The tension inside KMA had reached a boiling point. Naina’s heart raced as she carefully observed Ali’s every move. The unease she felt had only deepened in the past few days. She couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling that something was terribly wrong. Ali, once her trusted friend and comrade, was now acting more suspiciously by the hour. His furtive glances, unexplained absences, and hushed conversations—everything pointed to one thing: he was hiding something.

Rajveer had agreed with Naina that they needed evidence before making any accusations. But time was running out. If Ali was indeed working with the enemy, they couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Naina knew that confronting him directly might push him further into Lala’s camp, but she also knew they couldn’t let him jeopardize everything they had fought for.

---

It was late one evening when Naina found herself alone in the KMA mess hall, her thoughts heavy with uncertainty. She had been going over the plan in her mind again and again, trying to figure out the best way to confront Ali. Her gaze wandered over to the door as she saw him walk in, looking more distracted than usual. He glanced around the room, but when his eyes met hers, there was something unreadable in his expression.

Naina’s pulse quickened. "This is it," she thought. She had to know the truth, no matter what it cost.

---

Later that night, after everyone had retired to their rooms, Naina quietly made her way to the storage building where she had seen Ali meet with someone in the past. She kept to the shadows, her breath steady and measured. She knew that taking the wrong step could cost them everything.

After a few minutes of waiting, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She tensed. Ali’s figure emerged from the darkness, but this time, he wasn’t alone. A tall, dark figure stepped out of the shadows, wearing a black hood. Naina’s breath caught in her throat. She recognized the man immediately—Major Bhargav, the man who had been a thorn in their side from the start, one of Lala’s loyalists.

Naina pressed herself further into the shadows, watching carefully as they exchanged words. From what she could hear, their conversation confirmed everything Naina had feared.

"You’re sure they’re still on our side?" Major Bhargav’s voice was low and threatening.

"Of course," Ali responded, his tone defensive but eager. "I’ve been feeding them just enough to keep them moving forward, to make sure they don’t find out about us. Once Lala’s associates are in place, it will be too late for them."

"I don’t like this," Bhargav muttered. "But if it keeps you in line, I’m willing to play along. The mission must succeed."

Naina’s stomach churned as she took in the conversation. Ali had been playing both sides, leading them to believe he was still loyal while secretly working with Lala’s network to undermine everything they had built. The betrayal cut deeper than she could have imagined. The person she had trusted most had been working with the very enemy they were fighting against.

---

Naina’s mind raced as she struggled to control her emotions. She needed to act fast. If she didn’t expose Ali now, everything they had worked for would fall apart. But as she made her way back to the dormitory, she heard footsteps behind her. Someone was following her.

She turned, expecting to see Rajveer, but it was Aalekh. His face was tense, and his eyes were shadowed with worry.

"I knew you were onto him," Aalekh said quietly, his voice full of regret. "I should have said something sooner, but I didn’t want to believe it either."

Naina’s heart sank. "You knew?"

Aalekh nodded slowly, his gaze avoiding hers. "I didn’t know the full extent, but I knew Ali was hiding something. He’s been distant, and I’ve seen him meeting with Bhargav more times than I can count. I just didn’t want to admit it. I thought maybe I was overthinking it."

Naina placed a hand on his shoulder. "It’s not your fault, Aalekh. We all trusted him. But now we know the truth. We have to expose him, before it’s too late."

Aalekh’s face hardened with determination. "What do we do now?"

---

The next morning, the tension in KMA was palpable. The cadets were preparing for their next mission, unaware that a traitor had been discovered among them. Naina knew that time was running out. She and Aalekh had to act quickly. They decided to confront Ali in front of the group, hoping to expose his betrayal before he could do any more damage.

As they gathered in the conference room, the mood was tense, with everyone quietly preparing for the meeting. Rajveer stood at the front, his eyes scanning the group, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze. He was already aware of the suspicions Naina had raised, but he still needed proof.

"We have a problem," Naina began, her voice steady but laced with an undertone of anger. "A serious problem that affects all of us. Last night, I overheard a conversation that confirmed something none of us wanted to believe." She turned to face Ali, whose face had drained of color.

The room fell silent as Naina continued. "Ali has been working with Major Bhargav, one of Lala’s most loyal men. He’s been feeding them information and helping them undermine our efforts. He’s a traitor."

Ali’s face twisted in anger as he stood up to defend himself. "This is insane!" he yelled. "You have no idea what you’re talking about! I’m doing what’s necessary to protect all of us!"

"Protect us?" Rajveer’s voice was cold, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a fiery intensity. "You’ve been working against us from the start, Ali. You’ve betrayed everything we stand for. You were ready to destroy us all for your own survival."

Ali tried to speak, but his voice faltered as the full weight of his actions settled over him. Naina could see the guilt in his eyes, the realization that his betrayal had been exposed.

"There’s no coming back from this, Ali," Rajveer said softly. "You’ve chosen your side."

The room was filled with a heavy silence as Ali was escorted out of the conference room. Naina felt a strange mix of relief and sorrow. She had done what was necessary to protect the team, but the cost was high. The trust they had placed in Ali was shattered, and it would take time to rebuild the bonds that had been broken.

---

As the group reconvened, the weight of the betrayal hung over them. "This isn’t just about Ali," Rajveer said, his voice grave. "This is about Lala’s network. We need to stay vigilant. We’ve lost one of our own, but we can’t let that stop us. The fight continues. And we’ll win."

Naina nodded, her resolve hardening. This battle wasn’t just about uncovering the truth—it was about protecting the future they had fought so hard to build.

With the betrayal now behind them, the cadets knew the road ahead would be even more dangerous. But they were ready. Together, they would face whatever came next.

To be continued...