Started on 10.11.2019

Naina stands in front of the mirror and curses Huda,

"Huda teri shart lagane ki adat ka kuch karna parhega! Agar academy mein kisi ne mujhey dekh liya na aise to main tujhey chorungi nahi!",

smiling, she shakes her head, looking herself into the mirror.

"Aur ab pata nahi ye Pooja kahan reh gayi? Kya karun? Ussey bina miley chali jaun?",

asks Naina to herself on facing the dilemma of whether to wait for Pooja or not.

"Anyways mujhse aur wait nahi ho raha, iss shart ne mera dimag kharab kar dia hai. Bus ek baar ye shart puri kar lun, fir jaldi se akar change kar lungi. Mujhey bilkul shok nahi hai iss tarah se academy mein saree pehn ke ghumne ka. Aur upar se agar Lolita Ma'am ne dekh lia to? Agar wo room mein aa gayi to? Lights out waise hi ho gaya hai, wo kabhi bhi aa jati hain dekhne! Oh god! Oh Huda!",

curses Naina, getting nervous as she remembers Lolita Ma'am and continued by her anger as she remembers Huda.

"Hudaaa...",

she shouts out of frustration, keeping her voice on check, not too loud, only loud enough for her to hear. Sighing, she gives a last look into the mirror and leaves for the games room to meet Huda.

As she turns right to the adjoining corridor, she stops abruptly on seeing the person who succeeds in skipping her heartbeat each time he comes across her, without fail. As her heart and mind register his presence, a smile creeps on her lips. Her eyes start sparkling out of happiness and shyness. On the other hand, as Rajveer who was crossing the horizontal corridor feels Naina's presence around him, stops the process of folding the sleeve of his black shirt and turns his head towards his left to assure himself that it is indeed Naina! 

His creased brows and the wrinkles on his forehead justify perfectly his shocked state! Yes shocked! But not in a negative way but a totally pleasurable shock! He stares her for few moments, accepting that what he is witnessing right now isn't one of his dreams that he has been dreaming lately but it is indeed the reality! A sweet and sour reality.

Sweet because he is seeing Naina in something he wanted to see her since a long time now - a saree! And sour because he knows that they don't have any function in the academy right now or in the near future, so why is she wearing a saree? Has someone asked her to wear it on purpose? Has any of her male mates asked her to wear it? If so then who asked and why?

He notices that she decided to wear a simple red saree. 'Simple', that is how he likes it. That is what his taste is like. He likes simplicity and that is one of the many reasons that he gets attracted towards her, each time he looks at her. And to enhance the simplicity, he notices that she hasn't taken any pain to put extra make up apart from putting the kaajal and her hanging pair of silver earrings.

With a smile on his lips, his eyes glued on her and controlling his racing heartbeat, he walks towards Naina, slowly, taking his own sweet time to cherish her simplicity and beauty.

(Rajveer-Naina tune runs in the background throughout this scene)

As Naina finds him walking towards her, her eyes glued on him this whole time, Naina realizes she has to walk ahead and not just stick to the spot. Not because he is walking towards her, she is forced to walk towards him but because she herself wants to reach him. Wants him to look at her closely and give his approval to her wearing a saree. And to cut short the time period of the wait, she also needs to take up the initiative equally.

As they reach closer to each other, having only a certain amount of gap between them which is certainly necessary, not only because they are standing at the corridor where anyone can come any moment but also because it is to ensure each other and to some extent to themselves too that they won't end up doing anything that they might regret later. And according to both of them, since they haven't conveyed their true feelings for each other to each other, therefore, the mere shaking of hands privately, would also be considered as a sin.

But then what's the hurry? When they both know that both of them have immense patience! Secondly, they are going no where, they are here in KMA with each other, they can always take it slow, in the way they both wanna enjoy this new unconfessed relationship between them. They stare each other for few more seconds, then Rajveer lets his eyes to wander upon her from head to toe, with a smile on his face. His heart swells on the mere sight of her. Naina doesn't fail to notice the feeling of satisfaction and admiration for her in his eyes. This increases her blush and smile too, that she had all this time on her face, since the moment she saw him. Unable to understand what should she say, she keeps staring him expectantly.

After observing her from head to toe up to his satisfaction, he rests his eyes on her eyes. The satisfactory smile still intact on his face. Naina tucks a strand of hair behind her ear out of shyness and self consciousness. But the soft blowing wind doesn't stop playing games with her hair. Rajveer admits silently, the little blowing of her hair is making her to look even more beautiful. Naina raises her now lowered eyes to look towards him. Rajveer realizes that her eyes are enquiring him,

'aap kuch bol kyun nahi rahe?'

And as if her wish is his command , he utters,

"Naina!"

His merely taking her name, without any rush to add some more words to her name to convert it into a meaningful sentence, explains the depth of his feelings for her. Explains how speechless he has turned, mesmerized by her natural beauty. But does he know that his merely uttering her name, has explained her everything? Everything that he desires to tell or ask her! Uttering her name, he keeps staring her with that satisfactory smile on his face.

