Author's Note

I know it's been long since I last wrote a story on Rajveer-Naina. Thought of writing a one shot at last. 😉 Few of my readers asked me why haven't I ever written anything based on the appraisal scene of LEFT RIGHT LEFT? Well frankly, I have no idea why haven't I used this scene ever! 😝 I mean seriously how could I miss writing on appraisal scene? 😱 Well here I am at last, writing on a scene during the appraisal sequence. I hope you'll enjoy reading my this take on this scene. 😊

Stay blessed!❤

~*~*~

Chapter 1

In his room

(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Sitting on his arm chair, his head laid back, resting, Rajveer stares towards the ceiling. The proper visibility of his jawline and his dark pupils explain how much he is angry and disappointed.

He certainly understands that she cares for him and doesn't want him to do anything which might lead him to quit KMA! Is it a crime to think about the welfare of someone? Someone you admire! Someone you respect! Someone who means so much to you! So if he knows it all so what's this anger for?

Despite the fact that he understands her sentiments but why as always this time too she fails to understand his reason for doing what he is doing?

The sudden thought that she never tries to understand him sets his heart into racing. He sits straight with a jerk. Impatient, as he doesn't understand how to calm himself down? Only one thing or rather one person can calm him down at this moment. It's the same person who created all the chaos!

*Flashback*

As Captain Rajveer opens the door of his room with a jerk, the sight that arrests his eyes first surprises him. Two cadets messing up with the board allotted to write the names of members for appraisal. What leads him to knit his brows all the more are the cadets who are getting bold enough to do so - Cadet Ali Begh and Captain Rajveer's favourite Cadet Naina Singh!

What the hell do they think of themselves? Who are they to decide what has to be done by him and what not? Who are they to get bold enough and walk to the board and write down his name without his permission?

No! None of the above questions run through his mind! He knows, he knows that they got bold enough to write down his name without his permission because they care! They care for him; they don't want him to leave KMA or rather get thrown away from KMA. He knows that despite being friendly with them, they certainly know that there lies a thin line between Captain Rajveer and them, and they certainly respect his privacy and this they are doing because they care; they love him.

It took all courage of Ali to write down his name when he was completely aware that any passerby might catch him doing so and might inform the heads who are conducting the appraisals. Of course, without saying, it took Naina a great deal to make Ali understand that they need to do this for their Rajveer Sir. And being aware of the fact that Naina understands Captain Rajveer the most amongst all in KMA, Ali understood the need of the hour and didn't argue further. Little did he know that if not by other teachers but by Captain Rajveer himself, he would get a thrashing!

As soon as he ends up writing his name and Ali and Naina turn after taking a sigh of relief each, the satisfactory smile on their faces vanish as they realize that they got caught! To their surprise it is none other than Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat himself!

The anger visible on his face makes shivers to run down the spines of Ali and Naina. Ali might be afraid that he might get a good punishment of jogging or may be he might call his parents to inform how Cadet Ali Begh has been caught breaking the rules but Naina's getting afraid is for altogether a different reason -

She knows that now she will have to explain him why she did that. Of course he would never suspend her or Ali by any means but he might stop talking to her altogether. And the mere thought of it sends shivers down her spine. The explanation and the denial of talking is way too much for her to bear. What would she say - that she doesn't want him to leave KMA as he deserves to stay? Because he is far better than Captain Chauhan? Because she doesn't want the friendship of Captain Abhimanyu and Captain Rajveer to end? She doesn't want him to feel lonely, again? She wants to see her brother's friends, to stay together always? And... that she can't imagine staying here in KMA without him? Because he is the first person she wishes to meet every morning!

Gulping her saliva out of nervousness, she stares straight towards him.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Walking straight towards the culprits with his pair of eyes blazing with anger, Captain Rajveer turns to Ali as he reaches them.

Ali, with a throbbing heart and too much nervousness, keeps his eyes and head lowered, gulping his saliva now and again as his throat gets dried up!

