Someone knocks the door of Rajveer's room.

"Come in!",

he orders, whilst trying to apply medicine on his elbow, sitting on the sofa. But the sharp pain becomes an obstacle each time he tries to fold his arm to reach the elbow properly. The door opens and Rajveer looks up to see who it is. To his surprise, he finds Naina standing at the door with a first-aid box in her hands.

'Morey jiya main kya tere bin...'

"Kya main ander aa sakti hun?",

she asks nervously. Rajveer nods to a 'yes' slowly, staring her throughout.

'Morey jiya tu mera palchin!'

Naina walks into his room, bolting the door behind her. Rajveer pays attention to her each move. She looks at him, finding him staring her, makes her heart to skip a beat and she lowers her eyes quickly.

She reaches to his sofa and kneels near the handle of the sofa. Rajveer keeps staring her, mesmerized by her beauty. In her kurti of a combination of white and dark blue she looks even more beautiful.

"Haath agey kijiye...",

she orders him. Her bossiness makes Rajveer to smile. He obeys her like an obedient child.

Naina applies the ointment on his wound quietly. At the first contact of the ointment and the wound, Rajveer hisses in pain. Pausing, Naina stares him, her eyes reflecting her anger and disappointment in him, but of course it was all fake!

"Aap ek soldier hain, agar inn choti-choti choton se aap darr jayenge to apne desh ke liye kaise ladenge?",

Naina repeats his words to him. The words that he once said to Pooja when during a drill she got injured and refused to continue the drill, afraid of getting hurt again.

Listening to his own piece of advice from Naina makes him to blush.

"I am glad to know Cadet Singh ki aap meri baaton ko dhyan se sunti hain",

smiles Captain Rajveer.

'Likhun main tere naam sari umar, main chahun tujhko hi aathon pahar, basaun teri galiyon mein apna ghar, jiya re...'

"Haan... actually Sir mujhey apne ghar wapas jaane ki koi jaldi nahi hai",

smiles Naina infectiously.

"Matlab?",

asks Rajveer, creasing his brows.

"Well, agar main apki baatein dhyan se nahi sunungi to samay aney par unhe use kaise karungi, apke advice ko? Fir nuksaan to mera hi hoga na?",

says Naina. Her words make Rajveer to laugh, which as a result makes Naina to laugh too!

They keep staring each other, drinking in each-other's beauty. Their laugh fading gradually.

Then Naina focuses her attention back on his wound and applies the medicine.

'Jiya re basa hai tera roop ankhon mein'

Rajveer keeps staring her, a little smile playing on his lips. He remembers the time they spent together during mentorship program.

'Jiya re sochun main tujhey chand raaton mein'

How he used to keep thinking about her throughout those nights that they spent together during the mentorship program, to keep himself awake when they used to get task of staying awake and keeping an eye on something or the other. The thought brings a smile on his face.

Naina gets up to go closer to him and apply medicine on a particular wound near his lips. Rajveer's eyes follow her each move.

'Jiya re khoya main rahun teri baaton mein'

Getting closer to him, Naina looks into his eyes intently. Had it been any other circumstance then Rajveer for sure would have seen the hesitation in her eyes, would have read her eyes, asking permission from him to go ahead. But today the person he is witnessing in front of him isn't that hesitating Cadet Naina 'Ah' Singh, it is rather the confident Naina Singh Ahluwalia, who right now is pissed off because of Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, because of the childish behavior that he displayed in front of everyone today. Rajveer remembers how Naina was shouting, pleading, scolding Huda to leave him. That brings a satisfactory smile on his face. But soon it vanishes when he remembers what he had promised to himself before entering the fighting ring!

Of course his aim wasn't to win the match! No, not at all! What kind of a bravery is it - winning a match when you are fighting with your own student? His aim was rather to give Huda the opportunity to shower his anger on him, because according to Captain Rajveer, Cadet Huda who has a special corner for Cadet Naina in his heart has all the rights to punish him!

But why does he deserve the punishment? What has he done? Why didn't he fight back with more force?

He knows, he knows he is better than what he displayed himself as, today in the ring. Then why didn't he give his best? Why did he go opposite to his nature? He is always up for challenges, hell he wins most of the challenges. Then how could he lose a mere boxing match with a mere student of his?

Yes, he did fight back on several moments. Moments when suddenly Captain Rajveer was overtaking Rajveer, when it was becoming unbearable for Captain Rajveer to sit back and let Rajveer to enjoy his so called 'punishment'! But otherwise it was Huda who was fighting more! And when he saw Naina getting panicked, shouting at Huda to leave Rajveer, was it satisfaction that he felt? Satisfied that seeing Rajveer losing the game might change Naina's mind and she'll start giving more of her time to her friends than to him? Seriously, does he know her only this much? Or the satisfaction was for altogether different reason?

'Jiya re... jiya re... jiya re... jiya re.. jiya re... jiya re... 