Waking up from her trance, Naina feels that she needs to explain,

"ahmm... Sir wo Huda ne shart lagayi thi ki agar main saree pehn ke aa jaungi to wo revolt mein humara saath dega!",

says Naina in almost a single breath, as if she doesn't want to keep anything from him for long, and wants him to know everything about her. But only if she could realize that there is something that she is keeping from him! Something that he has a full right to know, her true feelings for him! The acceptance of the fact that he means more to her than a teacher or a mentor. Is it too much to give him? To a person who has never asked anything from her, apart from may be a bit of her attention. Is it too much to let him know, something that he deserves to know?

But then being a gentleman himself, he should take the initiative to take the first step. How could he expect her to come forward and confess? And truth be told, would Rajveer himself appreciate her forwardness, when this is another of the many reasons that he admires her for, her shyness?

Smiling at her innocent answer,

"bohot hi kamal ki shart lagayi hai Cadet Huda ne!",

he tells her, staring into the beautiful eyes of hers without ending the eye contact throughout.

"Kyun?",

asks Naina, creasing her brows, smiling and blushing at his comment.

Her eyes not ready to end their precious eye contact, yet. And Rajveer doesn't fail to give a tough competition in their secret game.

"Kyunki iss khoobsurati ke liye koi revolt to kya, apni jaan bhi de sakta hai!",

utters Rajveer, without realizing that he shouldn't have uttered those words. The blush on her face on hearing his words and her lowering of her eyes as well, make him to realize that he shouldn't have said that. Come on, he is better than this at controlling his feelings. Then what has happened today, why couldn't he keep a check on his words? Has she become so much irresistible today? Is the traditional look of her making him to feel all those feelings which he had been trying to avoid lately, until now?

And in the process of trying to rectify his error, he stumbles,

"I... mean...",

he starts with his explanation, lowering his eyes and trying to figure out the correct words to frame a sentence that would justify his previous actions. Looking back into her eyes, blushing, he continues,

"Tum iss saree mein... I mean ye saree achi lag rahi hai... tum iss saree mein... I mean ye saree tum par bohot... actually tum dono milkar... a...",

unable to put his feelings into words properly, he blushes, closing his eyes tightly, feeling shy and embarrassed on realizing his current state, he sighs. Opening his eyes, he looks at her and somehow succeeds in framing a proper sentence, after so much chaos,

"tum iss saree mein bohot achi lag rahi ho!",

he succeeds in giving her compliment at last and smiles while trying to control the exhilarating speed of his heartbeats and keeps staring her, smiling and blushing throughout. His eyes reflecting the extent of his approval and liking on her wearing of a saree. This makes her to feel beyond happy, that he approves! And during those moments she actually forgets for whom she actually got ready for! The only thing that matters to her at this moment is that, he is happy to see her wearing a saree, he approves of it!

"And... maine... kabhi... tumhe... aise... college mein... I mean... KMA mein... you know...",

he manages to say somehow, smiling and blushing throughout. His hands tucked into his jeans' pocket, he keeps staring her, going speechless.

Smiling and blushing on witnessing Rajveer's state, Naina replies sweetly, looking into his eyes, 

"thanks... for the compliment!"

And as if Naina has given him an idea which can prove to be helpful to him to escape from his current state of shyness, so he quickly grabs the opportunity and says,

"of course... it's a compliment... just a... compliment!",

says Rajveer, looking intently into her eyes, trying to keep a check on his increasing heartbeat, blushing. Naina blushes harder and tries to control her smile and blush on witnessing Rajveer's state.

Staring at her for sometime, he realizes that he must stop this right now or he might end up doing something that he shouldn't! Lowering his eyes out of shyness and hesitation for fraction of seconds, he again looks back towards Naina and says,

"you know... I have got to go..."

and stares her for few seconds then continues,

"but... good night... and...",

he tries to find words, staring her throughout this time. Naina bends her head a little, gesturing him to continue what he wants to tell her. Her eyes focused on him, enjoying his each reaction and word. Waiting for him to say something! Something she wants to hear, although she isn't sure what exactly she wants to hear from him!

On the other hand, deciding that it isn't a right moment to say anything of that sort, and also he has no right to speak to her that way, he ends up saying, blushing, raising his shoulders,

"have a good night!"

Holding his breath, he shakes his head a little, looking at her, indicating her that he is leaving now. He adjusts his collar, sometimes looking at her, sometimes lowering his eyes out of sheer shyness.

"Main... chalta hun...",

he says at last. His mind says he should leave before it gets too late, and his heart requests him to stay and enjoy few more moments with her and scolds him that it is indeed too.. late, he must confess here and now! He finds it difficult to get away from her, although he wants it desperately to distance himself from her, not because he hates her presence but because he knows, if he stays with her for few more moments he might confess what he doesn't want as for yet to let her know!

Holding his breath, he crosses by her, and as soon as he walks a little away from her, he looks heavenwards, thanking god silently that the situation has actually come to an end and he won't have to stay longer in front of her and torture himself, although a sweet torture but a torture is a torture!

Hiding himself behind a pillar quickly, he pushes himself on the pillar and sighs in relief, placing his hand on his heart which is beating at an accelerating rate after seeing Naina in the red saree! Although it becomes too hard but he tries to make his sigh inaudible, which causes him to feel a little more of the sweet pain! Looking heavenwards he scolds himself,

"Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, apki iss harkat ke liye apka court marshal ho jana chahiye!", 

and blushes too hard!

Resting her back by the other side of the same pillar, Naina scolds herself, blushing and smiling, beating her back head lightly,

"Stupid! Kaise school ke bachon ki tarah sharma rahi thi! But I think he liked me!",

she tells herself, smiling and blushing wholeheartedly.

