Chapter Fifteen
Now
Naina and Aalekh have only just entered the mail room when the commotion starts. Naina had been glad for his lock picking skills as he had borrowed a couple of her hair pins, she had been relying on video tutorials to help her, without any certainty that she would actually be able to do it.
She has just started searching for the box when they hear the noise in the corridor, voices clearly audible including Brigadier Chandook's. Naina freezes, terrified that they've somehow figured out what she came here to do. If she loses the box then she will lose one of her only hopes of proving his innocence.
Aalekh walks slowly over to the door, opening it a crack to peer outside and Naina waits as he observes what is happening. Easing the door shut again he comes to stand beside her, whispering.
"Some big shot has arrived, Brigadier Chandook is escorting him to the hall. Looks like there'll be guards posted all over the academy while he's here."
"There's no way we can get the box out now without being spotted." For a few hours today Naina had allowed herself to hope it might be possible and now she feels the crushing weight of disappointment return.
"No, but let's at least find it. It'll make it easier when we try next time."
Naina can't help but smile at Aalekh's words, not only for his optimism but because he's shown that he truly is willing to join her in this fight. She quickly tells him the address they're looking for written on the top and they spread out to find it, each of them armed with a small torch to light their way.
The mail room is a mess, years worth of abandoned parcels in there, and Naina knows exactly why Raj chose it to hide the red box, he couldn't have found a better place. They search methodically, shelf by shelf, so that even if they run out of time they know which options are already eliminated.
It takes almost ten minutes before Naina finds it, double checking the address before she allows herself to believe it. She brushes her hand over the writing, knowing that it is his, even as her right hand moves to where his ring should sit around her neck. She has removed it for tonight, unable to hide it with her dress and Naina puts her hand down again.
"It's here," she tells Aalekh quietly and he crosses to her quickly, sizing up the box before he shakes his head sadly.
"It's too big, even without the extra security here I think we're going to have to open it and remove what's in it rather than taking the box itself."
"It should be mainly papers, if we bring a bag we can put them in it."
"And tools to open the box."
They nod at each other and Naina reluctantly steps back from it. "At least we know now. We'll choose a new day to try again and we'll be prepared next time."
Aalekh gives her a firm nod. "We will be."
Despite their mission failing, Naina feels better with the physical confirmation that what she seeks is in the academy. She has two allies now rather than one and with Aalekh aware of the truth and on their side, it makes her and Sherry's mission that much easier.
Turning their torches off, they make their way over to the door, checking that the corridor is empty before they make their way outside, Aalekh quickly locking the door behind them.
"Now?" He asks.
"We're going to get caught." Naina tells him seriously. "There's no way we can make it back without someone seeing us. We'll need to pretend we were out for another reason."
Aalekh curses. "Your brother is going to fail me."
Naina gives him a grim smile. "You leave my brother to me and follow my lead."
/
Sherry is still crossing over to where her father stands when he spots her, a paternal smile coming to his face. "There's my daughter, and looking far more like a lady already than when I left her here."
Sherry represses the urge to roll her eyes, knowing exactly what type of a show her father is trying to put on. The others here tonight, they'll be impressed. They'll gain respect for him as the perfect gentleman, a wonderful father who cares enough for his daughter to come and check on her.
"Father." She greets him shortly, coming to stand in front of him. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Oh I wanted it to be a surprise." Gehlot waves his hand airily. "The Brigadier invited me and I was interested to see what the academy had made of you in the time you'd been here."
"Maybe you should have turned up to some of my drills instead then." Sherry tells him, her expression deadpan.
Gehlot's own expression hardens. "We can discuss your progress in private shortly. Are you going to introduce me to your date?"
"No." The last thing that Sherry needs is to reduce Yudi to a quivering mess in front of her father.
Gehlot looks like he would like to retort but Sherry knows he won't spoil his perfect image in front of the others. She'll likely pay for it later in private but she can't bring herself to care right now.
"I'll just greet the officers I recognise and then we'll go and speak." He tells her and the words sound like nothing less than a warning.
