kya lagta hai that I wouldn't even know how to speak English?"
Naintara feels ashamed!
"No! No! It's just... no I mean...",
Naintara fails to construct a proper sentence.
That makes the lady to laugh again.
"Ahmmm... Fir aap yahan kaise?",
"I remember the lawn and the bright flowers. You know I used to roam around there leisurely. Nahi samjh aata tha ki zindagi kahan ja rahi hai."
"That little girl, when she opened her eyes for the first time... She was in my arms... Kuch minutes ki hogi wo. Aisa laga jeene ki nayi wajah mil gayi ho."
Naina couldn't comprehend with her words.
"Cheen liya usey mujhse unn rakshaso ne."
Naina feels a certain kind of pain in her chest. She could feel her loss. She stares at the lady, her own eyes filled with sorrow. But that lady, she seemed to be absolutely fine. As if it is just a folklore she is reciting in front of Naina.
"Ek din subah uthi, to uss veeran ghar mein main akeli thi!!!",
she says, the terror of being alone wraps the lady all over again.
Naina could read her expression.
"Unka kaam ho gaya tha...!",
the lady says, her voice shaking, her eyes filling with tears.
"Waris chahiye tha unhe! Waris!",
she shouts, crying, spitting venom through her each word.
Her sudden outburst skips Naina's heartbeat.
Naina places a hand on the lady's shoulder, comforting her. As she does that she remembers Abhimanyu's words...
'Come on Naina, let's make babies!!!'
Her rate of heartbeat picks up pace. What if if she would have succumbed to his demand? Would he have also done the same? - wonders Naina.
she whispers unconsciously, drowned into her thoughts.
"Wo aisa nahi karte! Kabhi nahi karte!",
her faith in Abhimanyu, makes her to believe that and believe nothing else.
Say what she might, deep down she feels glad that she didn't succumb to his demand!
Naina gets out of her reverie. Gulping her saliva out, she calms down her fear, making herself to understand that she is fine now. She is away from them. She shouldn't be worrying about anything now.
"Nahi... Kahin nahi...!",
smiles Naina, though her smile doesn't reach her eyes.
The lady does realize that, but choose to keep it untouched.
Taking a deep breath, the lady looks in front of her into infinity and says,
"Socha tha she would become my identity. She would become the reason for me to stay alive. But see here I am..."
Naina looks towards the lady, confused.
The lady turns to look towards Naina, smiling she says,
"Normally log bete ki chah rakhte hain. Apki to beti hai. Fir unhone aisa kyun kiya?",
Smiling, the lady nods her head in quick successions.
Naina stares her, waiting for an answer.
"Unke ghar mein bete kayi hain. Tum inn baba, sant logon ko to janti ho na... Keh diya ke beti agar hui to khandan ka naam roshan karegi. Bohot tarraki hogi etc. etc.",
says the lady, feeling ridiculous about it.
"I don't understand ke doctor ho kar bhi koi aisa kaise soch sakta hai?",
says the lady, pissed off.
Suddenly she realizes that Naina doesn't know about her husband.
"Oh by the way, my husband is a doctor too!",
she says, lowering her eyes, smiling apologetically.
Naina gets shocked on hearing that!
Nodding her head into affirmative, her eyes lowered, smiling sarcastically, the lady says,
"I know! Surprising na! Contradictory nature right?"
Naina smiles a little, in a dilemma how to react!
Naina smiles a little, in a dilemma how to react!
"But then, men are men, you know!",
smiles the lady.
Naina looks towards the lady immediately. A mysterious smile stretches on her lips and she says,
"Not all men are same! Not all men are same!"
Her chest swells as she utters these words.
(Rajveer-Naina slow tune begins)
The lady knits her brows lightly.
Naina suddenly realizes that they are taking time in resuming the journey. She gets impatient, nervous that Abhimanyu's men can reach her any moment.
Naina looks towards the lady, smiling, thinking that every person in this world is dealing with some or the other problem, especially women.
"Kahani adhuri chor kar ja rahi ho?",
asks the lady, smiling.
