The door swung open. Her neck twisted it like turtle slow but steady.

There he is adorned with cheeky grin. She is bemused seeing him. He winks after spotting her. Old habits never die. Even if they do they leave a huge impact on others before disappearing completely.

He comes to her and grabs seat next to her. She is sipping her coffee slowly. He orders one for himself while putting his assets out on table.

'You still have this?' She points to winky key ring she gifted him.

'Hmm. It reminds me how nice you have been to me. And it amazes me.'

'Ohh really! Haven't I been nice to you ever?'

'Not that those small encounters in academy count, You could have managed to be bit more.'

She punches his arm and he laughs out loud. This is beauty of talks she starts to feel warm.

'So....'

'So what Naina?'

'Her and your equation. Pooja was telling me over phone she is pissed off with you. What did you do this time?'

'every time its not I. Ask her also why she always picks up on me in the end.'

'Come on Huda. You know she is bit impulsive.'

'Bit? She is asking me to get an early retirement cause her dad is more worried with my non existent career.'

'So whats the problem?'

'Seriously! I love my job. I am happy with what I am doing. I dont want a secure career position. I am not at all interested in any kind of after career. I am enjoying my present. Should she be happy! But she is always going around her dad and listening his talk about my future career in politics. I dont want anything. I want to complete my job.'

'She is worried about future. Perhaps she doesn't see herself more secure with an army officer. Our lives are never constant. We cant even claim that next moment we'll be able to see our beloved ones. Perhaps she doesn't see your promises coming true. Whats bad in it!'

'We had talked about it. Naina..The moment we hit it off I had told her...I am never going to choose anything over my country. What happened to that obedient and cheery nod! Since past few months she is hell bent on my future. And It all started when her dad came to know about our relation. Man! Sometimes I wonder whether her dad is approving me or indirectly rejecting me.'

'Sameera's dad is perhaps worried about her too.'

'Nainaa.'

'What! You want me to say that he is purposely doing so in order to get Sameera break up with you! Well..It may be true. But it doesn't solve your problem.'

'She barely listens me. She ends discussion with her proclaim of I being selfish one. That I dont love her. That If I loved her I'd have thought of our secure future.'

'See...emotional blackmail has been ace trick. It works always.'

Huda stares...

'Sameera is not the only one. Sophisticated army uniform attracts almost every girl but the stakes it brings together few are able to cope with. Thats why people choose partner in same field.

Dekh...Koi bhi apne maa baap ko ek dum se anduna to nahi kar sakta na. Jo baat gahlot sahab ne Sameera ko boli he..Koi na koi wajah to hogi. Ab is baat par tum log apas me lad kar alag hona chahte ho to isme unki koi galti nii. Find a way of negotiation.'

'Matlab me apni uniform utaar kar khadi ka chola pahan lu..aur logo se jhooth bolu!'

'Did I say so! Sun..abhi tu usko bol ki thoda wait kare.. everything is not possible out of wizard' wand. Aladin ka chirag ni he sabke paas.'

'Wo meri baat sune tab na..'

'Agar aise muh se kahega to kabhi nahi sunegi. Ek dinner plan kar. Thoda pamper kar...usko kahi date par le ja..after that I bet she'll listen to you. Aise chhekhne chillane se kaun teri sunega. Shanti se baat kar na..

Yahi pass me ek hotel he. Alekh ka koi puarana dost he. You can book whole terrace and organise a starry night dinner. Alekh ko bolega to asani se manage ho jaayega ab kuch..aur wo bhi jaldi.'

Huda smiles...

'Thank you..'

'Mention not.'

'Yaar..tu he bade kaam ki chij. Kuch bhi ho..'

'Makkhan sasta ni he..Mat maar.'

'Lo tarif bhi jhoothi lagti he madam ko. Nii seriously...tere pass meri sari problems ka solution hota he..'

'Khali baithi hu na me..isliye sabki problem solve karti rahti hu time pass ke liye..'

He breaks in laughter and she joins in.

This woman sitting in front of him has not been same. Huda has seen her, observed her and read her. From being his hardcore crush to perhaps one true love and then now his one true friend they have come a long way.

