Part- 1
Shalini started to make some tea for all of them while Naina and
Kunal sat on the sofa to relax.
"So, how was your KMA experience so far, shalu?" Kunal asked while
looking around in the room.
"So far so good, but now it's going to be fabulous since you two
are here." Shalu answered while putting tray of cups on the table.
Naina- Did you find anything about Naveen bhaiya?
{Naina is
Naveen's sister and she decided to join another military academy instead of KMA
with her brother. Kunal and Shalini are helping her to solve Naveen's case as
all three of them believed that Naveen was trapped and he couldn't be a
traitor.}
Shalini- Well not much… All I know is that Suriji & Major Niar
were here for a long time as well as BC so they should know something. Major
Niar & BC won't help us out in anyway but may be we can get some useful
information from suriji.
Kunal-Hmmm… Who are other faculty members?
Shalini- There are five others, and four of them only joined in the
beginning of this semester. Lolitaji was here for last three years, and there
is Dr. Ritu Mishra who is a psychiatrist here. And other three are Captain
Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, Captain Abhimanyu Ray Chauhan and his wife Dr.
Nandini.
Naina seemed shocked to hear last three names and Kunal &
Shalini both noticed that.
Kunal- Is something wrong Naina?
Naina- Captain Rajveer, Captain Abhimanyu and Dr. Nandini were
Naveen bhaiya's batch mates and very good friends.
Shalini- So does that mean, they met you before and they know you
now... if that's the case than we have a bigger problem because if they know
about you then you can't find any information about Naveen.
Naina- No, they know that I exist but they never met me because
when bhaiya brought them only once at Diwali but at that time, I was in Shimla
with you guys.
Kunal- Thank God, but do you think they know anything about
Naveen's case?
Naina- Don't know but I don't think we can trust them enough to
reveal anything about us or specially me.
Shalini- You are right… Even though they were once Naveen's
friends; we don't know how they feel about him now so it's better if they don't
know anything about you being Naveen's sister.
Naina- Yes, but right now we have to meet Brigadier Chandook for
our postings.
Kunal- Yeah, we should head to his office and when we are finished,
we will see you in the mess for some lunch.
Shalini- Ok, then I will see you at lunch.
Shalini got back to her desk to do some work, while both Kunal and
Naina reported to BC for their duties where BC gave them a warm welcome to the
academy. They decided to unpack their bags and freshen up before lunch as it
was tiring journey for them.
***************
Kunal was ready within minutes and headed back to infirmary to talk
to shalini but Naina was thinking about what shalini had said about faculty
members. She didn't meet any of them yet but some of them were her brother's
friends and even suriji knew Naveen well too.
It gave her strange feeling to be in KMA where her brother was
studied and became best cadet pass out and at the same place he was being
convicted a traitor while he was on duty. She was so deep in thoughts that she
didn't realize that it was lunch time. She didn't even look around her room or
unpack. Naina left everything the way it was because she promised shalini to be
on time for lunch.
Naina was going through the hallway where she collided with someone
who was in hurry, and she almost fell on the ground but that person's reactions
were quick enough to hold her mid-way and his grip was strong enough to keep
her steady.
He helped her up and they both looked at each other. As soon as
Naina looked at him, she recognized him immediately. The person was no other
than Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, her brother Naveen's best friend. She had
seen many photos of him and her brother together.
Raj- I am really sorry; I didn't see you at all.
Naina (smiled) - It's ok. You saved me from falling on the ground
so no harm done.
Raj- Are you new here? I have never seen you here before.
Naina- Hi, I am Captain Naina Singh… and you are?
She offered her hand for hand shake, and Raj shook her hand with a
smile.
Raj- My name is Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, and I heard you
were coming here. You are Shalini's friend right?
Naina- Yes and I was finding a way to go to the mess as I promised
her that we would eat lunch together.
Raj- Well good, I am on my way there too, so let's go…
Naina- You must be too hungry…
Raj- Why did you ask?
Naina- Well you were in a great hurry to get your food that you
almost ran me over on ground.
Raj looked at her for a second and burst out laughing at her joke.
It was really small one but it seemed like to Raj that Captain Naina Singh had
a certain kind of humor.
They both made their way to the mess where Kunal had already met
Dr. Ritu, Captain Abhimanyu, Nandini and Suriji.
"You must be Naina," Nandini started off, as she saw an unfamiliar
face with Raj. Naina nodded and nandini continued. "I'm Captain Nandini. We
were just asking about you."
Naina gave her a small smile, "It's really nice to meet all of
you," she told her and then she turned to Abhimanyu and Ritu, "And you must be
Dr. Ritu and Captain Abhimanyu; Captain Rajveer just told me about you on our
way over here."
"And where did you find Raj?" Ritu asked her, "Normally, he runs
away from women as far as I know."
