Day 3

At Rajveer's room after lights out

"Hahaha!!!",

laughs Rajveer, holding his stomach.

Naina glares him.

"I don't believe this! Aap hans rahe hain?",

asks Naina.

"Hansun... hansun nahi to aur kya karun?",

Rajveer manages to reply in between his laugh.

Naina's irritation increases a wee bit.

"Main na theek se so pa rahi thi; na jag pa rahi thi!",

she tells him, pissed off by the fact that he is laughing at her.

"To tum to janti thi ki wo raat ko jayegi?",

asks Rajveer, still laughing.

"Haan main subah 11:59 tak janti thi ki wo jayegi, aur maine apna mann bana lia tha ki main apko mana kar dungi ki main shayad aaj na aa paun!",

says Naina, her voice higher than her normal voice that she uses in front of him. This tells him how angry she is right now not only on Pooja but at himself too. This makes her look more adorable to Rajveer.

His expression alters a wee bit when he hears that she was giving her visiting him a second thought. How could she? Did she not know that he had been waiting to meet her throughout the day?

"Fir?",

he asks, his tone serious, his eyes lowered.

The tone tells her that he is not happy on knowing that she had almost made up her mind of not visiting him tonight.

Sighing, finding him adorable, she says,

"Aap khud hi socho main kitni tension mein thi, ye soch kar ki apko bura lagega ya shayad aap gussa hogey!"

"Oh! To tum yahan isliye ana chahti thi kyunki agar tum nahi ayi to main bura manunga; main gussa honga? Yani tum khud mujhse milna nahi chahti thi? Maine force kiya! I am sorry!",

says Rajveer, his tone serious, looking anywhere but at her.

Understanding that he is taking it in a wrong way, she says,

"Haan to apne bulaya tha isliye hi to main ayi hun!"

Creasing his brows, not looking at her,

"Haan exactly, maine bulaya tha isliye tum ayi! Tum POINT 1857 jana chahti ho isliye tum ayi! Tum isse as task lekar, complete karna chahti ho, isliye tum ayi! Right isliye tum ayi!",

he says, his anger visible in his words.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins as Naina stares Rajveer, blushing, while Rajveer is avoiding looking towards her out of anger)

Naina blushes and finds it amusing. She finds Rajveer adorable too. And unable to resists, she says,

"Do you know how adorable you are?"

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as Rajveer looks towards Naina)

"I am sorry I know hum serious baat kar rahe hain but I just couldn't resist myself from telling you!",

she says, laughing a little.

Rajveer blushes on receiving the compliment from her.

"Tum ayi kaise fir yahan?",

he asks, the prior feeling of humor and laughter returns back as he remembers that how she must have managed to reach him.

She glares him, then blushing she tells him,

"Pehle main kitni der sone ka natak karti rahi!"

The word 'natak' brings back the bubbles of laughter into his stomach, but he places his index finger on his lips, and tries to behave. He knows Naina wouldn't enjoy finding him laughing again at her, especially because she took a whole lot of risk just to meet him.

"Pooja tabse karwate badalti ja rahi thi!"

Just to irritate her further, he sings, looking anywhere but at her,

"Karwate badalte rahe sari raat hum, apki kasam apki kasam!"

Giving him an angry look, she scolds,

"Agar apko nahi sunna to bata do! Ek to Pooja ne waise hi mera dimag kharab kar ke rakh dia hai. Aur wo bhi apki wajah se!"

Getting a bit serious, he asks, knitting his brows,

"Meri... meri wajah se?"

"Ji haan! Now don't act to be so innocent!",

she scolds him mildly.

"Arey maine kya kiya?",

he asks, unable to understand what has he done!

"Apko nahi pata apne kya kiya?",

she asks, narrowing her eyes on him.

"Mujhey wakayi mein nahi pata maine kya kiya!",

he says.

"Aaj hum kitni baar mil chukey hain ek dusre se?",

she asks him and raises her brow.

Looking at her sheepishly, he laughs.

"Par wo to challenge tha!",

he tells her, getting back to his normal self.

"Challenge tha, right! But challenge tab tak hi theek lagta hai jab tak wo baat hum dono ke beech mein ho. Apne ek baar bhi socha ki main kaise milne aa rahi thi apse?",

she asks, getting slightly anger.

"Haan socha na, ek baar nahi har baar, jab-jab tum mujhse mil kar ja rahi thi, main yahi soch raha tha ki tum ab kaise milne aogi mujhse!",

he says smiling. Then continues,

"And trust me mujhey bohot maza aya soch soch kar ki tum kitna risk lekar aa rahi thi!"

Getting angry she says,

"Haan apko kya bus order de diya ki milne aana hai baki to sub mujhey hi karna tha. Kaise jaun? Pooja ko kya kahungi? Kisi ne dekh lia to?"

Creasing his brows, he says, all serious,

"Haan aur mere liye to bohot aasan tha na apne classes mein late jana. Kyun, kyunki mujhey tumse milna tha!"

Naina lowers her eyes, feeling guilty.

