It was a regular ruckus.... In the head office
Alekh and huda were summoned from their CO to have an update over an operation.

"Captain puri is transferred in another division,
Shortly two new officers will be joining the team....
They should have probably been here now."

And while they were wondering and taking down the instructions from the the CO

They heard a knock and two officers made their way inside
Alekh and huda were looking from their peripheral vision....
When the officers saluted the CO and introduce themselves

"Captain rajveer singh shekhawat
And captain Adil Malik reporting sir."

Huda and alekh almost jumped from their seats and alekh was so sure that he wouldn't have stopped huda would have hugged rajveer
Rajveer saw this too and suppress his amusement
He was happy to see his former cadets as officers here with him
And their excitement towards him.

Alekh and huda saluted rajveer and Adil too
And the four of them settled down to learn about the operation in hand

Both were supposed to assist rajveer and Adil
While all Alekh could think was
Does naina know.

---------

Once out of the cabin
Huda finally let himself carried away and hugged rajveer in excitement
While alekh made a warm form handshake
Letting him know that how happy they are with him being here.

Adil made a comment saying that both are exactly as Raj has explained.

"Bas sir ka ashirwad tha
Warna hum sab to kab ka KMA  se bahar the.
Huda told Adil and he was already liking both of them

"Cadet huda.... Stop buttering me....
Yaha main apka  phelaya hua raita bilkul saaf nahi karunga"

"Are sir .... Pehle to ap ye batao ke ap kaha gayab the...
Na koi contact na koi call...."

And thet both slipped easily in their old form.
Telling him everything about the work and place...
They were heading towards the mess for breakfast and alekh was expecting naina to be there ...

He just prayed that she doesn't jump and kiss him...
That will be hard to explain

"Wo naina aur Pooja bhi idharich hai
Women military police department mein."
Alekh slipped it casually and he noticed that he wasn't surprised

"Obviously"
Alekh thought

He must have been keeping tabs...

And that's how they entered the mess talking and laughing

And Rajveer's eyes were already scanning the mess to see her face.....
And it finally got settled in a corner table
Where she amd pooja were discussing something....

Pooja was the first one to see him
And she clutch naina's hand on table to make her look in excitement
But the gesture was so visibly obvious that they had to pretend that they didn't saw it

And finally she turned towards where Pooja was directing and she froze

After months he was there walking towards her
Any minute she will be talking to him
And she went numb...

He was having a different kind of effect

Adil got a call and he excused himself and left
And by now they were on the table

Both unable to break the eye contact nor the silence

Pooja got up and approach him to dilute the awkward setup

"Sir we finally got your connection back"

Rajveer turned to Pooja and smiled genuinely

"I am so happy that you guys came into my network again"
He replied selecting words carefully..

And Pooja was about to hug him ...

When it was the time to address the elephant in the room.

He turned to naina and Naina got up from the seat

"You are safe"
She exhaled in relief....

"Yeah i mean ....
I tried my best "
He replied.... Not sure what to say

Both clueless about what to say.
What can you say to the person you love but hasn't confessed yet
She use to think about all the stuff she will say to him when they will meet
And now when he stands in front of her
She is wondering how the hell did she make through all those months... without him.

Alekh huda and Pooja were glad that they are only witness of these awkward, strange encounter....
Where both are behaving as weird as they can.

"Apun ko na kal se acidity ho rahi hai...
Chai peene ka man nahi kar raha."
Alekh announced

"Han yar qaidi mujhe bhi..."
Huda said in a rush

"Maine to peeli"
Pooja said as she picked up her empty cup...

And three of them made a quick u turn.

Leaving rajveer and naina perplexed .... With the audacity of her friends...

On there way out huda caught Ajay 's hand who was approaching towards Naina to sit for breakfast...

"Chal.... Aj chai nahi peena hai.. acidity hai"
Alekh told him.

"Kisko "
Ajay asked confused

"Apan sabko"
Alekh replied bluntly

"Par mujhe acidity nahi hai"
Ajay replied

"Tereko hai tereko malum nahi hai"
Alekh gave him the news.

And utterly confused Ajay got dragged by them.

While both sat in an awkward silence

"You are doing a great job here..."
He admired her

This is the safest and easiest topic to start with.

"I am trying my best....
And i am so glad you are here....
You are gonna be around right"?

She asked her first concern

"Yupp
I am posted here for a while atleast"

"I am happy that you are safe and healthy"

He can see her face glowing and eyes shimmering....

"Aahhh can i get you something
Coffee right "?

"That's fine Naina i will help myself "
He was about to get up when she she jumped from her chair in lightning speed

"No sir....you please sit ..
I will get it "

She left the table for counter and on her way she realised that this was soo uncalled and out of line....
She doesn't have to do this....
This is not normal.

What were you thinking Naina ....
Can you please look less desperate ... Urrggghhhh

She cursed herself....
While rajveer made a quick check to see if anyone saw this

She came back with coffee and sandwich
A bit nervous and clumsy....

"Thanks Naina ... "
He replied fidgeting himself about how to conduct himself.

They are not student teacher now
Dynamic has changed
So  can he now change his approach

Can he now take some liberty and be informal.
He is still her senior though

All these months he has played nanadini's lines in his head like a record.....
She feels for him too ...
Her blush her squirming her happy nervousness
It's speaking volume.

And what's with these idiot monkeys
Why did they left them alone like this.
Do they know too??

Ohhh this not knowing and this uncertainty.
If only he had the superpower of reading minds.

I know it's not much
But i am really busy...
I need a day or two to get the flow back