Hey everyone...... hope you are doing fine....
To pep up your friday, I present part 8b of Dhoka... π
I am glad you guys liked Naina's interaction with the cadets in the last update as well as their character sketches... And of course, the shock, surprise, amusement, etc. etc. that you all felt when it was finally revealed that Naina is Navin's daughter..... π
Here we go now with Naina-Shalini interaction.. The part once again became too long (its happening often nowadays!!) and I had to split it further... Hopefully we will have part 8c up before the end of the weekend, to give you guys another jhatka.... π
Keep your comments flowing.. They are really encouraging....
PS: The part in italics in the first section is a flashback... I hope there is no confusion....
Part 8b
Naina stood at the Hall of Fame, her eyes faraway; faraway in the past. A small smile crept up her lips as she remembered her sixteenth birthday. Her birthday comes during the Dussehra holidays and usually her Nanu and Papa came to Ooty to spend a couple of days with her and Maasi, who was the principal of the residential school she studied in.
On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Naina was very sad since she had received a call from her Papa that he will not be able to meet her on her birthday as he was going away on a mission. She knew that her father always placed the Nation and his duty before anything else and so she had cheerfully wished him luck and disconnected the phone. Only when she reached her room did she release the tears she had been holding, missing her Papa and wishing he was there with her.
Close to midnight, she heard a gentle tap on her room window and she looked up from the picture of her parents that she had been gazing at. "I am on the third floor. Who can come knocking at my window? That too at midnight.." she wondered before making her way slowly towards the window. She peeped over the sill and gasped in fright at the black-hooded figure hanging from the pipe close to her window. She hurriedly switched on the lights and was about to call for help when she heard that voice.
"Bacha.. mein hi hoon. Ghabraa mat.." and Navin pulled the mask he was wearing, revealing his handsome face to his daughter. Shocked to see her father climbing up her window like a thief, she opened the window to let him in. Once Navin climbed in, he made sure he had not attracted anyone's attention and turned to his daughter, spreading his arms wide. Naina rushed into his arms and flung her arms around him, sobbing in delight. They stayed that way for a few minutes before Navin gently pulled her from him at the sound of twelve chimes from a clock somewhere.
"Happy birthday bacha.." he whispered cupping her face before kissing her forehead. Naina once again hugged him before leaving him angrily and turning away. "Arey mein tujhe dekhne keliye aaya hoon aur tuu mooh latkaa kar jaa rahi hai"
"Mein aapse baath nahi karoongi. Pehle aap aane se manaa kardiya aur ab chor ki tharah aake mujhe daraadiya" she pouted earning a chuckle from him.
"Sorry bacha.. mein tujhe surprise karna chahta tha. Isliye tujse nahi kaha ki mein aa raha hoon. I had planned to jump into your room and wake you up right at midnight but my plans failed because you had the window closed like a good girl" he smiled before pulling her to him once again. "Apne papa ko maaf nahi karogi"
She could not hold on to her fake anger for long and hugged him with a "Thank you Papa. Aap world ke best papa ho"
A few minutes later, Navin was stretched out on his daughter's cot while she excitedly unwrapped the gold watch he had got for her as a gift. She loved it and promised him that she would wear it always. Remembering something, she suddenly asked him. "Waise Papa, kya Nanu aur Maasi jaante hai ki aap aarahe hai" He grinned mischievously before replying. "Jab mein teri maa ko chupke se dekhne keliye pipe chadha kar gayaa tha, tab bhi unn dono ko patha nahi chala. Ab kya jaanenge"
She joined her father in the laughter and the duo had a great time with each other, in their own small world. Finally when Navin kissed her head and left, she stood at the window waving her hand, even long after he had gone, dreaming of many such happy occasions in their lives.
Unfortunately, that was the last time she saw her Papaβ¦
Naina blinked her eyes and hurriedly wiped the lone drop of tear on her cheek when she heard her name being called by one of the orderlies. "Aap Nainaji haina? Captain Rajveer ne aapko infirmary mein Dr.Shalini se milne keliye kaha" he informed her and left after giving directions to the infirmary.
Yeh Dr.Shalini kaun hai? Mein kyun unse miloon? Teek hai, agar Rajveer keh raha hai tho teek hi hoga, she decided and went in search of the unknown Dr.Shalini.
***
Naina had just stepped through the doors of the infirmary when she saw the same lady she had met in the morning rushing towards her. Shalini came towards Naina and catching her hand in her's, pumped it vigorously. "Hi Naina.. Mein Dr.Shalini.. Yahaan KMA mein meri posting abhi abhi hui hai. It's a pleasure meeting you.." with a wink she added "once again".
Naina smiled at her and waited patiently for Shalini to finish before she opened her mouth. "Hello Dr.Shalini.. Hume bhi aapse milke bohuth khushi hui hai. Subha bhi aur ab bhi" Shalini looked at her open-mouthed at the naughty remark and burst out laughing, both of them remembering their meeting at the doorway of Rajveer's house a few hours ago. "Waise you could have told me about yourself in the morning. You were so silent.." "Aapne kahaan hume baath karne diye".
Chuckling at Naina's mischievous taunts, Shalini ushered her in towards the sofa placed at one end of the doctor's room and seated herself at the other sofa. She did not want to intimidate Naina by taking her immediately to the examination room. A few minutes passed with the ladies chatting about general things, during which they formed a bond of friendship - of course Shalini doing most of the talking - before Shalini asked her hesitantly.
"Waise Naina, kya tum jaante ho tum yahaan infirmary kyun aaye ho?"