(Rajveer-Naina tune continues in the background)

*****

Rajveer doesn't understand why he fails to mind his desire of meeting Naina again. Suddenly Cadet Rajveer in Captain Rajveer gets awaken and with a throbbing heart Cadet Rajveer turns with the desire of getting to see Cadet Naina again and deep down he feels that she must be waiting for him too!

Naina who is standing against the pillar, smiling, blushing, looking heavenwards doesn't understand why she fails to leave for her room. Suddenly the fear of getting caught by Lolita Ma'am seems to get overpowered by the desire of meeting Rajveer again!

Naina skeptically turns towards her right, still not leaving the pillar side, wondering - should she go? Her heart throbbing inside her chest makes it impossible for her to think rationally. Realizing that there is no other option open for her than to go to his room to meet him, she with all her excitement and nervousness turns to leave for Rajveer's room without much caring about thinking what would she say to him if he asks her of her visit to his room at this hour of the day.

As soon as she turns, her heart skips a beat on discovering Rajveer standing in front of her! Her cheeks turn deep shades of red all over again, as if caught while doing something that is prohibited in KMA! Prohibited indeed it is in KMA - what she is doing at this hour of the day - after lightsout to Rajveer, but whatever she is doing - she is doing to Rajveer, and Rajveer for Naina isn't a prohibited area for sure!

(Rajveer-Naina fast flute tune begins as they stare each other with their hearts throbbing inside their chests)

Rajveer keeps staring Naina with his heart in his mouth. The shock and awkwardness of his don't go unnoticed by Naina. But then Naina too shares his current state with him, which doesn't go unnoticed by Rajveer too even in his state of shock. Their feelings mirror although expressions don't. 

As soon as Naina lowers her eyes,blushing, adjusting her strand of hair again putting it behind her ear again, Rajveer gives himself the liberty to enjoy seeing nervous and shy Naina again, just like he did moments ago. Naina slowly looks towards Rajveer, nervously, smiling a little out of nervousness. Rajveer keeps staring her, smiling lightly with admiration and love. 

They slowly walk towards each other again, just like they did moments ago. They get a feeling of de-ja-vu. Everything repeating itself, but this time it is slightly different from the earlier time. This time they are sure that they want to spend more time with each other. This time, despite being at a loss of words, they know there are lots of words they will speak to each other eventually, just that they need to give time to each other. This time Rajveer wouldn't rush to escape from this heart warming situation, he promises silently. This time Naina wouldn't let him go until she gets assured that this is exactly what he wanted to say to her at this moment and he is not trying to hide behind the other flattering and sweet words which are although his sincere feelings for her, but are not exactly what he wants to convey to her, she promises silently.

They get closer to each other, standing in front of each other with a little distance in between them. Their heartbeats racing. They smile shyly, looking towards each other. Without any gesture required, they turn together to Naina's left and Rajveer's right and starts walking together - close enough for the behind of their hands to brush each other lightly. As soon as their hands brush each other, Naina bows her head shyly. Rajveer turns to look towards her to read her feelings, his cheeks' colour deepening.

None of them understands how to commence the conversation, hence they walk silently with each other.

Rajveer looking towards Naina, smiling a little, hesitantly asks her,

"Ahm... gayi nahi tum Huda se milne?"

Naina looks towards Rajveer, as his question skips her heartbeat. The look in her eyes, reflects her desire of being with him more than being with Huda at this moment, clenches Rajveer's heart and he knits his brows, his stare turns dark on her for some moments. Naina keeps staring him.

"Mann nahi kar raha tha.",

says Naina, slowly, earnestly, looking towards him.

That increases Rajveer's rate of heartbeat.

Naina lowers her eyes. Rajveer realizes that he is staring her, again, and hence looking back towards his front, but his mind doesn't get cleared off the clouds of thoughts of Naina, Huda and Naina-Huda!

Rajveer shoves his hands into his jeans' pockets in order to control his ill mannered emotions. Taking a silent deep breath, he keeps walking forth slowly. Naina walks next to him.

"Huda bura nahi manega ke tum gayi nahi?",

asks Rajveer, holding his breath, staring towards the floor as he walks forth.

Naina looks towards him, all serious and says,

"Aur agar iss waqt mere uske paas aise jane ka koi aur bura maan jaye to?"

That certainly comes as a shock for Rajveer. Blood drains out of his face and he immediately turns to look towards Naina.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

Naina stares back. Her heart throbbing inside her chest on witnessing his reaction of shock.

She quickly says,

"Lolita Ma'am!",

as if trying to calm his nerves down, by making him realize that she isn't talking about him, he need not worry.

Rajveer relaxes to a great extent and smiles, staring her. Naina smiles back, staring back.

"Aap soye nahi abhi tak?",

she asks, as they continue walking forth.

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi.",

says Rajveer, earnestly, keeping his eyes lowered.

"Kyun?",

she asks, looking towards Rajveer, expectantly.

Rajveer looks towards her. Then smiling, he says,

"Naina neend na aane ki humesha wajah ho ye zaruri to nahi?"

Naina smiles, and looks back to her front.

"Aapne change bhi nahi kiya abhi tak.",

she points out, then looking towards him, she asks him,

"Kisi se milna tha kya?"