Reaching them, Captain Rajveer stares towards Ali then wanders his eyes towards the board. Reading his name, ignites his anger.

Controlling his anger, he forces a normal voice out of his throat, staring towards the board, he utters,

"Agar dobara maine tumhe aisi harkat karte hue pakad liya....",

at last unable to control his anger, he shouts, pointing his index finger towards Ali,

"To main khud tumhe iss academy se bahar fikwa dunga, do you get that?"

"Yes Sir!",

replies Ali, scared, his voice low, his head bowed down out of shame.

"Duster!",

he orders rather than asks, maintaining the increased level of voice, his eyes never leaving Ali's face.

"Sir...",

Naina tries to reason, nervously.

Turning towards her, with his eyes blazing with anger, he shouts at her,

"Duster kahan hai?"

Unable to take this anymore, Captain Rajveer bends down and rubs his name off the board with his hand!

Having done that, he again turns towards Ali, pointing his index finger towards him, staring him with his eyes blazing with anger, Captain Rajveer warns Cadet Ali,

"Don't ever do that!"

Ali shakes his head, nervously.

Staring him out of anger, Captain Rajveer leaves.

As he leaves, Naina standing rigid at her place, ponders into the whole of this scene again and thinks how he ignored her completely! How he didn't for once look towards her this whole time, until scolding her, as if she is not present there at all! The mere realization of the fact builds a knot in her throat.

*Flashback ends*

Getting impatient, he gets up and starts playing dart. Each dart thrown towards the board as a mean to calm himself down. Walking towards the board he picks up the dart and walks back towards his prior position. His mind thinking innumerable stuffs. The consequences of not taking part in appraisals; growing differences between himself and Captain Chauhan; how to tackle Naina and her group!

Although fully occupied by his thinking process, he senses Naina's presence around him. With his back facing towards the entrance of his room, Rajveer takes a deep breath, closing his eyes.

Despite the fact that the inhalation is out of relaxation of feeling her presence around himself, he somehow succeeds in veiling his true emotions and shows how he is pissed off on finding her here in his room.

He chooses to remain quiet on purpose.

"I am sorry!",

comes her first words after reaching him.

He turns to look towards her but doesn't say anything. He focuses back to playing his game. His silence and ignorance, hurt Naina to the core. After throwing last dart which hits right the center point, Captain Rajveer turns away from Naina. Placing his left hand on his bar table and his right hand holding his waist, he takes a deep breath and waits for Naina to continue.

Getting into the room, Naina repeats her apology,

"I am sorry Sir! I really am!"

Walking towards the dart board, completely ignoring her, Rajveer taunts her,

"Chalo kam se kam tumne mujhey 'Sir' kehna to shuru kiya!",

emphasizing on 'Sir'!

(Fast Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

His words make her go dumbstruck, he did notice! She realizes that she is holding her breath and she exhales it silently.

"I know past mein humare beech mein kafi differences rahi hain. Main kafi badtameezi se bhi apse pesh ayi hun...",

accepts Naina.

Rajveer throws the dart on the table and exhales inaudibly, as if this is the exact moment he had been waiting for, for her to apologize! As if he has the full haq to get an apology from her. As if she doesn't have any haq to say anything to him at all, what so ever be the reason. Or is it that he is angry on discovering the fact that she didn't understand that she can get angry on him, haq se?

He turns to look towards her. She raises her voice as if her anxiety and confidence are increasing with each passing moment.

"Par Sir.... par Sir iska matlab ye to nahi ke aap appraisal mein participate nahi karenge?"

Her words come as a surprise for Rajveer. He stares at her in surprise.

"Sir main chahti hun ke aap bhi appraisal mein part lein aur.... aap academy kyun chorna chahte hain?",

asks Naina.

Rajveer looks towards her then turning away he walks towards the bar table.

"Academy se to mujhey nikal jana chahiye na, kyunki main hi itne time se apko bother kr rahi hun!",

confesses Naina, earnestly.