"Main tab bhi apko samjha rahi thi ki main class mein chali jati hun wapas jab aap corridor pe Shalini Ma'am se baat kar rahe the!"

*Flashback*

"Ahmm... Pooja mujhey Suriji se thoda kaam hai. Tu chal main baad mein aa jaungi class mein!",

says Naina, smiling.

"Lai! Itni si baat chal main bhi chalti hun, fir dono ek sath hi class mein chaley jayenge. Waise bhi tere bina mujhey bore hi hona hai!",

says Pooja.

"Arey aise kaise?...",

says Naina nervously, as Pooja begins to walk with her.

"Kya aise kaise? Tere saath chal rahi hun aur kya?",

says Pooja.

"Ahmmm.... Pooja agar tu mere saath chali jayegi to Suriji jo notes denge unhe main kisse copy karungi?",

Naina tries to make an excuse.

"Arey wo Ali hai na usse mang lenge",

says Pooja, asking Naina to relax.

"Pooja ussey agar manga, fir boys hostel mein jana hoga usse return karne!",

says Naina, plastering a blush on her face.

"Haye rabba ye to maine socha hi nahi!",

says Pooja, slapping her forehead and blushing.

Naina secretly gets happy as she thinks that she has successfully convinced her to stay. But suddenly Pooja says, whispering,

"Fir to aur maza ayega. Tujhey to pata hi hai rules break karne ka apna maza hai!",

Pooja winks at Naina.

Pooja's words skip Naina's heartbeat. She is very well familiar with the feeling that one gets on breaking the rules. The excitement of accomplishing the mission; the nervousness of taking the right steps; the fear of getting caught; the short talks they make in whispers, instructing each other what to do and what not, all these stuffs give them all the adrenaline rush.

Naina unconsciously connects everything with this secret meeting she is going to have with Rajveer. The nervousness of getting caught by Pooja at first place. Hell, only she knows how holding her breath she gets out of her bed. She doesn't want to disturb Pooja from her sleep. If she wakes up, Naina will have to answer the rows of questions laid down by Pooja. And somehow she knows that it won't take her best friend Pooja to make out that she is going to meet Rajveer. She is excited to reach him as soon as possible, tip-toeing, she doesn't want anyone to wake up and catch her.

Naina shakes her head.

"Ahmm... Pooja kya zarurat hai bekar mein rules break karne ka tu ja main thodi der mein aa jaungi!",

says Naina, praying under her breath that she wouldn't continue with the argument.

"Acha baba theek hai. Main chalti hun, but tu jaldi ana okay?",

says Pooja. And Naina sighs inaudibly.

Smiling, she shakes her head to a positive.

As Pooja leaves, Naina making sure that she won't return sighs and looks heavenwards.

Naina nervous that she doesn't get caught walks towards a class where Rajveer asked her to meet him.

Reaching the entrance of the class, Naina finds him writing something on the bench with a chalk, leisurely, to pass the time.

A smile automatically creeps up on her face as she lays her eyes on him. She finds him humming,

'Tumse kehne wali aur bhi hain pyari baatein,

Samne subke bolo kaise kehdun sari baatein.

Aaj magar bus itna hi karna hai ikrar'

Then unable to resist, he sings, oblivious to Naina's presence at the entrance of the classroom,

"Tum hi to laye ho jeewan mein mere,

Pyar pyar pyar...

Kehna hai... kehna hai...

aaj tumse ye pehli baar!",

he pauses suddenly, something tells him that he is not alone here he's been watched. And why not he is a soldier, he should always remain alert.

Rajveer doesn't turn to look at Naina, he doesn't even move an inch. All he does is use his presence of mind and his peripheral vision. A smile automatically comes on his face and he relaxes. Naina doesn't understand why has his expression altered suddenly?

Then he continues, this time more than singing, he understands the lyrics as he sings,

"Tum hi to laye ho jeewan mein mere,

Pyar pyar pyar...

Kehna hai... kehna hai...

aaj tumse ye pehli baar!"

Naina was about to walk towards him when she hears someone's footsteps. This she could understand that whoever he or she is, the person is reaching them at an alarming rate. Rajveer oblivious to someone's coming, as he is inside the classroom, walks towards Naina with a smile on his face. But soon his smile changes into frown when he finds her run away.

Creasing his brows, tensed, he mutters,

"Isey kya hua?"

As he walks forth with an aim to get an answer from her, to clear his doubt, an orderly reaches him.

Rajveer focuses his attention on to the orderly.

"Sir wo Shalini Ma'am apse milna chahti hai",

he informs Captain Rajveer.

Rajveer nods his head. The orderly leaves. Rajveer now understands what made her to run away. He shakes his head, smiling.

"Captain!",

calls Dr. Shalini, standing at a far away corner, her arms folded on her chest and she stares him, shocked.

Captain Rajveer walks to her with his heart filled with a little bit of nervousness. Reaching her he greets her with a smile,

"Hello doctor. Kaisi hain aap?"

"Well Captain main to theek hun par.... aa...p... aap theek hain na?",

asks Dr. Shalini, looking at Captain Rajveer, giving him her questioning look.