Rajveer smirks, and looking towards Naina taunts her,

"Naina na to mujhe koi yun lights out ke baad akele mein milne ke liye bulata hai aur na main kisi ko ye ijjazat deta hun ke koi mujhe aise akele milne ke liye bulaye - unprofessionally!",

he stresses on 'unprofessionally'. 

That pinches Naina and she lowers her eyes, feeling guilty. Rajveer smiles sarcastically, staring her.

Naina smiles sarcastically as she remembers something, keeping her eyes lowered and says,

"Hmm... Dr. Mishra ke saath bhi kabhi unke room mein dinner; kabhi apke room mein, sarey humesha professional reasons ki wajah se hi to hotey the."

Now that teaches Rajveer a good lesson about how he should not read too much into the situation between Huda and Naina. Rajveer stares Naina, shocked, suddenly feeling guilty for all those dinners that he shared with Dr. Mishra even at Dr. Shalini's presence after lights out.

Together they reach the place between two pillars and rests their elbows on the horizontal hard and thick marbel that bridges the gap between the two pillars, their fingers of both of their hands entwined, staring ahead at the main hall of KMA.

Rajveer turns his face to look towards Naina, thinking, he asks her,

"Kya kahogi Huda se? Kyun nahi gayi milne usse tum?"

Naina takes a deep breath, though not turns to look towards Rajveer, and says plainly,

"Pata nahi!"

Rajveer knits his brows lightly.

"Huda chor dega tumhe bina jawab diye?",

teases Rajveer, smiling.

Naina smiles, lowers her eyes and says,

"Theek kaha apne. Huda aap nahi hai, ke bina kuch kahe jane de!"

Rajveer keeps staring her, his stare turns dark again on her.

Naina turns to look towards him and asks him,

"Kisi se kuch mangna galat hai kya?''

Rajveer keeps staring her, serious.

"Kisi se kuch mangne par wo agar na miley, rejection miley, usse darr lagta hai!",

says Rajveer, seriously.

Naina looks towards Rajveer understanding his feeling.

"Hmm... yani aap samjhte hain ke kaisa lagta hai jab kisi se kuch mango aur wo na mile!",

asks Naina, looking towards him.

Rajveer stares back, not replying directly.

"Agar aaj main apse kuch mangu to aap mujhe mana nahi karenge na?",

asks Naina, staring him expectantly.

Rajveer knits his brows lightly, staring her throughout, wondering what does she want from him?

"Kya chahiye tumhe Naina?",

asks Rajveer, confused.

"Kya aap mujhe... Point 1857 le jayenge?",

asks Naina, smiling a little, as if she knows the complete secret of Point 1857.

That comes as a shock for Rajveer.

"Po..in...t 1857??",

exclaims Rajveer, staring her.

By the drained blood of his face, Naina could understand how this question has come as a complete shock for him.

Naina nods her head slowly, staring him throughout.

"Tum... tumhe kisne bataya Point 1857 ke barey mein?",

asks Rajveer, lowering his eyes, in a state of shock.

"Bhaiya ki diary mein read kiya tha. Mujhe jane ka mann hai. Chalenge aap mujhe lekar please?",

asks Naina, demanding yet hesitant.

"Nahi... nahi hum wahan nahi ja sakte!",

states Rajveer though trying to be very serious and strict about his decision but the little hesitation and his blushed up cheeks jeopardizes his plan of staying strict.

Naina keeps staring him, smiling a little. Rajveer looks towards her. He knits his brows as her reaction comes as a surprise to him. As far as he knows Naina, she should have indulged into an argument with him by this time. Damn! why is she behaving odd? Why can't she give him the pleasure of arguing with her? Why is she keeping him from feeling the adrenaline rush that he usually feels while arguing with her?

Rajveer gives her a questioning look.

"Kyun?",

she asks softly, staring him lovingly.

Her tone and that look skip Rajveer's heartbeat.

"Naina...",

Rajveer tries to think of a reason, lowering his eyes, looking here and there.

"Kyunki main Dr. Mishra nahi hun?",

teases Naina.

Rajveer's rate of heartbeat increases on hearing that.

(Rajveer-Naina fast tune begins)

Naina, still smiling adds,

"Ya isliye kyunki main....",

she pauses, staring him, then adds,

"Nandini nahi hun?"

Rajveer fails to understand how to react to that. Totally at her mercy, he stands in front of her.

They keep staring each other. A little smile playing on Naina's face but horror enveloping Rajveer's face.

"Nahi!",

he says, slowly, staring her throughout, all serious.

Naina keeps staring him, her rate of heartbeat increasing at a slow pace.

"Kyunki tum Naina ho!!!",

he says earnestly, looking towards Naina.

Naina's face starts warming up on hearing that. How hard might she try, she fails to tear her gaze from his, as if he has casted some spell on her.

Naina does understand the meaning of his words but chooses to play along.

"Itni buri hun main?",

she asks softly, taking Rajveer by surprise.

Rajveer changes his posture a little on hearing that, getting a little straight out of shock and surprise.

"Ke apke saath kuch pal akele bitana deserve nahi karti?",

she asks, softly.

Rajveer doesn't understand how to react to that. Or rather how to control himself from reacting the way he wants to react to those words of hers! Tell her how much she deserves; how much he wants to shower on her - his emotions.

