The thoughts of Naina and Huda's togetherness make Rajveer anxious and the fact that he himself is pushing Huda towards Naina frustrates him all the more. Blazing with anger and irritation upon no one in particular, Rajveer who by now is standing at another corner of the hall where everyone is enjoying the party, puts down his glass of wine which remains filled since the moment he picked it up. The disturbing thoughts make it impossible for him to drink it or to do anything at all!

"Arey Suriji main aata hun na thodi der mein bus panch minute janey do..."

Huda's voice drags Rajveer's attention. He turns to his left and finds Huda pleading Suriji. Rajveer knits his brows as he fails to understand what's the matter.

"Dekh bhai aisa hai ke wo aaj lag-bhag char-paanch (4-5) ghante ke liye 'no entry' zone hai!",

tells Suriji.

"No entry zone? Par Phoolan... mera matlab hai Naina to abhi wahan se hi gayi?",

says Huda, tensed.

Rajveer turns his head towards the corridor area then looks back towards Huda.

"Haan to in fact, darasal, aisa hai, agar Naina puttar wahan gayi hai, to usse wahan se aney ka raasta bhi pata hai. To wo aa jayegi, tu tension na le!",

says Suriji.

"Par abhi to apne kaha ke wo 'no entry' zone hai? Kuch hua hai kya? Achanak 'no entry' zone kyun bana diya uss raste ko?",

asks Huda, tensed.

Looking heavenwards, Suriji, melodramatically asks,

"Hey waheguru jab akal baant rahe the aap tab ye khoteya kahan tha?"

Then looking back towards Huda, plastering angry look on his face, Suriji twists Huda's ear and says,

"Zarur kisi janani ke peeche hi hoga isliye akal nahi mili issey!"

"Aa... Suriji, maine kya kiya? Main to bus Phoolan ke barey mein chinta kar raha tha!",

says Huda, whilst crying in pain.

Leaving him, Suriji beats Huda on his upper arm and says,

"Abey khoteya party yahan ho rahi hai; tum logo ke liye ho rahi hai, jao khao peeyo mauj karo. Kya classes ki taraf ja rahe ho?",

laughing he forwards his palm towards Huda, as a gesture of clapping hands with him,

"Hai ke nahi?"

Huda, still massaging his left ear with his right hand, claps his left hand on Suriji's right hand, with a sad face.

Laughing, Suriji presses Huda's cheeks lovingly, embracing him by his shoulders, he walks with him into the party.

~*~*~

(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Walking towards the games room in anger he enters it, fully aware that he will find it empty, just the way he wants it right now. The thoughts of Huda and Naina's togetherness never leave him even for a moment.

With those thoughts intact, the frustration intact, he walks towards the billiard board and picking up the stick, he starts playing. Since the very first short he gets determined to fill the pockets with balls on his each shot. By winning this game, he tries to soothe his failure he is facing in Huda's hand. But is not this exactly what he wanted, him to win? Was it not exactly what he was doing in the boxing match, letting him win? So why this sudden anger and frustration? If he has guts to fail him in his each move, so why not face him boldly and do exactly the same? Or has he forgotten his own lessons in teaching Huda his lessons?

He strikes another ball which lands into the pocket successfully, seeing which Rajveer smirks. But the thought of the conversation that took place between Huda and himself succeeds in vanishing his smile and knitting his brows!

*Flashback*

"Ye tumhare haath mein kitab kaisi hai?",

asks Captain Rajveer, walking away from Huda, diverting his mind yet again towards polishing his shooting skills.

Smiling, walking towards Captain Rajveer, Huda lets him know,

"Sir ye... apka wo... hatke wala mission hai!"

Impressed and excited, Captain Rajveer looks towards Huda, who by now is standing in front of him, and says,

"Good! Pura ho gaya?"

"Ji Sir, main wohi apko dene aya tha!",

smiles Huda whilst forwarding his hand, holding the copy, towards Captain Rajveer.

As Captain Rajveer was about to take it, Huda pulls his hand back. Smiling shyly, but looking straight into Captain Rajveer's eyes, like a true 'jatt', Huda asks him,

"Par Sir, mission ki kamiyabi par... jawan ko medal to milega na?"

Laughing lovingly at his Hudagiri, Captain Rajveer turns and walks towards a table whilst saying,

"Cadet Huda agar tumhara matlab 'medal' se hai, ke main tumhare exam mein tumhe zada number de kar tumhe pass kar dun, to t bohot galat soch rahe ho!",

as Captain Rajveer completes with this line, he reaches the table and fills a glass of water for himself.