Naveen and Abhimanyu have arrived by then, Dr Ritu trailing behind Naveen and Sherry forces herself to remain still as she observes the greetings.
"It's good to see you again." Naveen greets Gehlot coolly and Sherry knows that he at least has not forgiven her father's hasty betrayal of Raj.
"And will you introduce me to your date, Captain Naveen?" Gehlot requests smoothly and Sherry resists the urge to roll her eyes as Ritu steps forward.
"Dr Ritu Mishra." She introduces herself, offering her hand, and for a moment, Sherry spots a look of approval on her father's face that seems strange for a new acquaintance. She doesn't have too long to think about it because he's already moved onto Abhimanyu.
"I saw your father recently, His Highness is still one of the strongest men I know, even at this age."
Abhimanyu gives a tight lipped smile. "I'm glad to hear he was in good health when you saw him."
"And I hope my daughter hasn't been giving either of you any trouble?" He asks them.
"She's a model student." Abhimanyu replies smoothly before anyone else can open their mouth. "She's doing very well."
"And on that note perhaps it's time for her and me to catch up." Gehlot turns towards her. "Shall we, Sherry?"
She knows it's not a request.
/
Sherry and Gehlot have just exited when Naveen looks around the hall with a frown on his face. "Have you seen my sister lately, Chauhan?"
"I saw her just before the last song." Abhimanyu replies, looking around for Naina himself. He can spot all of the other cadets from her batch, only she and Aalekh are conspicuously missing. "Maybe she, uh, stepped out for a moment."
"Is her date still here?"
"Uhhhh." Abhimanyu really doesn't want to answer that question even when he knows the answer. "I'm not sure."
"I think I should go and find her."
Naveen starts towards the entrance, still two steps away when the door opens again, Naina and Aalekh stepping through it.
Aalekh takes one look at Naveen's face and heads towards Yudi, leaving Naina behind.
"What's going on, Bhaiyya?" Naina asks innocently, as if she hasn't noticed the way Naveen is now looking at her. "We just saw Sherry head outside with someone, was that her father?"
"Never mind Sherry, what were you doing outside in the first place?"
Naina raises her eyebrows. "Why are you asking, Bhaiyya? Is it against the rules to leave the hall during the ball?"
Naveen is about to open his mouth to retort when Abhimanyu clears his throat. "Maybe you two could discuss that later and we could all get back to the ball now?"
"We will be discussing it." Naveen promises and Naina shrugs before turning towards her friends.
Abhimanyu stands there frowning as they both walk away because as far as he knows, Naina and Aalekh are only friends and everything he has seen supports that. This night has been far more eventful than he'd wanted it to be.
/
"Why are you really here?" Sherry asks her father as soon as the door to the VIP quarters has closed behind them, his guards outside.
He grabs her arm, his fingers digging into the flesh and as Sherry tries to pull away he yanks her closer. "Don't think for a moment that I am willing to put up with disrespect. How dare you behave that way towards me in front of everyone?"
Sherry grits her teeth against the pain, she won't give him the satisfaction of knowing that he's hurt her. "Just tell me what you want so that we can get this over with."
He lets go abruptly and she struggles to maintain her balance as he crosses to a chair, resisting the urge to raise her other hand to her arm.
"I came to see how you're behaving. You'll be here only so long as it reflects well on me."
"Well you've got nothing to worry about there, I'm a good cadet and I'm doing well in my training." Sherry tells him tersely. "You'll be receiving compliments on your daughter's patriotism before you know it."
"That had better be the case. I also want to ensure that if anyone asks you about Rajveer then you give the correct answer."
"And what would the correct answer be?"
"Don't test my patience, Sherry." Gehlot's eyes flash dangerously. "You're to declare him to be a traitor if anyone asks."
"And if I don't want to?"
"I can have you removed from this academy."
Sherry laughs bitterly. "How? As I said, I'm a model cadet. As for you threatening not to pay my fees, I have enough money from mother to be able to pay my own way."