She has come too despite a huge part of her being stuck somewhere very old. Huda knows it. He is familiar with the ache she has been hiding all those years. Her one only memory where she kept pegging on he knows about it...

What'd be better than giving her what she yearns for..

'I know where he is.' It catches her attention. Actually her breath too..she is breathless.

This is the effect HE has on her. Still after five damn years she is awestruck. She is still charmed. She is still there...

'Tu kahe to location du?'

She wipes one tear hurriedly.

'Rahne de. Koi wajah rahi hogi jo wo is tarah se gaye...

He'll come back. I know.'

He holds her hands in firm grasp.

'Kab tak? Kab tak intzaar karegi?'

'Jab tak kar sakti hu. Tu janta he...I am not going to give up..lekin unke piche bhagungi bhi nahi.

He must have had his reasons. Warna peeth dikha kar bhaagna unki aadat nahi he. Tujhe pata he ye.'

'Sometimes I think bollywood script writers should ask for your story. Super duper hit jaayegi tumhari kahani.'

'Shut Up Huda.' She pushes him away.

Soon she is out. It was last day of her two days holiday. She has to be back. Back where she finds her peace.

Her work place..Her desk...among those files and officers.

But a longing is still there...

********

It is Huda' engagement party. She has come on a short leave. She has to leave around two in night. She has to report in morning on base.

Everybody is full of life here. She gives a gleeful chuckle as alekh share the news that he and zoya are getting married.....

Ud - ye bata isne propose kaise kiya

He asked hoping for some masala.

Zoya - actually Maine propose kiya....and you won't believe what he said ....
She said making an unbelievable face

He said ...... Yedi ho gayi hai kya .... Tere baap ko heart attack a jayega.....

Everyone burst out laughing.....

While alekh got defensive

Alekh - Han to sahi to bola....
Jitna bada mera army quarter hai utna bada iske flat ka bas bathroom hai....

Zoya - oh shut up.....
Wo mera nahi mere dad ka ghar hai....
And my appartment is just slightly bigger than your quarter.....

And naina kept laughing as they continued their batter.....

Zoya was a high class south Bombay girl.....with all the luxuries in life..... Which she chooses to leave and make a life of her own.....
A successful writer .....who is madly in love with alekh.... And 3 years older than him....

Zoya - hey Naina thank you soo much

She almost choked Naina finding her in a corner of the balcony.....

Naina - zoya what
She laughed

Zoya - I know tune hi alekh ka brain wash kiya...
Warna wo sadu shadi ke liye kabhi nahi manta....

Naina - Maine kya kiya....
He is marrying you because he loves you....

She said with a modest smile...and zoya have her a I know all look

Zoya - Naina
Pichle 3 saal se uske sath hun....
Casual sex kab serious relationship mein badla pata hi nahi chala...
But I have read him in and out
And I know ke only you are the one who can persuade him... Influence him....
Tujhe bohot manta hai wo....

She said with a smile full of gratitude.

Zoya - you know what...
Mere parents ki sahadi dekh ke maine bohot pehle hi decide kar liya tha
That I will marry for love and nothing else....

Naina - alekh har rishta sachche dil se nibhata hai....
He will never disappoint you...

She said pressing zoya's hand kept on railing.....

She smiles... Finding one true love is not easy. Keeping up with is even harder. She makes a cheers with zoya and drinks her cocktail.

Huda is dancing with sameera. The topic of huda' future has subsided with news of engagement. The diamond he put on sameera's finger has sparkled off her father' involvement. Huda looks happy...so does sameera.

Where is her happiness! She can not resist asking herself same question. She has been doing same since past few years. And at the same time a part of her replies her that there'll be happiness soon. Its not about her anymore. It is about him too..and she trusts him. More than herself.

This wait has done something to her. She has become more beautiful, elegant and pretty. More a woman less a whimsical cadet. The stubborn cadet in her has hidden somewhere. Perhaps waiting for her mentor to return and seek her....

she shuts her eyes. Everything is till fresh and live in her mind.

