Mere Saathi#2(RN):link to 3 thread,pg.149(21/05) - Page 105

As they came out of the restaurant,

" Toh bolo Nia, ab kaha jana chahogi?"

Naina raised her eyebrows, a mischievous smile spread on her lips as she said,

" Ummm...ab main Academy jaana chahungi !"

" Academy???"

" Hmmm. It's pretty late now...I think we should...", Naina trailed off as he hastily looked at his wrist watch.

" Oh ! right...it's...it's pretty late...I didnt realise only...", he said in low tone, " time just...just flew away, isn't it?"

Naina smiled and nodded.

When they reached KMA and as Naina was leaving for her dorm, she turned suddenly,

" Sir!"

" Sir??", he looked around to see if anyone was nearby but found none, " kya hua? Kuch kehna hai?"

" Ah...thanks! for the... punishment !", her eyes shone as she said that.

" Oh ! you are most welcome cadet ! If you liked it so much, then keep offending me and I'll repeat it."

" Achcha! toh aap phir kisi Dr.Mishra ke saath date par jaana chahte hai?"

" You said no more leg pulling for tonight?" , he said with a sigh and , " And no more sorry...main jaanta hoon, tum sorry kehke peechle accounts nil karti ho, taaki naye seere se shuru kar sako!"

She laughed, " Not bad! Not bad ! captain...aap kaafi hadd tak mujhe samajhne lag gaye ho!"

He smirked and took out the rose.

She looked at him surprised.

" Tumhare liye..."

She took it shyly.

" Good night, RV!! ", she said and ran away quickly.

Raj laughed and shook his head at her childishness.

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As Naina reached her room, she was bombarded with questions by Pooja. She narrated her everything...

" Arey waah !", Pooja exclaimed, " Mujhe nahi pata tha ki Shahrukh itna romantic hai!"

" Romantic??? Ab ismein romantic kya hai?"

" Pehle toh teri choice ki movie..."

" Isn't it obvious?", Naina asked.

" Okay, phir dinner?"

" Pooji, aate aate mess bandh hona tha na? Woh toh faculty hai, bhookha toh mujhe rehna padhta!"

" Hmmm...phir walk karte huye restrau..."

" Hello ! Woh mera idea tha!"

" Aur woh jacket dena...?"

" Come on yaar ! tu na movies dekh dekh ke bahot filmy hogayi hai! ", she said hiding her blush.

" Oye rehne de...tujhe nahi maan na toh mat maan...parr yeh..." , Pooja said pulling out a rose, that Naina was hiding, " Yeh kya hai? Ab bol..."

" Pooji...", Naina was blushing badly , " tu toh aise keh rahi hai jaise yeh red rose hai!"

" Yellow bhi toh nahi hai!"

" Uff ! Bass kar meri maa! Aur sun, yeh details kisi ko bhi batane ki zaroorat nahi hai, samjhi? Shalini maam ko toh bilkul bhi nahi ! "

" Yes boss!"

" Chal ab soja !", Naina said.

" Haan...haan...kal ki pehli class Shahrukh ki jo hai!"

" Pooji !!!!"

Pooja giggled as she started beating her with pillow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Though Naina slept peacefully dreaming of Raj, he was having hard time falling asleep.

The things which he used to called cliched and filmy, now he had to suffer.

i.e. whenever he used to close his eyes, Naina's face would pop up from somewhere. He was thinking about her bubbling laughter and was smiling to himself.

Her understanding nature as she chose the film which he would enjoy watching...though he hardly paid any attention to the film...*** HE grinned ****

Her innocence, as she took out her scarf, instead of waiting for him to offer his jacket and then accepting his jacket later...

Her mischeivous smile and glint in her eyes as she pulled his leg...

Her tender heart as she looked at the sad old lady and herself became sad...

Her beautiful eyes ...

Her blushing cheeks as he pulled her closer...

Her excitement as he gave her a rose...

Her...

" Raj, chup chap sojaa! Warna kal class keliye late hojayega! ", he warned himself and tried to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next day morning, their was a loud knock at his door.

He stirred a bit and then put pillow on his face and again slept, not yet ready to get up.

But the knocks were increasing...finally, he was irritated and got up.

And sighed seeing the visitors.

There at the door, Shalini and Abhimanyu were standing with an anticipation and excitement on their faces.