Naina peeps to look towards Dr. Shalini and Rajveer. Thankfully Dr. Shalini's back was facing Naina so she couldn't see her hidden behind a pillar. But what she did notice is, Captain Rajveer's eyes were wandering behind her every now and then.

"Haan.. haan mujhey kya hona hai?",

asks Captain Rajveer focusing back on Dr. Shalini.

"Nahi aap badey khoye-khoye dikh rahe hain!",

says Dr. Shalini.

Naina gestures him that she is going back.

Rajveer on reading her gesture, says aloud,

"Nahi!"

This skips the heartbeat of both Dr. Shalini, who is standing in front of him and Naina, who is standing behind the pillar.

Naina who had already turned to leave halts on listening to his command. Slowly she turns to look back. Rajveer on seeing her turning back, relaxes.

"Nahi... nahi bilkul nahi... main kahin nahi ja raha!!",

he says.

Naina could understand that it was a command for her. Unwilling she stays.

"Kyun kar rahe hain ye aisa? Hum baad mein bhi to mil sakte hain!",

mummers Naina.

"What?",

utters Dr. Shalini, surprised.

"Kahin nahi ja rahe? Maine kab bola ki aap kahin ja rahe hain? Oh yes that reminds me, main apse isliye milna chahti thi kyunki mujhey ye puchna tha ki kya Brigadier Chandok ne apko apne office mein bulaya hai? Actually mujhey bulaya tha, maine socha apko bhi bulaya hoga?",

asks Dr. Shalini.

"Pata nahi exactly kyun bulaya hai!",

saying that she drifts her attention, thinking something.

Meantime, Naina looking towards him, pleads him to give her permission to leave.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins)

A smile stretches on his lips as he finds Naina in a dilemma of whether to leave or not.

Dr. Shalini finds his reactions queer.

"Captain are you sure apko medicine ki zarurat nahi hai?",

asks Dr. Shalini, hesitantly.

Captain Rajveer focuses his attention on to Dr. Shalini, smiling.

Smiling more he says,

"Doctor mujhey pata hai filhal mujhey kis cheez ki zarurat hai!"

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

Rajveer although doesn't look towards Naina but understands that she is blushing right now.

Smiling he says,

"Ek garma-garam coffee ki!"

"Aap piyengi?",

he asks, out of politness

Sighing, Dr. Shalini says,

"Well I am afraid Captain abhi to mujhey Brigadier Chandok se milne jana hai, so some other time"

"Waise one question, mujhey jahan tak aaj ka schedule yaad hai to iss waqt to apko class mein hona chahiye tha?",

asks Dr. Shalini.

Although not present in front of her, but Naina feels guilty that he is missing his class because of her. But who is she kidding? He is the one who had asked her to meet him. Thinking this, Naina rolls her eyes and blushes.

"Haan to apse baat khatam kar lun fir wohin ja raha hun bus!",

Captain Rajveer very smartly escapes from the embarrassing question.

This makes Naina to blush.

Feeling a bit guilty, Dr. Shalini greets him

"Alright bye!"

Captain Rajveer smiling, greets back,

"Bye!"

As she leaves, Rajveer leisurely walks towards Naina, smiling.

(Rajveer-Naina slow piano tune begins)

Reaching her Rajveer wishes her,

"Hello!",

and lowers his eyes, feeling shy.

"Hello!",

blushes Naina.

"Ahmm... mujhey jaldi jana hoga, class shuru hone wali hai",

says Naina lowering her eyes out of shyness.

"Hmm... I know. Kiski class hai?",

asks Rajveer, relaxing back, his arms folded over his chest, staring her throughout, smiling a little.

"Ahmmm... Dr. Shalini ki",

she tells him.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins)

"Hmm... fir darne ki baat nahi hai wo samjh jayengi!",

says Rajveer, controlling his laughter, as he anticipates her next question.

"Kya samjh jayengi?",

comes Naina's question narrowing her eyes on him.

Controlling himself somehow,

"Jo... jo bhi samjhna hoga unhe!"

As he says this her expression turns into serious.

Not amused by the sudden change in her expression, Rajveer creases his brows and asks,

"Kya hua?"

"Jo bhi samjhengi galat hi samjhengi!"

As she says this, her tone serious, Rajveer remembers the incident that took place after mentorship camp.

He turns serious, staring her.

After few moments he asks,

"Jo uss din subne socha wo galat tha! Par jo aaj sub sochenge wo...",

he trails off the sentence.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina begins as they stare each other)

Naina's cheeks start warming under his constant gaze and the thought of the incident makes her nervous even more. Her breathing becomes shallow. She doesn't want to think about it. How stupid was she that she didn't understand what he was trying to convey to her that day through that look of his that he gave to her when he accepted the punishment quietly and walked away.

During that moment her main focus was on the fact that he had been punished for no reason. But did she really think that Captain Rajveer would accept a punishment without being guilty? But how could he be guilty when he did nothing? They were completing their task and they were never informed about the sudden call from KMA. So what made him guilty and liable to punishment?