"Mark my words, you'll need to show your allegiance sooner rather than later. If you don't, then I won't need to do anything to get you out of here." He smirks then. "Brigadier Chandook will do that job for me."
"Then let the test come." Sherry tells him challengingly. "I will become a soldier and one day I will prove my brother innocent and you won't be able to stop me."
"You're a fool." Gehlot tells her scathingly. "And if you embarrass me then don't think I'll hesitate to disown you. Your inheritance from your mother will only last you so far and I doubt you're willing to be reduced to poverty for those beliefs."
Sherry just her chin out at him. "Do whatever you want to and we'll see whose beliefs prove to be stronger in the end."
He reaches out, grabbing her arm in the same spot and this time Sherry does hiss in pain as his other hand grabs her chin to force her to look at him. "Don't test me, Sherry. You have absolutely no idea what I'm capable of."
Looking into his eyes, at the venom there, Sherry realises for the first time that she really doesn't. She's experienced her father's anger before but never like this. She wishes then that she'd kept her temper and played a part instead, pretending that she had given up on her quest.
Her father releases her once more, almost shoving her aside, and makes his way to the door. "We'll return to the ball now. I'll be leaving shortly and you'd better not give me any reason to doubt that you will follow my instructions while here."
Sherry swallows back bile, before she takes a deep breath in and hopes that she looks suitably afraid. "Of course, Father."
With a satisfied nod, Gehlot makes his way out and Sherry glares daggers at his back. He can threaten whatever he wishes to, if he thinks she'll be scared away by a few bruises then he's going to be disappointed.
/
Soon after they re-enter the Ball, Gehlot takes his leave.
Naina had been smart enough to maintain her distance while he was there, Sherry is glad that he won't know who her friends are.
The moment he leaves she slumps, exhausted, as Naina makes her way over, a concerned expression on her face.
"Are you alright? What did he want?"
"To warn me. I'll tell you more tomorrow." Sherry glances around to check nobody else is nearby. "Did you make any progress?"
"Some, but there wasn't time to finish. I'll tell you everything in the morning."
Sherry nods, wincing as she reaches with one hand to touch her arm gingerly. "I hope you didn't really have to kiss Aalekh."
Naina laughs despite herself. "No, luckily. Just leaned on his arm a little as we were coming back and giggled."
"Why is your brother glaring at him then?"
Naina sighs. "I suppose I'll have to speak to Naveen, I don't really want him thinking something is going on between me and Aalekh."
"Good luck." Sherry murmurs, and they clutch each other's hands briefly before going their separate ways.
Naina makes her way over to where Naveen stands with Abhimanyu, speaking in an undertone. She supposes it's a miracle that he's been willing to leave Dr Mishra alone for this long with the amount of attention they've been giving each other tonight.
"Bhaiyya, I believe you wanted to speak to me." Naina says pointedly, before smiling at Abhimanyu. "You're looking nice this evening, Abhimanyu Sir."
"Thank you, Naina." He tells her cheerfully. "And I must say that you're looking beautiful, I can fully understand Naveen wanting to murder your date."
Naveen splutters. "And now after everything, are you flirting with my sister in front of me?"
Abhimanyu rolls his eyes. "Please Naveen, if I was going to flirt with her then I wouldn't do it in front of you."
He gives Naina a wink and heads further into the hall, leaving them looking at each other.
"Should we go outside?" Naina asks, ensuring that she's as casual as possible. If Naveen sees that she's not nervous he'll be more likely to believe her.
"I should just tell Ritu..."
Naina grabs his hand and begins dragging him towards the door. "I think she'll be more than fine with the wine to keep her company until you get back."
"Are you making a comment about my date's drinking habits?" Naveen asks as they step outside, but he sounds amused rather than angry.
"Well you seem to be making some rather serious assumptions about mine." Naina retorts, her hands on her hips.
"What am I supposed to think when you disappear outside with him in the middle of a ball?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe that I found all of those people together in the same place overwhelming and that like a good friend, Aalekh took me outside so I could get myself back together." Naina tells him. "Seriously, Bhaiyya, he's one of my best friends here but that doesn't mean something is going on between us. Life isn't like Maine Pyar Kiya, boys and girls really can be friends without it involving romance."