"Puri kahani mere samne hai! Agey janne ki zarurat nahi.",
smiles Naina.
"Bina janey natije par pahunch rahi ho. Galat bhi sabit ho sakti ho?",
challenges the lady, smiling infectiously.
Naina smiles, lowering her eyes.
Looking back towards the lady, smiling still, Naina asks her,
"Aap mujhe lekar kis natije par pahunchi?"
smiles the lady infectiously.
Naina arches a brow, smiling.
"Your face is enough to give your identity!",
says the lady.
Naina arches her brow, as if challenging her and saying - really?
Taking her words lightly, Naina rolls her eyes and turns to leave when the lady's next word skips Naina's heartbeat!!!
"Naina Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan!"
Naina turns out of shock! Did she really say that? How does she know her?
The lady stares her smiling infectiously throughout.
Naina stands there numb!
"Ok tell me what are you more surprised about? That I know your identity? Or that I gave your true identity - Naina?",
asks the lady.
Naina feels as if the whole world is spinning. So many memories come flashing in front of her eyes with in seconds.
She feels lajja, on being called as Naina, something she is not used to now anymore.
She feels lajja, for not being able to feel the warning, that she shouldn't have been talking to her.
The lady points towards the crowd, with her eyes transfixed on Naina,
"Wo dekh rahi ho tum? Kitne sarey log hai na wahan?"
Naina looks towards the crowd horrified.
"Inn subki zindagi meri mutthi mein hai!",
says the lady, turning her right hand into fist, up in the air.
"Bus ek ishara, aur ye sub tabah!!!",
says the lady.
Naina looks back towards the lady, shocked.
"Wo dekh rahi ho wo admi lal shirt mein?",
asks the lady.
Naina turns to look towards the man in horror, and there she finds him indeed standing, keeping an eye on the crowd.
"Uske haath mein ek remote control hai.",
says the lady.
Naina focuses on his hand and indeed there is a black remote control in his hand.
"Bus ek baar meri manzuri mili aur ye sub log khoon se lathpath milenge tumhe."
Naina turns to look towards the lady in horror and asks her,
Smiling infectiously, the lady says,
"Kuch zada nahi. Mere peeche police parhi hai tumhe mujhe unse bachana hai. After all you are coming from an army background, tumhara bhai; tumhara pati; tum khud, sub army se ho, I am sure tum ye kaam asani se kar paogi. Meri identity kisi ke samne nahi aa paye, iss baat ka dhyan rakhna hoga tumhe."
Naina knits her brows shocked and confused,
"Par kyun? Kya kiya hai tumne?"
The lady looks towards Naina, smiling sarcastically.
"Ab tum to janti hi ho ke ek akeli aurat ke liye iss duniya mein bach pana kitna mushkil hai?",
she says, acting to be helpless and hopeless lady.
Naina hears her, knitting her brows all the more. Her tone irks Naina, but she tries to stay calm.
"Paison ki zarurat to subko hoti hai. Mujhe bhi thi. Soch rahi thi ke kahan se laun paise zindagi guzarne ke liye? Ke tabhi meri mulaqat ek admi se hui uska naam tha ACP Gaurav Malhotra.",
she dictates her story in front of Naina.
"Naam Gaurav lekin desh ka gaurav na bann saka wo!",
says the lady, smirking.
Naina stares her out of hatred.
"Par apna kya hai? Apne ko to paison se matlab tha.",
she says, smirking.
"Kuch rifles the jo ek group tak pohnchana tha. Wo rifles bohot keemti the. Kisi Indian Government Office se churaye gaye the. Ab tum to janti hi ho ke inn sub jagah kitni kadi suraksha ka intzam hota hai. Asaan nahi raha hoga I am sure inhe churana. To uski hifazat aur unhe sahi hathon mein saunpane ki zimmedari mujhe di gayi hai.",
the lady informs Naina.
"To iss chakkar mein tum inn begunahon ke jaan ke peeche kyun parhi ho? Inn sub cheezon se inn masoomo ka kya lena dena?",
asks Naina, knitting her brows, her anxiety increasing, as the soldier in her starts taking over Naina Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan.