" Abhi nahi Doc...later !", he said, still sleepy.

" Hello!! Hum aapse kuch poochne nahi aaye Captain! batane aaye hai...get up and get ready, or you'll be late for class! ", Shalini said.

" Haan...agar late hogaye, toh BC ko thodehi bol sakte ho, ki you're dreaming about someone special and that's why slept late..!" ,Abhi teased.

" Shut up, Chauhaan! "

" Ab hatiye side mein aur jaldi se fresh hojaiye while I make some coffee and doc will arrange for some breakfast."

" Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai!", Raj denied.

" Coffee peelijiye captain, pata chale, aap class mein yawn kar rahe ho!"

And then began their constant teasing, which irritated Raj to the core and he hurriedly left his quarters to escape from them.

He was already irritated because of Shalini and Abhimanyu.

And then he saw Naina as soon as he entered class and he got angry to the limits !!

He thought, it's because of her, he couldn't sleep yesterday night and had to face so much of teasing in the morning.

He was teaching in the class.

And Naina, though trying hard to concentrate, was getting distracted in between, thinking about yesterday.

She was dreaming about their dance, when...

" Cadet Singh, kya main jaan sakta hoon ki aapka dhyaan kaha hai?"

came a stern voice, that shook Naina out of her dreams.

She looked ahead to see Raj regarding her sternly,and she stood up with a jerk.

" Maine aap se kuch poocha hai Cadet ! Aap ka dhyaan kaha tha? Hum sabhi jaan na chahenge, exactly what were you day dreaming about?", he asked sternly walking upto her and standing right in front of her.

Naina was offended and felt bad about his rude behaviour.

But she controlled herself.

She need to think of something fast or she would terribly embarass herself in front of whole class.

Ali, Pooja, and Yudi were shocked at his behaviour, and more about Naina's lack of concentration...that too in Captain Rajveer's class !

Aalekh was thinking what to do and was frustrated as was not able to think of any idea.

Only Huda quickly wrote something in block large letters on a paper and held it behind Raj's back so that Naina could read it and made movements to grab her attention.

Naina sensed some movements from the corner of her eye and as she casually looked there while thinking of something to reply, she read what Huda has written...

Huda didnt directly write the answer, because he very well knew Raj's reflexes...he didnt want to take chances with Raj and wanted to help Naina at the same time. Now even if Raj would have caught him, he would have bluffed something and gotaway easily for the time being...

" Gen. Sam Maneckshaw.", Naina uttered.

" Excuse me?" , Raj asked.

" ah..uh...Sir...answer...", she first stammered and then confidently , " I was thinking about the answer, sir."

" You may sit down." , he said looking at her.

She spared one glance at Huda and nodded imperceptibly, thanking him and sat down.

Soon the class ended, and Naina tried getting out fast following her friends, rather than staying behind to talk with Raj, as she normally did.

But like God was not on her side, someone pushed her and all the books fell out of her hand.

" Idiot ! ", she cursed, " Bass...ab yahi hona baaki tha !"

Raj smiled and bent to help her.

" No thanks !" , she said sternly , " Main karlungi."

" Nia, see I..."

But she got up quickly and left without saying anything.

Raj sighed, " Mujhe aise sab ke saamne usse yeh sab nahi kehna chahiye tha! But...how can I be partial to her? She's my cadet and... but Raj, how could you directly say that she was daydreaming ! She was thinking about your question..."

He began rubbing the blackboard thinking , " Woh toh normally behave kar rahi hai...it's only you who is stupid jerk and dreaming...khud raat ko nahi so paaye toh ussmein Nia ki kya galati? bekaar mein Shalini aur Abhimanyu ka gussa uspar nikaal diya! "

He turned and gathered his books, " Ab woh mujhse phir gussa hogayi ! Aur ab baat bhi nahi karegi! Why do I have to mess up the things, all the time!"

He shook his head and left for his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here Naina thanked Huda in the mess.

" Arey kyun thanks kehrahi hai Naina? Iss saale ki wajehse tujhe pehle sir ki daant padi thi, yaad hai?", Aalekh said, " Toh ab yeh pachta raha hai, aur kya? Kyun Jatt?"

" Haan Qaidi ...", Huda said angrily, " Ab tujhse behtar mujhe kaun jaan sakta hai?"