"Kya main apse kuch puch sakti hun?",

she asks, looking into his eyes.

"Pucho!",

permits Rajveer, looking into her eyes.

"Jitna main apko janti hun, aap kabhi anyay bardasht nahi karte. Uss din mentorship programme suddenly got called off and humein iss barey mein kuch nahi pata tha. Fir jab academy mein aakar apko punish kiya gaya tab apne mana kyun nahi kiya? Kyun nahi keh diya subko ki apki iss mein koi galti nahi thi?",

asks Naina.

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

Rajveer tries to convey her something through his expressions but Naina being stubborn doesn't accept the silent talk here! She needs answer - loud and clear!

"Naina...!!!",

he pleads, his eyes soft.

But stubborn Naina denies to listen to any excuse today. Why would he do that? She needs to know.

Knowing that she is no mood to listen to anything else but the reply to her answer, Rajveer sighs and tells her, not meeting her eyes,

"Naina humein humara task time par khatam kar lena chahiye tha!"

"Hum task complete hi kar rahe the. Mana ki hum academy mein ane mein late hue the, par ye baat aap bhi jante hain aur main bhi ki hum camp point pae pohnchne mein late nahi hue the. Hum academy aney mein late hue the aur wo bhi isliye kyunki humein pehle kuch samjh hi nahi aa raha tha ki akhir ho kya raha hai!",

says Naina, raising her voice.

Getting irritated and frustrated, Rajveer raises his voice too,

"Oh really Naina to tum mujhey ye kehna chahti ho ki hum seriously apna task pura kar rahe the? To wo kya tha jo hua wahan par?"

His question succeeds in sending chills down her spine. Lowering her eyes out of sheer shyness, she asks, almost whispers,

"Kya hua tha?"

And somehow the way she asks the question makes him to realize that she knows!

And without much effort they both remember the moments they spent there together!

Rajveer remembers how there for some moments Rajveer took over Captain Rajveer. How his innate desire came rushing into his heart and how hard it was for him to rest himself from going to her. She was there in front of him at arms length, he could have easily walked to her. The way she was staring him in his imagination; the way he was staring her in his imagination that could have turned into reality! Did he really think that she would have objected, had he gone to her? Is it a crime to show your true feeling to someone?

He could have felt what it is like to look into the eyes of the one who means the world to you. How those precious moments behold the power of forgetting about the world!

Yes there is no denial that he did enjoy her company, the lone time they got there. But deep down he was conscious of his status - a mentor! Had he left himself free that night, then today would have been a different story altogether!

Why didn't he look into her eyes like always, but this time with more intimacy? Damn they were all alone for god's sake! Was he like a true soldier, alert, that someone might be lurking around and they could get caught red handed? Sharing a relationship which is forbidden to culminate between a mentor and his protege. Was he afraid of crossing his limits? Or is it deep down because of the truth? The truth which she didn't know then! The truth about her brother! Why didn't he put his imagination into reality?

There on the other hand, Naina remembers how he fell into the mud. How adorable he was looking. He was certainly pissed off. His reactions gave away his feelings perfectly.

'Tum hansna band karogi? I said will you stop laughing Naina?'

The thought makes Naina to laugh and Rajveer to blush out of embarrassment.

Remembering what they were discussing, she gets serious and asks again,

"Kya galti thi apki?"

Rajveer looks towards her, all serious.

Without waiting to get a reply, Naina says, getting irritated on the thinking how he accepted the punishment all alone!

"Aur agar galti thi to hum dono ki thi. Fir saza apko akele kyun mili? Mujhey kyun roka gaya tab jab main Brigadier Chandok ko samjha rahi thi ki apki koi galti nahi hai, humein fusaya gaya hai!"

Bowing his head, he smirks, and says,

"Humein fasaya gaya aur humne chup chap accept bhi kar liya!"

"Wohi to main keh rahi hun. Aap aise nahi hain. Fir uss din apne kyun kuch nahi kaha? Kyun?",

asks Naina, irritated, feeling helpless.

"Kyunki uss din baat sirf tumhari ya sirf meri nahi thi, baat humari thi!"

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

"Aur Naina koi hum dono ke rishte par ungli uthaye ye mujhey bardasht nahi!",

he states, clearly.

"Bardasht nahi? To iska matlab ye hi ki apko meri wajah se koi bhi punishment miley wo aap chup chap sahenge?",

she asks, creasing her brows, raising her voice.

"And what do you mean by bardasht nahi? Jab apko koi baat bardasht nahi hoti to kya aap chup chap saza kaat lete hain chahey apki galti ho ya na ho?"

"Naina, mujhey lag raha tha ki agar main chup chap apni punishment accept kar lunga to wo baat wohin khatam ho jayega!",

says Rajveer, raising his voice too.

"Aur kya wo baat khatam hui? Aur uske baad apne kya socha ki chalo aise ye baat khatam nahi hui to ek kaam karta hun, Naina se hi baat karna band kar deta hun!",

says Naina, staring him out of anger.