"Tu..m... janti ho Point 1857 ke barey mein?",

asks Rajveer, skeptically, staring her with a critical eye.

Naina smiles slowly, staring Rajveer, blushing.

Turning confident, she says,

"Apki Cadet hun, pura research karke hi aungi na apke paas?"

Rajveer blushes hearing that, closing her eyes.

Naina blushes too, witnessing his reaction.

Looking towards her, smiling still, giving her a possessive stare, he asks her,

"Tum... janti ho iska matlab kya nikal raha hai?"

Naina's chest expands and contracts at quick succession hearing that. They stare each other, both understanding the meaning very well!

Naina nods slowly into affirmative, staring him throughout.

Rajveer smiles staring her throughout, as if challenging her.

"Hmm... ke main apka faida utha rhi hun!",

says Naina, and purses her lips, to hide her amusement, staring him throughout.

Rajveer knits his brows, wondering what does she mean by that?

"Faida?",

asks Rajveer, confused.

"Hmmm! Apko main iss saree mein pasand ayi!....",

says Naina, staring him throughout, challenging him to deny that.

Rajveer's stare turns all the more possessive on her.

"Aap khush hain!",

says Naina, rather than asks.

Rajveer's smile stretches.

"To iske badle mujhe bhi to kuch milna chahiye.",

says Naina, staring him throughout, challenging him.

Rajveer keeps staring her, smiling a little. That frustrates Rajveer - his not replying.

Frustrated, Naina looks in front and asks him,

"Ek insaan ko ek dusre insaan ko samjhne mein kitna waqt lagta hai?"

"Ye tum batao Naina?",

comes Rajveer's immediate reply as a question to her, looking straight towards her, smiling infectiously.

(Rajveer-Naina revolt tune begins)

That skips Naina's heartbeat. Her cheeks turn crimson red all over again.

"Kitna waqt lagta hai? Ek insaan ke juzzbaaton ko samjhne mein?",

prompts Rajveer, staring her, his face turned towards her.

Naina's breathing turns shallow.

"Tumhe mere liye ye karne ki zarurat nahi thi Naina!",

he says, looking towards Naina, understanding the meaning of her question.

Naina looks away, disappointed.

"Jeetne deti main Abhimanyu ko? Jo galat thein!",

says Naina, disappointed.

"Aur Huda ka support zaruri tha, planning uski humesha bilkul sahi hoti hai.",

says Naina, knitting her brows, disappointed still.

Soon they smile together on realizing how true Naina is.

"Haan wo to hoti hai, no doubt.",

agrees Rajveer, laughing a little.

Naina laughs a little too, closing her eyes, shaking her head.

*****

Opening her eyes, she stares Rajveer, smiling. Rajveer smiles too, staring back.

"Le jayenge na aap mujhe?",

asks Naina again, politely.

Rajveer keeps staring her, smile stretching on his face.

"Ek shart par!",

demands Rajveer.

"Shart?",

smiles Naina, knitting her brows.

Rajveer, smiling, nodes his head into positive in slow motion, enjoying being all teasing and carefree after such a long time. Last time he remembers being this carefree was in Naveen's presence!

Naina too for the first time feels like a teenager, carefree and enjoying her life. She laughs silently, blushing and shakes her head. She asks him, whilst laughing,

"Acha bataiye kya shart hai?"

She looks towards him, smiling wide, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Saree pehn kar jana hoga.",

challenges Rajveer.

(Rajveer-Naina fast flute tune begins)

Naina widens her eyes as it comes as a shock. Rajveer enjoys witnessing her reaction, smiling throughout.

She blushes and says,

"Saree mein?"

Rajveer arches a brow, challenging her then nods his head slowly in affirmative.

"Hmm... lagta hai apko saree kuch zyada hi pasand hai.",

teases Naina, narrowing her eyes on him.

Rajveer's stare turns dark on her hearing that, smiling infectiously.

Naina lowers her eyes as his stare skips her heartbeat.

Rajveer keeps staring her, smiling at her innocence and shyness.

Suddenly he knits his brows witnessing the shift in his expression. She seems to be tensed.

He quickly asks,

"Kya hua?"

"Magar mere paas iss saree ke alawa aur koi saree nahi hai.",

Naina shares her situation with Rajveer, staring him, puzzled.

Rajveer smiles hearing that, staring her throughout.

Naina knits her brows lightly, smiling, wondering what made him to smile.

Holding her hand, Rajveer takes her to his room.

(Rajveer-Naina happy tune begins)

"Kahan ja rahe hain hum?",

asks Naina, puzzled.

"Mere kamre mein!",

states Rajveer, clearly, looking straight ahead whilst walking towards his room.

That comes as a shock for Naina and she immediately stops him, holding his right lower arm while her left hand stays engulfed by his right hand safely. Rajveer stops abruptly and turns to look towards Naina, knitting his brows lightly, wondering what made her to stop him.

"Kya hua?",

he asks, looking towards her.

Naina stares him, nervously. Her cheeks warm out of shyness, awkwardness.

"Iss waqt nahi.",

she pleads, softly.

Rajveer's heart skips a beat hearing that and he realizes what she meant. They give a heartful stare to each other.

Just to tease her, make her already throbbing heart throb further, he asks,

"Kyun? Abhi kyun nahi?"

Naina keeps staring him, wondering what to say to that?