"Maine hi apko bewajah red box ke liye bother kiya aur... Captain Abhimanyu aur apke beech jo bhi differences hain... main janti hun uske liye main hi responsible hun!"

Resting his left hand on the bar counter and holding his waist with the right, he listens to her attentively.

"Aur Sir aap to achi tarah jante hain na maine ye academy kyun join kari thi, Naveen bhaiya ka khoya hua gaurav wapas paney ke liye aur unki tasveer wapas hall of fame mein lagane ke liye, aur tabse main yahi koshish kar rahi hun Sir...",

and as she was about to continue with her blabber, something skips her heartbeat, and she turns to discover what just happened - the sound of sudden smashing of the mirror of Captain Rajveer's room, as he throws a random thing on the mirror out of anger and scolds her down,

"Shut up Naina! Shut up!"

He walks towards her, staring her in anger and scolds her further,

"Naveen! Naveen! Naveen! Band karo apne iss Naveen ke raag ko. For heaven's sake stop talking about Naveen!"

Naina stares him, nervous and scared. Never has she ever before seen him this much angry. Sweat beads start getting collected on her forehead as he keeps staring her out of anger.

"Tum Naveen ke barey mein baat kar rahi ho? Arey tum to Naveen ki behn banne layak bhi nahi!",

utters Rajveer, spitting venom through his each word.

She stares him in utter shock! These words she is getting from the person whom she trusts the most, after her family. Someone who is as precious to her as her family is to her. Her strength; her willpower - her Rajveer Sir, is making her go weak by uttering those words. She could feel her strength; her energy; her enthusiasm escaping her body. How she is standing erect, she knows not!

Turning away, resting his hands on the counter table, he asks her,

"Kitna janti ho tum Naveen ko? Kitna?"

Naina in a state of shock and afraid of his sudden outburst chooses to remain quiet. On not receiving a reply from her, Rajveer turns to look towards her and continues,

"Tumhare liye wo bus tumhara ek begunah bhai hai lekin mujh jaiso ke liye wo ek parampa ka naam hai!"

Walking towards her, still blazing with anger, he continues,

"Wo parampara jo iss desh ke maahan sipahiyon ne, iss desh mein shuru ki thi!"

"Janti ho konse parampara?",

he asks her, thoroughly pissed off.

"Apne usool; apne adarsh; apne values ke liye jaan de dene ki parampara! Kabhi samjha hai inko?",

he asks.

"Koshish bhi ki hai?",

he scolds rather than asks.

Naina keeps staring him, nervous, unable to understand what to say.

"Nahi!",

he scolds.

Walking away, his voice turns softer, as guilt engulfs him for the umpteenth time.

"Naveen ko maine mara tha! Aur sirf main janta hun ke uss din se lekar aaj tak na janey kitni mautein main marta raha hun!"

Holding his waist from either side, feeling guilty, he says,

"Ghut ghut ke jeeya hun main!"

Turning to look towards her, he says,

"Apna ek dost main pehle hi kho chuka hun; lekin ab aur ek nahi khona chahta! Aur sirf isiliye main appraisals mein participate nahi kar raha hun!"

Raising his voice again, pointing his finger towards her, he scolds her,

"Aur uska tumse koi lena dena nahi hai Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia!"

Naina lowers her eyes feeling guilty and ashamed.

He scolds further,

"Lekin afsos tum ye baat kabhi nahi samajh sakogi! Because you are an emotional fool. Sirf ek ziddi; arhiyal behn bann kr reh gayi ho tum. Jo apne bhai ki tasveer ko wall of fame par dekhne ke liye kuch bhi kar sakti hai; kisi bhi hadd tak ja sakti hai. Aur tumhare is bachkane badle ki bhawna ne tumhe andha bana diya hai. Bilkul andha!"

Naina looks towards him with her welled up eyes.

"Wo andhkar jis mein tum sub kuch bhul chuki ho - apna lakshya; apni manzil; sub kuch!",

he scolds further, walking towards the bar side.

