The class got dismissed and he signaled her to wait till last.
She sat fidgeting with the papers untill everybody left and then lingered some more for corridor to get cleared up..
"What"
She came to the desk and he saw her with handsome smile and slide a file towards her.
"Have prepared last minute notes for you
Filtered and in points... "
His thoughtfulness always amaze her
"That's too much. You shouldn't have bothered."
"I like getting bothered for you
Study well"
She gave him the dearest look and he nodded his head towards the door , asking her to leave.
As she walked outside with file in hand and smirk on face alekh who was standing against the wall waiting for her started walking with her ...
"Kya bat hai , sir ne question paper dediya kya"
"You wish
Handmade notes diye hai"
"Bande apni bandiyon ko handmade gifts , cards ye sab dete hai, Tera wala tereko notes de Raha hai "
And got hit by that file on his shoulder.
___________
Rajveer and abhimanyu hurried inside the staff room for the meeting.
They got settled down and even though they were late BC neve made any remark
He looked preoccupied.....
Suriji and lolita mam were whispering something.... while Shalini looked like she is preparing for some exam.
She was tensed and sitting tight, not her usual self.
He tried to read her face , she was looking very off , she has been behaving aloof and distant lately.
She is smiling less now days
And not being her usual self.
He has been so much involved in naina recently that he didn't paid attention on changed demanour in her.
Brigadier chandok proceeded the meeting
Briefing them for the week.
He was looking tensed too
And last , he announced that Dr. Shalini has got something to share.
Shalini got restless, it looked like she trying to summon courage for something.
She took a deep breath and started as she already had all the eyes on her in the room
"Most of you in this room doesn't know that I am married"
Only BC and suriji knew that , for the rest of them it was a news.
Rajveer was specifically surprised
How come she never told him this.
"We are separated, and that was one of the main reason I applied for this posting here in KMA.... to get away from him...."
Rajveer and abhimanyu were trying to process everything as she continued
"The reason I am telling you all this Today is to let you know a very important news, which I want you all to know from directly me and not from the rumours or anywhere else.
"It was a toxic and dysfunctional marriage and apart from divorce notice I have also charged complaint of sexual assault against my husband
Captain Parth singal"
Now this was a shocked for everyone except BC whose empathetic face clearly suggested that he has been supporting Dr. Shalini from a long time.
_______________
He rushed inside the infirmry along with abhimanyu....
Shalini was writing a report when she saw both of them and put down her pen.
She knew they will be having questions, after everything they have done together, like getting ud back in kma.... and so much more in last one year.... clearly they are shocked to learn something like this.
" is this a good time to talk "
Abhimanyu asked and she nodded
Rajveer came forward and pulled a chair adjacent to her to sit.
"How come you never said anything"?
Was his first question...
"I was running away from it....
I just wanted that part of my life seprate from here
I didn't wanted to contaminate this place "
"I wish I could have done something for you"
Rajveer said honestly with so much empathy
"There was nothing you could have done.
It happened when I was still posted with him in Sikkim.
I have been to trying to suppress it so hard from a such long time
Pretending that everything is ok.
When it has been not."
"When is your hearing "
Abhimanyu asked
"Who is your advocate "
"Advocate Aditi Malik
She is a friend too"
She informed.
"I wana come with you for your hearing
If you are comfortable."
Rajveer asked with a genuine request
And as soon as he said this , she had meltdown.
She started sobbing and he pulled her for a hug.
His eyes wet too.
"You are the first person who said this to me
Since I have decided this..."
"Your parents"
Abhimanyu asked
"They are orthodox
They were petrified about the divorce itself
And when I told them about sexual assault charge, they were like it's not even a thing since we are married "
"Shalini you are a dear and very important friend.
And you are not alone in this...
We are in this together
You are a superhero"
Rajveer took her hand in his to give her strength, while she felt so much gratitude that she actually felt better in a really long time.
___________
Later that night when naina joined him for night walk she asked him about why he was tensed all day
His first thought was that may be it's not his story to tell but then he really wanted to share it with her as it has been too overwhelming for him.
He told her everything in confidence and naina was shocked too.
"She doesn't deserve this"
Naina has always admired Shalini and has been greatful for everything she has done for her.
"She was miserable
I wana do something for her "
"It's good that you will be going with her for the hearing
You are a true friend indeed "
"Just trying to do whats right"
He is glad to have such a mature and understanding girl in his life