" Woich toh !" , he said and began laughing as Huda charged on him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here Raj saw Abhi and Shalini waiting for him.

" Tum dono ko koi kaam nahi hai kya? Jab dekho mere hi room ke saamne!", Raj.

" How rude is that Captain! ", Shalini said.

" Aur nahi toh kya?" , Abhi supported.

" Chauhaan sab !! Woh din dur nahi jab Nandini ko yeh shaq ho raha hoga ki aap ke aur Dr. Shalini ke beech kuch chakkar chal raha hai...aur aap meri madad maang rahe honge..."

" Shut up ! ", Abhi said, " Woh achchi tarah jaanti hai ki humein kisi aur mein koi interest nahi hai."

" Dekho, agar tum dono apni khairiyat chahte ho, toh abhi, issiwaqt mere saamnese dafa hojao! Pehle hi tum dono ki wajehse sab gadbad kardi hai maine.", Raj warned.

" Captain, jaldise apna room kholiye,hum andar chalke baat karte hai." ,Shalini suggested.

As soon as they entered the room, " Kahi aapne kal koi gadbad toh nahi kardi?", Abhi asked.

" Captain ko Naina ke saath akele bhejne ka idea hi galat tha!", shalini said.

" Excuse me?" , Raj said shocked at her statement , " Aap baat toh aise kar rahi hai jaise main koi teenager hoon. Aur waise bhi kal koi gadbad nahi hui...woh toh aaj tum dono ki wajehse mera dimaag already kharab tha aur maine poora gussa Naina par nikal diya. Ab woh mujhse gussa hai."

" What?"

Here Raj was sitting on his sofa unmindfully.

" Raj, tension kyun le rahe ho?Gussa hai toh kya hua? Sorry bol dena!", Abhi said.

" yeah...right ! Main bhi na...", Raj said hitting his head.

" So, Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat is head over heels in love !! " , Abhi teased and Raj smiled.

" Achcha bataiye, kal ki 'date' kaisi rahi? See...aap mana nahi kar sakte, afterall, humne aapki itni madad ki hai."

Raj shook his head.

" Achchi thi."

" Bass..? Sirf achchi?"

" Chauhaan Saab!", Raj warned.

" Arey, hamara matlab hai, aap bore nahi huye? wahi Shahrukh ki film..and..."

" She chose to watch a comedy movie.", Raj said smiling.

" Really?", Abhi said surprised.

" Yeah...you know what, even I was surprised. Then when I asked her, she told me that she knew I won't like watching those emotional dramas...very understanding of her, isn't it?"

" Yeah...VERY understanding, indeed !", Abhi teased, but Raj didnt notice and continued...

" Aur jab hum dinner par gaye..."

" DINNER????" , Abhi asked " Par baat toh sirf movie ki huyi thi?"

" Kyun? Ab Naina ke saath dinner pe jane keliye mujhe aapki permission leni padegi?"

" Bilkul nahi ! Par humne ek baat notice ki...humne kal ki aapki outing ko 'date' kaha aur aapne mana bhi nahi kiya!"

Raj was embarassed.

" Waise Captain, I didnt know you're so romantic??" , Shalini said.

" Matlab??"

" No...I mean roses and all..."

" Dr. Shalini ! Aap...", Raj said in disbelief , " Aap aisa kaise karsakti hai? Chup chupke..."

" Hold on Captain ! Maine jaanboojhke nahi kiya! Par jab itna interesting scene saamne chal raha hai, toh you don't expect me to close my eyes..., now do you?"

Raj gave her a look and slouched on the sofa.

" Waise Doc, by rose...you mean RED rose, right?" , Abhi teased further.

" Wahi toh meri samajh mein nahi aaya...it was neither yellow, nor red.." , Shalini said sitting beside Raj, " Now...yellow means friendship and Red means Love...itna toh main jaanti hoon...! but what does pink stand for???"

But Raj was just smiling and didnt answer.

" Captain, come on! Ab mere dimaag mein curiosity badhti ja rahi hai!"

Just then an orderly came and informed that Raj was needed in BC's office, immediately.

" Captain, pehle bataiye aur fir jaaiye."

" Doc...but BC..."

" Come on ! Pink means...?"

Raj took a deep breath and smiled at her.

" Innocent, tender Love..." ,and left.

Shalini was staring behind him, open mouthed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As he was walking down the corridor, he saw Naina and Pooja approaching.

