Shuttles And Stars

Sia

It was nearly dawn by the time we completed our night patrol, and the exhaustion had settled deep in my bones. Netra, Meera, and I trudged back to the base in silence, our steps heavy from the long hours. I was looking forward to collapsing into bed and getting a few hours of sleep before the next day’s duties.

Just as we reached the barracks, our hopes were crushed by the sudden appearance of Col. Rajput. He stood with his arms crossed, an amused look on his face.

“Lieutenants, good to see you all up and about,” he said, his voice a little too cheerful for that hour. “I’ve decided that instead of your usual post-patrol concession, you’ll be reporting for the PT session this morning.”

I could have groaned, but I bit it back. Meera’s eyes widened, and I could almost hear her internal scream, while Netra remained stoic, though I could see the twitch of disbelief on her face.

“Yes, Sir,” we all said in unison, despite the weariness.

There was no arguing with the Colonel. We dragged ourselves to the PT ground, where the rest of the unit was already assembled, looking far more refreshed than we were. The session was grueling, as expected, but we powered through it, pushing ourselves, reminding ourselves of the discipline that came with the uniform.

By the time PT was over, I could hardly feel my legs, but at least it was done. The promise of breakfast was the only thing keeping me moving. As we made our way to the mess, I couldn’t help but sigh with relief.

“Finally, food,” Netra muttered as we sat down.

Meera slumped into the chair beside me, half asleep. “If I don’t get my tea in the next minute, I might just pass out right here.”

We all laughed, sharing the same drained energy. I could feel my body beginning to relax as the warm steam from my cup of tea drifted upward, filling the air with its familiar comfort.

It was then that Meera’s voice cut through the din of the mess hall, her tone so excited that it startled us. “Guys! Guys! Look!”

She came running over, practically dancing, holding a piece of paper she had snatched from the notice board. “The notice is up! There’s going to be a seminar at the sports complex for the soldiers of the Rajputana Rifles.”

I blinked, trying to process why she was so excited. “Okay... and?”

Meera grinned like she had just won the lottery. “It’s by Mr. Neeraj Dixit!” She wiggled her eyebrows at me, clearly enjoying every second of this. “And he’s invited to the after-party at the Officer’s Mess!”

Netra and I exchanged glances, knowing exactly where this was heading.

“See? I told you, Sia!” Meera continued, bouncing on her feet. “He’s coming to find you!”

I choked on my tea, coughing hard, while Netra tried to contain her laughter. “Meera,” I managed to say through my coughing, “he’s been invited by the Army. He’s not specially visiting us. Please, restrict your imagination.”

But Meera was not about to let it go. “Oh, come on, Sia. You heard him speak that day. There was something in the way he looked at you before he greeted us. It’s fate!”

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the faint blush creeping up my neck. “Meera, you’re reading too much into this. Neeraj Dixit is a national hero—he’s probably got thousands of girls lining up just to say hello. There’s no way he even remembers me.”

Netra grinned. “Oh, don’t be so sure, Sia. Maybe Meera’s right. Maybe he was ‘lost in your eyes’ and now he’s coming back to find you.”

They both burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but join in. As much as they loved teasing me, I knew it was all in good fun.

“All right, enough of this nonsense,” I said, still chuckling. “We’ve got work to do, and Meera, maybe try not to faint when you see him again.”

She gave me a mock salute, her eyes still sparkling with mischief. “I make no promises, Lieutenant.”

The day went by quickly, but Meera’s words stuck with me. As evening approached and the seminar began, I found myself feeling unexpectedly excited. It wasn’t just the teasing from Meera and Netra—there was something about hearing Neeraj speak, about understanding what had driven him to reach the pinnacle of success, that had me looking forward to the event.

When we arrived at the sports complex, the atmosphere was electric. Soldiers filled the seats, murmuring in anticipation. I spotted Neeraj from across the room, standing by the stage with the commanding officers. He looked just as calm and composed as he had the first time we met, but this time, there was a certain gravity to his presence.

As he took the stage, the room fell silent. His speech was captivating. He talked about discipline, about perseverance, about the countless hours of practice that had gone into his journey. But what resonated with me most was his humility. He spoke not just about victory, but about the importance of failure, of falling and getting back up again.

I found myself completely absorbed, hanging on every word. His story wasn’t just inspiring—it felt real, grounded in the same values we held in the Army. The drive to serve, to give everything you had, even when the odds were against you.

And then, there were moments when I caught him glancing in my direction. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but after a few more instances, I couldn’t ignore it. Was Meera right? No, it couldn’t be. I shook the thought away, focusing back on his words.

By the time the seminar ended, the room erupted in applause, and I couldn’t help but join in. Neeraj had captivated everyone, not just with his achievements, but with his authenticity.

As we made our way to the Officer’s Mess for the after-party, Meera was practically buzzing. “Did you see the way he kept looking at you, Sia? I told you!”

I rolled my eyes, trying to brush it off. “He was looking at everyone, Meera. He’s just... inspiring.”

But Meera wasn’t buying it. “Inspiring, sure. But I’m telling you, there’s more to it.”

Netra smirked. “Looks like someone’s in denial.”

I shook my head, laughing. “You two are impossible. Let’s just enjoy the evening, okay?”

As the evening progressed, I found myself reflecting on Neeraj’s words. Whether or not there was anything more to his glances, one thing was clear—I was genuinely inspired by him. Not just as a badminton champion, but as someone who had fought hard for his place in the world. And in that, I found a sense of connection I hadn’t expected.

Little did I know, this was only the beginning of something far more complicated than I could have imagined.

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