rajveer naina - fated

chapter 26

He still remembers the last time he had seen her alive.

It was five months before her death and even then she had looked worn out, tired, the spark that had once been in her eyes now completely gone. She had been in Delhi for a meeting and had come to visit him and Shalini since they were both currently posted there.

Naina had been quiet, instead allowing Yudi and Shalini to speak, listening to them, observing them. Perhaps she had seen the cracks that were already appearing in their relationship, the tenseness, the sudden silences.

It was when Shalini had gone to prepare dinner and Yudi had paused, wondering what more he could say, that Naina had leaned forward, a serious look on her face.

"Yudi..." she had begun quietly, and it had been the sorrow in her eyes that had grabbed his attention as she spoke, "No matter how difficult things are in life, never forget how lucky you are to have somebody who loves you… there is nothing more important than that."

He had wanted to speak, to tell her how difficult it really was, how he didn't know whether it was really worth it anymore, but that one sorrowful look of hers had stopped him.

It had been that look of utter pain that had caused Yudi to start realizing what a fool he was really being.

Yudi had wondered what justice it was that the girl who had ensured everybody else received happiness had been given none herself.

Because Naina had always been determined to save them all even when she wouldn't do a thing to save herself…

Had her pain really been necessary in order to show them all their mistakes? Had there been no better way to teach them their lessons?

And Yudi had wished… that they could all be given another chance to make things right.

/

"I'm so glad you actually managed to make it, Dr Shalini." Asha tells her, still smiling, "We were worried about whether you'd be back in time or not."

"Believe me, I wouldn't have missed this for the world…" Shalini replies, making an effort to tear her eyes away from Dhiraj. Seeing Rajveer again has brought back all the old memories, everything that she ever regretted telling him. She remembers telling him how many problems would be caused by his loving Naina… she had never once told him that it was alright for him to do so.

It had taken his death to show her how little regulations mattered compared to love and life.

Finally pulling herself together, she tugs Yudi's hand slightly, pulling him forward. "This is Yudi, my husband. Colonel Yaduvansh Sahni."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." Asha tells him politely and Yudi can barely stop himself from reeling backwards, further affected when Dhiraj also steps forward, greeting him just as politely.

Neither of them can know exactly how much their politeness and respect hurt him, how affected Yudi is by them calling him Sir. For the first time, Yudi understands exactly how difficult it has been for Aalekh all these days, how terrible it is to be treated as a stranger, as a superior by two of the people that you have loved most in your life.

Captain Rajveer had not only saved his life, he had also changed it. Yudi knows that without him, he would never have become the officer he is today, would never have overcome his doubts and insecurities. And Naina… Naina had taught him what courage was, had taught him what was worth living for and what was worth dying for. If it wasn't for Naina, then Yudi might have made one of the worst mistakes of his life.