Smirking, Huda walks towards Captain Rajveer but halts at a certain distance and says,

"Cheating to chichore log karte hain Sir. Main jatt hun; kisaan ka bacha; mehnat se kabhi nahi dara hun!",

completes Huda, reaching a bit more closer to Captain Rajveer.

Captain Rajveer who has drunk the water by now, turns towards Huda and says,

"To yakeen mano cadet, iss mission ke liye tumne jo mehnat ki hai, wo hi tumhara medal hai",

Captain Rajveer pats on Huda's upper arm.

Cadet Huda, forwarding his copy towards Captain Rajveer, smiling, says,

"Bilkul Sir, apne kaha, maine maan lia!"

Captain Rajveer takes the copy from him and opens it to check it out. While Huda continues,

"Lekin ye dil nahi manta Sir!"

With his eyes glued on Huda's copy, Captain Rajveer asks casually,

"Kyun tumhara dil kya chahta hai?"

Folding his arms over his chest, looking straight towards Captain Rajveer, Huda boldly replies,

"Phoolan!"

This comes as a complete surprise for Rajveer! No it is not that he was oblivious to Huda's feelings towards Naina but never had he ever expected Huda to become such straight forward and ask for Naina from him!

Then it is also that he has never thought about Naina being with someone else other than himself! He is fully aware of Huda's flirtatious nature and particularly his flirting with Naina but that's it he knows it is nothing more than innocent teasing and flirting between two friends. And the fact that the flirt is one sided relaxes him all the more! But what he is picturing at this moment after Huda's bold demand from him, makes his heart to skip a beat and beat at a faster pace!

But why is he surprised and disappointed? Is this not what exactly he wanted? Didn't he want Naina to go away from him and be with Huda instead? How can he forget the boxing match? Or was it that he was testing Naina? Testing her feeling towards him. How strong it is, if there is any! Was he trying to push her away from him or pull her closer to him by getting hurt? By accepting Huda's beatings as his punishment? Was it only because he wanted to give Huda the chance to bring out his pent up anger on him or was it also a test for Naina? A test that if she passed would be a win for Rajveer too and if she failed.... well, it wouldn't have been a surprise for Rajveer, he would have closed the matter there itself!

But alas... he WON!

"Mera matlab Naina, Sir!",

rectifies Huda, then continues,

"Sir academy mein sirf ek aap hi hain jo Naina ko achi tarah jante hain",

smiles Huda.

Rajveer stares him, shocked. He goes speechless and suddenly feels anxiety. He looks away towards the table in front of him and places the notebook on it, his mind occupied in repeating Huda's words. His heart not ready to accept this! In all he finds himself in a state of dilemma, what should he do now? How can he help Huda? How can he tell him tricks to win Naina's heart? But the main question is why can't he suggest Huda the tricks? Is the teacher of 'Strategies and Communication' facing loss of words? Is it that suddenly he is in need to learn himself what he teaches to all? Or is it the usual affect of Naina on him? But surprisingly this time it is not her presence that's bothering him but rather her mere name uttered by Huda in a way not acceptable to Rajveer. So does that mean that henceforth people should set criteria in which they can take Naina's name in front of Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat? Or is it that the denial persists even in his absence around them? Or may be it is just Huda, who sets his blood into rush when he takes Naina's name that way?

Huda's words,

'Sir academy mein sirf ek aap hi hain jo Naina ko achi tarah jante hain',

were they out of appreciation that he had the guts to talk to Naina without any fear, unlike all the male cadets including Huda; and other male faculty members or were they out of jealousy towards Rajveer that Naina gives so much importance to him, which Huda or anyone other has never received from Naina?

But at this particular moment, he doesn't care to pay heed to which of his thoughts is correct. The main point is asking from him something which is very difficult for Rajveer to give to Huda! Hell, right now he wishes he would have rather asked him for allotting him grace marks rather than this! At least in that case he could have punished him for asking so. But now in this situation, he can't even say a word against him, let alone punish him. What would he say by the way - that he cannot help Huda in winning Naina's heart because....

Because...?? Because what?

"Agar Sir aap... mujhey Phoolan ka dil jeetne ka koi ek tareeka bata de to... baki sub Sir main khud kar lunga!",

requests Huda, politely, smiling, standing behind Rajveer.