"Yahi sochana apne? Waah kya solution nikala, wo bhi apne, Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat ne!"

"Tumhe kya lagta hai Naina, tumse baat na karna, tumhe subke samne ignore krna, dantna, mere liye aasan tha?",

he asks politely.

"Majboori thi meri. Nahi chahta tha ki koi tum par ungli uthaye. Huda ki ankhon mein apne liye nafrat aur tumhare liye utna hi pyar dekha tha maine!",

he says. His own words pierce his heart but he had to do it. He has to make her understand why did he behave that way to her. But does he really think that she didn't understand? Of course she did. But she wanted him to forget about the world. Why would he let others to command them about how they should lead their lives? They are no puppets!

"Aur meri ankhon mein?",

she asks, boldly.

Smirking he says,

"Kashmakash!"

And the mere word explained it all!

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins)

Naina lowers her eyes feeling guilty. Rajveer holding her chin forces her to look towards him, pushing it slightly up to let her meet his eyes. As Naina does that, Rajveer looking intently into her eyes shakes his head asking her to stop over thinking about it and smiles, Naina smiles too, seeing him smiling swells her heart.

"Ahmm... ab main chalti hun. Meri class hai!",

says Naina, smiling a little.

Smiling back Rajveer nods and she leaves.

*Flashback ends*

"Anyways, choriye kuch aur baat karte hain!",

says Naina.

"Pucho!",

says Rajveer, smiling.

Hesitantly she asks,

"Kal jiske barey mein aap baat nahi karna chahte the, kya uska naam Nandini hai?"

Her question skips his heartbeat. He looks towards her, shocked. How does she know about her?

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

"Tum... tum Nandini ke barey mein kaise...??",

he asks unable to complete his sentence. He turns away not having courage to face her. But why? Has he done something wrong?

"Maine Bhaiya ki diary mein read kiya tha Nandini ke barey mein. Likha tha ki aap unke saath time spend karna chahte the par apki classes aur unki classes itni clash karti thi ki apko mauka hi nahi milta tha unse milne ka!",

says Naina, with a heavy heart. She would be the last person to find pleasure in discussing about Rajveer and Nandini especially now when she is sure that there is something amiss.

Rajveer turns to look towards Naina, whose eyes are now cascaded down, thinking about Rajveer and Nandini. Understanding what she must be going through, Rajveer's eyes soften, he tells her,

"Naina jaisa tum soch rahi ho waisi koi baat nahi hai!"

Naina stares him, blankly. She needs to know before she gets into any conclusion.

"Naina kal maine tumse kaha tha ki Dr. Mishra mera past nahi hai. Subko ye galat fehmi thi that something was brewing up between us. Naina flirt karne mein aur pyar karne mein bohot farak hota hai. There is a very thin line that divides the both"

Lowering his eyes, he looks back towards her, gauging her reaction, as he says,

"Jaise Huda karta hai subke saath aur.... tumhare saath!"

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as they stare each other. Conveying each other so many emotions)

Naina creases her brows and lowers her eyes, hurt. She of course doesn't enjoy Huda's flirts, she rather either endures or shrugs them off at times. She starts taking deep breaths out of anger. Rajveer understands but he needs to make her understand everything.

"Dekho Naina main janta hun ki tumhare aur Huda ke beech kuch nahi hai. Naina, main aur Naveen bhi cadets reh chukey hain. Hum bhi unn sub cheezon se guzar chukey hain jinse tum sub guzar rahe ho"

Then lowering his eyes, he continues,

"Naina, tum janti ho ki Dr. Mishra Naveen ka past thi, ye baat main pata nahi kaise miss kar gaya. Kabhi dhyan hi nahi gaya. I guess Naveen apni feelings ko chupane mein bohot expert tha.... bilkul tumhari tarah!"

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

Naina lowers her eyes again out of shyness.

Clearing his throat, looking elsewhere for fraction of seconds, he looks back towards her and continues,

"Naina main bohot disciplined cadet tha. That's true ki kabhi kabhi Naveen aur Dr. Shalini ke saath masti kar leta tha but otherwise main inn sub cheezon mein zada nahi tha!",

he tells her, thinking about the days he spent with Naveen and Dr. Shalini and that brings a smile on his face.

Naina's heart swells as she notices how deeply he is attached to them.

"Naveen ek din suddenly mujhse puchne laga..."

*Flashback*

In boys hostel

"Tere bina jeeya jayena,

tere bina jeeya jayena.

Bin tere, tere bin sajna...

Saans mein saans aye na...

Ho...

Tere bina jeeya jayena",

sings Raj, combing his hair, standing in front of the mirror.

Naveen who is resting on the bed, reading his book, looks towards him suspiciously. Looking back into his book, turning pages, he calls Raj,

"Raj...!"

"Haan Naveen?",

says Raj, busy in combing his hair.

"Yaar main soch raha tha, kitne mahine ho gaye humein KMA aye hue. Humare batch mein kitni sari ladkiyan hain, hai na?",

asks Naveen, building a plot to reach the main point. He waits for a desirable answer from Raj.