"Koi lena dena nahi hai Naina.",
she says, acting to be innocent.
"Maine kab kaha ke lena dena hai?",
she asks innocently.
Her tone irks Naina.
She looks away for fraction of seconds out of hatred. Enduring her attitude.
"Par police ka inn masoomo ki jaan se zarur lena dena hoga.",
she says, smiling devilishly.
"Matlab?",
asks Naina.
"Oh Naina tum such mein itni bholi ho ya bholi banne ka natak kar rahi ho?",
asks the lady.
Naina glares her.
"It's very simple, police zarur inko bachane ke liye ayegi, aur tab main apni shart unke samne rakhungi.",
she declares her plan, feeling proud of it.
"Aur fir... majburan unhe meri baat maanni hi padhegi.",
she smirks, feeling victorious already.
"Tumhe kaise pata ke main kon hun?",
asks Naina, eager to know.
Laughing, she says,
"I was wondering, tumne ab tak ye baat mujhse kyun nahi puchi. But anyways, der aye durust aye."
"Trust me Naina mujhe tumhare barey mein janne mein koi interest nahi hai. Nay!!!",
says she, showing off her disinterest in her.
"What I have more interest in are the two men in your life!",
she says, giving all negative vibes through her words.
"Two?",
Naina asks, hesitantly.
"Oh come on, now don't you give me that sh** as if you don't know what I am talking about!",
she winks, smiling infectiously.
Naina looks away.
"I mean seriously humein yahan ek naseeb nahi hota aur tum do-do (2-2) ko apni ungli par nacha rahi ho? Kuch to rehm karo hum par yaar?",
she says, making Naina to lothe not only the woman but herself too.
Saying so she turns to know what's the current situation, is her mission in progress?
For this particular moment, Naina doubts on her own character. But quickly wipes the thought off her mind, fearing to get into the conclusion!
She wonders before talking about this woman, has she tried considering what's her own identity is?
She feels lajja as she dares to think about her identity.
But soon she realizes that this is not the time to waste on thinking all that it is time to react!
She wonders what should she do? As Naintara she feels like running away from there the moment she gets an opportunity. But as a soldier - Naina, she realizes that it's her duty to protect the crowd.
Before she could get into a conclusion, she was held by someone tightly by her wrist, and dragged. Naina not having time to think starts responding according to the wish of her savior. As her mind gets stable and she realizes what just happened seconds ago, she realizes the touch! The touch that belonged to her! The touch that's meant just for her! The touch which is dominating and caring both at the same time! The touch of Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!
Rajveer Singh Shekhawat - the identity that means the world to her!
~*~*~
As the lady turns she finds Naina gone. Out of anger, she mummers,
"Ye tumne acha nahi kiya Naina Singh Ahluwalia! Ye tumne acha nahi kiya!"
Although mummering, her anger is quite evident!
And as a result she signals her men to shoot up in the air! And as they shoot, the crowd gets terrified and runs here and there, saving themselves unable to understand what just happened. The only thing they succeed in understanding with in fraction of seconds is that they need to run. And run, they did!!
Standing against a tree, hidden from the predators, Naina peeps to know what's going on there in the crowd. How messed up the things are? The soldier in her, keeps popping out and hence she tries to go out to save them, that Rajveer holds her back caging her in between his hands, which are on the bark of the tree, rigid.
"Pagal mat bano. Chup chap yahan khadi raho!",
he scolds her, grinding his teeth, keeping his voice low.
"Khadi rahun? Wahan itne logon ki jaan khatre mein hai and aap mujhse keh rahe hain ki main yahan khadi rahun?",
asks Naina, knitting her brows.
This drags Rajveer's attention, he looks towards her, knitting his brows.
"Oh to finally I am meeting Cadet Naina Ah Singh!",
he taunts smiling sarcastically.
He looks back towards the crowd
"Nice to meet you by the way!",
he says, his eyes scanning the crowd.
While Naina stares him, dumbstruck.
"I don't need your help. Lemme go!",
says Naina, getting into a conclusion.
She wrestles to get out of the cage he has made around her, the cage of his arms.