Turning to address her, he asks her,

"Bhool gayi tum - jis din tumne iss academy mein pehla qadam rakha, ye prove karne ke liye ke iss system mein reh kar; ek begunah deshdrohi ki behn hone ke bawajud tum ek achi soldier bann kar dikhaogi. Apne bhai ka khoya hua gaurav wapas lautaogi. Sub kuch bhul chuki ho tum?"

Unable to endure seeing her crying and not wanting to break in front of her; support her right now, he turns away, as a measure to escape from seeing her crying! Sometimes it becomes the need of the hour to inflict pain into the people you care for to save them from a disaster.

"Naveen ko iss duniya ke samne begunah sabit karna, meri zindagi ka maksad hai. Aur wo main karke rahunga chahe uske liye mujhey apni jaan kyun na gawani parhe!"

Turning back to look towards her, he scolds further,

"Lekin Naveen ka gaurav; uski parampara; ek mahaan sipahi ki parampara ko sirf tum zinda rakh sakti ho, khud ek achi sipahi bann kar!"

His eyes well up too not only because he is trying to make Naveen's sister to understand; to realize how important she is now as she is the one who will make her family proud of her; hence fulfill Naveen's wish, but also because it becomes difficult for him to stand there and see her crying. Where in reality he can never even think about seeing her hurt; there he himself is hurting her by his words.

Unable to control herself anymore Naina bursts out too,

"Janti hun... janti hun ke Ma, Baba, Naveen bhaiya, aap; aap sub mujhey ek acha sipahi bante hue dekhna chahte hain. Agar aap sub mujh par apna apna haq jata sakte hain; to kya mera koi haq nahi aap sub par haq jatane ka?"

"Agar main chahti hun ke aap appraisal mein part lein to iss mein kya galt hai? Agar main nahi chahti ke puri academy aap par ungli uthaye; apse sawaal karey ke apne appraisal mein part kyun nahi liya to iss mein main kya galat soch rahi hun?",

shouts Naina, out of frustration.

Rajveer lowers his eyes.

Looking back towards her with a new determination, he asks her out of anger,

"To tum ye chahti ho ke main appraisals mein part lun aur Chauhan se dushmani maul lun?"

"Dushmani? I don't understand ke iss mein dushmani ki baat aa kahan se rahi hai? Aap achi tarah jante hain ke aap deserve karte hain ye position. I don't understand Captain Chauhan ko isse kya problem hai?",

asks Naina, knitting her brows.

Taking a deep breath, Rajveer, looks towards her,

"Naina, Captain Chauhan mein ek junoon sawar ho gaya hai iss position ko haasil karne ka!"

"Aur wo junoon main aap mein kyun nahi dekh pa rahi?",

asks Naina, confused.

"Naina mujhey position se koi farak nahi parhta. What matters to me the most is the bond; the friendship that we share",

says Rajveer, his voice getting softer as a knot forms in his throat.

Smirking, Naina asks,

"Jab dusro ko iss dosti ki value nahi pata to aap kyun koshish kar rhe hain unhe ehsaas dilane ki?"

Rajveer looks towards her, as if the realization dawns upon him! His eyes gets wet, as if he is tired of fighting. Initially they were his enemies he was fighting with and now it's his friend he is fighting with!

"Main nahi chahta tha ke aisi koi bhi situation mere aur Chauhan ke beech mein aye!",

confesses Rajveer at last.

His confession contracts Naina's heart.

As Naina was about to say something, she realizes that the door is open, she moves forth to close the door. As she takes the second step towards the door, Rajveer holds her by her upper arm. This skips Naina's heartbeat, she turns immediately to look towards him and finds him staring her, his eyes dark on her, as if all his feelings for her are clouding his eyes. Naina's heartbeat picks up pace as she looks into his eyes, reading his emotions perfectly. Rajveer realizes that she has been holding her breath.

"Naina! Breath!",

orders Rajveer, softly.

