"Alekh!",

utters Naina, in horror!

Glaring him out of anger again, she asks him, almost shouting at him,

"Apko iska matlab pata hai?"

"Alekh ka?",

asks Rajveer, trying to calm her down.

"Haan... 'Alekh' ka matlab....",

begins Rajveer, trying to hide his amusement.

But Naina is in no mood to laugh and get teased.

"Don't you dare!",

warns Naina.

This comes as a surprise for Rajveer, she really is pissed off over something. But what? The reason seems to be different than before. There came a sudden glow on her face, again, on the mention of Alekh. A glow that he doesn't admire, because somehow he could feel that it is not out of joy but out of nervousness!

Thoroughly pissed off, Naina turns and leaves, leaving behind a confused Rajveer.

"Naina meri baat to sunno...",

calls Rajveer from behind, confused.

As Naina enters KMA building, she walks towards her room, when Captain Abhimanyu happens to cross by her. Naina halts in her track. She looks towards him in dilemma - whether to congratulate him for his win or let it go!

Captain Abhimanyu looks in dilemma too, whether to smile politely or let it go! Nevertheless they walk towards each other, their steps slow, to buy them time to mentally prepare themselves about the forthcoming conversation.

Naina makes up her mind by the time she reaches him.

Abhimanyu smiles politely, reaching her.

"Congratulations S....",

she begins but soon remembers and rectifies herself, blushing,

"Congratulations Abhimanyu!",

smiles Naina, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes.

Smiling out of hesitation, Abhimanyu lowers his eyes, as if he can sense her hesitation.

"Thank you!",

he replies, politely.

Unable to understand what else to say, she asks, making up her mind quickly,

"Ahmm... aap to bahar the na? Yahan..."

With that constant smile on his face, Abhimanyu says,

"Yes, hum bahar hi the but fresh hone aye the".

"Okay!",

smiles Naina, hesitantly.

"Aap kahan ja rahi hain?",

asks Abhimanyu.

"Ahmm... main...",

stammers Naina, nervously.

"Wo... main mess mein ja rahi thi, coffee, coffee peene",

smiles Naina, hesitantly.

"Hmm... chaliye hum bhi chalte hain!",

proposes Abhimanyu, smiling.

"Haan zarur Chauhan Sahab. I am sure Naina ke group ko aur Naina ko, apki company zarur pasand ayegi",

says Rajveer, joining them, smiling sarcastically. He emphasizes on the name Naina. But thankfully the sarcasm and his emphasizing, could be understood only by Naina and not by Abhimanyu.

Naina's heart skips a beat on hearing him. Why is he behaving this way? Feeling it as her responsibility to cover up, she smiles nervously, all thanks to Rajveer's presence, she says,

"Ahmmm... I am sorry Abhimanyu par main filhal thodi busy hun. May be some other day?",

smiles Naina, politely.

"Sure!",

smiles Abhimanyu.

Naina smiles back politely, fully aware of Rajveer's eyes on her each move. She looks towards Rajveer for the last time, hesitantly, before leaving and finds his eyes on her. His eyes giving away his jealousy towards them.

Lowering her eyes Naina leaves quickly, trying to get away from Rajveer's constant gaze as soon as possible.

Abhimanyu smiles seeing her leaving.

"She is sweet, isn't she?",

smiles Abhimanyu, staring at the way through which Naina just left.

Lowering his eyes, Rajveer smirks, taking a deep breath, he says, almost taunts, releasing his jealousy by spitting out the words,

"Sambhal kar Chauhan Sahab, kahin apko diabetes na ho jaye!"

Abhimanyu looks towards Raj, alarmed by his reaction. A constant smile plays on his lips, wondering why Raj is reacting this way!

Sighing, Raj smiles and extends his hand,

"Well chaliye main chalta hun I guess ab to sarey tests bhi khatam ho gaye hain!"

Abhimanyu shakes hand with him, observing his mood.

He stares Rajveer as he leaves.

~*~*~

In his room, Rajveer sits on his bed. He thinks about Abhimanyu and Naina, whilst removing his shoes, thoroughly tired.