(Rajveer-Naina love tune begins)
"Jab dil se mann kare na mujhse durr hone ka, tab koshish kar lena. Now stop with your futile attempts Cadet Naina..."
Looking towards her, in his own old style he complete,
"...Ah Singh!"
Naina stares him, pausing her futile attempts to get away from him, abruptly. Rajveer stares back!
(Rajveer-Naina tune continues as they stare each other)
"Mujhe apki madad ki koi zarurat nahi hai!",
saying so an adamant Naina tries to free herself from his hold but he pulls her back with more fervour. The sudden pull knocks their body together in every possible way!
Naina goes crimson red, widening her eyes, as she feels his hand touching her upper part. Her heartbeat picks up pace. Despite being married for around an year Abhimanyu really hadn't touched Naina in any inappropriate way!
Yes inappropriate touch did exist between Abhimanyu and Naina - the husband and wife!
Theirs was a slow relationship. The slowness mostly initiated by Naina. And as for Abhimanyu, he had been patient. Only lately had he been demanding and why won't he, after all he was legally married to her. And their relationship was developing... until now!
Rajveer too goes crimson red, as it happened unintentionally.
"I...",
Rajveer begins to apologize but realizes that he is unable to form a coherent sentence, out of nervousness.
The magnitude of her lajja increases with each passing moment, as she realizes that she can't even run away because he won't allow that!
Her mind gets divided into two - Rajveer and Abhimanyu!
She realizes that lajja was what she used to feel in Abhimanyu's presence and lajja is what she is feeling in Rajveer's presence too!
That drains the blood out of her face. Was the lady right? Had she been playing with the feelings of both the men? Her heartbeat picks up pace. Her face gets enveloped with a fresh horror of wondering!
Rajveer notices her sudden change. Her sudden tightening of the muscles of the wrist he is holding, tells it all. He stares her knitting his brows, unable to understand what has happened? He keeps staring her with knitted brows, wondering!
Naina keeps her eyes lowered. Within fraction of seconds many moments in the academy when they were alone together, flashes in front of her eyes. She realizes he never tried to take any advantage of her loneliness. Her face expression changes again to relaxation and contentment.
In fact he had been always respectful not only towards her but towards all female cadets and faculty members too. She cherishes his and Dr. Shalini's friendship and it succeeds in bringing a smile on her face.
Rajveer who is unaware of what's going on in her mind on finding her lost and smiling, knits his brows, nervous about asking her the reason of her smile and her sudden withdrawal from him. The withdrawal of course is not physical but mental.
"Naina...",
he whispers softly to wake her up.
'I mean seriously humein yahan ek naseeb nahi hota aur tum do-do (2-2) ko apni ungli par nacha rahi ho? Kuch to rehm karo hum par yaar?'
These were the words that Naina remembers before she gets out of her reverie on being called by her anchor; her mentor; her Rajveer Sir!
"Main apna khyal rakhna janti hun! Apko meri chinta karne ki zarurat nahi.",
saying so, she again starts wrestling with him, as fresh guilt washes her. She is Abhimanyu's wife. How can she share such a bond with him?
Out of guilt and anger on herself, she scolds him, keeping her voice under check, crying lightly, her heartbeat accelerating,
"Main Abhimanyu ki wife hun, main apke saath aisa nahi kar sakti!"
Smiling sarcastically, Rajveer taunts,
"Jab nahi thi tab bhi kahan kiya tha?"
Naina's heart skips a beat and she stops abruptly, looking towards him.
Rajveer stares her, she stares back.
Suddenly Rajveer realizes that the path is clear their predators have spreaded, giving them opportunity to run off. Holding Naina's hand he runs away. Naina cooperates by running at her highest speed.
One of the predators catch them running away.
"Wo rahe wo dono. Jaldi chalo!",
he gives them indication and they all run after them.
"Jao pakdo unhe. Bachne na paye dono.",
shouts the lady out of anger, utterly pissed off by the fact that they succeeded in making fool of her.
They run and run and run being followed by their predators.
