Rajveer walked slowly into the house. It was midnight. He expected everyone to be sleeping, but as he opened the door, he saw Naveen sitting on his bed in his tracks and shirt.
He looked up as Rajveer walked in , but then turned the other way, his expression angry.
Understanding that Naveen won't talk, Rajveer went to the cupboard, took out all his clothes and stuffed them into his bag. Zipping it, he walked towards Naveen.
"Naveen, mein jaanta hu ki tum mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karoge, lekin meri bbaton pe tujhe agar thoda bhi yakeen hai...toh vishwaas kar...mera, tumhe, tumhare parivaar ko ya Naina ko chot pahunchane ka koi irada nahi tha."
Naveen kept staring at the wall, his eyes welling up in pain.
Rajveer turned to go out and as he was crossing the door..
"Rajveer...arre aap abhi tak geele hi hai...aur ye bag ? kaha jaa rahe hai aap ?" asked Naina.
Naveen got up from his bed.
"Usko urgent posting orders mile hai base pe report karne ke liye" said Naveen.
Naina looked at Rajveer. " Lekin..lekin aap aise kaise jaa sakte hai...shaadi ke liye aaye aap....bina attend kiye hi jayenge ? aur itni baarish hai bahar..aap kaise jayenge ?"
Rajveer looked down. "Sorry Naina, par mera jaane bohot zaruri hai."
"Par...I know ki army ke orders ko koi nahi taal sakta par...I don't know..kya hum kuch ..?" she looked at Naveen, asking for some solution.
Naveen shook his head in negative.
Naina looked downcast. "Aap rehte toh mujhe acha lagta" she said slowly. " Itne jaldi itni achi dosti hogaye thi humari...khair koi baat nahi...hum phir milenge...jab bhi mauka mile...bhayya mein bhi chalu kya saath mein bus stop."
"Woh...mein" started Naveen.
"Mein chala jaunga, Naina" said Rajveer firmly.
"Arre, aise kaise jayenge...bhayya aap chodne nahi jaa rahe ??? Mana ki aap na raz hai ki unhe jaana pad raha hai..par ye kya hai ...chaliye jayiye gaadi nikaliye..."she ordered.
Naveen looked at her for a moment. "Naina, tum ruko..mein chod ke aaunga..tera itni raat ko bahar nikalna theek nahi." he said , in a final tone.
He went outside the house.
Rajveer started to follow him, when..
"Rajveer" said Naina, coming to him..."mujhe yakeen nahi aaraha ki aapko jana pad raha hai..I..I don't know what to say...I will really miss you...Bohot acha laga aapse milke" she said, extending her hand.
Rajveer turned to look at her,thinking if this would be the last time.
"Naina, I wish you a very happy married life. Tumhare saare sapne pure ho...mein har pal tumhari khushi ki duai karunga."
Naina smiled sadly, lowering her hand.
Feeling emotional, Rajveer came forward, cupping her cheek. He kissed her forehead lightly, and turned back and rushed out of the rom, before she could see the tears forming in his eyes.
Naina stood rooted, looking at his retreating frame, trying to figure out what was the look in his eyes before he left.
*******
Rajveer reached his base, where he was supposed to report a week later. He threw his luggage aside and slumped on the bed. All the emotions and tears he kept suppressed came out rushing.
He lost track of time and space in the following days. His pain super seeded him. He wondered what he had done in life to deserve this pain. Was his destiny written in this way, that he would have no one in his life. He had lost his love and his friend.
He opened his laptop to check on something when he saw a picture from one of Naina's friends on facebook.
The caption read..'My Bestie's wedding' and below it were Naina and Abhimanyu, garlands around their neck.
Rajveer lookd at Naina's smiling face, adorned in sindoor and mangalsutra. It was official now. She was Mrs Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan.
******
6 months later
Rajveer was recovering in a hospital ward, somewhere in Jammu.
"Raj..is that you ?" asked Gunny.
"Gunny...tu ? kitne mahinon baad yaar...kaisa hai tu ?"
"Woh sab chod...tu kaha tha pichle mahine..kitne calls kiye tujhe..?" asked Gunny tensed.
"Arre..mission mein tha, Afghan...kyun kya hua ?"
"Tune news nahi dekha ? Maar diya yaar...maar diya humare Naveen ko...gadari ka inzaam laga ke.."