~*~*~

In her room, Naina paces here and there slowly, thinking about Rajveer. What was his reaction and words all about? Why does he react this way each time when she is with Abhimanyu?

She gets determined to ask for an answer. Suddenly his anger comes rushing down to her and she remembers how he was angry when she went to his room.

Lying on her bed she thinks about it. What was that look for in his eyes when he witnessed her and Abhimanyu together?

~*~*~

In his room, Rajveer on his bed, closes his eyes and thinks about Abhimanyu and Naina.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Opening his eyes after sometime, he thinks - is he over reacting? But what is this reaction for? It's her life she has all the rights to choose whoever she wants to talk to! Whoever she wants to be with! So what's the big deal?

'Waise I must say, I am very impressed with Naina!',

Abhimanyu's words keep ringing in his ear.

Naina smiling at Abhimanyu on different occasions, flash in front of his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he chooses to ignore it, coming into a conclusion that it is nothing more than friendship, not at least from Naina's side. And that is all that matters to him, her opinion!

(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins as Rajveer thinks about Naina. A little smile creeps on his lips eventually)

~*~*~

Naina becomes restless, she needs to talk to him right now. His anger; his silence is becoming intolerable for her now. Getting up she leaves for his room!

As Naina gets out of her room and walks to reach Rajveer's room, Alekh pats her on her shoulder from behind, and asks her,

"Kahan ja rahi hai?"

"Captain Rajveer ko milne!",

she informs him, and tries to slip away.

As she walks to a certain distance, Alekh controlling his amusement, halts her from behind by saying,

"Sirf milne ka..."

Naina holds her waist from either sides, out of frustration and takes a deep breath.

Still controlling his laughter, Alekh walks towards her, and warns her,

"Baat-waat nahi karne ka!"

"Kyun?",

she asks, plastering a smile on her face, trying to irritate him just like he is irritating her right now.

"Kya?",

asks Alekh, melodramatically.

Naina lowers her eyes, embarrassed, as she is completely aware what he is pointing towards.

"Bhul gayi? Shart har gayi hai tu!",

reminds Alekh, showing himself off, as he is the winner!

"Aur Captain Rajveer, Vice Principal nahi baney!",

reminds Alekh.

Naina's face falls and heart stops beating altogether. She lowers her head.

"Haan agar tujhey gungon ki bhaasha aati hai.... to try maar!",

teases Alekh, smiling lovingly.

Knowing that she can never disobey Alekh, she looks towards Captain Rajveer's room one last time, with sad eyes, and turns to return.

As she turns, Alekh hits his back head playfully, and runs to stop her. Holding her by her back arms, he stops her by saying,

"Arey Naina... Naina... baith ja baith ja baith ja baba...",

he makes her sit on a sitting area at the main hall of KMA. Naina obliges silently.

She keeps staring him, disappointed.
Alekh looks towards her, gauging her reactions.

"Bhul ja ussey!",

he orders more than says, like a true brother.

Laying back, Alekh teases her further by saying,

"Waise... apun ko ek kahani yaad aa rahi hai - 'Raja ki jaan totey mein...'",

looking at her through the corner of his eyes, he says,

" 'aur tera.... Captain Rajveer mein!'",

he quickly looks away.

Naina turns to look towards him, shocked.

Alekh turns to look towards her too, holding his amusement.

"Kyun, galat bola?",

asks Alekh, teasingly.

Naina smiles slowly, and shakes her head into negative. This makes Alekh to smile too. They both as always succeed in understanding their silent, hidden conversation!

Smiling, Alekh gestures her to go and meet Captain Rajveer, giving permission. Setting her free from the condition that he laid.

As she gets up to leave, Alekh calls from behind, just to tease her,

"Chal apun apne jeet ki khushi manata hai!"

Naina turns to look towards him, confused,

"Nahi reh payi na Captain se bina baat kiye. Apun ko to pehle se hi pata tha!",

teases Alekh.

