Special Dedication to this song as the inspiration behind this chapter.

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The cool night breeze rustled through the academy grounds as Naina stepped onto the gravel path, her boots crunching softly with each step. The moon was peaking from behind the clouds, casting dark shadows across the field. She scanned the area, her heart hammering against her ribs as she finally spotted him.

Major Rajveer Singh Shekhawat.

He stood near the obstacle course, his posture relaxed yet alert, hands in his pockets, eyes lost in thought as he gazed at the horizon. The moonlight played against his sharp features, highlighting the quiet intensity that always surrounded him.

For a moment, she hesitated. He looked so distant, as if he belonged to a world she wasn't sure she had a place in anymore. But then she shook off the doubt. She had spent too long keeping her emotions buried. This time, she wouldn't walk away.

Taking a deep breath, she approached him.

"Sir."

Rajveer turned at the sound of her voice. His eyes flickered with recognition before settling into their usual calm, unreadable expression. "Cadet Singh."

The formality stung more than she expected. Once, she had been "Naina" to him. Now, she was just another cadet. She forced a small smile. "Do you have a minute?"

He studied her for a moment before nodding. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

Naina exhaled slowly. She had rehearsed this conversation in her head a hundred times, but now that she stood before him, the words felt tangled in her throat. "I just... I realized we haven't talked. Not really. Not since..." She trailed off, unwilling to say Major Nair's name aloud.

Rajveer's expression didn't change, but there was something in his eyes-something guarded. "A lot has happened, Naina. And in case you have forgotten, we do talk, albeit sometimes."

"I know." She shifted her weight, suddenly feeling vulnerable under his gaze. "But that doesn't mean we have to pretend like everything's normal when it's not."

Rajveer was silent for a long moment before sighing. "You're right. Things haven't been the same."

Naina clenched her fists, frustration and longing battling inside her. "Why, Rajveer? Why are you keeping your distance? Is it because of what happened with Major Nair? Or is it because..." She swallowed, lowering her voice. "Because of me?"

His eyes softened just a fraction, and for the first time in weeks, she saw something other than detachment-hesitation.

"Naina, there are things I can't explain right now. Things that go beyond just us."

She took a step closer. "Then help me understand. Because all I know is that I miss our conversations. I miss... you."

A flicker of something-pain? longing?-crossed his face, but it was gone just as quickly. He looked away, staring at the horizon as if searching for answers there.

"You have your future ahead of you, Naina. KMA is just one chapter."

"And you're a part of that chapter," she said firmly. "I don't want to leave with unfinished words between us."

He turned back to her, his jaw tightening as if waging an internal battle. And then, finally, he let out a quiet chuckle-a tired, almost defeated sound.

"You're impossible, Cadet Singh."

She smiled. "And you're frustrating, Major Shekhawat."

She stood before Rajveer, searching his face for answers. The setting sun bathed the academy grounds in a warm golden hue, but all she could focus on was the unreadable expression in his dark eyes.

She had spoken her truth-told him how much she missed him, how much his distance hurt. And now she waited.

For a moment, he simply looked at her, the corner of his mouth twitching as if suppressing a smile. Then, with a slight shake of his head, he murmured, "When did I ever say that I would not be a part of your future?"

Naina blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"

Rajveer finally let his smile show, teasing but warm. "Your impatience hasn't lessened at all, Naina."

She gaped at him, feeling utterly flabbergasted. "You-what-Rajveer, do you have any idea how much I've been trying to figure out what's going on with you? You've been so distant, so-" She stopped, exhaling sharply, trying to regain control over her emotions.

His smile faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. "I know."

Naina crossed her arms. "Then tell me why."

He hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Because I didn't want to put you in danger."

She frowned. "Danger?"

Rajveer looked away, his gaze drifting toward the training grounds, as if organizing his thoughts. "Things are not as simple as they seem, Naina. You've already been targeted once. If people knew how much you meant to me-" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "I can't allow that."