After moments Naina gets tired, breathing heavily, she holds his hand with her free hand and pulling him back to stop, she says, in between her exhilarating breathing rate,
"Bus... Bus main aur nahi bhaag sakti!"
Rajveer turns to look towards Naina, tensed. In the given circumstances, his mind hasn't stopped working making strategies to escape them; being alert as to not getting into their hold. He realizes she indeed looks tired.
He looks here and there in order to search a place where they can hide.
He realizes that to a little distance is a forest. He decides to get into the forest. Hoping that it might help them to camouflage.
He points out to the distant spot and says in an urgency,
"Naina wahan tak chalein? Uske baad wahan jakar rest kar lenge kuch der."
Naina looks towards the place he pointed. The time she takes to notice the place and reply makes Rajveer impatient, hence in an impatience he suggests,
"If you want I can carry you in my arms to there?"
He says it as a matter of fact, no ill feeling or naughtiness intended. His creased brows, the lines of tension on his forehead, confirm his genuineness and seriousness.
Naina realizes it and assures him,
"Apko bus panch minute rukne ko kaha tha, so that I can breathe. Chaliye ab!",
she smiles.
(Slow Rajveer-Naina flute tune begins)
Rajveer looks towards her, smiling with all his heart. She had always been his strength, apart from that period when she took him as her brother's murderer. But Rajveer doesn't wanna go there. It was a cruel past, they have come over it, period.
Naina smiles back.
Tightening his hold on her hand, staring her lovingly, proudly, Rajveer gets ready to run again that he notices their predators there.
"Aap...",
Naina begins to speak, unaware of the presence of their predators around them.
Rajveer covers her mouth with his palm before she could speak further. Pushing her against the bark of the tree, he widens his eyes looking towards her, as a gesture of asking her to stay quiet. Naina knits her brows.
While Rajveer looks for the men and their positions, Naina pulls down his hand from upon her mouth. Rajveer looks towards her, they stare intimately for few moments, which gets interrupted by Rajveer's little joke, but with full seriousness on his face,
"Naina chup raho kuch bolo mat!"
Naina gets shocked on hearing that and with her hand she gestures - 'what'?
"Excuse me, bol aap rahe hain. Main to chup hi thi!",
she scolds, irritated at his false accusation.
This makes Rajveer to laugh quietly, pursing his lips, in the tensed situation.
This of course he said on purpose, to make her feel relaxed for some moments.
"You know I could anticipate you talking in moments.",
he whispers, his eyes on the predators.
"Kuch bhi matlab?",
Naina says, acting to be irritated.
"Dhundho unhe. Yahin kahin honge. Bach kar jane na payein wo. Agar meri baat nahi mani gayi hai. To wo bhi zinda nahi bachenge!",
orders the lady to her men.
Naina holds Rajveer by his upper arm nervously.
"Don't worry Naina, tumhe kuch nahi hoga. Main hun na tumhare saath.",
says Rajveer, his eyes on them, calculating, making strategies to escape them.
Naina on hearing him, slaps him on his upper arm, though not too hard, but he does wince in pain, as it comes as a total surprise for him. He immediately takes his free hand and starts massaging where she had beaten him. He turns to look towards her whilst doing so and demands,
"Kya kar rahi ho Cadet Singh?"
Naina takes a deep breath on hearing that and reminds him that it's not her identity anymore,
"Mera naam Cadet Singh nahi hai Naina hai! Naina A..."
Before she could continue, Rajveer covers her mouth with his hand again, pushing her lightly on the bark.
(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins)
Staring straight into her eyes, he says,
"Cadet Naina Ah Singh! Cadet Singh! Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia!",
his each word comes real slow, to make her realize and remember what he said. He doesn't need to explain her further. These words are enough to give her the message of his. The warning look also tells her to not dare to argue on that with him.
With the constant gaze and forbidence to speak, and feeling the depth of his feelings for her, tears prickle down her eyes, rolling down her cheeks.
Rajveer slowly rubs off the tears as it hurts him to see her crying. Looking towards her politely, he shakes his head into negative. Naina smiles politely.