He smiled but soon saw that Naina pulled pooja and changed her way.

He sighed.

' Bahot zyaada gussa hai! pata nahi itnisi naak pe itna gussa aata kaha se hai?', he smiled and walked to BC's cabin.

" Oye Naina, tune aise kyun kiya?"

" Pooji, Sir ne class mein toh kuch nahi kaha, par unhe jaroor samajh mein agaya hoga ki main jhooth bol rahi thi. Aur waise bhi, main unse bahot zyaada gussa hoon ! How could he?" , Naina said angrily , " Aise sabke saamne pooch liya ki whom I was daydreaming about? Huh !"

" Par tu wahi toh kar rahi thi na?" , pooja teased.

" Shut up! "

" Oye missed call, ab maan bhi le ! Aur phir aisi bhi kya naraazgi...bechara Shahrukh..."

" Pooji, agar main gussa nahi huyi aur aasaani se maan gayi toh Sir ko pakka yakeen hojayega ki main..." , Naina gave her a meaninful look.

Pooja slapped her forehead, " Yeh tere aur Shahrukh ka network bhi na! bada messy hai!"

" So toh hai!" , Naina said and they walked away laughing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

Later in the evening...

" Come in !"

" Aapne mujhe bulaya,Sir?"

" Arey Nia, aao na. Please come in!" , Raj said getting up quickly and closing the door behind her.

" kahiye..."

" Baitho toh sahi."

" No...I'm fine!"

" Listen...I'm really very sorry! Mujhe tumse class mein aise nahi baat karni chahiye thi...woh I was kinda irritated...toh tumpe gussa nikal gaya..."

Naina narrowed her eyes, ' Oh ! toh Sir ko lagta hai...ki main sachmein uss question ke baaremein soch rahi thi...! good !! ', she smiled inwardly , ' Ab batati hoon! whom I was daydreaming about, huh? Firstly HE gives me things to dream about, and then...but you'll have to pay for it!'

" Aap yeh sab mujhse abhi kyun keh rahe hai, SIR??" , she asked with a straight face , " We shouldnt discuss these things now, right? And afterall aap kyun apne student se maafi maang rahe hai?"

" Nia , I'm asking for forgiveness to my love."

This sentence melted her, but she braced herself.

" oh ! Toh you've not called me here as a teacher?"

" hmmm."

" Okay then, I'm leaving."

" Nia???"

" Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni hai! Aap hamesha aise hi karte hai! Mujhe daatne ka toh aapko bahana chahiye!"

" No Nia,aisa nahi hai..."

" Aisa hi hai! Yaad hai aapka first lecture? Tab bhi woh chit uss Huda ne likhi thi, aur aapne daanta kisse? Mujhe!"

" Kya?? Woh Huda ne likhe tha?? Mujhe kya pata?"

" Yahin toh!! Aapko kuch pata toh hota hai nahi, kuch pata karne ki ichcha bhi nahi hoti aur seedha mujhe daantna shuru kardete hai! Pehle pata toh karna chahiye na ki sach kya hai?"

Naina was enjoying bashing him up...

He was looking sooo cute with an apologetic expression.

She was having hard time controlling her smile and laughter.

" You are absolutely right! main maanta hoon meri galati hai! But...come on! Ab itna bhi naraaz nahi hote !", he said moving closer, " You love me,right?"

" Pyaar? kaisa pyaar?kaunsa pyaar?" , Naina asked.

" Nia??" , Raj was shocked.

" Koi Pyaar vyaar nahi...aap mere Mentor hi theek ho aur main aapki protege! Is tarah aap jab chahe mujhe bina wajeh daant sakte hai aur aapko Sorry kehneki bhi koi zaroorat nahi hogi!"

and she left the room quickly before she would crack up and laugh uncontrollably , seeing his shocked and sorry face.

" Nia listen..." , Raj called and then dumped into the sofa covering his face with palms.

" Bravo!! bravo !! Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat! " , He scolded himself, " Now back to square one! Bani banayi baat bigaadna toh koi tumse seekhe! Huh !"

Naina entered her room laughing, and just shook her head as pooja kept her asking the reason of nonstop laughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next day, Raj noticed that naina was behaving normally during the drill.

But just as the drill was over and they were dismissed, she was again in her angryself.