Naina arches a brow, as an idea strikes her. Turning fully towards him, she says,

"Chal theek hai Alekh, abhi Rajveer Sir ko meri zarurat hai, isliye mujhey unse milne de. Par iske baad main khud unse baat nahi karungi!",

Naina accepts the challenge.

"Main ye shart harne nahi wali!",

she says, determined to win.

"Bol, lagi shart?",

says a determined Naina, arching a brow.

This give Alekh and Naina, the both, adrenaline rush.

Smirking, Alekh teases her, looking away, as if confident that she would lose again!

"Hunn... rehne de fir hareygi!",

teases Alekh.

"Dekhte hain!",

Naina arches a brow.

"Dekh apne pairon ko, kaise ek jagah tik nahi rahe. Soch rahi hogi ke Alekh haan boley to jaun main Rajveer Sir se milne. Aur shart laga rhi hai apun se hun...",

teases Alekh.

Naina's cheeks turn crimson red again, as she realizes she indeed is getting impatient to meet him. Lowering her eyes she blushes. Then looks towards Alekh, sheepishly.

"Chal ja. Abhi ke liye maaf kiya. Par jaise hi unse mil kr ayegi tu, shart puri karni hogi. Bol manzoor hai?",

asks Alekh, smiling infectiously.

"Manzoor hai!",

smiles Naina, looking straight into his eyes.

Laughing, Alekh gestures her lovingly to leave for Captain Rajveer's room now. Blushing, she leaves.

~*~*~

Rajveer enters his room whilst talking to someone over phone. Ending the call, he places the phone on the table and heads towards his wardrobe, opening it he selects a jacket.

As soon as he closes the wardrobe, he finds Naina standing in his room, just near him. Not entirely surprised on discovering her there, as if expecting her, he smiles, waiting for his heart to beat again, after skipping one beat. He greets her smiling, and asks her,

"Cadet Naina Singh, tum yahan kya kar rhi ho?"

Naina smiles a little.

As he was about to move towards his table, an idea strikes him, and he turns back towards her, saying,

"Don't tell me humein iss ceremony mein saath saath jana hai!",

kidding with her.

Naina smiles and nods her head into affirmative.

Smiling with all his heart, Rajveer says,

"I don't believe this!",

happy to know that she is going to accompany him.

He walks towards his sofa whilst saying,

"By the way tum Abhimanyu ki iss oath ceremony mein inn kapdon mein jaogi?",

he looks towards her.

Whilst turning back, checking out his uniform, he says,

"Tumhe uniform mein hona chahiye Cadet Naina....",

turning to look towards her, he continues in his usual style, tilting his head a little towards left,

"Ah Singh!",

smiles Rajveer.

"Nahi?",

asking, he turns back to checking out his uniform.

Never looking away from him, Naina asks him, smiling slightly, but her voice bears no humor,

"Ek baat puchun?"

"Zarur pucho!",

says Rajveer, busy with his uniform, not looking towards her.

"Kya aap apne dost ko jitane ke liye harey hain?",

asks Naina, her voice soft.

She never takes her eyes away from him, not wanting to miss any of his expression.

Rajveer, who is standing facing away from her, lifts his eyes from his uniform, his brows knitted. She is back with her same question. Shutting his eyes, he sighs. How does she do that? Sometimes she remains completely oblivious to his feelings. And then there are times, when he tries so hard to shield a feeling of his from her, but she understands it like no one else. She understands him, like no one else!

(Slow Rajveer-Naina piano tune begins)

Turning to look towards her, he notices that she is not frustrated this time. She is all calm. This relaxes him too!

Walking towards her slowly, he sighs. He understands that now he cannot avoid it anymore. He needs to talk to her.

Reaching her, he lowers his eyes. Whilst looking back towards her, he calmly says,

"Naina tum mujhey na janey, kya samjhti ho!"

Naina's stare makes him to halt, as if she is replying him through her eyes. Transmitting her true feelings; her thoughts about him through her eyes.

"Main ek bohot hi sadharan aur aam insaan hun! Aur insaan kabhi kabhi hara bhi karte hain. Nahi?",

he asks her, honestly, smiling shyly.