Smiling, blushing, Rajveer still busy with grooming himself, says,

"Pata nahi yaar! Tu to janta hai main inn sub cheezon mein dhyan nahi deta zada"

Sitting straight, getting excited, Naveen says,

"Bus yahi to problem hai teri Raj ki tu books aur classes ke alawa idhar-udhar dhyan nahi deta!"

"Galti? Par mujhey jitna durr yaad hai to last time jab maine B.C. se baat ki thi to wo mujhey issi baat ke liye shabbashi de rahe the!",

smirks Raj, looking into the mirror and starts humming the song 'tere bina jeeya jayena..'

"B.C.!!!",

curses Naveen, looking away.

Diverting back his attention on Raj, Naveen says,

"Nahi Raj you know zindagi kitabon mein hi guzar jaye ye zaruri nahi, you know"

"Of course I know!",

says Raj.

Naveen gets excited as he hears this thinking that now he is coming to the point.

"Tujhse kisne kaha main apni zindagi kitabon mein guzarne wala hun?",

asks Raj, this makes Naveen even more excited.

"Arey yaar KMA se pass ho kar, mujhey desh ke liye kuch karna hai! Bohot kuch karna hai! Kitne nirdoshon ko antankwadiyon se bachana hai. Unka ghar banana hai aur...",

as he was about to continue, he gets interrupted by Naveen,

"Aur apna ghar?"

His question succeeds in skipping Raj's heartbeat.

"Mera... mera kya?",

asks Raj, knowing exactly what Naveen asked.

Laughing, he says,

"Tu... tu ye kya puch raha hai Naveen? Tu achi tarah janta hai ki KMA hi mera ghar hai. Tum sub mera parivaar"

"Fine theek hai manta hun ki KMA hi tera ghar hai aur hum sub tera parivar. Par Raj zindagi sirf rishtedaron se hi nahi chalti. Zindagi jeene ke liye humein ek jeevansaathi ki zarurat hoti hai"

"Nav...",

begins Raj, but Naveen halts him by showing his palm, as a gesture to stop him.

"Ab please apni purani line firse mat use kario jisse sun sun kar main bore ho gya hun that 'Maine shadi kar li hai apne desh se' and all that! Zindagi aise nahi chalti Raj!"

Raj choses to remain quiet.

"Nandini tujhse pyar karti hai Raj!",

Naveen tries to make him realize but it doesn't affect Raj.

Getting irritated he stands up and walking away he shouts,

"Yaar pyar aise nahi hota! Naveen pyar karne ke liye ek dusre ko samjhna bohot important hota hai. Theek hai main manta hun ki Nandini meri dost hai; mujhey achi bhi lagti hai; main uske barey mein sochta bhi hun, par bus ek dost ki tarah!"

He turns to look towards Naveen, his eyes creased out of irritation,

"Naveen tu jab mujhse kehta hai ki shayad mere dil mein uske liye waisi feelings hain, main akele mein iss barey mein sochta hun. But yakeen maan aisa kuch nahi hai. Naveen main ye manta hun ki main ek bohot complicated insaan hun!",

Raj puts his thoughts in front of Naveen, frankly.

Naveen nods with a smile, accepting his thoughts.

Laughing Raj beats Naveen on his upper arm lovingly. Naveen smiles back.

Then Raj continues,

"Main aise hi kisi se pyar nahi kar sakta Naveen. Mere liye ye bohot important hai ki jisse main pyar karun uss mein maturity and bachpana dono hi ho!"

Naveen looks at him quizzically.

Blushing, Raj says,

"Tu nahi samjhega!"

"Ek... ek minute!",

says Naveen, getting excited.

"Don't you dare say ki main nahi samjhunga. Actually you know what I guess main hi hun jo tujhey samjh sakta hun! Trust me!",

says Naveen, not able to believe that he is meeting a person who is unknowingly describing someone who means the world to Naveen!

"Oh really? Aur wo kyun?",

asks Raj, plastering a smile on his face.

"Because mere dost, koi hai iss duniya mein jo bilkul teri tarah soch rakhta hai, aur ussey jhelna kitna mushkil hai ye sirf main janta hoon!",

says Naveen smiling, looking towards Raj.

Raj, plastering a smile on his face, says,

"Tujhey pata hai kya Naveen although tu mera best friend hai par kabhi-kabhi mujhey teri baatein bilkul samjh nahi aati!"

Smiling sarcastically, Naveen says,

"Achi baat hai. Filhal iss baat ko samjhne ki koshish bhi mat kar".

Raj rolls his eyes, unable to understand anything.

"Chal chor. Acha Raj tu such mein Nand...",

says Naveen, but Raj's glare refrains him from saying further.

"You know what maine dekha hai ki wo tujhse baat karne ke bahane dhundhti rehti hai. Wo, can you believe it? Jo kisi se hardly baat karti hai"

"Raj uss din class humne bunk ki par usne sara ilzaam apne sir par le lia ye keh kar ki usne plan banaya tha. Arey usko to hum saath le gaye the aur usne aisa show kiya jaise hum uske saath gaye the. Raj tu janta hai usne ye kyun kiya? Kis ke liye kiya?",

asks Naveen.

