Chapter Thirty Seven
Naina had sat with little Veeru on her knees, bouncing him up and down as he giggled and clapped his hands. Aalekh had watched her silently, not wanting to disturb the moment, because it was so seldom that he saw her this way. In that one moment she seemed almost happy, in that one moment it seemed as if she would be able to forget, as if everything could be okay again.
As he watched Naina, her mood changed as she looked at his son. Others might not have noticed, but he saw the slight furrow of her brow, the sigh that escaped her lips, the sorrow that came to her eyes. Perhaps she thought of children that she would now never have, perhaps she thought of life cut short too soon.
As she stopped bouncing him, Veeru also sat quietly, almost as if he understood her mood and Naina smiled sadly as she handed him back over to Aalekh.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow for a new assignment," she had told him without emotion, "It's in the north east. I might be gone for some months, we won't see each other for awhile."
"But you'll come back to us." Aalekh had told her, and he had wanted her to agree, wanted to bind her in a promise that she could not escape from. "When your duty there is finished you'll come and visit us first of all."
For a moment she was silent, perhaps she had not wanted to make a promise that she might not be able to keep, a promise which in all honesty she did not really want to keep.
"Yes Aalekh, I'll come back to you." She had finally told him.
But Aalekh had known that in that lifetime at least, Naina would never truly return to them.
/
The news that Raj had recovered his memory spread fast, so that by the next morning Amiya, Hussein and Riti also knew. Hussein immediately called Naina to tell her while Riti after some initial weak complaints phoned HJ to inform him and then had to listen to about twenty minutes of flirting.
Aalekh had called all of his friends and Neelu the night before to let them know as soon as Raj had left him and Abhimanyu. Some had cried and some had laughed, all had told him to give their regards to their Rajveer Sir and he promised that he would. He knew that they wanted to visit as soon as possible, but that under the current circumstances it would be impossible. All Aalekh could do was wait for the day when they would once again be together and to hope… that by that time Naina would also have remembered.
Despite Dhiraj remembering who he really was, life continued almost as normal. There were small changes, Dhiraj could now be found more often with both Brigadier Chauhan and Colonel Sharma, apparently discussing tactics and developments in the situation at hand.
The others also noticed that he was more reluctant to leave Asha's side, wanting to remain with her whenever possible. Raj knows that he has to try and control his feelings, especially while on duty, but there are times when it is almost impossible, times when the fear of losing her almost chokes him. All he wants is to keep her with him, to ensure that nothing ever happens to her. He feels such a fear of the past repeating itself that he can never reassure himself unless she is there with him.
While he is happy to wait as long as it takes for her to remember, he longs for her to call him Raj, for her to recognise herself as Naina. There are times when she will clutch his hand tightly or look at him in a certain way that he is sure a part of her is remembering, that she recognises the bond between them. All he can do is hope and pray and be there for her in every way that he can.
It has been a week since they have arrived back from the engagement when he knocks on her door in the morning, intending to walk to breakfast together. Amiya opens the door and gives him a grin, waving at him on the way out. Amiya keeps hoping that somehow something will trigger Asha's memory, remind her of who she really is. She keeps hoping because she always notices Dhiraj's face when he looks at Asha, at the longing there. Because as happy as Dhiraj is to finally know who Asha is, to have her by his side, Amiya knows that there must be a part of him, the part that is Rajveer, that still yearns for Naina, yearns for her to recognise him for who he really is.
As Amiya walks towards the mess, Raj steps into the room, smiling as Asha turns around to face him, still fastening a hair band around the bottom of her braid.
"So the gallant Captain Dhiraj has come to my room to walk me to the mess," she comments with a grin, "I'm honoured."
Stepping forward he leans down to kiss her good morning, keeping it short for fear that they won't make it to the mess at all. "It's my pleasure to do so, madam." He tells her formally, his eyes twinkling, "Shall we go?"
She stands on her toes to kiss him again, briefly running her fingers through his hair before she let him go. Raj gives her a look that clearly says at that moment he would prefer not to go anywhere at all and she laughs, blushing slightly as she leads him outside and locks the door.
"So I've got some news that you're not going to like," she tells him, "Apparently Rajesh's channel has received permission to come on base and film interviews with us. They're especially eager to record interviews with the soldiers who have recently returned from Bangladesh."
Raj swears under his breath, he had been hoping that he wouldn't have to see that idiot again in his entire life, but it appeared as if fate had other plans for him.
"How on earth did he get permission for that?" he asks, "I would've thought that Chau… that Brigadier Chauhan would never have given the permission."
Asha sighs at this, "When he called to gloat about it he said it was part of the deal to ensure that he didn't complain about either of us punching him." She pauses slightly. "I still think it was worth it."