Rajveer, although understanding everything, waits for her reply. Pushing her to reply with his that one possessive stare that succeeds in casting his spell on her each time he gives her.

Naina's chest expands and contracts at quick succession hearing his query.

"Lolita Ma'am bura mann gayi to?",

she says suddenly, which succeeds in making Rajveer to smile and his eyes to twinkle with love for her.

Naina smiles too, enjoying witnessing happy and impatient Rajveer.

Rajveer stares her, his smile dying gradually and he says,

"To main firse saza accept kar lunga apni galti ka!"

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

Initially Naina knits her brows, confused, which 'saza' is he pointing towards? Why did he use the word 'firse' ?

Blood drains out of Naina's face as his words she doesn't understand why within moments remind her of his punishment after mentorship programme.

She keeps staring Rajveer in horror. Rajveer stares back smiling.

Naina's mind swivels as the whole incident repeats in her mind and suddenly she starts realizing something that she hadn't realized then!

"Apne wo saza....",

she fails to frame a coherent sentence in her state of shock as her latest discovery about her own life; about him; about them; blocks her mind!

But Rajveer being the master of knowing the unknown; understanding the unsaid, smiles a little, feeling a little awkward; a little guilty. His encounter with Naveen; his hallucinating him; his confession in front of Naveen, get reminded to Rajveer by this exchange between Rajveer and Naina.

Neither does he explain anything to her; nor does she ask for any explanation. Both understand the rest story!

*****

Reaching his room, getting inside, Rajveer opens his cupboard. Naina standing at a distance, almost at the middle of the room looks towards Rajveer anxiously. Peeping into his cupboard, standing at her spot, trying to understand what is he upto!

Soon Rajveer turns, shutting the cupboard. Naina straightens up, knitting her brows she waits for him to turn and unravel this mystery.

Rajveer brings out a saree from his cupboard and turns to look towards Naina, smiling Naina knits her brows lightly in confusion as her eyes rest on the saree.

Reaching her, he forwards the saree hesitantly towards her. Naina stares it, smiling a little.

"Ye... meri Mumma ki saree hai.",

he tells her, blushing a little.

That comes as a surprise for Naina. Smiling throughout, she looks towards Rajveer and says,

"Apne aaj se pehle apni family ke barey mein kuch bhi nahi kaha kisi se. Mujhe to lagta tha ke..."

Staring her throughout, smiling, Rajveer intervenes, 

"Ke mujhe apne Mumma aur Papa ke barey mein kuch pata hi nahi?"

Naina nods her head, a little apologetically.

Rajveer smiles looking towards her and says,

"Nahi Naina aisi baat nahi hai. Main bhaley hi chota tha jab mere Mumma aur Papa mujhe akela chor kar chale gaye magar itna bhi nahi ke kuch yaad hi na rahe."

Naina stares him, feeling awkward.

"Main saat saal ka tha.",

he provides her with a little information.

Naina feels deeply sorry for him.

"Kuch saaman the mere paas mere Mumma-Papa ke. Par waqt ke saath-saath mere Mumma-Papa ki tarah wo bhi mujhse durr ho gaye.",

smiles Rajveer, sarcastically.

That hurts Naina.

"Kho gaye!",

says Rajveer, smiling sadly.

"Ye saree sambhal kar rakhi thi.",

he says staring the saree fondly.

Naina too looks towards it.

"Main chahta hun ke tum isse le lo.",

says Rajveer, looking towards Naina, without caring how the gesture of his is revealing more than his words are revealing about his feelings for Naina.

Naina, understanding the meaning of it, stares towards it skeptically. Nervous, as she understands that her accepting this red saree from Rajveer would mean a lot!

It is a silent promise that henceforth everything that belongs to Rajveer belongs to her too! Whether be it in material form or his happiness, sorrow or pain.

They stare each other, both understanding the depth and meaning of this moment. Her nervousness takes a toll on her and hence, looking towards the saree - a means to avoid eye contact with Rajveer, Naina says,

"Main... Main ye saree.... nahi le sakti."

Rajveer, lowering his eyes, smiling sarcastically asks her,

"Kon rok raha hai tumhe Naina?"

Naina, slowly looks towards him and tells him sincerely,

"Nahi janti isse lene ki main haqdar hun bhi ya nahi."

Rajveer keeps staring her, smiling afresh.

"Tum par mera haq hai ke nahi main ye baat nahi janta Naina.",

he says.

Naina's heart skips a beat hearing that and she wonders how much haq does he really have on her.

"Magar mere har cheez, aur mujh par tumhara pura haq hai, ye baat tum jaan lo!",

states Rajveer, confidently yet calmly.

They keep staring each other. A warm feeling building up inside them gradually.

(Rajveer-Naina slow flute tune begins)

"Kyun?",

asks Naina, her rate of heartbeat increasing out of anticipation.

Rajveer's cheeks warm up hearing her question.

"Kyunki main nishchint ho jana chahta hun. Apna sub kuch kisi ke hawale kar dena chahta hun.",

says Rajveer and takes a deep breath as if already started feeling relieved.

Naina stares him in utter shock.

"Kya hua?",

he asks, reading her surprised look.

"Aap itna khul kar kabse bolne lagey apni feelings ke barey mein?",

asks Naina, surprised.

Rajveer knitting his brows keeps staring Naina as if considering his reply before verbalizing it.