"We just collided in the hallway, Dr. Mishra and for your information, I don't
run away from women" Raj answered her sounding a little bothered.
Meanwhile Suriji came in while Kunal and Raj shook hands with each
other.
Suriji had his usual smile on his face, "Good morning, so these are
our new faculty members and your old friends, Dr. Shalini." Suriji asked her.
"Yes Suriji, this is Naina…and
this is Kunal" Shalini answered with a small smile.
He shook Naina's and Kunal's hand enthusiastically. "Welcome to the academy!"
"Well suriji, how about some lunch before any one of us start to
get unconscious…" Abhi joked with him.
Suriji nodded and went to prepare some plates for them. As they
were chattering away while eating, Ritu seemed little upset when Raj offered a
plate to Naina; a gesture which he normally didn't give anyone to or especially
to any girl. But no one seemed to notice in all fun.
They were chattering while
Rajveer came to the counter where suriji was standing. They both looked back at
the table.
"Dr. Shalini's friends seem quite nice, aren't they suriji?" Raj
spoke, "They will get along with cadets too."
"Yeah, it seems so...," Suriji answered while thinking something,
"You know Captain Naina Singh reminds me of somebody, I just can't work out whom…"
And he left the sentence hanging while Raj looked at her with a thoughtful look
too.
Raj (to himself) - I don't know but those beautiful eyes do remind
of someone…
His thoughts were broken when everyone finished their lunch and
went back to their offices as it was almost time for first year cadets to turn
up for lunch after Major Niar's drill. Both Naina and Kunal went straight back
to their rooms as they were tired.
Naina quickly drifted off to sleep in her room as she just wanted
to relax and stop thinking about difficult things in her life for once.
*****************
Four hours
later, Kunal knocked on the door and Naina opened up to see who was at the
door. She was still rubbing her eyes as she woke up few minutes ago still tired
from the long journey.
Kunal was ready in his casual jeans and t-shirt, and Shalini stood
beside him in jeans and t-shirt while they both looked at her with question.
Naina- What happened? Are you two going somewhere?
Kunal- Not me… You, I and shalini were supposed to go to dinner at
this Chinese restaurant outside Ambala.
Naina- Sorry guys, but it seems that I won't be able to make it. I
am just too tired to go out today.
Shalini (sighed) - All right, then some other time…
Naina- No, you guys go ahead… Don't cancel the plan and you two
like Chinese food much more than me so don't miss the opportunity. I will eat
my dinner at the mess tonight.
Kunal- All right, then we are going to hold you for some other
time. You take rest…
Shalini- And yeah, don't forget to eat your dinner.
Naina (mocked) - Yes sir and Yes ma'am… I will follow your orders.
Both shalini and Kunal headed to the academy's gate where they met
Raj on the way.
Raj- Hey guys, going somewhere?
Kunal- Yeah, we were just headed for dinner outside tonight… just
us friends to catch on… I hope you are not disappointed for not being invited…
Raj- Well just a little but where is Naina?
Shalini- Well she is too tired to go out tonight but Raj can you do
me a favor and give her company tonight at the mess for dinner…
Raj- Sure will do, Doc… but next time you have to invite me along
too…
Shalini (smiled) – Deal…
********************
An hour later, Raj knocked softly on the door outside Naina's room
and but when he received no answer he was about to go back when the door was opened
and Naina was at the door in simple salwaar-kameez with her hair loose. Raj was
speechless as how adorable she looked in that simple attire and simple look.
Naina was looking at him strangely to figure out what was he doing
at her door at that time and why he was looking at her like that.
Naina- Yes, Is there anything I can do for you?
Rajveer- Sorry, it was just when Dr. Shalini left for dinner, she
told me to give company tonight for dinner so…
Naina- Why don't you come in, captain…
Rajveer- Only on one condition… Call me Raj… I hate these
formalities…
Naina- well then Raj, you have to call me Naina from now on…
Raj- Ok, then it's a deal…
And he came inside. He looked around the room which was nicely
decorated and he seemed impressed.
Raj- well you are really a good decorator as this room looks quite
nice and different when it was before you came here.
Naina- Thanks… I took interior design course when I was in college.
If you just give me a minute, I will ready for the dinner.
Raj- All right…
Naina went in the bedroom to get something and five minutes later,
she locked the door and both of them were at the mess for dinner. It was quite
at the time in the mess. Abhi & Nandini had their dinner in the room so
they weren't joining Raj tonight.
They both sat at a table and Raj went to get some food for both of
them despite Naina's protest of getting her own food herself. Raj knew how
tired she really was from her facial expressions.
Naina was just watching Raj talking with Suriji, when the mess
began to fill up, cadets walking in the door. A group of five walked in,
looking tired. They were no other than our favorite five cadets.