As soon as Naina entered her room, a cute little teddy saying ...

' I'm Sorry !'was waiting for her on her bed , along with a bunch of yellow roses.

" Oye Naina, yeh sab kya hai?", Pooja asked.

Naina sighed and told her everything.

" Kyun bechare Shahrukh ko pareshaan kar rahi hai? Maan jaa na! Warna main jake batadungi ki tu sach mein unke sapne dekh rahi thi!"

" Pooji !!!!!"

That day passed away without Naina talking to him.

He shook his head and walked towards infirmary.

As he entered without knocking,

" Kya baat hai Captain? Aap aaj bina knock kiye...?"

" Dr.Shalini there's a big problem ! Aur mujhe aapki madad chahiye. Actually Naina..."

"Meri help? Par main toh useless hoon na?", she smirked.

" Look, iss problem ki wajeh tum dono hi ho. Na tum dono kal mera dimaag kharab karte aur na main apna gussa uspar nikalta!"

" Par aapne Naina pe kyun gussa nikala? Oh !! samajh gayi ! ab koi bhi apno par hi toh gussa nikalta hai!" ,she winked.

" Shalini, are you helping me or...?"

" Okay...now listen..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next day as Naina was passing through the corridor, she heard Dr.Shalini talking on mobile,

" Ab tu hi bata Kittu, main kya karu? Captain ne kal phir dinner skip kiya...aur mujhe pata chala ki unhone lunch bhi theek se nahi kiya tha... Aur phir aaj jog par gaye aur faint hogaye..."

That was it and Naina went running towards Raj's room, skidding to stop in front of his door and barged in,

" RV, are you alright?"

" Nia?", he was happy to see her.

" What Nia? Pehle yeh batao aapne kal dinner kyun skip kiya? Aur lunch bhi theek se nahi kiya! Aur agar if you're not feeling well, toh jog pe jaane ki kya zaroorat thi? Aur aap faint kaise hogaye? Aapko kahi lagi toh nahi? Aap theek toh ho na?"

" Hold on! hold on ! Cadet Singh ! Ab ek ek karke sawaal pochogi toh main jawab de sakunga na? Itne saare sawalo ka ek saath kaise jawaab dunga?Pehle aaraam se baitho! Take a deep breath and then ask one by one..."

" SIR, will you please stop all that! First answer my questions...and don't you dare say that aisa nahi hai, because abhi abhi Dr. Shalini ki baatein sun kar aa rahi hoon.Woh Keerti di se baat kar rahi thi..."

" Pehle bolo ki tumne mujhe maaf kiya.", Raj said smiling.

" Oh ! toh yeh sab...aur main itni darr gayi thi."

" Nia, come on ! EK galati toh dushman ko bhi maaf hoti hai, main toh phir bhi tumhara pati hoon.", he said stressing on the word ' Pati '...

" No, main jaanti hoon, aap abhi conveniently sorry bol rahe ho, lekin phirse mujhe kisi na kisi baat keliye daantoge!"

" Not bad ! not bad ! Cadet, aap toh mujhe kaafi hadd tak samajhne lag gayi ho!", Raj repeated her words from that night.

Naina laughed.

" Thank god! Warna main toh darr gaya tha...", Raj said relieved.

" What??" , Naina asked laughing, " Parr main toh mazak kar rahi thi."

" Toh iska matlab...?"

" Main toh aisehi aapko pareshaan kar rahi thi! "

" What?? Aur main yaha...theek hai. Ab jaao yahase, mujhe tumse koi baat nahi karni hai !", he turned his back in fury.

After a while, he turned back curiously, to see whether she was gone...

but saw that she was standing there only, her hands folded on chest and a smile on her face...

He smiled back, " Achcha chalo maaf kiya! Tum bhi kya yaad rakhogi?"

She laughed, " Okay. AB main chalti hoon !"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One evening , half an hour before lights out, Naina entered Raj's room, tensed.

" What happen Nia? Why are you so tensed? Kahin phir koi phone call...?"

" Nahi...woh baat nahi hai."

" Toh phir kya baat hai? Now, don't hide from me ,please!"

" Why would I? Aur bataungi nahi toh yeh assignment poora kaise kar paungi?"

" What? kaisa assignment?"

" Actually, Maj. Nair ne yeh assignment diya hai. And I'm stuck, well we all are...Aur Nair atleast mujhe toh baksh denese raha...toh..."