Five years back.

KMA.

It has been three days since she last saw him. Her now and then rounds to that particular alley has not been fruitful. The door is still locked. She feels lost and disappointed. She is seeking him. She is looking for him.

She is in library but all lost.

'Tu khali pili tension kayko letei he! Jarur kuch bahut important hoga. Sir aise nii jate bina bataye. Koi wajah to jarur hogi.'

Alekh...

She looks down. Her eyes has flashed everything whats in her heart.

'Sun. Tension ni le...Apun he na idhar.'

She nods..

*******

It is mid night. She is all awake. She is going to and fro. Her eys always peeping out of window looking in grounds for a particular jeep.

Suddenly she is alight. Silently but hurriedly she slips out of her room. It is him.

He spots him before turning to his quarter. They say nothing. She follows him.

Naina senses something is off about him. Like his usual self is missing. This Captain Rajveer is lost. Completely messed up. His self is in chaos.

He opens his room and she follows. The moment they are inside she shuts the door.

'Sir. Aap theek ho? Kuch huya he?'

Instead he looks into her eyes..like searching something for him. This catches her off guard. The authority and height of Sir Rajveer is missing. There is something tender in his eyes. Something naive...

'Do..Do you trust me Naina?'

She nods affirmatively.

'Yes. I do. Sir.' She tells him firmly.

And..

'Tab bhi agar me kahu ki Me Naveen ko innocent prove karne ka akhiri raasta bhi band kar aaya hu. Tab bhi??'

It is unusual. She senses something is wrong or has happened. She gives him assuring glance.

'Pahle Aap khana kha lijiye. Hum is baare me baad me bat karenge.' She turns to fetch his plate which she had arranged in mess with help of suriji.

But suddenly her hand is in his. And his eyes boring into hers...

The intensity almost burning her...like pulling out all her shades and dropping them. He is looking into her soul so is she.

'Naina ....Tum sare cadets mujhe idolize karte ho. Tum sabko lagta hai ke main ek perfect soldier hun. Par sach to ye hai
Ke main ek hara hua aur kamzor insan hun
Aur main tumhe khone se darne laga he Aur ye dar mujhe bohot pareshan kar Raha hai.' He stops and looks at her.

This is preamble to his unsaid confession. He has told her what she means to him and what they have.

And this push of him pulls her in his arms. She is close to him. And her lips find his..locking them in. Feeling him while he is caging her. Giving him her approval. Giving him her everything she kisses him. He returns the kiss...

That was first and last kiss they shared. But it would be a lie if her lips still didnt burn with small glimpse through memory lane. His touch still lingers..his smell still lies on her. She still feels him..hugging her..holding her. It all is still fresh. His touch still beats with her heart.

She puts her drink down. It has been time. She has to leave. She bids her adieu to all her friends. She is not a loner. She is happy with her friends but the spot for him is empty and will be until he returns..

She chose him years ago. She decided to love him. There was no repercussions. No flamboyant pull but naked truth. It was her decision.

Wait has been part of her love, The undying never fading strong vast feelings she has for him. She doesn't want to choose anything over him....

Rajveer Sir or no one.

This is what she has decided.

His arms or solitude.

His embrace or empty house..

But five years without a single conversation or a mono syllable message is long time. Sometimes her hopes writhe.  Every time she has no more sorcerer' stone  to bring them back young and alive as before.

************

                  Somewhere in India.

He has been in hiding for last few months. Openly he could not have gone and inquired around doctor who did Post-mortem of Naveen. Openly it would have been inviting whole army after him.

He spots Dr. Kaushik approaching for his car. He is leaving somewhere. Rajveer follows him at a safe distance.

He gets him. But a sudden gun fire pushes him. He is flat on his back...staring at running Dr.

****************

             THREE Months later.

Stealth steps wakes her up. She at once pulls her gun out and switches on light.

Somebody is in her house.

Perhaps in kitchen. One utensil falls and she points her gun to the intruder.

But....

Soon gun falls so does she...
    

            He is back.

************

Written by Mona
riemannianmanifold