Sherry- This Major Niar is killing us man, why does he have to give us such
exercises…
Ali- Sherry, it's good for us to do maximum exercise so we can be
strong for difficult drills.
Pooja- Oy, Ali rehne de… Ye Muchchad to hamari battery ek din gul
kar dega… Sherry is right; he doesn't have to give us such strenuous exercises
right now. It's just starting of our semester.
Aalekh- Tum logo ke behaz karne se Major Niar apni harkate bandh
nahi karega to apun to kehta hai ki eat more, and sleep well with my bottle and
do all the exercises he gives us.
Huda- Yeah, and unlike you guys I have to keep my charm on warna
KMA ki jananiyon ka kya hoga to tum sab ye bahez karo main chala apna naya
crush ki talash main.
And he looked around to find some pretty girl cadet to eat dinner
with when he spotted Naina sitting there alone.
Huda- Wow what a gorgeous lady; I must introduce myself.
Pooja looked over in the direction that Huda was pointing to where Naina was
sitting.
Ali- I think she is new here.
Sherry- Well and I think that this is one of the teachers bhaiya
was talking about the other day.
Pooja- Wait Huda…She is our new teacher……
But Huda was already left to introduce himself and Aalekh smirked.
Aalekh- Chal, apun chal kar tamasha dekhte hai.
Huda went to Naina's table and sat opposite to her pulling up the
chair.
Naina was amused while Huda started the conversation without
letting her say anything.
Huda- Hello, I am Amardeep Huda. I am first year cadet here; you
must be visiting our academy. So what a beautiful lady like you doing here in
KMA?
Raj turned around holding the plates of food to find Huda talking in his usual
style to Naina while Naina's face showed a small but amused smile. Raj shook
his head in disbelief and headed over. Meanwhile Ali, Aalekh, Sherry &
Pooja also arrived at the table.
"You know Huda, I think this is…" Pooja started to tell him, but
she stopped as she saw Captain Rajveer standing there with two plates. He put
the plates down on the table while Naina gave him a small smile.
"Ah, Cadet Huda." Raj announced cheerfully, "I can see that you've met Captain
Naina Singh." Then he turned to Naina. "You know Naina; you are the only
teacher who got this warm welcome from Cadet Huda for very first time."
Huda just stared first at both of them with shock.
Naina- Then I must be special, isn't that right cadet Huda?
Huda stood up from the chair looking embarrassed, "Sorry, sir, I
was just trying to welcome her to the academy, ma'am."
Raj- Well that's very nice of you, Cadet Huda
Naina (trying to hide her smile) - And I really liked your
welcoming style, cadet.
Pooja- Hello ma'am, I am cadet Pooja ghai…
Raj- And this is Cadet Ali beigh, Cadet Aalekh Sharma and Cadet
Sherry Gehlot. Raj introduced them to Naina.
"It's nice to meet all of you," Naina told them, "And I am looking forward to
get to know all of you in our classes together from tomorrow."
Sherry- yeah well, we will leave you to eat your dinner now…
And all of them were left to get the food while Raj sat opposite to
Naina and he noticed that she was still looking amused.
Raj- Don't worry, they are good cadets. Sometimes, they got up to
mischief but I think they liked you.
Naina- Yeah well two of them were very cheerful while other three
were bit serious.
Raj was impressed as how Naina observed the cadets only in one meeting.
Raj- Well yeah, Ali is little shy while Pooja is obsessed with
mobile phones and Huda can't stop himself from flirting with every pretty girl
he sees. Aalekh is just more mature as he had seen a lot in his life.
Naina- And what about Cadet Sherry?
Raj- Well, Sherry is just a little complicated. I mean she used to be so sweet
if you have met her four years ago but now she is totally different person.
Naina- So you already know cadet sherry from before?
Raj- Actually she is my sister.
Naina looked at him with a question and Raj told her a little about
Lala gehlot being his mentor and Sherry being his daughter.
Naina- Well, I think that she is adjusting to a new environment.
And as I can see she already has four great friends so you shouldn't worry too
much.
Raj looked at her bit overwhelmed as she was the first person who
was giving him advice to look positive aspect of the situation beside his
friends.
Raj- You know now I know that why shalini talked so much about her
friends. You are the kind of person who can understand other people's problems
so easily.
Naina (bit sadly) - It's because, I also had my share of similar
problems too. So I can understand your situation.
Raj noticed sadness in her eyes but before he can ask anything
about that matter, Naina quickly changed the topic to KMA's academics and other
things.
After the dinner, they both bid each other good night and dispersed
to their respective rooms. Raj was feeling really happy after such a long time
as he found himself a new friend and it seemed great to know Naina only in one
day. Naina was also happy that Raj seemed like a person who she can trust. She
heard a lot of things about him from her brother. But there was still doubt in
back of her mind that how would Raj feel or behave if he knew the truth about
her.
**********************
That's it for today…
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