 Tu hi mera wajud hai, tu hi meri talash hai'

He stares her, his eyes getting darker with each passing moment. His cheeks emitting heat, which is the affect of her closeness. Her proximity plays a havoc. It becomes difficult for him to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong! What he should do and what not! But at the same time, he agrees silently, that he finds solace in her! When she is around him, alone, during those moments he forgets all the sorrows of life, all the hurdles that life has planted on his path.

Naina isn't oblivious to what is going inside his heart. She succeeds in understanding his emotions completely. She understands that his emotions are mirroring hers! But knowing her mentor too well, she decides to guard her emotions and keep the topic untouched.

'Tu hai to shaamein khushnuma, 

 tu hai to lab ki pyas hai'

He doesn't understand when his mind starts lurking around the restricted territories! His eyes rest on her trembling lips. He turns his hands into fists. Disappointment and anger visible in his eyes, only if she would have noticed! Only if she would have thought about something else other than the discomfort she is feeling on being so close to him!

Is she uncomfortable being so close to him? Why? Isn't this the place where she belongs, close to him? With him?

At this moment he wants to break all the barriers and let her know how she is the last thing he thinks before drifting to sleep; how she is the first person he thinks of after waking up each morning. How he becomes desperate to have a glance of her each morning as he leaves his room and heads towards his first class!

'Likhun main tere naam sari umar, main chahun tujhko hi aathon pahar, basaun teri galiyon mein apna ghar, jiya re...'

Naina slowly and carefully places her finger with the medicine on it, on his wound. The mere skin to skin touch sends shivers to Rajveer's body, something he is enjoying for the first time in his life! Of course Dr. Shalini has nursed her many times, but somehow this is different what is happening with him today!

On the other hand, Naina doesn't fail to notice that instead of hissing in pain, he shivers when she touches him. She shuts her mind, when it asks her the reason! The thought does magical things to her inside, something she is getting accustomed to these days.

'Jiya re basa hai tera roop ankhon mein,

Jiya re sochun main tujhey chand raaton mein.

Jiya re khoya main rahun teri baaton mein, 

 Jiya re... jiya re... jiya re...jiya re.. jiya re... jiya re...'

Slowly, after applying the medicine on his wound, Naina lowers her eyes and starts to get away from him. And as if his heart and mind ain't ready to accept her withdrawal, Rajveer holds her wrist, putting more pressure than was required on her wrist. Naina's heartbeat stops altogether, as it comes as a surprise for her, the sudden bold step of her mentor, of her... Rajveer!

"Tum kyun Huda ko rok rahi thi Naina?",

he asks her, looking directly into her eyes.

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins)

His eyes dark with some hidden emotions. His teeth clenched, showing off his jawline clearly. All of this capture her attention, make her go rigid at her place out of surprise.

He wants her to speak, he wants her to hear, he wants to know... oh so many things!

'Tu jeene ki umeed hai, 

 tu khabon ka aa..sma. 

Tu hai chahat ki ka...yenat,

tu hai yadon ka kahakashan'

The silent moment that passes between the two before she answers, makes Rajveer to count the number of times her lungs expands and contracts. Wow! that was the first time he was doing something like that, of course apart from the times when he is on duty, when an enemy takes his last breath in front of him, he does count unconsciously, but that is altogether a different feeling. During those times, the emotions that he has are that of - hatred, anger and frustration.

It is victory mixed with hatred. But the emotions that he is feeling at this moment are - bliss, joy and... love! This is victory mixed with love! 

By the look of his, Naina understands that she is meant to answer, she cannot just leave this topic like that. And she doesn't have any appropriate reason to leave this place without answering. The door is locked, she knows there is no escaping from this situation. She is trapped! But somehow unlike always, when she gets trapped by some enemy or some friend of hers, she doesn't want to break the trap and get out of it. No! In fact she wants to get trapped forever... with him! 

'Likhun main tere naam sari umar,

main chahun tujhko hi aathon pahar,

basaun teri galiyon mein apna ghar,

jiya re...'

After staring him for some moments, she lowers her eyes, hurt visible clearly in her eyes. Rajveer notices how suddenly her creased brows relaxes, the lines of her forehead vanish, as if she has decided something.

Rajveer braces himself internally for a heated discussion, something which he has calculated already and knows that he has invited a fight here! But Rajveer being Rajveer, is as always ready for the challenge! Confidence, visible in his eyes. And why won't there be a confidence, when he knows there is nothing to lose here. Somehow he knows that whoever wins in this argument, this wouldn't lead to a total breakup of their relationship. He knows that at the end of the day, she is his and he is hers!

But when Rajveer is Rajveer, then Naina is also Naina!

As if she was all ready to embrace the challenge, she stares him hard, but doesn't answer. Lowering her eyes, she sighs and says,

"Pooja mera intezaar kar rahi hogi"

and starts to get away from him, but he pulls her back to him. They enjoy an eye lock whilst Naina tries to get out of his hold, but fails miserably.She notices how his eyes relaxes a little when his mind and heart accept her closeness and then darkens again, when he realizes that she is not giving up upon trying to get out of his hold.