Her heart skipped a beat. "How much I mean to you?" she echoed softly.

Rajveer exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You already know, don't you?"

She took a step closer, her voice gentler now. "I know what I feel. But I need to hear it from you. Mujhe janna hai, Sir"

He met her gaze, and for once, he didn't hide behind formality or distance. "Sir bhi bolti ho aur aise sawalon ke jawab mangti ho jo ek mentor aur protégé ke beech honi nahi chahiye."

"Always a stickler for rules. Rule book se kyun chalte hain aap?" She shot back.

"Bina argument ke, shanti se, logic se kuch kar sakti ho?" He was exasperated by her.

"Nahi. Kyunki jahan aapki baat aati hai, mere sare logic fail ho jate hain. Bas emotions bachte hain, Rajveer. Aur aap iss baat se anjaan nahi hain."

His face softened at the words, and he gently held her hands. "Jaanta hun. Isliye dur hun. You mean too much to me, Naina. And that's exactly why I have to be careful."

Her chest tightened. "But I don't want careful. I want honesty. I want you."

Rajveer smiled faintly. "And you'll have me. When the time is right."

She shook her head, frustrated but also relieved. "You always do this. Always trying to protect everyone but yourself."

His eyes softened. "It's who I am. Mai badal nahi sakta. Agar apnana hai to aise hi apnana padega."

Naina sighed, finally understanding the weight he carried. He wasn't keeping his distance because he didn't care-he was doing it because he cared too much.

"Fine," she relented. "But just so you know, Major Shekhawat, you don't get to decide everything. I'm not going anywhere."

His lips quirked up. "I would expect nothing less from Cadet Singh."

"Aur bhi koi baat hai jo aapko pareshan kar rahi hai."

"Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai." He hedged.

"Jhuth to mat boliye, Raj. Hum sab dekh rahe hain ki aap hadh se jyada busy hai, jab dhundho nahin milte, puchne jao ki kahan hain - yahan wahan dikh jate hain. Hokar bhi aap nahi hain. Kya chal raha hai. Bataiye mujhe, Raj. Please!"

Her words felt like rustling of leaves in the quiet of the night. The obstacle course was eerily silent at this hour, save for the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. The dim moonlight cast elongated shadows, blending the figures of Major Rajveer Singh Shekhawat and Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia into the vast darkness that surrounded them.

He wasn't supposed to be here. Not like this. Not with her.

But Naina-his dearest Cadet-always had a way of making him do things that were against his very nature.

She was standing before him, her arms wrapped around herself in a feeble attempt to hold her emotions at bay. The cold wind of the night tousled her hair, making strands fall across her face, but her eyes-those stormy, stubborn eyes-held all the turmoil she refused to voice.

Rajveer felt something in him tighten.

He had never been one to act on impulse, always priding himself on his self-control. But Naina... Naina was different.

Before he could stop himself, his hand lifted, his fingers brushing against her soft skin as he gently cupped her face, tilting it up so she would look at him.

She tried to avert her gaze, but he wouldn't let her.

A frustrated tear escaped the corner of her eye, glistening in the dim light, but he caught it just as it rolled down her cheek, his thumb brushing it away with infinite tenderness.

"Tum fikr bahut jyada karti ho." His voice was soft, a whisper meant only for her ears.

Naina squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to block out the emotions clawing their way to the surface.

She didn't want to cry. Not in front of him. Not again.

But the weight of everything-the secrets, the struggles, the distance he had tried to maintain-was suffocating her.

"Don't cry, please." His voice cracked ever so slightly, his composure slipping just for a moment. "Tumhare aansu mera dil cheer ke rakh dete hain, Naina. Please."

His words were her undoing.

Her breath hitched, her hands trembling as they came up to grip his. A silent plea. A desperate attempt to hold onto him.

Rajveer felt his heart clench at the sight of her struggling to contain her pain. He had caused this-his distance, his hesitation, his fears had pushed her to this moment.