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

It's then, Naina realizes that she has been holding her breath. She breaths and lowers her eyes, feeling guilty by this gesture of hers. This brings a smile on Rajveer's face, as he realizes what she must be going through right now.

Getting up quickly, she jerks his hand down. This comes as total surprise for Rajveer. He looks towards her in utter surprise.

"Naina!",

says Rajveer, unable to understand what to say, in a state of shock.

"Kis haq se apne mujhey chua?",

asks Naina, out of anger.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Rajveer still in a state of shock stares at Naina, who is now standing at a distance from him. His eyes burn with jealousy, how dare she asked that question to him? He has full haq to touch her! If not he so who does? And if she wants, he can give a demonstration right away!

"Haq? Kis haq se?",

asks Rajveer, spitting venom through his each word.

"Naina...",

he fails to frame a proper sentence and shakes his head in utter disbelief. His eyes burn with rage, anger. He is already frustrated, why is she increasing his frustration? Who gave her the haq to make him feel jealous by making him realize that he has no rights to touch her? He out of all people, can't touch her, seriously?

"Kyun bura laga? Gussa aa raha hai ke Naina ne Rajveer ko mana kiya usse chuney se?",

asks Naina, spitting venom through her each word.

Rajveer's heartbeat picks up pace. He doesn't understand what to say; how to react. At this moment he is vulnerable in front of her, without doubt.

"Abhi sirf chuney se roka hai to apko itna gussa aa rha hai. Sochiye agar main apko koi haq na dun meri zindagi ka koi bhi faisla lene se to apko kaisa mehsus hoga?",

asks Naina out of anger.

"Main? Main tumhari zindagi ke faisle leta hun?",

asks Rajveer, out of anger, his brows creased.

Smiling sarcastically, he says, spitting venom through his each word,

"Itna haq diya kahan hai tumne mujhey?"

"Apne diya hai mujhey?",

retorts Naina.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune continues)

After enjoying a serious eye lock for sometime, Naina shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath.

Opening them, she very calmly says,

"Look I know mera koi haq nahi hai ke main apke decision ko question karun..."

Her each word pierces through Rajveer's heart. He clutches his hand and looks away out of frustration.

Nothing goes unnoticed by Naina. She stops abruptly, as she notices his reaction. Tilting her head towards right side, trying to gauge his reaction as his back faces her front, she asks softly,

"Haq hai?"

(Slow Rajveer-Naina piano tune begins)

Rajveer turns his head towards her, they enjoy an eye lock. Naina's heartbeat picks up pace. She feels guilty.

"I am sorry!",

she apologizes, still maintaining the eyelock.

Her sudden apology comes as a surprise for Rajveer. Knitting his brows out of confusion, he turns properly towards her, eager to know what's the apology for?

"Sorry?",

prompts Rajveer.

Ashamed on her deed, Naina lowers her eyes and confesses,

"Pichle kuch dino se main apko Sir....",

she trails off, unable to complete the line.

Rajveer, although knowing what she is pointing towards doesn't make any effort to stop her from apologizing.

"Sir... agey?",

he prompts, teasing her.

This picks up pace of Naina's heartbeat. She understands that he is doing this on purpose, irritating her by portraying to be innocent.

"...Sir keh kar nahi bula rahi thi...",

she completes, her voice low, out of hesitation.

(Slow Rajveer-Naina guitar tune begins)

Rajveer smiles lovingly looking towards her while her eyes remain cascaded down.

"Hmmm...",

comes his curt reply.

Naina hesitates but asks anyhow,

"How did you feel?"

(Rajveer-Naina flute tune begins as Naina looks towards him after asking him the question)

Staring her for sometime, and trying to relax his throbbing heart, he smiles and says,

"Why are you hesitating? Haq se pucho!"

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

As soon as Naina hears him, her stance changes, she seems to be more confident and less hesitant. A big smile stretches on her face. This makes Rajveer to smile too.

Taking a deep breath, she looks straight towards him, all confident,

"How did you feel?"

