THE TWO WOMEN- A SAGA OF BOUNDLESS LOVE.

CHAPTER 1 THE COURT MARTIAL PART I

The air was thick with tension. The benches were filled with army officials and cadets. The convening officer the judge advocate and the prosecutor were already present. The trial was about to start in less than an hour. Everyone was waiting with baited breath. The accused was finally brought in a finally made to stand in his box.

Brigadier Chandok took a long look at the accused and noticed something which startled him- the face of the accused was calm and composed like it was a normal day, it didn't even show a trace of fear, concern or sadness. It was calm and stoic. BC was pulled down memory lane. He had witnessed many court Martials in his life- the majority of them were for criminals in uniform, most of them were for people who truly deserved it, for those who betrayed their country. But only once before the BC had been truly shattered by a court martial- the court martial of his favorite cadet, his best student, one of the finest if not the finest officer he had trained – Ex-Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia.

That day BC lost his faith for the first time, from then he never bonded with any of his cadets or junior officers beyond a professional basis. He just focused on his duty to his country and the army rules and regulations and became just the strict disciplinarian principal of KMA to maintain its reputation of being the best military academy of the country. He lost his faith in human goodness and himself as a mentor. Ex-Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia has remained the last protégée of the BC for the last two years since he was declared a traitor and would perhaps remain the same forever.

BC sighed with regret and frustration history seem to be repeating itself. Now another one of his cadets have been accused today- Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat. But along with regret and frustration there was also a ray of hope in his heart and an unsaid prayer on his lips- that Rajveer would be proven innocent and history would not dare repeat itself. He did not want to admit this to himself but the hope and prayer was still there. His heart wanted this no matter what his mind because if this hope was shattered and his silent prayer unanswered then it was a sign that his faith would never be restored- his faith in any cadet or soldier, in himself and in the essential goodness of humans would never be restored. It would be a sign that destiny had decided that Naveen Singh Ahluwalia was to be his last protégée forever.

As BC pulled himself out of his thought the minutes when ticking by. Only few minutes were left for the court martial to start. The Presiding Judge's voice boomed in the courtroom: "Captain Shekhawat where is your counsel?"

Captain Salve the Prosecutor was momentarily startled as her train of thought was broken. Her thoughts were all over the place. Her thoughts: Where was Shekhawat's Counsel? He had earlier decided to defend himself in court but why had he changed his decision suddenly? Who would be defending him?

A slight fear rose in her heart at this change of plan from the defense side but her arrogance quickly suppressed it. She was one of the best military lawyers in the army, in fact only one man had ever beaten her record of winning cases and he had been on a self-imposed exile of taking up military cases for the past two years. Shekhawat defending himself would have made her win seem like shooting fish in a barrel it was better that he had decided to engage a trained military lawyer it would not give him a better chance to win moreover it would make her win look better. She was the best and this case would add to her winning more accolades she thought arrogantly. She was going to go ahead with her plan of degrading and disgracing Shekhawat that by the time she was done with him his reputation would be ripped to shreds and he would spend his lifetime behind bars. It would make her revenge all the sweeter the revenge she was taking for her sister. Revenge is indeed best when served cold she thought viciously. But Salve had forgotten that Revenge should strictly be business and never personal.

Salve smirked at the Judge's question and answered instead of Rajveer: "Your honor, perhaps Captain Shekhawat's counsel has decided to give up his case?" Raj noticed everyone's reactions in the court room at Salve's comment. The faces of Yudi, Ali, Pooja, Alekh and Huda was grim with fear. But Naina's face was impassive Raj noted with a hint of surprise. Major Nair and Major Bhargav had malevolent smiles on their faces. Gehlot hid his happiness to see his plan working and Raj didn't suspect. But his enemies' happiness both open and hidden was short lived. Just as Salve answered the question the clock struck nine for proceedings to start and someone coolly replied to Salve's comment: "I never give up when I take up a case till I win it, Captain Salve I had hoped no one had forgotten that trait of mine even though I haven't stepped inside a military court for the past two years."

Salve's blood ran cold when she heard that voice- the voice of the only man who defeated her in court. She was shaken and pale. The man smirked at her condition and turned to the Judge: "Captain Viplav Tripathi, defense counsel for Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat reporting Sir" and gave a small salute.

All of Raj's enemies' were alarmed and Gehlot felt that his plan to trap Raj would fail for the first time. On the other hand Raj's well-wishers had an expression of hope on their faces especially his cadets- all except Naina whose face was still impassive but her eyes gleamed with a fire to fight for her Rajveer Sir.

Everyone who didn't know Tripathi was wondering at the confidence of the lawyer and those who knew him were shocked to see him take up the case. Captain Viplav Tripathi had come out of his exile of 2 years- the best lawyer in the army had taken Rajveer's Case. Captain Abhimanyu had a look of relief but he was equally confused. Even Raj was stunned. Captain Tripathi was back but how? This was the question in everyone's heads. Everyone except Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia. Salve was going down.