Seized by the overwhelming love he held for her, by the aching need to comfort her, he did the one thing he had fought against for so long.

He pulled her towards him.

Not forcefully. Not completely. Just enough to let her know he was there-giving her the choice, the chance to step away.

But she didn't.

Instead, with a soft, broken sound, she flung her arms around him, burying herself into his chest as if she had finally found the only shelter she had been seeking all along.

And in that moment, he let go.

Rajveer's arms wrapped around her tightly, pulling her flush against him as if holding her together, as if shielding her from the very storm he had unknowingly created.

Her fingers clutched at the fabric of his jacket, as if afraid he would disappear the moment she let go.

He wouldn't.

Not tonight.

Tonight, she needed him. And tonight, he would be here.

~~~●●●~~~

In the dimly lit chamber of Major Soham Agnihotri, two men sat nursing their glasses of whisky, the golden liquid swirling as they contemplated the night's events. The room carried the scent of old books, freshly polished leather, and the faint remnants of cigar smoke from earlier meetings. A single lamp bathed the room in a warm glow, flickering slightly as the night breeze filtered in through the half-open window.

Soham leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "Do you think they would be done by now? It has already been an hour."

Abhimanyu smirked, swirling the whisky in his glass with practiced ease. "Knowing Rajveer, he would be shepherding her back to her dorm."

A chuckle escaped him, and his eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Kisne socha tha ki Major Shekhawat ko Cadet Singh se pyaar ho jayega?"

Before Soham could respond, a feminine laugh echoed from the doorway, smooth and teasing.

"Aasar toh shuru se the, par Major saab apne jazbaaton se bhagte jo hain."

Both men turned toward the voice, their expressions shifting from surprise to familiarity. Captain Dr. Shalini Singhal slipped into the room with effortless grace, her sharp eyes catching their reactions as she smirked.

Soham raised an eyebrow. "You're getting too good at sneaking in unnoticed, Captain."

Shalini shrugged, accepting the glass of wine Captain Chauhan handed her with a nod of thanks. She took a measured sip before raising an eyebrow at both men.

"Thanks, Captain Chauhan."

A comfortable silence settled between them as they sipped their drinks. Outside, the night stretched on-a night filled with secrets, confessions, and unspoken feelings.

Then, with an amused glint in her eyes, Shalini tilted her head. "Don't you think yeh bada mazedaar hai?"

Soham exchanged a glance with Abhimanyu before responding. "Kya?"

Shalini's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Army ke hardened soldiers conspiracies unearth karne ki jagah dost ki setting karwane mein madad kar rahe hain."

Abhimanyu let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Woh bhi humara hi farz hai, especially jab saamne wala Rajveer jaisa premi ho."

Soham snorted. "Haan... jiski aankhein bolti hain par zubaan nahi."

Shalini took another sip of her wine, tapping her fingers against the glass. "Aur mashooqa Naina ho... jo sab padh leti hai par pyaar ki bhaasha nahi."

For a moment, all three sat back, laughter echoing softly in the chamber. It was rare-this sense of lightness amidst the shadows they usually walked in.

Eventually, Soham exhaled, setting his glass down with a thoughtful expression.

"Do you think Major Shekhawat will find the message and join us?"

The laughter died down, replaced by a contemplative silence.

Abhimanyu frowned slightly, tapping his fingers against his glass. His voice, when it came, was lined with uncertainty.

"I think he already would be on his way."

~~~●●●~~~

Obstacle Course, KMA:

The wind had stilled, as if the very night had paused to listen. The world around them had faded into insignificance-there was only him and her.

Rajveer could feel the uneven rhythm of Naina's breathing against his chest, the slight tremors in her hands as she held onto him. She was hurting. Because of him. Because of everything he had left unsaid.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, with a deep breath, he gently loosened his hold, just enough to make her look up at him again.

Her face was still damp from the single tear he had brushed away, her eyes filled with questions, frustrations, and something deeper-something he wasn't ready to name just yet.