Naveen is silent for a moment and then he sighs. "When did my little sister become so wise? These days you're teaching me how to be a better person too."
Naveen looks down at Naina with so much affection that she can't help herself from throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. He hugs her back just as warmly, lifting a hand to ruffle her hair before he stops himself. "I wouldn't want to ruin your hair style tonight."
Naina laughs even as she wipes away a stray tear. "I love you Bhaiyya and I want you to know that you can trust me."
"I do trust you, Naina, I promise. Would you tell me if you do fall in love though?"
A strange look crosses Naina's face before she blinks it away. "Maybe there's some secrets that it's better sisters keep from their brothers."
Naveen's brow crinkles as if he's trying to guess at her meaning, but Naina has already turned back to the hall. Just as they reach the doors she turns back around to face him. "Just like you worry about me, Bhaiyya, I also worry about you. I hope that whatever there is between you and Dr Mishra you'll think very carefully and not commit to anything unless you know her much better than you do now."
"And what makes you think that I don't know her now?"
Naveen's reply is light, but Naina's next statement is not. "Because if you did then you wouldn't be here with her."
/
Abhimanyu has the cadets for their morning drill and he tries to go easy on them as a result.
Huda looks distinctly the worse for wear as do a few of the others, but the majority of them seem to have handled their drinks well. He notices that Ali and Pooja are now speaking again, joking with each other, and thinks he remembers them dancing at the end of the night well after most of the other couples had left the dance floor.
Abhimanyu watches as Sherry, Naina and Aalekh jog together, allowing themselves to lag behind their fellow cadets as they speak and wonders what they are discussing. Watching them, he realises that they rather painfully remind him of how he, Naveen and Raj used to be. Abhimanyu doesn't doubt that the bonds of friendship they are forming will be just as strong.
Their conversation over, they catch up to the others with a burst of speed, finishing together. Abhimanyu gives the class final instructions for what they need to do before he dismisses them, watching as Huda purposefully bumps into Sherry's arm as he leaves. He is about to dismiss it as the cadet once again attempting to flirt when he notices a look of pain crossing her face, her other hand coming up to brace it.
"Cadet Sherry!" She turns towards him almost reluctantly and Abhimanyu can't help but wonder why. He looks her over critically, her face pale today and dark circles under her eyes and knows that she hasn't slept well the night before. His eyes finally settle on the arm Huda had brushed past. "Take off your jacket."
Sherry raises her eyebrows. "Isn't that a bit fast? You wouldn't even compliment me properly last night."
Abhimanyu can feel his cheeks growing warm and knows she's trying to put him off track so that he'll let the matter be. "Take off your jacket, Cadet, or I'll do it for you."
"That's not really any better than your last statement." Sherry retorts and Abhimanyu sighs.
"Would you please just do it, Sherry? I can order you to go and see Dr Shalini instead."
She tilts her head as if thinking. "That's probably what you should have started with, much less inappropriate."
"Are you going to do it or not?" Abhimanyu takes a step towards her and Sherry holds up her hands in surrender before she unbuttons the jacket slowly, wincing as she removes it.
The bruise is visible from a distance and Abhimanyu crosses the few steps to her quickly, taking her arm gently in both of his hands to examine it. "How did you get this?"
"I walked into something." Sherry responds shortly. "I'd had too much to drink and I banged into something in my room in the dark."
Abhimanyu feels anger rise within him as he looks down at the marks on her arm, clearly the shape of someone's hand. "Don't treat me like an idiot, Sherry. Who did this to you?"
"Nobody, I told you, I walked into something." She responds stubbornly. "You can leave it be now."
"I won't!" Abhimanyu responds hotly, finally dropping her arm and resisting the urge to pace. "Whoever it was is not going to get away with it. Was it one of the male cadets? Did Huda try something with you?" The thought horrifies him and he reaches for her without realising it, one hand coming to rest on her shoulder, trying to show his support in any way he can.