At this moment they both crave to hug each other tightly to let each other know how much they mean to each other. But their identities come in between!
Whatever might he say, deep down, during moments like these, even he can't close his eyes on the fact that she is - Naintara Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan! And he... Rajveer Singh Shekhawat. And presently he can do nothing about it... nothing!
Their moment gets disturbed by the voice of the woman -
"Meri dushmani Captain Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan se hai. Aur uss dushmani ka badla, main uski patni Naina Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan ko chont pahuncha kar; usse jaan lekar hi puri karungi!!!!"
Her statement, shocks Rajveer and Naina. Naina's heartbeat picks up pace. Her whole world seems to be spinning all over again just like it spinned when Rajveer came to her house, back to her life.
"Wo aadmi... Uss aadmi ne mere pyar ko thukraya? Mere?",
she shouts.
Rajveer dreads to look towards Naina! Fearing to witness her reaction on hearing the words. But he understands he needs to do this. She needs him right now, he understands.
Slowly Rajveer turns to look towards her and finds her numb out of shock!!!
The man she had been living with. The man she had full faith upon. Wasn't he trust worthy? But then she didn't say that he accepted her, that means he is not at fault!
But he should have told her that. This whole time she had been feeling guilty about the fact that she doesn't have feelings for Abhimanyu; that her feelings are only for Rajveer; and Abhimanyu knows about it, and is still accepting her just the way she is, a mess. But despite all that, nothing was hidden from him.
She used to feel gratitude towards him, feeling that he is a resolved person and chaotic is she between the two. And he never tried to rectify her by sharing the truth with her. At this moment she loathes him! She even hates herself for being fool to not see that!
Naina realizes, not only her identity was fake with her name Naintara. But his was also fake, despite having the same name. She realizes that's the reason that he tried to impose that fake name on her. The fake identity given to her was because by doing so he tried to hide her deeds which in his eyes are ill. Her loving Rajveer was wrong in his eyes. Her not accepting him completely as her husband was ill in his eyes. And her name Naina, reminded him of Rajveer and Naina's togetherness. Reminded him his infertility in their relationship. Reminded him that though they are married, but deep down he knew Rajveer still had way more rights and claims on her, than he had ever!
She remembers how Abhimanyu addressed her as Naina by chance today. She realizes now, that it wasn't by mistake, but it was rather to check her reaction to it and feel content by seeing her angry on being called Naina. And she gave him the reason to feel content. She hates herself for that!
She feels lajja on realizing all that!
"Naina...",
Rajveer places a hand on her shoulder to drag her out of her reverie.
As he does that, Naina feels dizzy and shifts back a little out of her dizziness. Standing a little behind her, Rajveer holds her such that his right hand is on her shoulder and left is holding her securely by her waist. He gets tensed and calls her again,
"Naina..."
The dry leaves under their feet create noise because of their light movement. But the ears of their predators are sharp enough to catch that. They turn to know about the source of sound.
"Naina... Naina... we need to run...",
says Rajveer, shaking her, his eyes gawked on their predators.
"Wo rahein dono...",
one of the men points out.
Naina somehow realizes that they need to run, she can't let her dizziness take a toll on her and hence ruin everything. Hence, she holds Rajveer's hand tightly, her eyes fixed on the predators.
Rajveer looks towards Naina boosted up with new spirit. This brims his eyes with tears. He smiles; his chest swells and in his state of happiness, he mutters,
"My Cadet Naina Singh!!!"
Naina doesn't miss hearing that! She turns to look towards him. His these four magical words, work as fuel for her.
It's Naina who takes hold of his hand and they run together away from their predators.
"Pakdo unhe... Jane mat dena...",
shouts their predator.
Soon Rajveer leads Naina.
They keep on getting deeper and deeper into the forest.
"Listen... Listen... Don't go deeper, hum raasta bhatak sakte hain.",
suggests Naina, breathing heavily, halting him, pulling him lightly by his hand, as an indication that they need to stop.
Rajveer doesn't understand why her words give him all those crazy ideas, may be darkness of the forest is the culprit? Or his starting away from her this long? Or the fact that they are holding hands tightly is the reason that without giving a second thought, and as Rajveer looks towards her, into her eyes, a naughty smile on his lips, he says,
"Deeper mein hi to maza hai Naina!"