Rajveer sighed, his thumb unconsciously brushing against her cheek once more, as if trying to etch this moment into memory.

"Apne exams khatam kar lo, Naina," he said softly, his voice filled with both conviction and restraint. "And I promise, I will tell you everything."

Her brows furrowed, her lips parting as if to protest.

Not now, not yet, Naina.

He couldn't tell her everything tonight.

Not when there were still pieces of the puzzle missing. Not when she had so much on the line.

Before she could argue, he lifted a finger, a silent plea for her to listen.

"Just your exams," he repeated, "for my sake."

Her eyes softened, the weight of those words settling deep within her. He wasn't just asking her to focus-he was making a promise. A promise that whatever was hidden in the shadows, he wouldn't keep it from her forever.

But then, he smiled-one of those rare, genuine smiles that reached his eyes.

"And ace them," he added, his voice lighter now, teasing.

Her lips parted in disbelief. "Sir-"

But he wasn't finished.

"Mera naam rakh lo taki log ye na kahen ki tum meri protégé ho," he murmured, his tone filled with quiet pride. "Log ye kahen ki I was honoured to be your mentor."

Naina's breath caught.

She had always admired him, looked up to him as her guiding force. But this... this was different.

This wasn't just Rajveer Singh Shekhawat, the officer, the mentor, the man she respected beyond words.

This was Rajveer-the man who believed in her, who saw her not as a cadet following in his footsteps, but as someone who could create her own path, carve her own name into the world.

Her chest tightened with emotion, but she managed a small, determined nod.

"I won't let you down, Sir," she whispered, her voice steadier now.

Rajveer held her gaze, his own filled with something unreadable.

"I know," he said.

And somehow, those two words held more weight than any confession ever could.

~~~●●●~~~

The warm glow of the single lamp flickered against the rich mahogany walls of Major Soham Agnihotri's chamber. The lingering scent of whisky and quiet laughter still clung to the air, their previous discussion momentarily paused as they reflected on Abhimanyu's doubt.

But before anyone could respond, a sharp, familiar voice cut through the comfortable silence.

"Kya laga aap sabko, ki mujhe pata nahi chalega aap log yahan party kar rahe hain?"

All three heads snapped toward the door as Major Rajveer Singh Shekhawat stepped in, his gaze sweeping across them with amused suspicion. He stood at ease, but the sharp glint in his eyes betrayed that he had been aware of their gathering for quite some time.

The three officers exchanged quick glances, all of them internally recalculating how much Rajveer might have figured out. Shalini, ever the composed one, took another sip of her wine, her expression giving nothing away. Abhimanyu, on the other hand, barely suppressed a smirk, while Soham busied himself with refilling his glass as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Party?" Soham echoed, tilting his head. "Kya keh rahe ho, Rajveer? Yeh toh bas ek discussion tha. Military strategy aur national security pe."

"Haan," Abhimanyu added, schooling his face into mock seriousness. "Bohot crucial matters pe baat ho rahi thi. Tum bhi batao, kahan busy the?"

Rajveer's lips quirked upward, a half-smile playing at his face, as if he wasn't buying any of it. He stepped further into the room, reaching for the bottle of whisky and pouring himself a small measure before turning back to them.

"Right." He took a slow sip, letting the warmth of the drink settle. "Aur mujhe yeh batao ki kya tum log mujhe baccha samajhte ho jo nahi samjhega ki kya ho raha hai?"

Shalini leaned back against the table, her smirk deepening. "Aapne toh aaj bade hi sharp observation skills dikhaye hain, Major."

Rajveer merely raised an eyebrow, his silence speaking volumes.

"Toh... Naina kaisi hai?" Abhimanyu finally asked, his tone far too casual.

For a second, just a second, there was the barest flicker of something in Rajveer's eyes-something soft, something deeply personal-before it disappeared behind his usual mask of control.

"Bilkul theek," he replied smoothly, setting down his now-empty glass. "Aur ab tum log bhi relax ho jao. Kyunki jo dimaag mein soch rahe ho, uski zaroorat nahi hai."

Soham couldn't resist. "Aur hum kya soch rahe hain, Major?"

Rajveer sighed dramatically. "Ki tum log mujhe cover de rahe the. Jo ki zaroori nahi tha."

The three exchanged glances, doing their best to feign ignorance.

"Bilkul bhi nahi. Hum toh bas yahaan apni duty discuss kar rahe the." Abhimanyu grinned.

Rajveer shook his head, clearly unconvinced but choosing to let it go. He glanced at his watch before turning toward the door.

But just as he reached the threshold, he threw them off with a final, offhanded remark that had them all choking on their drinks.

"Ab route ki searchlights on kar dena. Wahan koi nahi hai."

And with that, he strode out, leaving behind three stunned officers.

For a moment, there was absolute silence. And then-

Laughter erupted in the room, loud and unrestrained.

"Yeh aadmi ek din humein maar daalega," Soham wheezed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Abhimanyu wiped his eyes, still grinning. "Rajveer Shekhawat, ladies and gentlemen. Apni mohabbat pe qabool na karne wale, indirectly confirm karke chale gaye? I am impressed."

Shalini raised her glass in mock toast. "Kya pyaar hai!"

And so, the night stretched on, the weight of responsibilities momentarily forgotten in the laughter of friends who knew far too much.

