The air at Kanchenjunga Military Academy (KMA) had become thick with suspicion. The academy, once a place of discipline and camaraderie, now felt like a prison of secrets, and Naina was growing more determined to uncover the truth with each passing day. The conversation with Rajveer had left her both conflicted and resolved. He had warned her of the dangers, yet his words seemed to only fuel her desire to expose the dark forces working behind the scenes.

---

That evening, as the sun began to set, the cadets gathered for their evening drills. But Naina couldn’t focus on the routine exercises. Her mind kept returning to the file she had uncovered—a file that hinted at Lala Gehlot's involvement in something far more sinister than just framing her brother Naveen. There was mention of a covert operation, something that connected Rajveer to Lala's twisted plans. The more Naina thought about it, the more her heart pounded with urgency. She had to find the missing pieces.

Yudi noticed Naina’s distracted state and, as always, followed her lead. He had grown increasingly concerned for her well-being. The stakes had grown higher, and she was walking a thin line between uncovering the truth and falling into a trap.

“Naina,” Yudi said quietly as they walked away from the training grounds. “You can’t keep doing this on your own. Rajveer’s warning, the breach in security, all of it… something doesn’t feel right. We need to be careful.”

Naina glanced at him, her gaze firm. “I know what I’m doing, Yudi. But I can’t back down now. This is bigger than us. It’s about clearing Naveen’s name and finding the truth about Lala.”

Yudi sighed, his usual easy-going nature replaced with a serious edge. “Then we’ll do it together. But we need more information. If we can’t get our hands on Lala’s files, we need to find someone who knows about the operation he was involved in.”

---

The next day, after a grueling round of training, Naina and her team—Yudi, Amar, Aalekh, and Pooja—gathered in their usual hideout near the old training block. They were surrounded by the echoes of past cadets’ voices, their shared memories of simpler times, but Naina couldn’t let herself get distracted by sentimentality. They were on the edge of something dangerous.

“We need a new approach,” Naina said, her voice sharp. “The file I found… it was incomplete. But there was mention of a contact that Lala had—someone outside the academy, someone who knows about the operation. If we can find them, we might have what we need.”

“But how do we find someone who’s been kept in the shadows?” Pooja asked, her voice tinged with concern. “This feels like we’re walking into the lion’s den.”

“We have no choice,” Naina replied, her tone resolute. “If we’re going to expose Lala, we have to take risks. We’ve come this far, and we won’t back down now.”

“I agree,” Aalekh added. “But we need to be smart about this. If we get caught…” He trailed off, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Naina looked at her friends—her family at KMA—and felt a surge of gratitude. They had stood by her through everything, and now, they were willing to stand with her through the darkest chapter yet. She smiled faintly, her determination unwavering.

“I know the risk,” she said quietly. “But we have no choice. We need to find that contact, and we need to do it before Lala realizes what we’re after.”

---

Later that night, Naina and Yudi made their way to the supply depot, where they had overheard a few cadets mention strange deliveries being made in the past few days. It seemed like a long shot, but if anyone had information on the covert operation, it would be someone with access to restricted supplies.

As they approached the depot, Naina’s heart raced. They had done their best to cover their tracks, but there was always the nagging fear that they were being watched. She looked at Yudi, whose expression was equally serious.

“Stay close,” Naina whispered. “We’ll get in, find what we need, and get out.”

Yudi nodded silently, his eyes scanning the area.

The two of them moved swiftly, slipping past the guards and into the darkened building. Inside, they found rows of crates stacked against the walls, most of them marked with numbers and codes Naina didn’t recognize. But one crate stood out—its label had been hastily covered, as if someone didn’t want it noticed.

“This is it,” Naina said, her voice barely audible. “Help me get this open.”

Yudi quickly grabbed a crowbar, and together, they pried open the crate. Inside, they found several files, some labeled with dates that went back several years. But what caught Naina’s attention was a set of photographs buried at the bottom—photos of Rajveer, Naveen, and several high-ranking officers, including Major Bhargav and Major Prabhat Nair. The photographs were taken at various locations, but one image stood out: Rajveer and Lala Gehlot, standing together in what appeared to be a meeting—both smiling, but with an air of secrecy that made Naina’s stomach churn.

“This… this can’t be right,” Yudi whispered, looking at the photographs. “It’s like Lala and Rajveer were working together all along.”

Naina felt a cold sweat break out across her brow. “But why? Why would Rajveer work with someone like Lala?” The questions raced through her mind, each more unsettling than the last. She had trusted Rajveer, but these photographs made it look like everything she had believed in was a lie.

They quickly gathered the files and left the depot, careful not to alert anyone to their presence. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Naina’s mind raced. What did these photos mean? Was Rajveer involved in something darker than she had ever imagined? Or was there something more to the story—something that he wasn’t telling her?

---

Back in her dormitory, Naina couldn’t sleep. The photographs kept playing over and over in her mind. Rajveer and Lala—two people she never imagined would be linked. She had to know the truth. And she knew the only way to get it was to confront Rajveer directly.

The next morning, she found herself standing outside Rajveer’s office, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it—the moment she would either uncover the truth or lose everything.

Taking a deep breath, Naina knocked on the door.

“Come in,” came Rajveer’s calm voice from inside.

As she entered, Rajveer looked up, his expression unreadable. “Cadet Ahluwalia,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed the tension in the air. “What’s the matter?”

Naina’s voice was steady, but her heart was racing. “I found something, sir. Something that concerns you.”

Rajveer’s gaze shifted, the faintest hint of surprise flashing across his features. “What are you talking about?”

Naina took a step forward, holding out the photographs and the files. “These,” she said, her voice firm. “Explain them to me, Rajveer sir. Why are you with Lala Gehlot?”

The room fell silent as Rajveer stood frozen, his expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. But in that silence, Naina knew that everything was about to change.