" Oh ! Toh yeh baat hai? Main pata nahi kya soch raha tha! ", Raj said relieved, " Well, let me see what exactly the assignment is about, and where exactly are you stuck?"

Raj took a look at it and the reference books she gotten and then began explaining her.

She was listening with full concentration and making notes wherever required.

BC arrived there and saw both of them busy, she continuously raising one doubt or another and he explaining her and then she nodding after getting it.

A smile spread across his face and it was confirmed that, whatever Nair and Bharghav postulated about their relationship was just a rumour...

He knocked on the door.

Raj and Naina looked up and were surprised to see the visitor.

They immediately stood to attention.

" Sir aap? Koi kaam tha? Mujhe bula liya hota?"

" At ease Captain ! I should have called you, but it seems like even I have started believing in your ways...toh khud hi apne puraane cadet se milne aagaya!" , He saw Raj smiling and added ," I hope, I haven't disturbed you."

" Not at all Sir. I was just explaining her..."

" Okay. Well, good that she is here. Actually Captain, you know the questionarre formed by ministry I have given you regarding your the report of that ambush, when you people went for outing."

" Yes Sir. I know I have to submit it by this weekend and have to take Cadet Singh's help and signature, as she was injured during this... I just wanted her assignment to be finished and then bother her."

" Actually, aapko woh questionarre kal hi submit karna hai. That means aaj raat aapko woh kaise bhi complete karna hai."

" Okay Sir, I'll do it and take her signature tomorrow."

" Captain, there are questions regarding her, which only she can answer. I hope you understand that."

" But Sir, light outs mein bass 5 min bache hai aur..."

" I guess, it'll hardly take you 4-5 hrs to complete it. Cadet Singh has my permission to stay out, I'll talk to Maj. Nair about this and about assignment also. She'll be having an extra time for it, since she's helping you in this report."

" Okay. Thank you sir."

" So, I'll take your leave. Make sure you submit it by 800 hrs, tomorrow."

" Sure."

As soon as BC left, " So Cadet Singh, keep Hon. Nair's assignment aside and let us start with this.", Raj said.

" Hon. Nair???" , She raised her eyebrows.

" Yeah...that was what you called him in my trial, remember?" , Raj asked laughing, " I had a hard time controlling my laughter then at the respect with which you were uttering his name."

" Kya kare Sir?" , Naina asked as if helpless , " zaroorat padne par gadhe ko bhi..."

" Baap banana padta hai!" , he completed and both started on the questionarre in a jolly mood.

After an hour or two, both were feeling a bit tired and sleepy because of day's exhaustion.

" Nia, let's take a break." , Raj announced , " I'll get us some coffee."

" Wait RV, I'll make.", she said standing up.

" No... I'll make.", He stopped her.

" But ..."

" No Nia...Waha Chandigarh mein bhi tumhi ne banayi thi aur meri banayi huyi coffee peenese pehle hi so gayi...so, let me make now."

" Yeah...I was lucky I fell asleep then, and I don't want to take chances today either. Lest I shall run away after drinking your coffee and the questionarre will be incomplete. Then what are we gonna answer BC tomorrow?", she said this fast in one breath and headed towards kitchen counter and started making coffee before he could understand what she spoke.

And when he did...

" NIA !!! You ...", he yelled as she laughed.

Soon, the report was finished and Raj decided to walk Naina to her hostel, despite her protests.

As they were cornering a turn in the corridor, Raj saw Dr. Shalini walking past him unmindfully.

He was about to call her and stop her, but fortunately Naina saw that at the right time and pulled him away before he could do that.

" Nia? ", he asked shocked.

" Kya?" , airily, and still holding his hand tight.

" Kya?? tum mujhse pooch rahi ho? Yeh toh mujhe tumse poochna chahiye! Shalini itne raat gaye aise kaha ja rahi hai? Aur mujhe dekhkar bhi baat tak nahi ki! Koi problem toh zaroor hai, main dekhta hoon...", he said.

Raj started going towards her and Naina pulled him again, this time harshly, such that they bumped into each other, but before he could react, she pulled him behind the pillar near his room and started peeping in the corridor.

" What the hell?", Raj now angry, " I need to see, Shalini kaha ja rahi hai..."