Naina stares back, holding her breath as his expression makes her go nervous out of anticipation.

"Jabse aaj tumhe iss saree mein dekha aur ye jana ke tumne ye kisi aur ke liye pehni hai - Huda ke liye!",

says Rajveer, after being a little skeptical.

And as if his those words dig the pool of Naina's guilt where she drowns, she lowers her eyes, all serious.

Keeping her eyes cascaded, Naina asks him,

"So that wasn't just a compliment?",

and looks up towards him.

He understands at once, what she is referring to. He doesn't tear his gaze from her, regretting saying none of his words.

Lowering her eyes, hesitantly, she asks him,

"Kya ab main apse kuch puch sakti hun?"

Rajveer straightens his tilted neck, getting alert, giving her his permission silently.

Naina understanding his consent, going little more nervous, walking towards him, never looking towards him out of hesitation and nervousness. The anxiety and futile assumption kill Rajveer at a slow pace.

Her slow steps towards himself makes him restless, despite knowing the distance between them is not much.

His eyes burn on her. His breath turning as shallow as hers. His muscles tightening as much as Naina's.

Naina after motivating herself silently in every manner possible, hesitantly and slowly takes her hands towards Rajveer's shirt's top second button to undo it, whilst doing so she asks him, to kill her hesitation.

"Ye button apne band kab ki?"

Her question comes as a shock for Rajveer. He widens his eyes as a result of it.

"Aap aise zyada ache lagte hain.",

she says whilst brushing his shirt a little after undoing the button, blushing, she looks towards him finally to find him staring her speechless!

Smiling, blushing, lowering his eyes, Rajveer checks the button of his shirt to hide his awkwardness and says,

"Agar tum pehle bata deti to main T-shirts pehnna hi chor deta."

Naina's heart skips a beat hearing that and she widens her eyes, blushing profusely, smiling.

Rajveer looks towards her with twinkling eyes.

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

They stare each other lovingly, both having so much to tell each other but none knowing how to commence the conversation about the same.

*****

Naina adjusts her chandelier earrings. Her expression tells Rajveer how they are hurting her.

Rajveer without even bothering to take her permission moves closer to Naina and focuses on helping her with removing her earring. Naina's heart skips a beat on realizing the closeness. Her cheeks turn warm by discovering his proximity so close to her.

Naina doesn't stop him from helping her. She slowly removes her hand, giving him space to remove her earrings.

While he remains indulged in removing her earrings, Naina, keeping her eyes cascaded asks him,

"Aaj aapne room mein nahi kiya dinner? Aap usually dinner room mein hi karte hain."

"Kyun jab tumhari ankhein mujhe dhundh rahi theen, tab mujhe apne samne pakar tumhe acha nahi laga kya?",

teases Rajveer, his eyes focused on his work in hands.

Naina blushes and bites her lower lip.

Rajveer finally manages to remove her left earring.

"Chhh..",

hisses Naina, as he removes the earring.

Rajveer immediately rubs her earlobe to sooth her pain. 

Naina shuts her eyes and smiles as he massages her earlobe in slow circles.

Rajveer looks towards her, knitting his brows lightly, as he realizes that Naina is enjoying his touch; this sensation. He continues with it more than it was required.

Naina realizes that.

Smiling still, keeping her eyes closed, she says,

"Bus...!"

Rajveer stops immediately and removes his hand slowly, staring her throughout.

Naina slowly opens her eyes. They stare each other possessively. Rajveer looks away to end this awkward situation.

Naina tugs her hair strand behind her ear self consciously.

Neither does she make any effort to move away from him nor does Rajveer suggest the same to her.

Naina forwards her hand in front of him, staring him. Rajveer forwards his hand to place her earring, he lets it hang between their hands for sometime, thinking something, he fists the earring. Naina knits her brows in surprise and asks him,

"Kya hua?"

"Isse main rakh raha hun.",

says Rajveer, smiling, looking towards Naina.

Naina widens her eyes out of surprise.

"Kya? Kyun?",

asks Naina, surprised.

Rajveer looks at a distant point, narrowing his eyes, as if thinking of a reason.

Naina's heart starts beating at a high pace, on getting excited by his words.

Looking towards her Rajveer says,

"Guru dakshina samajhlo."

(Rajveer-Naina fast flute tune begins)

Naina laughs staring him.

"Oh gurudakshina!",

says Naina, as if disappointed on hearing that.

"Agar gurudakshina chahiye to aap wo mujhe wapas de dijiye main kuch aur de dungi.",

says Naina, trying to control her amusement.

"Arey tum aise kaise apni marzi se kuch bhi de sakti ho?",

says Rajveer, humorously, his eyes reflecting his excitement.

"Sir wo mera nahi hai Pooja ka hai. Aap kuch aur maang lijiye wo de dungi as your 'gurudakshina'!",

she emphasizes on 'gurudakshina', staring him teasingly.

Rajveer turns a bit serious on hearing that, his smile still intact on his face as he asks her, possessively,

"To kya de sakti ho tum mujhe?"

Naina's chest expands and contracts in quick succession hearing that. She keeps staring him as if through her eyes conveying him 'mera sub kuch'!

Smiling, controlling her throbbing nerves, she asks him,

"Pehle main ye to dekh lun ke dena kisko hai?"

Rajveer knits his brows lightly, smiling in confusion.