His suddenly bold words skip her heartbeat! She stares him dumbstruck. She could feel the warming up of her cheeks. Standing inside the forest, where sun light hardly penetrates, and also it's already getting dark, the contrasting feeling sends adranaline rush to run down her spine.
"Aa..p... mere Rajveer Sir hi hain na?",
asks Naina, hesitantly, staring him, hiding her amusement.
Rajveer hiding his amusement, narrows his eyes on her and says,
"You are hurting my feelings Naina, by doubting on my identity."
Naina laughs hearing that. Which in turn makes Rajveer to laugh. This a little light hearted conversation rejuvenate them.
"Chalein?",
he asks.
Naina nods and together with a new energy, they run away, successful in escaping their predators!
"Bhaag gaye! Ab to andhera bhi itna ho gaya hai ke unhe pakadna na mumkin hoga!",
says the loser, thoroughly pissed off.
"Chalo sub! Wapas chalte hain!",
he orders all.
Together they all leave, he gives a last glance backwards but finds no one!
~*~*~
Soon they reach outside the forest.
"Ab... Ab hum kya karenge?",
asks Naina, gulping her saliva, out of tiredness.
Rajveer, tired himself, says, whilst scanning the place, holding Naina's hand,
"Naina raat ho chuki hai. I think yahin kahin rehne ka intezaam karna hoga. Aise anjan jagah mein iss andhere mein bhatakna, kahin ki samjhdari nahi hogi."
Naina realizes that he is right.
They try searching some place to stay. Their fingers still entwined together possessively. Rajveer unconsciously keeps rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand that he has been holding. Naina too unconsciously starts finding it relaxing, like a therapy.
Naina discovers an inn and while Rajveer tries searching in opposite direction, their hands still entwined together.
On discovering the inn, a smile of joy comes on Naina's face. She pats on Rajveer's shoulder lightly, her face still turned towards the inn whilst she she pats. Rajveer looks towards her to know what is it she wants to say. Naina points towards the inn and finally looks towards Rajveer. A smile comes on Rajveer's face too on discovering the inn. Naina finally looks towards Rajveer, smiling in joy. Rajveer looks back towards her, smiling himself.
Naina notices he is tired and sweating a little.
(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins)
She hesitates a little but takes her hand towards his forehead. Rajveer knits his brows unable to understand what is she upto? Naina encouraging herself silently, wipes off his sweat with her hand.
Rajveer doesn't understand why this short encounter reminds him of the moment they shared during mentorship programme where Naina removed the grass off his hair. The small gesture of hers, at that time, at that state of his, meant so much to Rajveer!
He wonders, that day she could feel nothing. Even he himself didn't acknowledge his feeling and kept a blind eye towards it. But today, he won't let the moment go unacknowledged, he thinks, determined! But would she?
They stare each other, transmitting their innate feelings for each other through their eyes.
Rajveer wonders, would she let her feelings flow this time? Or would she remain oblivion to it like last time? And even if she does realize her feelings, would she convey it to him? Or would this time if not her oblivious self but her lajja become the barrier between the two?
Rajveer blushes looking towards Naina. Naina smiles back. Together they head towards the inn.
As they reach the inn, Rajveer on the reception demands for two rooms,
"Do (2) room chahiye...",
but Naina's resting her hand on his upper arm, makes Rajveer to look towards Naina, knitting his brows, to know what is it?
Hesitating to look towards him, Naina keeps her eyes on the register that the receptionist is using to fill their details, and rectifies Rajveer's words,
"Ek... Ek room chahiye!"
(Rajveer-Naina's fast tune begins)
Rajveer stares her, numb!
Naina slowly looks towards him. Her eyes transmits her immense faith in him.
asks the receptionist, after bringing out the register.
Taking a deep breath, Rajveer staring Naina throughout, Naina too stares back, he says,
"Mr. and Mrs. Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!"
(Rajveer-Naina's fast tune continues)
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