He keeps staring her, waiting for her to say something. As much as she craves to hear him, he craves for her too! He understands that she wants him to stare back. He understands that as much he enjoys staring her; she enjoys staring him too. And he of course by no means can disappoint her; hurt her, to be precise.

"Haan par vishwas nahi tha!",

says Naina, never ending the eye contact.

Smiling a little, he decides to turn back and he walks towards his bed whilst asking her,

"Kyun aisa laga?"

"Hmmm?",

he says whilst placing his uniform on the bed.

"Kyun...?",

he asks again, and as he turns to look towards her, whilst asking this, his heart skips a beat and he stops abruptly, on discovering Naina staring her that way which does amazing things to his insides!

Her that possessive stare drags him to her. Slowly he walks towards her, never ending their precious eye contact. Slowly, because he likes it that way, slow! The crave lingers some more time this way, which he surely enjoys. Slowly, because even she is acting slow, as if they have the whole day to do this! They need to assemble as per orders, but when they are together this way, they care less about the world and more about each other!

Reaching her, while never ending the eye contact, Rajveer sighs and tells her,

"Naina mera yakeen mano, Captain Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan ek bohot hi acha vice principal sabit hoga!"

Naina, keeping the eye contact intact, while her stare turns more possessive,
replies softly, as if, if she raises her voice this precious eye contact might end, which she cannot bear ending at any cost, unless he wants it to happen!

"Zaroor!",

says Naina softly, maintaining the eye contact.

Staring her throughout, accepting her wish of maintaining the eye contact, Rajveer rests his left hand on his cupboard above his head, and asks him,

"Kya baat hai Naina? Tum mujhse kuch kehna chahti ho?",

inside his heartbeat picks up pace. If she wishes to say him something; to confess something, what will he do? How will he react?

But then if this has to be the day, then let it be! Even he is Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, he would manage everything, after all he is the master of Strategies and Communication, he has full confidence in him, he will deal with this too, successfully. And then it is no one else but his dear Cadet Naina 'Ah' Singh, someone whom he knows in and out!

But Captain Rajveer, is this not the exact problem that she is your dear Cadet Naina 'Ah' Singh?

Smiling, shaking her head a little, careful, she doesn't want to disturb their game, she replies softly,

"Nahi!"

He enjoys the eye lock, no denial Naina enjoys too, but her heartbeat picks up pace, she tells him softly,

"Bus yahi soch rahi thi ke... kisi din main bhi kisi ki achi dost bann kar dikhana chahti hun!"

(Slow Rajveer-Naina trumpet tune begins)

"Jaisa ke aaj apne dikhaya!",

adds Naina further.

Rajveer fully aware that she is indicating towards him, blushes but doesn't shy away, after all he doesn't want to end the eye contact, yet. Smiling, Naina keeps looking towards him, as if wanting him to take the first step. No denial, by her expressions; by her gestures, if today Rajveer does decide to take a step forward in their relationship, whatever they share, Naina wouldn't stop him even for once! Because her each gesture shouts that she hell wants the same!

"Sapne dekhna chahti hun haq se, jaise apne dekha!",

she says softly.

"Sapna?",

he asks softly, smiling, yet confused, what is she talking about?

Smiling, Naina shakes her head, indicating that she doesn't want to talk about it.

Naina's gestures intrigue him. He gets determined to know what she was saying. Is she hiding something from him?

"Kaisa sapna Naina?",

he asks, politely.

"Jaisa apne dekha!",

she tells.

"Maine dekha?",

he asks, confused.

"Apne mera naam kyun liya tha Sir?",

she asks him, knowing that he would understood.

And understand he does. He lowers his eyes, hesitantly, blushing.

"Did I... Did I really take your... your name?",

he asks, hesitantly.

Naina lowers her eyes, blushing.

Rajveer blushes too, then looks back towards her, his stare turning intimate again.

"Tum coffee peene nahi gayi Chauhan ke saath?",

he asks her out of blue.

This comes as a surprise for Naina and forces her to lower her eyes.

Smiling secretly, at her nervous state, he asks, teasingly,

"Kya hua? Coffee peene ka mann nahi tha ya time nahi tha?"