"Aap...",

she shouts, with almost teary eyes, but stops abruptly as they both hear footsteps out side Rajveer's room. But it's a high time, she cannot keep her emotions bottled up. She wants to burst out, especially now, after listening to his question!

"Shh...",

whispers Rajveer.

"Dheere Naina, I don't think so tum chahogi ki koi janey ki tum iss waqt, lights out hone ke baad, mere room mein ho!",

says Rajveer, in a hushed voice. A feeling of panic grows in her as she listens to his words. How foolish of her it was to come to his room at this hour of the day! Why didn't she think twice before coming here? Why was she so restless, as if she wouldn't be able to breath if she doesn't lay eyes on him the next moment? Why was she eager for him to lay his eyes on her? As she was thinking all this, he adds in a whisper, going closer to her ear,

"akeli...!"

The mere word that too from his voice, does the trick! Naina's heartbeat which was beating rapidly, because of her anger, picks up pace but for an altogether different reason. And her current situation gives Rajveer immense pleasure.

Smiling, he asks her in a hushed voice,

"tum kuch keh rahi thi?"

Naina mentally scolds him thinking, 'such a tease you are!' but only if she had guts to give voice to her thinking!

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins as they stare each-other. Where on one hand Rajveer is mock serious, there on the other, Naina is damn serious!)

Suddenly Naina realizes that she is staring, and quickly lowers her eyes. Rajveer lowers his eyes too, suddenly getting all serious as his mind registers the truth that they are alone!

Looking back at her, he notices that her cheeks have turned crimson red. His palms itch to touch her cheeks and feel the heat that they are emitting; to sooth them. He turns his hands into fists and tries to calm down his urges.

Naina understands perfectly what he is feeling right now. She shifts a little uncomfortably under his constant gaze.

Rajveer, very slowly asks her,

"tumne mere sawal ka jawab nahi dia...?"

His repeating the question makes her to realize that he is adamant and won't budge until he gets the answer.

Rajveer, who was holding her by her wrist this whole time starts rubbing his index finger on her wrist, to untie her tension knot, but keeps a firm hold on her wrist. He knows her too well, if given an opportunity, she wouldn't think twice to escape from this situation.

And the rubbing does the magic, she unconsciously gives out a low moan which doesn't go unheard by Rajveer. Her breath hitches as she notices his eyes turning dark again. With almost teary eyes she asks him, looking straight into his eyes,

"aap kyun Huda se nahi lad rahe the? Boxing match tha na ye? Jahan dono ladte hain, to aap kyun nahi lad rahe the?"

They keep staring each other, their heartbeat and breathing rate slowly matching each-other's.

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins)

Smirking, he turns away from her and asks,

"Kyun? Tumhe acha nahi laga ki Huda jeet gaya?"

His casual behavior irks her. Instead of answering his question, she says,

"Mujhey bura laga ki aap haar gaye!",

all serious. Rajveer, whose eyes were cascaded down, raises them up. And a little smile touches his lips.

"Jab maine apko kaha ladne ko, aap kyun achanak ruk gaye?",

her question surprises him. He turns to look at her, unable to accept that she actually asked him the question directly! Damn! she is getting bold! 

After staring her for some moments, out of shock, he lowers his eyes and says,

"aisa kuch nahi hai Naina!"

And she knows, he is lying! 

Facing the dilemma of not being able to shower her anger on him, as she has no right to do so and not being able to withstand his answer, in frustration she caps the medicine tightly and turns to leave the room, but unable to control her anger she says, almost scolds him,

"Aisa bhi kuch nahi hai jaisa aap soch rahe hain. Main bus ye nahi chahti thi ki Huda ko kuch ho! Aur na ye chahti thi ki aap harein!",

she emphasizes on 'Huda'. She lowers her voice while uttering the second line.

Smirking on her innocent answer, Rajveer asks her,

"Huda tumhara dost hai, isliye ussey harte hue dekhna nahi chahti thi! Par main kon hun?" 

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins as they stare each other)

"Tumhari nazrein baar-baar mujhey kyun dekh rahi thi Naina?"

"What kind of question is this, ki main apko kyun dekh rahi thi? Teacher hain aap mere! Janti hun apko! Mentor hain mere aap! Chinta hai apki",

says Naina, creasing her brows out of frustration. Then quickly lowers her eyes as if trying to hide something. Only if she would have understood that she cannot hide anything from him, she doesn't have to!

Gaining back her equilibrium she looks straight into his eyes and declares,

"bohot der ho chuki hai, aap rest kijiye!".

But his one stare does it again, succeeds in building the tension between them, the tension she enjoys, the tension he enjoys, the tension they enjoy together!

Taking a deep breath, she turns and leaves the room. Rajveer smiles to himself after she leaves. And utters, smirking,

"jawab nahi dia!"

Then looks towards the door and shakes his head, smiling.

 -THE END-