Naina turned to him frustrated, " Thappad khana hai?"

" WHAT???" , he was shocked to the core.

She suddenly realised how it sound and was flustered.

" I...I mean...mera nahi...", she said meekly.

" Toh phir kiska?" , he was not sure whether he should be relieved at that or annoyed that she is talking in riddles.

Suddenly Naina saw something and a wide mischeivous grin spread on her face.

" Ab kya hua?", Raj asked curious.

" Aap bahot lucky ho jo main aapke saath hoon." , she said casually but Raj was stunned , " Issliye...aap bach gaye..."

" Bach gaya ? kya matlab?" , Raj was now curious.

"Aapke sawalo ka jawab mujhe dene ki zaroorat nahi...balke aap khud live demo dekhoge!" , she said smiling and asked him to peak.

As they both were peeping from behind the pillar, they saw...

Shalini sleepwalking as usual and Abhimanyu walking down the corridor from opposite side.

As soon as Abhi saw Shalini walking in the corridor, this late, he acting like a gentleman asked her, " Doc, aap itne raat gaye corridor mein kya kar rahi ho?"

Shalini stopped, but wasn't looking at him and was looking straight ahead.

" Doc, koi problem hai aapko? Hame bataiye...kya hum koi madad kar sakte hai aapki?"

But she didnt respond and as she lifted her foot to walk ahead and Abhi raised his hand to stop her...

Here, Naina began her countdown, 5...4...

"Nia???", This was Raj.

" Shshshs", She said silencing him, " waha dekhiye..."

Abhimanyu had held her hand to stop her, " Doc?"

Here Naina... " 2...and 1 !! Shoot !!"

And sure enough, at Naina's 'Shoot' Shalini had slapped Abhimanyu hard across his face!

Raj gasped and before he could make any noise or movement, Naina put her hand on his mouth tightly and pushed him inside his room.

She removed her hand, once inside his room.

They looked at each other... 1...2...3 and burst out laughing, almost rolling on the floor.

" Oh God!!! Yeh kya tha?? Shalini...Chauhaan...thappad!!!! ha ha hah ha ha" , he wasn't able to control.

Soon he controlled himself, but the scene burned in his memory, replayed again and he again started laughing.

" Ab samajh aaya main kya keh rahi thi?" , Naina asked.

" Bilkul!! Bahot achchese aaya! Thanks a ton! Warna aaj main Abhimanyu ki jagah thappad kha raha hota!"

" Mere rehte aise kaise kha sakte ho aap?" , pat came her reply.

He smiled, " Thanks! Par yeh Shalini..."

" I guess, she goes sleep walking."

" Hmm..", Then suddenly , " Par tumhe kaise pata? Kahi tumne bhi Shalini se thappad..."

" No way ! " , she said laughing, " Actually, maj. Nair ko bhi padd chuki hai Shalini maam se!"

" What?? I don't believe this! ", and again he was laughing, surprised by the exciting information!

" Okay RV, ab main chalti hoon. It's pretty late now."

" Nahi..."

" What???Kya kaha aapne??"

" Maine kaha NAHI...tum kahi nahi ja rahi...", he said taking her in a tight hug.

Naina blushed...

" Umm...RV...please..??"

" Yeah...chalo.", he said...but tightened the hug further...contradicting his words completely !!!

Naina laughed...

" Hasso...hasso !! Aur hasso ! ", Raj said quite annoyed, " You know something, jitna pyaar main tumse karta hu na, tum mujhse utna pyaar nahi karti."

" Hmmm...", Naina said snuggling closer, " Kyunki main usse kayeee jyaada pyaar aapse karti hu ! "

" Love you, Nia ! "

" Love you too..."

" Achcha...ab chalein? Kabse kehraha hu ki itni raat hogayi hai aur tum hoke chalne ka naam hi nahi le rahi ho !"

" Ha...ha...ha...VERY funny ! ", Naina made a face, " Good bye...n good night ! "

" Arey...am coming with you."

" Nahi RV, main chali jaungi."

" Nia, bekaar mein Maj.Nair ne dekhliya toh 100 sawaal poochega. Agar main saath rahunga toh..."

" Don't worry . Jabse thappad khaya hai, Maj. Nair Dr.Shalini ke patrolling area mein nahi aate!"

he laughed, " But still...I insist."

" Ohkayy..."

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