"Apne guru Captain Rajveer ko ya....",

Naina keeps staring him to gauge his reaction to her words.

Rajveer's rate of heartbeat conveys Naina his current state where he is completely at her mercy.

"Ya?",

provokes Rajveer, unable to hide his throbbing heart from her.

Naina keeps staring him, still not replying to him. Teasing him; testing him.

"Naina...",

he both provokes her and displays his impatience.

"Apne dost Rajveer ko!",

completes Naina, smiling wide, looking towards Rajveer lovingly.

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

They keep staring each other both realizing the true meaning of the word 'dost'!

"To kya tum mujhe apna 'dost' manti ho?",

asks Rajveer, emphasizing on 'dost'.

Naina thinks, smiling, and says,

"Waise main thodi choosy hun dost banane ke mamle mein par...."

Rajveer arches a brow, challenging her to complete it.

Naina gives the same expression that she gave while enacting Naveen in front of Rajveer during their mentorship programme.

That makes Rajveer to remember that incident and laugh throwing his head back.

"Apko dost banaya ja sakta hai!",

says Naina, knitting her brows, as if still considering and not sure about the same.

Rajveer laughs. Naina laughs too.

"Thank you so much Madam. Par mujhe tumhara teacher hi rehne do tum.",

says Rajveer, narrowing his eyes on her.

Naina shows her disappointment hearing that.

"Aap mujhe dost nahi banana chahte?",

she asks, seriously.

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

Never ending the eye contact, Rajveer says,

"Agar bina dost baney tum itna haq jatati ho mujh par to dost banne par mera kya haal karogi?"

Naina blushes and lowers her eyes, smiling throughout.

"So it's settled main ye rakh raha hun.",

says Rajveer.

Naina stares him, perplexed,

"Arey main Pooja ko kya kahungi?"

"Wo tumhari problem hai.",

saying so he rests on his bed with his back resting on the bed, his feet resting on the floor; his right leg resting on his left forming an acute angle. His hands used as his pillow, he stares towards the ceiling, relaxed, smiling.

Naina stares him for sometime out of nervousness, then she quickly says, and turns,

"Theek hai main chalti hun."

That skips Rajveer's heartbeat. Without giving it a second thought, Rajveer holds her hand, stopping her,

"Naina!"

Naina's rate of heartbeat picks up pace; her eyes widen up. She slowly turns to look towards Rajveer and finds him staring her with a lot of hope in his eyes.

Rajveer realizes that she is blushing, though not smiling.

Naina doesn't reply out of nervousness and shyness but stares him, waiting for him to continue.

(Rajveer-Naina slow guitar tune begins)

"Baitho na kuch der.",

he says, desperately.

His saying so flutters Naina's heart. The realization that he too is enjoying her company as much as she is enjoying his gives her immense satisfaction. And she cascades her eyes out of shyness. Her cheeks turn hot as his holding her hand comes as a total surprise for Naina.

"Ahmm... Pooja ne agar dekha ke main room mein nahi hun iss waqt to pareshan ho jayegi.",

says Naina, looking towards him a bit nervously.

Rajveer stares her as if requesting her silently to stay. But soon leaves her, realizing that it is fruitless to ask her to stay. Naina's heart sinks when he let go of her hand. Tucking her hair strand behind her ear nervously, Naina stares him one last time, smiling hesitantly and wishes him,

"Good night."

Picking up the saree, she shows her gratitude,

"Thank you."

Rajveer stares Naina, who is standing in front of him, his eyes rolled up towards her.

"Iss saree ke liye."

Rajveer smiles and gets up.

"Magar main ye nahi rakh sakti. Pooja ne dekha to questions karne lagegi. Mere har dress ka pata hai usse.",

smiles Naina, shaking her head, closing her eyes for some moment, thinking fondly of Pooja.

Rajveer laughs a little, silently, hearing that.

"Ahmm... isse aap apne paas rakh lijiye. Jab bhi jana hoga Point 1857, mujhe aap bata dena, main.... main...",

Naina hesitates to complete the line, but somehow manages to say, cascading her eyes,

"Apke room mein akar hi taiyar ho jaungi!"

Then looks towards him.

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins as they stare each other. Naina blushing and Rajveer pleasantly surprised on hearing that)

Her saying so makes Rajveer hopeful. Will it ever happen? Will they ever stay as normal couple? The thought makes his heart to flutter and he doesn't realize that he suddenly gets impatient for visiting Point 1857 more than before now! The reason more than for the excitement of visiting Point 1857 for the first time, that too with Naina, is that they might for that particular moment behave like normal couple!

Naina understands what that sounds like and what affect will it have on Rajveer because the same effect it had on Naina as well.

"Ahmm.... main chalun?",

she asks, ending the eye contact.

Rajveer gets out of his reverie and smiles, nodding his head.

Smiling, she wishes him, bending her head a little, her smile stretches more as the incident hits her again,

"Good night!",

she wishes.

Rajveer's heart skips a beat and he widens his eyes staring her. Blush creeps his cheeks.

Naina purses her lips on reading his expression and realizing that he too is remembering the same incident.

"Go...od... night... Ca...",

as he was about to address her as 'Cadet Singh', Naina intervenes, 

"Naina! Sirf Naina!"

(Rajveer-Naina tune begins)

They stare each other lovingly.

"Naina!",

Rajveer submits to her demand, smiling with all his heart!