"So what time is he coming?" Raj asks, "I'll need to prepare myself properly to ensure I don't decide to punch him again the moment I see his face."
Asha laughs, "After breakfast I guess, he'll interview both Amiya and I as well as Vijay, Akash and the others. He told me that I'd better keep you away from him or this time he really will be making a complaint."
Raj shrugs, "As long as he doesn't do anything to annoy you he's got nothing to fear, he'd better behave himself or else…"
"Or else we'll both be facing disciplinary action." Asha finishes for him and they both grin at each other, making their way towards the mess.
/
Sure enough during breakfast Rajesh turns up with a film crew, and the soldiers that had been deployed to Bangladesh are summoned to a separate room to give their interviews. As Asha and Amiya walk away with Vijay and Akash, Raj shoots one look at Rajesh that clearly saya that he had better not try anything. Rajesh looks away rather quickly.
Raj, Hussein and Riti are just exiting the mess when they run into Aalekh who gives each of them a warm smile and Raj a slight nod in greeting. Unable to salute his former mentor due to the difference in their ranks and years it is now the closest he can come to acknowledging the debt he owes him.
"I was just on my way to observe the interviews," Aalekh tells them, "Since none of you are scheduled to begin duty for another half an hour would you like to join me?"
"I think I'd like that very much," Raj replies, even as Riti's eyes sparkle and Hussein tries to hide a smile.
"Just remember to keep your cool." Aalekh tells him, "I don't think that Abhimanyu Sir and I can get you out of trouble again if you do something this time."
"I promise to be on my very best behaviour." Raj replies as they walk towards the room where the interviews are taking place.
They open the door quietly, walking in as Amiya's interview is taking place, the journalist asking her questions about how she had been injured and what it had felt like to return home victorious. It seems as if Asha and Vijay's interviews have already been concluded as they sit to one side, while Akash and the other soldiers wait for their own turns.
Catching sight of Dhiraj, Asha smiles at him even as he gives her an enquiring look. She shakes her head slightly and Raj nods in relief.
As Amiya's interview concludes and the crew begins setting up for the next one, Rajesh wanders over to them, his gaze wary as he takes in Dhiraj.
"I trust the arrangements are to your liking, Colonel Sharma." He addresses Aalekh, "There was no need to bring such a large group to inspect them."
"Actually, Mr Banerjee, I was thinking that it's about time that you resolved your differences with Captain Kapoor." Aalekh tells him calmly, "The conflict with China will probably last for some time now and it would be in your best interests to not have any enmity with anybody on base."
Rajesh looks like he wants to reply rudely to this but instead merely glares at Raj where he stands calmly by Aalekh's side, surprised by the other man's move.
"Well, shall we go outside to talk then?" Raj asks, as Asha gives him a curious look.
"Fine." Rajesh replies shortly and they stepped outside the room.
"I agree with Colonel Sharma, it would be in everybody's best interests if there was no more bad blood between us." Raj tells him straight, "I know that you've known Asha for a long time, that you've even believed that you'll marry her, but the fact is that she's made her decision."
"Which is what I don't understand," Rajesh's eyes narrow, "How could she have so little taste as to choose somebody like you instead?"
"Well it's certainly not for my money or family background so I'd like to think that she's chosen me for my personality and dashing good looks." Raj replies with a straight face. As Dhiraj he had never been able to control his feelings, the emotions rising in him too fast and urging him towards action without thinking. With his memories returned he has also recovered his self restraint, the calmness that had often been missing in Dhiraj.
"Admit it, you're only after her money." Rajesh sneers, "And as soon as she figures that out, she'll realise what a mistake she's made."
"I couldn't give a damn about her money." Raj tells him calmly, "What we both earn as army officers will be enough to support us, neither of us require a luxurious life."
"Then you won't give up?" Rajesh asks, "You're not going to leave her alone?"
"I'll never give up, come what may I'll never leave her." Raj smiles as he says it, reflecting on the truth of the statement.
It is then that the door opens and Asha comes to stand beside Raj, her gaze taking in both of their stances, Rajesh's quite hostile and Raj's calm, unbothered.
"I hope that you two have sorted things out now," she tells Rajesh, "Because honestly I'm getting sick of all this. I've made my decision Rajesh, and I'm not going to change it. There's no lack of girls waiting to marry you, stop being so damn stubborn and just get over it."
Raj can't help his smile, amazed at her confidence and calmness. If he had lost his patience in the present lifetime then Naina has gained some, has learnt from her past mistakes. Yet he misses it sometimes, the Naina who would fight with everybody and stubbornly insist that she was right. If there is one thing that hasn't changed about his Naina then it is her unwillingness to compromise on her life, her belief that whatever decision she takes is right.
