Rajveer sat stunned on his bed, alone. The doctors had declined his request to be discharged. He din't know what to do. He knew it was already late. Gunny said all this had happened a month ago. His best fried was gone...gone forever. That too not in the way, he wanted to go, but with a horrible accusation.
Rajveer's heart cried out for him. He was such a young,vibrant, perfect soldier. He had not deserved this at all. And his family ? How had Ma-baba , who were always so proud of their son take this blow. And Naina...Rajveer din't even want to think about her. He knew how much she loved Naveen. She would have broken down terribly. Atleast she had Abhi to take care of her, thought Rajveer. She was not alone. She would be fine. But he had a very uneasy feeling. He couldn't sit back. He had to go and meet them.
After a few days, Rajveer went to Almora, and reminisced while he took the same road to their house. As he looked at the house, he was shocked. The very house which was decorated in flowerd and had the most lively atmosphere lay abandoned, lifeless. The garden which Naina used to take great care of was unkept and dirty. There was a lock on the gate.
Rajveer saw a neighbor.
"Execuse me...woh..Ahluwalia family ?"
"Tum..tum woh Rajveer ho na...meine tumhe shaadi mein dekha tha...army wale.."
"Ji Aunty...Naveen ke ma-baap ?"
"Abhi kaha beta...muh kaise dikhate iss mohalle mein...unke beta ne jo jo kia uske baad...chale gaye iss ghar ko chod kar."
Rajveer closed his eyes to calm himself down Taking a deep breath , he asked. "Kya aapko pata hai ki wo kaha gaye hai ?"
"Kisse pata...aur hum janna bhi nahi chahte the...aisi terrorist ke family ke saath humein koi vaasta nahi rakhna..."
"Aunty.." said Rajveer losing his temper.." Aap yaha barson se hai...aap ne Naveen ko bade hote hua dekha..iss parivaar ne apne har khushi mein aapko bulaya hoga...aapko kabhi laga ki Naveen aisa kuch kar sakta hai...sir kanon suna koi bhi baat pe aapne yakeen kar liya.."
"Arre...Army ne khud investigation karke faisla sunaya...toh sach hi hoga na..."
Rajveer shook his head in disgust and left from there....for the first time really understanding the impact of Naveen's accusation.
*****
"Ji....Abhimanyu Rai Chauhan naam hai...Jaipur...mera contact karna bohot jaruri hai...ji...aise kaise koi phone calls accept nahi kar rahe..."
Rajveer put down the phone in frustration. He picked up his bag to o to Jaipur himself when..
"Sir...Col Chandra ne aapko isi waqt report karne ke liye kaha hai...aapke agle posting ke orders ke liye." said a guard, handing him an envelope.
Rajveer opened the envelope.
'KMA' said the letter. Rajveer put down his bag. It was time to go back to where it all started.
