He was checking the papers for her class and had kept hers for the last. Praying for her to perform well, he picked her paper and started checking it.
Not believing it, he checked the name again and the handwriting. It was hers. But how ? She had achieved the highest marks in the class. In the previous examinations she just scored an average marks and now all of a sudden her marks skyrocketed. Then he remembered how she was fondling with his files that night. No! She couldn't do it.
But her marks were something he couldn't believe. He rechecked her paper and found the same correction.
That's when he broke down. He wanted her to get good marks but not by other means than studying. How could she betray him ? Gaining his sanity back, he brain stormed all the possibilities that could happen. And then he decided to report it to Brig. Chandok.
Even Brig. Chandok couldn't believe that a person who scored average marks two weeks before could perform so well in this short duration. Though it was still suspected if 'Naina' could do it, but he sent for a summon for her and he even called up her parents. Other subject teachers were told to check her paper on an urgent basis and report her marks.
All this while Rajveer was miserable. He couldn't just gather himself on the point that she could do something of this sort. And then she behaved so normally yesterday.
That's when he remembered, her also g if he checked those files. It was difficult to deny it now. Maybe his trust in her failed. Or that, she did this to please him ?
Naina arrived to Brig.'s cabin not understanding the reason behind calling her. Brig. patiently told her about the matter which was raised by Rajveer.
When she learned what the matter was, tears couldn't be stopped from flowing out of her eyes. She couldn't believe that out of all 'he' could suspect her. She didn't say anything except for one line "I don't have any proof to show my innocence but I have learnt a very valuable lesson today"
Her parents happened to be in Delhi for her father's medical tests when they received the news. Rushing to Ambala as soon as they could, they found her sitting in the ground near the deserters bells crying her soul out and with her friends surrounding her.
Those few hours before her parents arrived were terrible for Naina. Many people questioned her, raised their own opinions but it didn't hurt as much as his presence and his hurt eyes in the cabin, at that time did.
As she spotted her parents she rushed to them and hugged her mother crying profoundly uttering the words "Maine kuch nahi kiya Maa"
"Maa aapko to pataa hai na, maine sach mei padhai ki hai, Maine kuch nahi kiya Maa...apna saara time, dedication many padhai ko diya, imaandari se yeh marks achieve kiye hai maine" she cried.
They believed their daughter. She was notorious, careless and everything but she could never do something of this sort. She had even flunked once in school but never resorted to unfair means. Holding her hand her mother took her to Brig.'s cabin. Rajveer was called too. And when he arrived he was broken seeing Naina in a terrible state. But his eyes couldn't be ignored as well. Red like blood and swollen to the extend.
"What proves does Capt. Rajveer have, that show that my daughter practiced unfair means to pass this exam." Her father questioned.
"Cadet Singh never scored as much marks as she did in these exams, also the mock test conducted by Capt. Rajveer show how she wasn't this well prepared few days back." Brig. said.
"Because she studied with all her heart" her mother said in exaggeration.
"But how can you explain this mark?" Brig. asks confused.
"We just explained!" Her father furiously reminds him.
"Instead of congratulating her for her good work, you are accusing her?" Nainas mother asks him angrily.
At this Brig. looked at Rajveer for guidance.
While Rajveer looks at Naina helplessly, unable to make up his mind.
"How do you want her to prove her innocence" her mother asked in exaggeration.
"A retest, but we first wanted your presence here, before proceeding with anything. She would be made to solve a previous year question paper"
"I practiced from them as well" Naina said in a minute voice.
"It's okay you solve it in front of us, whatever you get, we'll consider it and I've also called for the marks for her other subjects"
"I didn't study so well for them as much as I did for this" Naina told her parents. In the mean time brig. excused himself and went out leaving the three with Rajveer in his cabin.
"Gudiya, you’ve to write this exam. If not for anything else, then to shut their mouth. They are accusing you of cheating and you’ve to prove them wrong." Her father said.
"Why should I, baba? I studied for this mark.” Naina tells him sadly.
“I know, Gudiya. It is wrong to ask you to prove your innocence but at times, we have to, so no more fingers raises on us." Her mom told her.
"Will you do it?" Her father asked.
"Phir hum tujhe yahaan se le jaayeinge. Chhor apni yeh training. Tujhse badh kar kuch nahi hai bache." Her father further said creasing her head.
It broke Rajveer how she was in a bad state and then these exchange of words. He is about to loose his everything. Even his breathe.
"Prr ekdum se tujhe hua kya gudiya Jo tune itne dhyaan se, mann se padhai kii" her mother asked softly.
"I loved someone maa. And he wanted to see me achieve this. I did it for him" Naina whispered still in her mother's embrace.
I hope you liked it. Next update on Monday ! Thanks for reading, voting and commenting. I'll reply to the texts soon.
Signing off
Kikaberry