Rajveer who acts to check the papers, knits his brows and tries to think of a way to deal with this situation.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

He gets anxious. His heartbeat picks up pace as he fails to understand what should he reply to Huda. Why is he making such a fuss out of it? Come on it's just a mere thing - winning Naina's heart for Huda! Can't Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat do this much? Is it that difficult a job for him? Surely it's not! Or is it that he doesn't want to do it! Of course, of course it's not the case. Why won't he want to do it? What could possibly be the reason behind declining Huda's proposal?

Huda's words drag an anxious and puzzled Rajveer's attention,

"Sir DEAL...",

he asks, forwarding his hand, smiling, looking towards Rajveer with his twinkling eyes. Then continues,

"Ya NO DEAL?"

The question that makes Huda to smile, snatches away Rajveer's happiness!

*Flashback ends*

Rajveer targets towards a red ball, but as he pushes it he finds someone standing at the door and the electricity fails! All of it happens together, making the one standing there at the door impossible to see Rajveer. Rajveer misses the shot, not because of darkness but because of the redness that spreads in front of him!

"Le aa gayi main! Huda tu aur teri shartein, pata nahi kya karun main tera!",

scolds Naina, mildly.

"Dosti ki hai to nibhani padegi!",

mimics Naina.

"Like seriously? Huda tu soldier banne aya hai yaar, please ab ye bachpana chor de!",

Naina shakes her head in dismay.

Then, smiling, thinking something, she says,

"Actually you know what Huda... mat choriyo ye bachpana. Bhaiya jab tak the na, tab tak bohot bachpana kiya tha maine".

Laughing, she continues, thinking about old times,

"And such bataun maza bhi bohot aata tha. Bhaiya ko jaan bujh kar tang karne mein. Mujhse kehte the bhaiya, ki ab waqt aa gaya hai ke main badi ho jaun. Par unke samne mujhey bacha banne rehne mein hi maza aata tha",

smiles Naina, sadly.

"But haan jab wo yahan aa jate the, to main ghar mein unki jagah le leti thi Ma-Baba ki galtiyon par unhe dant ti thi. Unki har khushi ka dhyan rakhti thi. At least koshish to meri yahi rehti thi ke unhe kabhi bhaiya ki kami mehsus na ho!"

Sighing, Naina says,

"Anyways waise ek baat hai, mujhey teri choice bohot achi lagi. Tu itna janta hai meri pasand-napasand ko, mujhey nahi pata tha! I am impressed!",

smiles Naina.

"Acha chal ab jaldi de... ek minute ab tu dekhega kaise? Light to hai nahi. Chal main chalti hun fir. Ab at least tu mujhey ye nahi bol sakta ki main teri baat nahi manti. Ab light nahi hai to iske liye tu mujhey blame nahi kar sakta!",

laughs Naina.

"Waise ek baat kahun? Tujhey pata hai agar Rajveer Sir hote to tujhey kya kehte?",

asks Naina. A smile stretches on her lips, her heart flutters as she thinks about Rajveer.

"Agar wo yahan hote to kehte - Huda apno ko humesha dil ki ankhon se dekha karo!",

laughs Naina.

Her laughter ends soon as she remembers something. Getting nervous, Naina says,

"Oh god Huda, Rajveer Sir zarur mujhey dhundh rahe honge. Main tabse unse nahi mili. Main chalti hun okay!"

As she turns to leave, the electricity comes back. Sighing, she smiles and says, whilst turning,

"Thank god aa gayi light. I wonder party mein sub kaise andhere mein khade the itni der!"

As she turns, the smile vanishes immediately, as her heart skips a beat on discovering Rajveer there instead of Huda! She goes numb. Her cheeks start heating up under his constant gaze. But somehow it becomes difficult for her to end the eye contact.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins as they keep staring each other, Rajveer out of love for her and Naina out of shock of discovering him there)

"Aa...p... Mujhey laga Huda...",

it becomes difficult for her to frame the proper sentence.

With a constant smile on his face, Rajveer looks at her from head to toe and breath out of satisfaction.

His sudden deep breath makes Naina aware that he approves of her looks. She knits her brows a little as she tries to gauge his further reactions, with her smile and blush constant on her face.

He rests his eyes on her eyes, with that approving smile on his face.

"Naina?",

he says, surprised, knitting his brows.

"Kyun Sir apne pehchana nahi?",

she asks blushing a little.

"Nahi... pehchan liya... wo... actually tum inn kapdo mein ho to...",

laughing a little out of shyness and hesitation, he continues,

"Pehchane mein thodi gadbad ho gayi!",

his eyes cascaded down out of hesitation.

