Her eyes were glued to him all the time.... Even as she pretended to be busy listening to the briefing given to the new recruits about their duties at jaisalmer base....

He however was completely focused on explaining the locations where new bunkers have to be made and landmines have to be planted....

Its been three years since she has last seen him.. All these years pining for him in with an uncertain longing.... And sharp but unexplainable pain....

"so i guess all the briefing is done..... Aap sab logon ko subah 6:00 hrs pe report karna hoga... Lt. Dev aur lt sahani aap log water supply incharge aur lt dixit aap triggers room ki security me ... I mean lt. Shergill ki help karenge... And land mines pe me kisi experienced soldier ko appoint karna chahta hun.. Aap me se koi use assist karne ke liye voulenteer karna chahe to kar satkte he.. "
" dismiss "

He left without even looking at her... Or addressing her presence... And she fell a sharp pain lingering in her chest... Radiating there on..... Getting alleviated as her mind travels back to the lane of memories...

Those few unforgettable gems.... She has kept safe.... Beneath her eyelids...
But its a sin to have such thoughts about him

"he doesn't belong to you... He is not your mentor.... He is someone's husband.... Someone else has a right to get soaked in his memories... Which you cherish....."

She comes out of ger trance...
But not before her mind wanders in the lane of that fateful day when he vowed to be someone else's forever...

He was her teacher... And nothing else.... That's what she explained to herself as she saw him happily exchanging the ring with her...

Everyone cheered them for being such a perfect couple... Those applauds filled the room... As the couple made in heaven... That's what they called them.... So perfect for each other.... She was beautiful.... Matured... Perfect for him...

And then  there was her.... Stubborn... Arrogant... Selfish... No wonder... He preferred nandini over .her...

But as the roars and applauds filled the room.... It completely covered for the noiseless shattering of a broken heart... And he looked so happy.... With the one he loved....
With the one he belonged with...

They got married eventually as she  passed out... Of the academy..

His and her journey together came to a halt... And he was all set to start a new journey with his to be wife...
But storm of jealousy and pain... That wrecked her heart then.... It's repercussions were felt even now... As she tries to forget him

"aap soi nahi ab tak lt. Singh..."

A friendly yet unfamiliar voice came from behind....

"nahi sir.. I was about to go..."
He gave a friendly smile... As she gpt up from the bench to leave...

"wese aapke commanding officer kafi strict he... Is waqt aapko apne tent me hona chahiye...."

"yes sir.... Sir... Subha rajveer sir... I mean major sheekhawat ne... Wo landmines diffuse karne ke liye ek assistant ko volunteer karneke liye kaha tha..."

"yes lt.."
Captain hussain was intrigued.. As neither of the new recruits agreed to volunteer....

"sir i would like to volunteer ...."

"sure.lt... Aap ko land mines ki koi prior knowledge he... Have u ever diffused any..."
"no sir... But my mentor in kma was a land mine expert... I have observed a lot.. Being trained under him...."

"so report me at 7:00 hrs sharp tomorrow... Dismissed"

He looked at the retreating figure as another person joined him..

"captain hussain.... Base par aae ek din nahi hua... And u already started flirting with new recruits..."

"sale harami... Sab teri tarha tharkee nahi hote
.... Aur tu thera shadi shuda aadmi..... Tu apne kaam se kaam rakh.....wese nandini kesi he..."
They gave each other a warm hug.... And he was laughing and bantering with an old friend.... But not a trace of familiarness neither an informal smile.... He didn't even acknowledge her presence as he passed by...

Why would he...
At Least for the sake that he was once her mentor.... If not anything else....

But it seemed not to matter him too much....
She was the one to presume falsely.... To keep expectations... To pine for a married man....
She again ended up crying sleeplessly burying her head under the pillow....
With his photograph in hand.
..

And fell asleep eventually...

...

He retired towards his tent... Sighing... As it was the only way to let put the heaviness under his chest..
Same heaviness he has been carrying since past 3 years and a half...
The suffocation of being trapped hopelessly in a marriage...
That restless longing.... He felt for her.... As he distanced her from himself.....

He opened his wallet to look at an old photo.... Which depicted those few happy memories which made him feel lighter for a few moments....
Those times when he held her hands even for a few moments.... Before their ways parted...

That longing he felt today as he saw her after three long years...

He had pined to get another glimpse of her..... All these years..... But today as she was in front of him... And all he wanted to do was to engulf her in a bone crushing hug and never let go....
He kept silent....
And normal...
And how perfectly that normalcy covered up for the thunderstorms going beneath the surface....

Just than a phone bell broke his trance...

"hello major.."

"yes sir..."

"base par pehla din... All ok.."

"every thing is under control sir.... Aap captain nandini ko yaha appoint kar dijiye... In the meanwhile mene yaha ke local spy networks ke databases collect kar diye he.... Yaha 25 mile radius tak operate honewale sare wireless networks ko tape kar duya he....."

"good... Captain nandini will join you at the base tommorow..."

"dhyaan rahe.. Is baar hame us spy network ko operate karne wale agencies ki jad tak jana he...trigers ki location badalne se pehle..."

"yes sir... Jai.hind.."
"jai hind"