"Rajveer ne kaha ki hum aapse mile. Kyun, yeh hume nahi patha" she replied honestly.
With a mischievous smile, Shalini looked at Naina. "Arey waah.. Rajveer ne kaha aur tum bina sawaal pooche aagayi.. Kya bharosa hai.. pati ke upar" Hearing Shalini referring to Rajveer as her 'pati' Naina's cheeks flamed red and she looked down blushing.
Shalini chuckled before holding one of Naina's hands in hers. "Naina.. Raj tumhari bohuth parwaa karta hai. Woh chahta hai ki mein tumhari checkup kardoon. He told me everything that happened to you and I am very sorry about it. But will you cooperate with me?" she asked softly as Naina's face lost the smile and some of its color.
Naina looked up at Shalini with brimming eyes and faintly nodded her head, giving her permission to proceed. Shalini led Naina to the examination room and closing the door behind them, asked her to step out of her clothes and wear the hospital gown. As Naina was changing behind the screen, Shalini started speaking, sensing that she had become uncomfortable. "Tumhe patha hai Naina? Rajveer and I were batch-mates here at KMA. Infact, I am your husband's closest friend. We had quite a lot of fun as cadets when we were here but the best fun was when we were participating in competitive games and drills. I tell you, Rajveer was the best cadet KMA has produced. And he was quiet even back then but he has become a total sadoo nowadays.. "
As she was speaking, she helped Naina to lie down on the examination table and she could see her efforts were rewarded when she saw a relaxed smile on Naina's face. Wearing her coat and gloves, she turned to Naina while continuing lightly "..lagta hai Rajveer bhudda ho raha hai" She was completely not prepared for the reply from Naina. "Aap unke batch-mate thhey. Agar woh bhudda ho raha hai tho kya aap bhi bhudde ho rahe ho"
Shalini received her second jhatka since meeting Naina merely twenty minutes ago and she was once again left open-mouthed. As Naina smiled at her innocently, Shalini did not miss the naughtiness in her eyes and burst out laughing along with Naina. "You are one of a kind, Naina" she said while thinking fondly to herself. Yeh kitni bholi dikhti hai uthni hai hi nahi. Bachu Raj, tum kahaan phas gaye yeh tumhe khud patha nahi. Naina tumhare liye ekdum perfect haiβ¦
Shalini kept talking while she checked Naina's wounds in her head and throat. She lightly palpitated the area around the wound and looked at Naina when she winced slightly. "Did you lose conscious at any point of time?" Naina nodded her head before replying, "I think.. for a few minutes.. everything had turned black" As Naina recounted everything in her mind, a shiver passed through her and fear clouded her eyes. Her face lost color and her hands trembled, which were immediately caught by Shalini and pressed reassuringly.
"I am sorry for putting you through this again Naina. But I need to do my duty.." When she saw that Naina had managed to compose herself, she continued asking her some other questions. Shalini loosened the gown slightly to check Naina's body and removed the bandage around her chest that Naina had wrapped from Rajveer's first aid kit after her shower. She let out a gasp seeing the scratches and burn mark on her chest and caught Naina's hands as support when she saw her shedding a couple of drops of tears. She checked the wounds for infection and cleaned them once again before re-bandaging them professionally and asked her hesitantly.
"Naina, I hope you don't mind me asking. But as a doctor I need to know everything. Did.. did that Mishra.. did he.. rape you?" Naina closed her eyes and shuddered. Seeing her state, Shalini added hurriedly "I mean, you don't have to answer me. I need to do a few tests and I will come to know myself but I want you to tell me. I want you to face it Naina"
Naina had her eyes closed for a minute before opening them and looking at Shalini bravely. "No" she spoke hoarsely. "He did torture me.. he.. he slapped me.. threw me against the table.. he hurt me.. cig.. cigarette butt se.. but he did not.. he did not.." she swallowed hard and continued in a stronger voice "Rajveer came before he could do anything. He saved me from that sick man. I would have killed myself if Rajveer had not come" she choked on the words while Shalini smoothed her hair in a motherly way and wiped her tears away.
After that, the examination proceeded silently and when Shalini was satisfied there was nothing that needed immediate attention, she asked Naina to change into her clothes and meet her outside. Naina was greatly composed by the time she returned to Shalini's room and was silently thankful for the cup of steaming coffee kept there for her, while Shalini was busy writing down something. "Baito Naina. Mein ek minute mein aayi"
Naina sat sipping the coffee while Shalini made herself comfortable next to her. "Naina, you are fine physically. I would just like to get a CT done, merely to rule out any concussion. If you feel nauseaous or dizzy you will inform me immediately, okay?" As Naina nodded her head, she continued. "I have also prescribed a few tablets which you can get from the pharmacy here. They are mainly antibiotics and vitamin tablets. Don't forget to take your medicines on time" she added smiling as she thought to herself..
Naina, the biggest wound is not on your body. It's in your mindβ¦ And I.. she corrected herself mentally ..we will help you face itβ¦
Shalini had informed Naina that she will 'drop' Naina at Rajveer's quarters and the duo made their way towards the staff quarters, chatting along the way. As they rounded a corner in the corridor, everything happened in a blink of an eye.
As Naina rounded the corner, all she saw was a blur before a tall figure slammed into her, the inertia of the collision causing both Naina and the figure to collapse on the floor, Naina beneath the man.
***
~Yeti
Precap----------- Shalini learns something shocking! (I know, same thing as last update, but I can't help it... π)Edited by himalayanyeti - 16 years ago
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