Jiya was eating her breakfast in the canteen.... While naina was busy with some work.... On same table.....sipping coffee.....

Jiya removed some veggies from her bowl..... Slowly and added to her plate...... As she was busy in her work......

"mamma finish... Ab me khelne jaun" she chirped...... My tummy is full..... She dramatically rubbed her tummy.......

Naina looked in her bowl.... And got surprised.......
"mamma me khelne jaun"

She smiled... As this doll had already started tapping her feet ...... "haan jao..... Par zyada der nahi karna..... Okk"

She ran from there....... And naina realized her mischief........ Looking at her veggies in her plate......
She was about to run after her .......but an intruder stopped her.....

"adorable she is"... In a sugary voice....

"i know...." she answered in disinterested tone......

"aap aaj kal kaafi busy hain it seems....." abhimanyu asked her suggestively....

"doston ke liye time hi nai aap ke paas"

"hum dost kab the....."
She replied dryly......

"i ve been missing you..... That night you were mindblowing" he complemented in a perverted tone.....

"i don't need a praise chit of my performance....... I know i m good" he got startled by her confidence.....

"to... I was thinking....how about a dinner tonight"
He grinned with suggestive eyes...
"no thank you.... Mera tumse man bhar gaya he....... I thought you must have got a hint by now..... But turns out you are surprisingly thick......"

He was shell shocked.......

"we won't be fucking anymore..... M bored ......" she said.....with a straight face ...... And went off... Before he could react.....

It was the first time...... Any woman.... Had ever said that to him...... Abhimanyu... Sat there..... Speechless...... Collecting pieces of his broken ego....... Not sure how to digest what just happened........

____-_--

Rajveer was busy instructing the cadets about the drill..... For which they were supposed to leave . At 8:00 hrs...... From ambala.... To patiala regiment......

They were supposed to stay there for one day... And return back till evening ........

Naina was busy in her work.... While the jiya was playing with cadet ghai.....

"oyye..... Mere chote recharge...... Chal ab mujhe jana hoga....... Byye..." she was leaving...

"aap log picnic jaa rahe ho"

"nai jaan..... Us hitler ke sath picnic.......us ke memory card me chutyi ya picnic jese words to hai hi. Nai..... Jab dekho left right left karwata rehta he" she was cursing rajveer.......

"hawww.... Aapne mere friend ko hitler bulaya" she hid the mischief.. With an accusing look on her face....

".are nai nai...... Meri jaan...... Usko mat batana..... Warna wo meri band baja dega....."

She smiled..... While cadet gahi slightly scared........that this little monster would blurt out infront of their commanding officer.......

"don't worry....me kisi ko nai bataungi..... ..." she made a sign..... Of top secret.. And winked at her......
"Aap Ko bas meri ek help karni hogi..... "she gave a devilish grin.....

Earlier that day.....
She was making all sorts of cute faces....... In front of rajveer..... To take her to patiala..... As she would get bored........ Here in his absence...

" friend .... Please na..... Me patta gobi bhi kahungi... I will behave like a good girl.... Kisi ko tang nahi karungi ....." she kept buttering him....

"sorry jaan... Mumma ne mana kiya he na........me shaam tak wapas aa jaunga..... ... Aap batao...... Aap ko waha se kya chahiye ..."

She frowned....... And puffed her face

"kuch nai...." and left .. Stomping
her feet.......

Rajveer was nearly heart broken to see her disappointed.......
. But he couldn't take her away..... Without her mother's permission........
Who clearly refused....... To send her so far ...........

____---
After two to three hrs .......

Naina was pacing everywhere looking for jiya......

An orderly came......

"mam...... Jiya baby kahin nai mili... Hum ne sab jagah dhund liya...."

Her body was getting cold. She was shivering and sweating at the same time....... She held the pillar..... Saving herself from collapsing .... On the ground....

"aap major raajveer ke cabin me dekh kar aa chuke he...." she asked....

"haan mam. Major rajveer..... Academy me nahin he...... Wo first year cadets ke sath.... Patiala gaye he..... Outdoor drill ke liye..."
She was a numb...jiya never went anywhere without her permission..... And she had refused clearly yesterday..... To go with him

Blood drained through her body. At the thought of her baby..... Away from her....

She was feeling angry to no bounds.......

She even howled at brigadier chandok........... Also....in her anger....

_____

He was studying the map..... Of the expedition route...... Just then he felt a tug on his pant from below his seat.....

He looked below..... To see this kitten hiding under it...

"jiya...."
"aap yaha kya kar rahe ho" she came out..... And he asked worriedly....

"me aap ke sath picnic par jana chahti thi" she said with a gullible expression........

"jiya..... Aaap andar kese aa gaye baccha...... Mumm ko bataya"

She frowned. And bit her tongue...... And a guilty expression came on her face......

"uhh... Haan........" she said...

He picked his pockets..... His phone was missing..... And he realized..... He has left it in the academy.....

He felt weird...... As Yesterday..... She had clearly refused..him..to take her along

They reached the destination....

" candy floss...." jiya shouted .
He saw her excited...... And asked driver to change the route ....
"cadets... Aap logon ki training aaj nahi hogi... u guys can rest" he informed them

All the cadets were super happy.... As he stopped im the market area...... Buying toys and candy for jiya...... And they were saved from the boring drill.....

He bought icecreams and candies for jiya...... And countless toys.....
Made her sit on a horseback....... Where she giggled...... As it moved....... Instead of getting... scared ...

He proudly looked at his daughter.......watching her enjoy the horse ride.......
.

"friend ... Ye bangles kish ke liye ........ Ye to bohot bade he....mere hands itne small" she asked.. As he was buying... Some pretty golden bangles........

"ye aapki mumma ke liye he....." he said with a smile....."naina ko ye sab bohot pasand he" he said.... As a smile curled up on his lips...... As he remembers her choice.... And how pretty those chiming things looked on her wrists.....

"ohhh..... Aap mere mumma ke bhi friend ho....." she asked.... Curiously narrowing her eyes......

"nai....." he replied ... "banna chahta hun...." with a deep sadness in his voice.....

"don't worry...... Jiya will help you....... Me mumma ko kahungi..... Ke aapse bhi friends ho jaye ....... Okk" she replied innocently.......
He hugged her tight.......

And tears dripped from his eyes yet again......

"are aap firse rone lag gaye....."....... He said...... Slapping her forehead...... And wiping his tears with her handkerchief .........
"aap hamesha sad ku ho jate ho......pata he ..... Mera friend dodo bhi aap ke jitna nahi rota " she kept narrating him and he listened........ Quietly.........
Wiping his tears......
As no matter how many he sheds...... They are useless now.....
Few things can never be reversed.....

______

They come back in the evening..... .. Hand in hand.......

Naina was pale.....as if..... Life has been sucked out of her body.....
Seeing jiya....she breathes some air ........

"jiya..." she calls....

"mamma...." .. She runs towards her

"aap kahan chale gay the....... Mamma was so worried for you...." she hugged her tight........ Fiercely......... Hiding her in her embrace....

"wo me friend ke sath picnic par gayi tha....." ...
She replied.......she shot one look at him....... Feirce.. Red with anger.......

"jiya... Aap mamma ko bata kar kyun nai gaye......pata he... Mumma kitna worried thi" she asked her softly....

"sorry mumma....." she bit her tongue .. And naina took her inside .......but before leaving... She shot one look at raj...... Of complete distrust.... And disappointment.... And he sensed.......
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