Naina blushes, lowering her eyes. She looks back towards him, still feeling shy. She doesn't understand why she needs to explain him the situation. And without much adieu she begins with her explanation.

"Ahmm... Huda ne ye gift kiya tha aur wo chahta tha ke main ye pehn kar aun to isliye...",

Naina blurts out, as a matter of explanation.

She regrets saying that immediately but why, she fails to understand.

Smiling, blushing, Rajveer lowers his eyes. Looking back into Naina's eyes, he stares her. His stare turns intent gradually as if he through his eyes he is trying to convey something to her. Her face turns serious too, gradually, as if she is able to comprehend something. How could she be so blind as to not see this coming?

Smiling, he walks back towards the billiard board. Taking the cue, pointing the target, he says,

"Nice! Friends ke beech gifts exchange hote rehne chahiye, isse rishta mazboot hota hai!",

and he strikes the ball and the yellow ball rolls down into the pocket, just the way he wanted. A smile of victory comes on his face and he mummers,

"Nice shot!",

appreciating his move.

"Indeed it is!",

says Naina, looking towards Rajveer sensuously, having a naughty smile on her face.

Her words drag Rajveer's attention. Holding the cue vertically on the ground, resting both his hands on the top of the cue, Rajveer looks towards Naina.

His stare makes her breath to hitch and her heart to skip a beat but she chooses to maintain her stance in front of him.

Rajveer doesn't fail to notice how she tries to put up the look that she is all cool, in front of him; that his presence is not affecting her.

Unable to bear his possessive gaze any longer Naina lowers her eyes and clears her throat. Adjusting the saree a little, she says,

"Waise... mujhey uski choice achi lagi. I like it simple",

saying that she looks towards Rajveer intently. Rajveer stares back.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina flute tune begins)

Both of them could feel the change in the atmosphere. Suddenly they feel sweat beads getting collected at the back of their necks in this fully air conditioned room.

Staring her, arching his right brow on hearing her reply, Rajveer smirks and gets back to playing his game.

"Jab tak kisi khel mein perfect na ho to usse na khelne mein hi samjhdari hai",

says Rajveer, whilst positioning his cue.

Smiling infectiously, looking straight towards him, Naina replies back with full confidence,

"Jab tak khel khelenge nahi, to seekhenge kaise?"

Rajveer maintaining his position, still bent on the billiard board, getting set to push the ball, looks towards Naina such that his forehead bears the crease, bearing a smile of impression on his face. Smirking, he drags his eyes from Naina back to the ball. As he pushes the ball it hits another ball, yellow in colour, which rolls down towards the left pocket but stops just inches away from the pocket. Rajveer shuts his eyes and grinds his teeth in displeasure.

Smirking, Naina says, her eyes glued on to a blue ball placed on the billiard board,

"I am confused!"

Rajveer bent on the table, his cue positioned, turns to look towards her, maintaining the position, his brows creases on hearing her.

"Confused?",

he asks.

Looking towards him, she smiles a little and teases him,

"Yahan kon teacher hoga aur kon cadet?",

saying that she keeps staring him, her infectious smile, widening.

Smirking, smiling, Rajveer focuses back on the table and says,

"Tumhe shaq hai?"

And as he expects her quietness as his answer, to his horror, she replies back,

"Bohot!"

Laughing, he shakes his head, continuing with his game, striking balls.

"Waise agar tum chahti ho to main tumhe sikha sakta hun...",

says Rajveer, blowing the chalk point of the cue.

Naina stares him.

Looking towards her, he finishes his line,

"Khelna!"

And with that one word and that one look he promises her a lot!  Then he acts as if something has occurred to him, he makes face of disappointment; as if literally feeling sorry for her.

Naina doesn't understand what's that look of disappointment for. She gives him a questioning look.

Sighing he asks, acting to be feeling sorry for her,

"Par tum khelogi kaise? Saree mein! You know..."

He further gives different gestures of disappointment. And he stands up straight, staring her throught with a smile on his face that challenges her.

Walking towards him, never ending the eye contact Naina takes the cue from him, almost like snatching. Her bold move makes Rajveer to throw back his head and laugh.

Naina's heart flutters seeing him laughing, carefree. But she plasters back the fake anger on her face.

"Never underestimate a woman, Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!"

As she utters these bold words, Rajveer wonders is this really his Cadet Naina Ah Singh, who is talking?