Naina stares him, accusingly.

"Apse milna tha!",

she says softly, plainly!

Her straightforward answer touches his heart! The smile of joy that touches his lips, and the way his eyes twinkle, Naina's heart melts!

Smiling, he asks her,

"Tum ghar kab ja rahi ho?"

His question reminds her, her plans of visiting her home, which she had almost forgotten since this whole time, Alekh's bet was going on in her mind, since the moment she met Alekh.

Her expression turns to exact 180 degree! Rajveer does realize it.

"Kya hua? Nahi ja rahi?",

asks Rajveer, hopefully.

The hope in his voice, contracts her heart. Looking into his eyes, she smiles and says softly,

"Jaungi to zarur, mujhey yahan reh kar distract nahi hona".

Laughing softly, Rajveer asks her,

"Kon karta hai tumhe distract, mujhey batao".

(Rajveer-Naina slow piano tune begins)

Their rate of heartbeats pick up pace. They both knows exactly who distracts her! They keep staring each other, none saying anything.

Naina lowers her eyes, followed by Rajveer.

"Kab ja rahi ho?",

asks Rajveer, all serious.

"Next week! Chacha-Chachi aney waley hain. Bhaiya ke janey ke baad, pehli baar aa rahe hain. I guess ab humare relatives ne humein accept karna shuru kr diya hai dheere-dheere!",

says Naina, her sadness visible in her eyes and in her voice.

Rajveer's heart clenches as he thinks for the umpteenth time, what Naina and her family must have gone through after Naveen's death.

Unable to help herself, she shares with him for the first time,

"Apko pata hai, jis din bhaiya ki body ghar layi gayi thi, coincidentally uss din Chacha-Chachi ko ghar ana tha!"

Rajveer holds his breath to listen to her story further, knowing that this is going to be painful! Not only he will have to control his emotions but will also have to support her.

"Waise to humse subne nata ussi din tod diya tha jis din Naveen bhaiya arrest hue the. Par achanak na janey Chacha-Chachi ko hum par taras kyun aa gayi?",

says Naina, spitting venom through her each word.

"Maine to Ma-Baba ko kaha tha ke unhe mana kar dein. Par shayad wo dono aas lagaye baithe the ke shayad koi na sahi par Chacha-Chachi Naveen bhaiya ko samjh paye. Maine to koi umeed nahi rakhi thi kisi se!",

Naina adds further.

As fresh anger surges through her, Naina looks towards Rajveer, and tells him out of anger,

"You know what Sir, meri ek baat humesha yaad rakhna, khoon ka rishta jab tak na ho na tab tak itni aasani se koi apna nahi hota. Mark my words!",

she points her index finger towards Rajveer.

Smiling at her innocence, Rajveer thinks about Naveen and his god father Lala Gehlot and a satisfactory smile comes on his face.

"Nahi... Nahi Naina aisa nahi hai. Kuch rishte khoon ke rishte se upar hote hain. Ab mere aur Naveen ki dosti hi dekh lo",

he smiles sadly, as he misses him again at this moment. But at the same time he feels proud of their friendship, the bond that they shared.

Naina smiles a little visualizing Naveen and Rajveer together.

"Aur... aur Lala Gehlot? Unke saath khoon ka rishta na hote hue bhi wo mere kitne kareeb hai!",

smiles Rajveer thinking about Lala Gehlot.

"Lala Gehlot?",

asks Naina, hearing the name for the first time.

It's then he realizes that he hasn't yet told her about him.

Smiling, as he thinks about his god father, he says and blushes,

"Lala Gehlot ka main muh bola beta hun. He is like a god father to me!"

This new information about him makes Naina's heart to skip a beat. She blushes at the thought that she knows something about him that others don't know yet!

But after enjoying the blissful moment of feeling that she is the only one amongst all the cadets to have this information about Captain Rajveer, she focuses back on this information.

"Oh!",

says Naina, imagining him respecting someone as his father, apart from Brigadier Chandok. But how hard she tries, she fails to imagine. May be it is not meant to be that way! May be Lala Gehlot and Rajveer don't go along too well; at least not for Naina.