Naina's determination shakes as she discovers him looking towards her that way which makes her go weak on her knees.

"Dum ghut ta tha!",

comes his short but a potential answer.

His answer sends chill down her spine. The sudden change in her face expression; the sudden seriousness and horror that envelopes her face explain Rajveer how she has been affected by his words.

He chooses to continue further on finding her speechless.

"Jab baki sub mujhey Captain Rajveer kehte hain to khud par gurur hota hai. Par jab tum mujhey Captain Rajveer bulati thi to khud ke Captain hone par sharm aati thi!",

Rajveer adds further.

(Fast Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

His words make her heart to beat faster. She goes numb by his confession.

"I am sorry...",

comes Naina's earnest apology in hoarse whisper.

"....Rajveer Sir!",

adds Naina, after a pause.

His heart swells on listening to the suffix she uses after his name. Looking towards her, Rajveer gives her a sad smile.

"Ek baat bataiye main aap par gussa hui; aap par chillayi. Zahir si baat hai apko bura laga hoga. Par kya apne kabhi ye socha hai ki maine kaise har pal bitaya hoga such janne ke baad?",

asks Naina.

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

Rajveer waits for her to continue.

"Dum ghut ta tha ye soch kar ke jiske paas apni har problem; har khushi share karne subse pehle jati thi aaj ussi se nafrat karti hun!"

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Rajveer lowers his eyes, choosing to remain quiet.

A sudden boldness fills Naina and she moves forth, closer to him. Rajveer's heart picks up pace as she gets closer to him. Although his eyes get glued to hers but he keeps a check on her each move!

"Main apko har field; har jagah success patey hue dekhna chahti hun. Failure is not meant for you Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!",

says Naina, in hoarse whisper.

"Rajveer Sir!",

she adds further, which brings a shy smile on Rajveer's face, followed by Naina's.

"Aur aaj main pure haq se keh rahi hun ke aap appraisal mein part lenge!",

says Naina, her nervousness and confidence mingled together in her voice.

"Aur jahan tak Abhimanyu Sir ki baat hai, I am sure gradually he'll understand ke inn positions mein kuch nahi rakha",

says Naina.

Rajveer's heart swells on listen to her each word. A constant smile of satisfaction remains on his face.

"Main ye nahi keh rahi ke apko jeetna hi hai, although no wonder that you deserve the position but main ye nahi chahti ki koi bhi aap par ungli uthaye; apki bezati karey; apko kayar kahey.",

explains Naina.

"Aur agar mere yahan se janey ke baad apne firse apna decision badla so I would demand an explanation from you, haq se!",

warns Naina, lovingly.

This brings a smile on Rajveer's face and Naina's too.

"Chalti hun, bye!",

smiles Naina, looking straight into his eyes.

His eyes and the naughty smile on his face tells Naina how he doesn't want her to leave yet. But knowing that it's the need of the hour, Naina smiles and lowering her eyes, she turns back and leaves.

~*~*~

At night

Naina crosses by the board again and smiles as she reads Rajveer Singh Shekhawat written there! With a fluttered heart she goes in search of Captain Rajveer.

As she finds him leaving a classroom she gets excited but suddenly she realizes that he seems to be off mood. Her smile vanishes. Reaching him, she asks him,

"Do you have moments to spare?"

Her voice makes his heart to flutter. He turns to look towards her, his expression serious but his eyes twinkling on witnessing her there. He nods his head, confused, what does she want. Without giving a second thought, she holds his hand and pulls him with her, whilst asking him,

"Aap iss waqt class mein kya kar rahe hain?"

"Kuch papers check krne the, I thought main papers yahin bhul gaya hun. But I guess wo mere room mein hi hain",

says Rajveer, his voice reflects his tiredness. His eyes transfixed on the entwined hands of himself and Naina's.

"Do you have a thread?",

comes Naina's question out of blue.

Unable to comprehend, he asks,

"A what?"

"A thread!",

replies Naina.