"Are u even listening "?
She is fidgeting on her chair from last 10 mins
Filling her best friend with all the details of how she did something so stupid .

"Han samajh gaya
Tune sir ki class li ... To kya....
You have done worst to him"
He said not with the intention of pointing out some uncomfortable truth....

He saw her face falling

"Sorry
Mun se nikal gaya
Apun ka wo matlab nahi tha"
He hold her hand resting on the table

She nodded in agreement

"You are right though....
I have done some terrible things to him....
But that's for another day to deal with..."
She said lost in some deep thoughts.

"Dekh Naina...
I am sure sir offend nahi honge ...
You have special subscription in his life..."
He tried to explain

"But I should apologise "
She argued

"Sorry won't hurt I guess "
He replied....
An intimate conversation will only help them to move forward.... In whatever lane they are walking.
He thought.

--------
"So aur kis kis cadet ne akar danta apko...
Or is it just your protege "
She teased him ..as she was changing his bandage

"Plz doc....
Itni gossip is hazardous for health."
He replied

"I think it's good ...
Cuts are not deep....
Just don't do planks ..... If you know what I mean ..."
She said biting her lips making an innocent face.

While his eyes came out of his socket

"Shalini plz.... Plz try to put filter in your mouth"
He made a genuine request.... totally flushed out with her remark...

While she chuckled ....

"Relax captain....
Main sach mein normal exercise ki bat kar Rahi hun....
Kyunki wo dusre wale plank ke liye... You need a girlfriend.... Jo apke pas hai nahi....
And you r not one night stand or hook up type .... Itna to I know you...."

She was wrapping up the chord of bp machine.

He dipped his head on the cushions kept on back.

"What about you....
Do you believe in theory of no strings attached...
He asked her....
Raising his head again....
"It's trending now"

She gave a thought as she neatly placed the machine inside the bag...

"I actually do..... sometimes
It's very tiring to invest yourself emotionally
It can be really tough if your partner is emotionally unavailable."
She got stuck in a moment,her hands paused and he saw her zoning out....

And before he can take a lead on this conversation so that she can talk more... As clearly some chords have been move....
Abhimanyu came with pizza boxes....and beer bottles....

"So which horror movie are we watching"
He was chirpy as always and Shalini resumed back with happy and cheerful appearance

Rajveer saw the shift
He saw the darkness spreading on her face for a brief moment and how she erased it away quickly.

"Evil dead"
She announced with excitement

"Doc please
That is very nasty.... "
abhimanyu comments

"Annabel is also good"
Abhimanyu suggested.

While the two kept suggesting names rajveer wondered what her demons are..... That are bothering her .

---------------

They never got chance to speak after the first encounter since his return.
They crossed paths a couple of time during drills and classes....
Exchanging a nod and greeting....
Both making an effort to talk casually
But obviously they can't talk around all the people.... About their issue....

He wondered if he should call her to talk ... But then he didn't...

It's Sunday morning

The morning drill is off and and when most of the cadets devour this extra sleep time
Naina was taking her morning walk as she crossed the premises and spotted him in the basketball court.

His Athletic persona is so charismatic
She started walking towards his direction
Her legs moving in their own accord.
This pull which she feels nowdays towards him
Like a moth gets pulled towards the flame.

He sensed someone walking to him and he turned to find her there
In her morning track suit..... Hairs tied neatly in a pony
And morning freshness on her face.....
A lip tint and she is wearing his watch.

"Good morning sir"
She greeted him with subtle voice

"Very good morning".
A warm smile spread on his face.....
Now this is what you call a good start of the day.

"So you are not greedy for sleep"
He asked as he bounced the ball on floor.

"And you are not either"
She replied with a smile.

They exchange a small grin and they know now is the time to talk about it

"I am sorry"
"I am sorry"

They both said in synchronisation

"I should go first"
She said in a rush

"I totally overstepped.....
What business do I have to ask you such questions....
I mean you are not liable to tell me anything.
Still you always go out of the way to help me
And I am one ungrateful person....
I am terribly sorry.....
Please forgive me.