~~~●●●~~~

The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the small dormitory. The room was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of blankets as Pooja Ghai stirred in her sleep.

But Naina Singh wasn't asleep.

Her mind was still tangled in the events of the night-Rajveer's words, his touch, the way he had held her just long enough for her to memorize the warmth of his embrace.

A small smile played on her lips as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a slightly squished chocolate. She glanced at her roommate, then leaned forward and nudged her.

"Pooja. Oye, uth."

Pooja groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow. "Naina... yaar, sone de na... kal subah parade bhi hai..."

Ignoring her protests, Naina shoved the chocolate into her hand.

"Ye le."

Pooja barely peeked one eye open, feeling the crinkling wrapper between her fingers.

"Kya hai ye?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Chocolate."

Now both of Pooja's eyes snapped open as she blinked at the treat in her hand.

"Ye kahan se mila?"

"Mess se laayi."

Suspicion crept into Pooja's half-awake brain. "Aur kisliye?"

Naina, still smirking, folded her arms. "Tere liye."

Pooja sat up slightly, narrowing her eyes. "Kisliye?"

"Mera khayal rakhne ke liye." Naina's smirk grew as she tapped Pooja's nose lightly.

Pooja frowned. "Matlab?"

Naina let out a small chuckle. "Wo jo tune Aalekh ko bataya ki mai late night bahar gayi thi... aur Aalekh ne jaake Captain Chauhan ko inform kiya... aur phir obstacle course ki searchlights off ho gayi... for all that..." She raised an eyebrow. "Thank you."

Pooja froze, staring at her as the realization dawned.

"Kya..." she stammered, looking completely caught off guard. "Main... maine toh..."

Naina patted her head affectionately, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "Bas. Ab so ja. Kal din lamba hone wala hai."

Pooja opened and closed her mouth, as if searching for a way to deny it, but Naina simply turned over on her bed, the conversation clearly over in her mind.

Pooja scowled at her for a second before looking down at the chocolate. A slow, grudging smile tugged at her lips.

"Pagal hai tu, Naina," she muttered, shaking her head as she unwrapped the chocolate and popped a piece into her mouth.

Moments later, the room fell silent once more-one girl sleeping peacefully, and the other staring at the ceiling, her thoughts lingering on a certain Major Rajveer Singh Shekhawat.

~~~●●●~~~

A/N:

Done! As promised, this is all about Raina and their relationships.

Next will be some dhamaka. Do vote and comment and the next part will be updated soon.

Love ~Flavia