Raj looks towards him, although he could anticipate the answer but waits for him to reply.

"Tere liye!",

says Naveen.

"Kya?",

asks Raj, shocked.

"Raj samajh, tu uske life mein importance rakhta hai. At least maine ye feel kiya. I might be wrong but I don't know mujhey to yahi laga. In fact wo tujhey jis tarah se dekhti hai Raj, wo sirf maine hi notice nahi kia, dusre cadets ne bhi dekha hai and I am not lying about it.",

says Naveen.

"Mujhey... mujhey Nandini se iss barey baat karni hi hogi.",

says a determined Raj.

"I guess you are right. Shayad yahi sahi hoga agar tum dono sub kuch clarify kar do ek dusre se".

*Flashback ends*

"So iss tarah se Nandini ka chapter shuru hua.",

sighs Rajveer.

"Shuru hua?",

asks Naina, creasing her brows.

Rajveer smiles sheepishly.

"Well I thought kahani yahan khatam ho gyi hogi? Aur aap keh rahe hain shuru hua?",

asks Naina, surprised but not in a pleasant way.

Smiling apologetically Rajveer says,

"I am sorry but abhi bhi kahani hai agey. How can you expect meri 'love story' itni asani se khatam ho jayegi?"

Raising a brow he stares her, smiling. Naina shakes her head slowly, blushing and lowering her eyes.

"Well I hope tumhe Dr. Shalini ne kuch kaha nahi class mein late pohnchne ke liye?",

asks Rajveer, seriously.

Naina glares him, which makes him to laugh.

"Dekho bus ek din hi hua hai aisa, humesha nahi hoga samjhi tum. Zada expect mat karna",

mocks Rajveer, looking anywhere but towards her, hiding his laugh.

"Excuse me? Maine kaha tha milne ko? Maine kaha tha itni der baat karne ko? Waise ye line to meri honi chahiye thi ki aap zada expect mat karna!",

says Naina, getting angry.

This makes Rajveer to burst out into laugh. Seeing him laughing, melts Naina's heart. She laughs too.

Naina takes a deep breath.

"Alright baki kahani main kal sunn lungi abhi I guess mujhey...",

as she was about to continue, the sound of clouds and lightening skips her heartbeat. She looks towards the window and through the curtains of Rajveer's room comes the filtered light of lightening in the sky.

Looking towards the lightening, Rajveer says,

"Mujhey nahi lagta aaj tumhe ya mujhey neend aaney wali hai!"

His double meaning words skip Naina's heartbeat.

Looking towards him, blushing, she looks back towards the sky. She gets up and walks towards the window and opens it. Rajveer stands up and lets her do whatever she wishes. Smiling, he stares her, standing at his place, her back facing him.

Naina getting excited turns to look towards Rajveer. It feels like ages that she has enjoyed rain. And somehow, unconsciously, she knows that with him she has the liberty to behave childlish. She can live as she likes. She has the liberty to turn innocent like a child. But as she turns and her eyes meet his, she finds him staring her. Not expecting him staring her makes her heart to skip a beat. Slowly, out of shyness she lowers her eyes.

Tu nazar chura rahi hai,

main tujhe dekhe ja raha hoon.

Rajveer keeps staring her. His eyes reflecting his innate desires.

Tu hai jaam ki tarah,

jo main piye ja raha hoon.

He shifts his attention to her trembling lips. Trembling, not only out of cold weather, out of shivering; but out of hesitation and shyness too which are the affects of his constant gaze on her.

Tu nazar chura rahi hai,

main tujhe dekhe ja raha hoon.

Rajveer notices how she is refraining herself from looking towards him. As soon as her eyes reach the moment to meet his gaze, she looks away.

Tu hai jaam ki tarah,

jo main piye ja raha hoon.

Slowly, Naina looks towards him directly. Rajveer staring her, drinks in her beauty. The moonlight falling on her enhances her beauty.

Hoga ishq mein aisa,

Mere hashr Hai Yeh Kaise?

Involuntarily, staring her throughout, Rajveer gets up and slowly walks towards her. His each step increases the rate of her heartbeat. Inside, she tries to think of a reason to stay away from him; to stop him. But her mind gets clouded by his looks, his gazes that he is giving her. She fails to think of any apt reason. Nervously she places the strands of her hair behind her ear.

Tu Dikhaye Jaaye Jalwe,

Main Machalta Ja Raha Hoon.

Reaching her, Rajveer stands in front of her, maintaining a certain distance but otherwise hovering her. He understands that the discussion about Nandini has upset her. But the fact that she didn't show any irritation or hasn't complained about anything, swells his heart. Her this nature makes him to fall for her a little more today. He smiles, looking at her intently, with so much compassion.

The cold blowing breeze makes her hair to blow. At moments her tendrils fall on her face, as a result - disturbs her gazing him.