It's just that I feel like i have mourned of a lifetime already and I have no strength left to loose anymore important people....
But again, thats my problem....
I should learn to deal with it....
I can't keep telling people to do things according to my convenience...

Hence.... I promise that I will mind my behaviour in future.

She completed her part and waited for him to say something
But he was just mesmerized with her words
He took a deep breath and bounced the ball once again.... Before looking at her with all the focus in the world

His gaze so smooth that she feels like melting.

"First of all.....
Stop worrying because I am not at all offended.....
In addition, I actually owe you an apology.
I should have drop a hint or something before leaving, considering the amount of time we spend together analysis various aspects of Naveen's case.

It's obvious that I left you in cliffhanger
I got a small beating from abhi too regarding this"
He accepted

And she giggled along with him

"Further to this....
It's just that.... It's my first time"
He said and Naina narrow her eyebrows as she didn't get what he said.

"What do you mean "
She asked and he saw her with such a vulnerability that she almost felt like hugging him.

He took a deep sigh again

"I am a loner Naina....
Like Mr. Bachchan once said....

Apne age na peeche
Na koi upar neeche
Ronewala..... Na koi ronewali....

He tried to joke but niana didn't find it funny at all.

"Army seeks my kind of officers for covert missions.....
Main gayab hota hun wapas ata hun.... Kabhi kisi ko farak nahi pada.... Aur mujhe aise hi adat ho gayi....
So.... U see Mera tumhe pareshan karne ka bilkul intention nahi tha.
I never knew that you will get so bothered because aj se pehle kabhi kisi ne bina bataye Jane ki liye itna nahi danta.

But now I have learnt my lesson and it won't be repeated in future....
Pinky promise"

He said with a wink and smile

But naina felt a prick in her heart with his words.

"In that case you should know that your safety really matters to me and
And whenever you will go somewhere again....

I will be waiting "

She said with so honesty and longing in her voice that if they would have been in a closed walls..... He would have pulled her for a bone crushing hug.....
He even fascinated for a moment that he is kissing her with all his love

But he immediately switched off the thought
But it was too late because Naina already saw some colour of desire on his face....
It was a very new expression for her ....
The veil was down for a moment and she took a quick peek in his eyes ....
And she saw some alien emotion there

The fact that they are standing in an open ground in their  subconscious mind was the only thing that kept him in check.... Or today he would have done a blunder.

The air has gone tensed around them and she can feel a different kind of energy flowing between them.

She felt as if she is burning for his touch , to be in his arms so that she can actually feel that she is very much alive and here with her.

He was just a step away
And she was about to reach out for him when rajveer read her thoughts and decided to knock some sense in his own head...

"Care for a match"
He diffused the tension and took a step away....
And Naina came out from her trance and took a deep breath and smile

"Definately sir....."

She tightened her pony and got prepared

"Harne  Wale ko breakfast ki apne hisse ki Jalebi Deni padegi....
And suriji makes the best jalebi in the world
Soch samajh ke bet lagana "
He warned her with a naughty smile

And she got peppy in no time.... Ready to play along

"I am ready to risk my share of jalebi"
She stated

And they started playing basketball....

He kept bouncing ball in speed and Naina was hovering over....
He was not ready to give up the ball.

And Naina was amazed with his competitive spirit....
He teased her and made fun of her...
Even tricked her to get the ball back whenever she try to overtake it
He was playing really well ...

But naina finally was able to make a basket.

And she jumped up and down in victory....

"I am soo sorry sir....
You will not be getting any jalebi "
She danced in fun

And he felt his heart filling with joy , it's good when she laugh .....
It suits her

"That's fine
I will try to live with that"
He said in a melodramatic tone as they walked together towards the mess for breakfast.

______

Come on people
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