"that's my house"
He pointed pulling the jeep by the side of the residential colony....

A decent duplex bunglow.
In a suburb area in the outskirts of Delhi....

She saw in excitement as they got down ...

"I Just wana have a quick check around....
I don't come quite often to look around....
If you don't mind ..
It will take half an hour Max"

"No problem at all sir....
Can I have a look .. too"

"Sure .... You are more than welcome ..."
He regret saying that ... When are you gonna learn to keep a control on your heart captain
He scolded himself

He unlocked the front gate .... Leading both of them in a small porch and a bed of garden at left.... With a small swing ...

The plantation was not much due to lack of care....
Still few trees managed to survive

While naina dashed on swing like an impatient kid...

"Ye jaam ka ped hai"
She asked as she inspected her surrounding

"Yeah but ... Ye season nahi hai .."
He replied

As he threw some waste aside and tidy up a bit......
Checking on the electric meter board and a small well on left aisel.

While she swing in joy....

"You wana come inside"
He asked as he opened the inside door.

And she jumped down from the swing

"You don't have any sibling na"?
She asked

"Nope just me ...
I had a dog as a kid though.... Mr. Thomas ...."

"That was his name"
She asked amused with the choice of name

"I was a nerd as a kid....
and i used to think that he is my brother....
And it use to really bug me that why don't I look like him..."

She broke out laughing as they entered the home together....
And for some reason he just checked that she set the right foot first .... Not that he would have done something is she hadn't..still

The house had a perfect 80s vibe
With earthen colour on walls and Bengali arts and  crafts.
Maple wood furniture and German chandelier.....
French decoration on one wall and a wall size fancy painting on the left hand.

"They are your parents"
She asked as she walked towards a handsome potrait of a couple in their early 30s

"You have taken after your father."
She made a comment....

"He wasn't in army right"?

"He was the collector
Jeevan "
He replied.

"Wow impressive... And your mother "?

"She was a physics professor here in Hindu College
Her name was Radhika"

"That's why you teach so well...."
She thought out loud...

"I wana see your photos "
She asked again.... As he was making a visit in the kitchen and dining room....
And she was following him aimlessly wondering around.

"Those are in my room"
He said as he opened a specific door ..

And she entered the bedroom of a classic teenage boy
With action figures and bikes posters all over
And on one wall there were boxing gloves and dart board....
But the elephant in the room was...

"Your room is pink "
She made a strong bold statement....

"Yeah my mother always wanted a girl
And she wanted to teach me from early age about equality and not to do gender bais...

"I already love your mother "
She declared impressed with the women she never met...

"Yeah she was an amazing women"
He agreed remembering her

There on one side were his photos
Some as a toddler and some as a young kid
Each of them as cute as possible....

"Awww look at you....
You were so chubby....
I wana pull those cheeks"
She was talking in a funny voice.

"No they ar gone now..."
He replied

And her eyes fell on one specific poster

"Is that Madhubala and next to her Parveen boby...."
She rolled her eyes

"Yeah I had a crush on them....
I was so sure I will marry one of them...
Then one day my dad told me that Madhubala is no more and that was my first heartbreak"

She was laughing and having a great time...
It was like some jackpot....
Knowing so much about him ....

"Can i ask what happened to your parents"?
She asked... As she hopped on bean bag and he sat on bed picking up his foot ball from floor.

"Road accident....
Dad died on spot and my mom she was unable to gather herself learning about him.
She died after a week ... "

"I was 15.....
I stayed with my Nani for a couple of years the she too expired and then I was all alone "

He didn't knew how to complete the line...

"They would have been incredibly proud of you....of they would have seen you today."

"It really hurt sometimes
They will never know about me...
What I became, what i achieved... Nothing"

"I think at the end of the day ... It's this pain that makes us what we are...
I think God has allotted certain amount of misery for everyone....
We got our respective ones ... Agar ye nahi milti to kuch aur takleef milti.... Par milti zarur.
It's inevitable I guess ..."

"Who are you and what have you done with my cadet Naina ah Singh..."
He asked with suspicious eyes and she chuckled.

"I am her dopple ganger"
She said with a dramatic spooky face

"But i agree with you....
And you know what... It really helped.... Thanks"
He smiled at her with all the affection.

"I had never thought that someday I will get counseled by you....
You have really turned the tables"

He praised her and fell in love with her some more.
She is  intellectual, pretty, witty,
She is precious

She read those thoughts on his face and blushed in her heart....

"Everything seems to be on their place i guess we should leave...."
He asked without breaking the eye contact.

And they left for nanital....

-------

The days went by
She kept patience and he kept hope.....
It's just a month left for their graduation

And he giver her a sad news...

"I will be leaving tomorrow naina"

"For where ??"
She asked a bit alarmed

"Kolkata....
You remember cl. Shashi puri ... From Major Nayar's hearing....
We have managed to set up a trap for him.
If our plan work .... Soon we can have gehlot in our hands ...
I have to lead the operation....
I had promised you that I will inform you about my whereabouts.... "

He saw her face colour changing

"You will stay in touch right?"

She took a step forward...

"I am not sure it will be a good idea."
He replied

"I have to be discrete "
He replied

"Then how will I know that if you are ok"
She asked again....

"I have put Shalini 's name  on my first next of kin list..."
They will give her any necessary update...
I have told Shalini to keep you updated as well"

She was freezed... Processing this news that she won't see him for God knows how long.

She ran her fingers through her hairs...
Biting her lips in anxiety....
Squirming in distress.

"So you are telling me that you will be leaving us .... And won't be here for our graduation...
I mean do you realise cadets will get so upset....
Ud alekh and Pooja...
Pooja will get so upset... I mean you have no idea how much it means to Pooja for you to be there when she becomes an officer."

He saw her getting hysterical and it was both concerning and funny too....and ofcourse it was a treat to know that he matters and will be missed... Or more than that.

He gently hold her hands and made her sit
And he sat beside her

"I really didn't wanted to do this to Pooja...
I am really sorry...
I will apologize personally to her ....
But you know... That's how it works in amry you get posted someplace... You do your job then you are called somewhere else for a new task.."
He made her understand as gently as possible.

"Whenever it's  possible you will atleast try to call me .... "
She pleaded.

"I will ...
And let me tell you that I will really take good care of my life....
I will keep myself safe and we will meet soon"
He said placing his one hand on her side face.

"And you promise me that you are gonna stay out of trouble "
He demands

"I will try to .... But you know how i am "
She said with a frown and it made him almost laugh.

"I hope that when next time I will see you...
You will be an officer "
He smiled

"Should I tell others that you will be leaving "
She asked

"You can tell your friends "
He replied

"Is this final goodbye "
She asked

"I guess "
He said with sadness spread across his face

"Can I hug you....."
She asked with so much vulnerable eyes

And the only thing he could do was to pull her in his embrace...
They hugged to gain strength for being apart
Getting immerse in love and affection they feel for eachother.....

"I am gonna miss you"

"I will miss you"

They said at same time....

Clutching a bit hard..

---------