On the 1 st, they had another new year party as BC was not in the academy. "Mauke ka phayda uthana" was Huda's reasoning to throw the party. Everyone was enjoying themselves, when Rajveer saw Naina leaving.
Sensing she was angry with something Huda said or someone....he followed her to make sure she was fine.
"Naina " he called her as he held her arm to stop her. She turned to him and swayed.
"Naina...r u drunk ?" he asked her amused.
"Haan...haan i m drunk, so what ? You can dance with all the girl cadets, flirt with them, charm them...but I cannot drink ?"
"umm..Naina..what ?" he asked taken aback.
"Nothing sir..I am fine..I ll go to my room."
As she turned, she swayed again...Rajveer held her and looked around. As no one was there, he lifted her and took her inside the infirmary and was about to go and call Dr shalini, when..
"Rajveer....I don't want to disturb Dr Shalini..let me just go to my room"....she stumbled and fell right in his arms.
Time stopped for a minute as they looked into each other's eyes. Naina got up but din't go away from him. It was as they were locked. His eyes wouldn't just leave hers. Magnetized, she felt a pull closer...and closer until..before she knew it...she kissed his lips.
Rajveer felt stunned and dizzy at this proximity. He dint even know when he started kissing her back.
After a deep kiss for a minute, Naina suddenly broke free..as if coming to her senses. Shocked and embarrassed she turned and ran to her room, without looking back.
*********
The next morning, Rajveer paced around in the classroom waiting. What had happened to Naina yesterday ? Was she just tipsy or were there actual feelings in that moment ?
Naina entered the classroom , saw him and stepped in hesitantly...and then totally changed her demeanor.
"Hi Rajveer...sorry...Rajveer sir...aapne woh medical reports ke baare mein kuch socha... court mein kaise pesh karenge toh theek rahega. "
"huh ? haan....yaa meine ek army lawyer ko contactkiya hai...hmm....Naina...wo kal.."
"Arre, sir..kal...kal na jaane mujhe kya hogaya tha...itna drink kar liya...ki abhi tak hangover nahi utra....mujhe toh kuch bhi yaad hi nahi...ki party mein kya hua...mein kaise apne room tak pahunchi...it's all a blur."
Rajveer dint understand what to say after that. He went back to the board to prepare to teach.
************
It was the weekend and both Rajveer and Naina had gone to the neighboring town to talk to a few officers regarding Naveen. As they were coming backs, the jeep's tyre blew out and they had to wait at the mechanic's shop. As it was January the cold wind was blowing making Naina shiver.
Rajveer looked at her suffering in silence and got a hoodie from the jeep.
"Yeh lo Naina...pehen lo...mera spare hoodie hai."
"Thanks...sir aap jeep mein spare hoodies rakhte hai...for damsels in distress ?" she asked smiling, as she wore it and felt instantly better. Was it only the hoodie or it being his hoodie that made her feel so warm was a question even to her.
Rajveer just smiled and ran his hand over his hair shyly.
They sat at the chai stall, while they were served hot tea.
In a hurry to drink, she spilled some on her hand. Rajveer immediately left his tea to hold her hand and wipe off the tea with his handkerchief.
"Bhayya...thanda pani hai...jaldi le aayiye..jaldi."
"Rajveer...it's fine...i m ok..bas thoda gira hai."
But he paid no heed. He poured some cold water and was continuously blowing on it. Naina just stood there watching him.
Why was he always so caring ? It was as if her getting hurt would hurt him a hundred times more.
Rajveer finished checking to look up at her and saw her staring at him glassy eyed. He had caught her looking at him a few times before like this, an unknown expression in her eyes.
He left her hand as she took it back and turned away. They sat down again and Rajveer was about to pick up his tea when he heard..." Bhai saab..plz unke liye dusri chai dijiye.....unka thanda hogaya hoga." He smiled inwardly at her attention.
As they paid and left, Rajveer saw Naina rubbing her hands due to the cold. He reached out to hold hers in his gloved hand.
Naina, though surprised with his action, did not leave it. They walked hand in hand till the mechanic's shop.
As they approached the shop, Rajveer wondered if there was a way he could hold on forever.