For a moment Rajesh simply looks at the two of them and then he shrugs, "Fine Asha, you win." He tells her, "Give your life to this man if you want, we'll see how happy you really are with him after a couple of years and at that time… I'll no longer be waiting." Going back into the room he closes the door loudly behind him. Gazing down at Asha affectionately, Raj places one hand on her shoulder.
"Well at least that's over," Raj tells her, "I think that he's finally gotten the message."
"You know, don't you, that I'd do anything for you." Asha tells him, placing her hand on top of his. "I'd follow you to the ends of the earth."
Unable to help himself, Raj encloses her in a tight hug, briefly allowing himself to hold her, feel her heart beating against him. He lets her go just as quickly, fearing that somebody might see them.
"Whether you follow me or not, I'll come back for you again and again." He promises, "You'll never be able to get rid of me."
All he wishes, is that she would realise how true that statement really is.
/
Three days later, Raj is leading a small group on patrol when the radio suddenly stirs to life, crackling with sound as he hears the operator calling for him, asking them to return to base immediately.
Checking his watch, Raj quickly replies "Estimated arrival time is 1500 hours, Sir. We'll come as quickly as possible."
The young lieutenants with him exchange worried glances, Hussein one of them.
"Right, let's get moving." Raj tells them, "We're needed back on base urgently so let's all get back as soon as possible."
They drive back to the base in record time, the lieutenants chattering amongst themselves about what the problem may be and why their patrol has been cancelled.
When they enter the front gate the sentry nods them tersely through, his weapon gripped tightly.
Samir comes forward as the jeep pulls up, Raj and the lieutenants climbing out.
"We're on high alert," he tells Raj, "From our sources within the enemy encampments, an attack is imminent, there's a group on the move already and while some of our soldiers have been sent to try to cut them off we've been informed that they're likely to split up and attack the camp from different directions, we may even face a suicide attack."
"What are our instructions?" Dhiraj asks Samir, "Where do we need to report to?"
"You'll all be covering the Western side," Samir tells him, "Major Ramachandran will give you further instructions when you reach there, I'm headed towards the gate to give extra cover."
They clasp hands briefly, wishing each other luck, before Dhiraj and the four lieutenants headed for the western side, reporting to Major Ramachandran and receiving their instructions.
As he climbs to the top of the barricade he notes with relief that Asha is also there, her grip on her gun tight, her eyes wary as she surveys the ground leading to the camp. Her gaze flickers towards Dhiraj and their eyes lock for a moment before they return to their individual tasks.
The time passes slowly as day turns into dusk and evening begins to descend. They concentrate, focusing on every movement within the nearby trees. It is 8pm when Aalekh comes to visit them, stopping to exchange words with some of the troops, encouraging them. He stops by Raj, who briefly turns from surveying the forest to face him.
"Is there any news?" he asks Aalekh.
"Our sources tell us that they've sent a team of fifty to attack the outpost from this side." Aalekh tells him, "While we're busy fighting them off a larger contingent will attack the front gate. The villagers support us, they know how the Chinese will treat them if they take over… it was easy to recruit spies to place in their midst. We've sent a force to try to cut them off, force them back, but they're damn tricky… we've heard they're coming from all directions. We've concentrate the main force on defending the gate since it's our most vulnerable spot… we'll be relying on you all to make sure they can't infiltrate from this direction. Reinforcements are on their way since we don't know exactly how many of them there'll be, we'll need to hold them off till then. We cannot allow them to capture this outpost."
"Don't worry," Raj replies, "We have the Western side covered, we'll have managed to defeat them before the reinforcements even arrive."
"I have faith in that as well." Aalekh replies with a tight smile, before moving on, walking towards a different part of the barricade.
It is then that Raj hears a shout as one of the soldiers spots movement within the trees.
"Everybody on alert!" he commands those assembled, "Be ready to fire when needed."
The enemy soldiers have not even stepped out of the trees before they launch their first grenade and recognising it from a distance, Raj screams for everybody to get down, reaching out for Asha to force her flat to the ground. The gunfire starts almost immediately afterwards and still on the barricade, Aalekh grabs a spare gun, taking a position among the rest of the soldiers.
In the distance, Raj can hear more shouts and gunfire and he hopes that Samir and the others are doing alright by the front gate. There is no time to think as they fire shot after shot and when another grenade is lobbed there is barely time to get down.
Hitting the side of the barricade near where Aalekh stands, Raj watches in horror as the force of the explosion throws him down to the ground inside, his body landing with a thud, blood beginning to pour from a wound on his head. Raj is already preparing to jump down, shouting orders to a fellow officer to cover his spot.
But even as he turns to do so he sees he's not the first one to act.
Because screaming Aalekh's name, Naina has already jumped down to the ground below.