Naina smiles, but her smile doesn't reach her eyes. Somehow she is unsure about this relation between Captain Rajveer and his god father.

"Ahmm... ab ap taiyaar ho jaiye",

smiles Naina.

As she was about to move, Rajveer calls her,

"Naina..."

Naina halts from getting away and waits for him to continue.

Smiling, still looking intently into her eyes, Rajveer tells her,

"Acha dost banne ke liye, dosti karna zaruri hota hai!"

They keep staring each other. Smiles of shyness evident on their faces.

(Rajveer-Naina happy tune begins)

Lowering his eyes, taking a deep breath, he looks again towards her and teases her,

"Ab agar tum yunhi khadi rahi to main... taiyaar kaise honga?"

Naina blushes deeply, as his words do amazing things to her insides. She shuts her eyes immediately to shoo away the ill mannered thoughts that bubble, with in moments of his mention. Rajveer laughs secretly, enjoying her state of blush and shyness. No denial her emotions right now are mirroring his!

"Appraisal ka result announce hone wala hai!",

reminds Rajveer, as if knowing that if this continues further he might do something which he might regret later. Her presence in his room, her standing close to him make him feel intoxicated. How he is controlling himself, only he knows! She should stop staring him or else she might regret doing so later. And he won't take the blame! She is provoking him, without doubt! And also they don't exactly have time to continue this right now!

But whom exactly is he reminding - her or himself?

Shutting her eyes, as she realizes the fact, she feels being stupid at standing there, she opens her eyes and says,

"I'll see you!"

And the way Rajveer raises his brows, with a small smile intact on his face, makes Naina to feel as if he is silently asking her - 'when?'

And as she realizes this, she thinks of something and requests him,

"Ahmm... just five minutes more please?"

Rajveer smiles further, as he wonders, this is exactly what he wanted to say but was refraining himself from saying, and here she says it!

"Yeah sure!",

he says, knitting his brows, doubtful, what has gotten into her?

"Ahm...",

she tries to search for words.

"Kya hua Naina? All fine?",

asks Rajveer, getting serious, all concerned.

Naina nods her head a little in affirmation.

"Main apse gussa nahi hun!",

she tells him out of blue.

This confuses him, why would she say that?

"What?",

he asks, confused, knitting his brows. What is she talking about?

"Naina...",

he trails off the sentence, unable to understand what exactly he wants to ask.

He sees her walking back towards his bed and picking up his uniform. He keeps his eyes transfixed on her each move. Walking back to him, she places the uniform softly on his chest, holding the hanger portion. Rajveer holds his uniform from the corner side, his eyes never leaving her face, trying to gauge her reaction.

"Ek baat puchun?",

she asks, hesitantly, still holding his uniform on his chest, her voice low. She avoids looking towards him.

"Pucho!",

he says, suspiciously.

"Aap kab tak ghutan seh sakte hain?",

she asks, holding her breath.

Her weird question surprises Rajveer.

"Tum... ye...!",

he fails to understand what to say.

But he is the master of strategies and communication after all, he cannot trail off the sentence like that.

"Main kuch samjha nahi!",

he says, alert now.

Smiling, she looks towards him.

"Uniform.... Uniform mein ghutan mehsus nahi hoti?",

she asks, looking straight into his eyes.

Rajveer keeps staring her, confused as he smells something fishy.

Understanding that he is trying to read the hidden meaning, she thinks it's the need of the hour for her to leave, before he starts interrogating her and she confesses everything!

"Ahmmm... main... I'll... I'll see you!",

she says, hopefully.

The words make him forget everything and a smile of expectation stretches on his lips.

Giving him a last long look, blushing, she leaves quickly.

Rajveer, thinking about her the whole time, with a constant smile on his face, unconsciously closes the door, his eyes somewhere in front of him unconsciously as he stands horizontally in front of the door to close it. Resting his head on the cupboard, he keeps thinking about her lovingly.

(Rajveer-Naina slow guitar tune continues)