Tere Kesuon Mein Chup Kar,

Tera Chehra Khil Raha Hain.

Jaise Baadalon Mein Aa Kar,

Dekho Chand Behra Raha Hain.

Rajveer very slowly removes the tendrils of her hair which are disturbing her. Doing that he waits for her to look towards him. His expression, serious. His eyes that are gauging her reactions rest on her eyes. Naina very lightly smiles. The sweetness mingled with her nervousness make her look adorable and tempting. For those few moments he feels as if his feelings for her are clouding his mind. It becomes very difficult for him to resist her; to keep his feelings under check.

Naina, in order to maintain some distance from him walks away from him out of shyness.

She reaches his desk where she finds his diary opened. Although she had no intention of reading it, but the name 'Naina' written on the page catches her attention.

Jo likhe hain tujhpe maine,
wohi geet ga raha hoon.
Tu dikhaye jaaye jalwe,
main machalta ja raha hoon.

Rajveer staring her throughout reaches her from behind. Standing behind her, he asks her in a hushed voice, reaching near her ear,

"Parho!"

She silently reads as she gets his command,

'Naveen

Aaj main pehli baar wahan gaya jahan shayad humare batch ke kayi log ho kar aye ho. Han ye such hai ki wo wahan shayad Captain Rajveer ke saath gayi ho, par main, main Cadet Naina ke saath nahi, Naina ke sath wahan gaya tha! Main Captain Rajveer bann kar nahi Rajveer bann kar uske saath gaya tha. Kash! Kash main ye baat usse bata pata.'

Her eyes turn teary, so many emotions at the same time, suffocates her. This becomes too much for her to handle. She turns to look at him  with her teary eyes. Her teary eyes have their affect on Rajveer. So many emotions  flood up inside him too. Not able to withstand this hype of emotions, they end up embracing each other into a tight hug! 

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as they hug each other tightly, not wanting each other to go anywhere)

The jealousy came rushing back to her as she hugs him, that she felt moments ago because of the mention of Nandini and she pulls him towards herself, tightening the hold on to him, to make sure that he is hers and only hers. Rajveer smiles understanding her feelings. This is new for him too, the possessiveness that he is feeling, that someone is showing for him. 

Her gesture melts his heart. Still hugging her, he smiles and asks,

"Kal POINT 1857 chalein?"

His makes her to blush, she tightens her hold onto him. This tells him that it's a yes and that she is happy. They both smile, their hearts fluttering.

Getting back to their normal selves, they stare each other, smiling.

Naina says,

"Ek baat puchun?"

Rajveer nods his head, staring her.

"Uss din jab hum 'typical ladkiyon' ki baat kar rahe the, tab aap Nandini ke barey mein hi bol rahe the na, jo baat apne adhuri chor di thi?",

asks Naina, gauging his reactions.

Rajveer widens his eyes for fraction of seconds, as he remembers the moment instantly,

'Apko... apko... pata hai typical ladkiyan kaisi hoti hain?

Aur mujhey ye baat kyun nahi pata hogi? I mean theek hai ki Nan...'

Naina notices how he becomes nervous. If he didn't have anything to do with her so why is he getting nervous?

Taking a deep breath, he looks towards her, and answers her sincerely,

"Haan!"

Not wanting to keep anything from her, he tells her,

"Naina iss mein Naveen ki as such koi galti nahi thi. Baki kuch male cadets mujhey Nandini ke naam se chirhate the, may be because main first time Dr. Shalini ke alawa kisi aur ladki se baat kar raha tha. Dr. Shalini unn dino bohot free rehti thi, like kisi se bhi baat kar lena chahey ladka ho ya ladki. Sub unke iss nature se wakif the, isliye main unke saath ghumun bhi to koi kuch galat nahi samjhta tha because everyone knew how cool was Dr. Shalini. Par Nandini ke sath mera baat karna mere kayi batchmates ke nazar mein aya. Nandini bhi bohot selective logo se baat karti thi"

"Kaisi thi wo?"

Her sudden question takes him by surprise. How can she be interested to know her? This irritates him. He got flowed away, but of course he doesn't want to discuss Nandini for heavens sake.

Getting irritated, he says,

"Naina please I really don't wanna talk about her. Let's just drop this topic"

Understanding his feelings and need she accepts his decision.

Seeing her all quiet, all of a sudden, Rajveer thinks of diverting his mind saying,

"Waise uss din tum keh rahi thi ki - ek soldier ko sharmana shobha nahi deta. Yani ki tum kabhi nahi sharmati, right?",

he asks, mischievously.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as they stare each other. Both of them blushing)

Understanding that he is pointing towards the events that took place tonight, she lowers her eyez out of shyness. Rajveer seeing her feeling shy.

"Ahmmm... main chalti hun ab",

says Naina and looks towards him, waiting for him to permit her to leave.

Smiling he nods giving her permission.

"Good night!",

she greets him.

"Good night!",

he wishes back.

He walks with her to the door, holding each others' hand. Looking towards him, smiling for the last time, she leaves with her heart filled with love for him and excitement for the next day.