"Huda is annoying, but he wouldn't harm a girl like this." Sherry states, her voice quieter now. "Just drop it, Sir… please."
The sincerity of her plea stirs something in him and Abhimanyu turns away for a moment, his hand pressed to his mouth as he struggles to maintain his calm.
"Sherry, someone has harmed you. Now I promise that if you tell me who it was and what happened we can keep this discrete. Nobody else needs to know about it, but it has to be addressed."
She stands there for a moment, perfectly still, just looking at him and Abhimanyu wishes that he knew what she was thinking. Finally Sherry shakes her head, pulling her jacket back on and beginning to button it up again. "Knowing the answer won't do you any good, you can't do anything about it."
He pauses, his voice softer now. "I won't force you to tell me, but I hope that you might trust me enough to anyway."
Sherry sighs, looking down for a moment at the ground before she meets his eyes again, and Abhimanyu is stunned by the glimpse of vulnerability he receives before her face shutters again. It's enough to make him take another step forward, reaching out for one hand and grasping it.
"My father." Sherry finally states simply. "My father did this when I defied him. He came here to warn me and he wasn't happy with the response he received."
"Your father?" Abhimanyu looks at her in horror, because as much as he had lost respect for Lala Gehlot when the man denounced Raj, he hadn't realised that he was capable of hurting his own daughter.
"Yes. Are you going to go and challenge him?" Sherry asks sarcastically. "No, right? So let's just leave it there."
Abhimanyu however, is not prepared to leave it there. "Has he done this to you before?" Her silence says everything that she won't and he enfolds his hand around hers more tightly. "How many times?"
"Not often and only recently." Sherry is tight lipped and he knows she doesn't want to give any more information. "Only after Bhaiyya was arrested."
"He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it." Abhimanyu mutters. "If he comes here again then I could speak with him, I could..."
"No, you won't." Sherry responds sharply. "Do you have any idea how much power he has? If he thinks you're interfering with what he wants then he can have you transferred in a second. The next time he comes here the only thing you're going to do is stay far away from both of us so that he can't guess you mean something to me."
"And what? Allow him to continue to abuse you if he wants to?" Abhimanyu is angrier than Sherry has ever seen him and while the idea of him trying to interfere might scare her, it also warms something within her. "He won't hurt you again if I can help it, I'll try to make sure he can't see you alone and I..." He turns back to Sherry sharply as if sudden realisation. "You said..."
She feels her cheeks growing warm and throws up her hands in frustration. "I'm leaving now and you need to let this go!"
Abhimanyu stares after her as she stalks away, thoughts revolving in his mind. He can't just let it go no matter what Sherry asks of him and she had said...
Shaking his head against his own thoughts, he slowly makes his own way back to the academy.
/
Naveen and Abhimanyu sit in the former's room, documents spread out in front of them as they go through the personnel files they've been able to collect on the students there. Abhimanyu is still angry but he's tried to put it aside while they work through their options for the spy.
Naveen checks his watch. "We'll have to stop soon, I'm picking up Ritu in an hour and I still need to change."
Abhimanyu raises his eyebrows. "That's rather fast."
Naveen shrugs, grinning. "She wanted to take me out to thank me for saving her life."
Abhimanyu pauses, trying to think of his next words carefully when usually he would just rush ahead. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"You too? Are you jealous of my good luck or is there another reason you think I shouldn't go out with her."
Abhimanyu holds up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Trust me, I have no designs on your date. It's a distraction though, when we both need to remain focused."
Naveen raises his eyebrows. "Chauhan, I know my duty and nothing is going to distract me from it. If it turns out I really like her I shouldn't have to stop myself due to my role here."
Abhimanyu decides to try a different tact. "Who else thinks you shouldn't go out with her?"
Naveen sighs. "Naina. She's never objected to any of my previous flirtations, she used to think they were amusing. I don't know why it is she's so set against Ritu. Could it be insecurity after what happened to her?"
"Naveen, the point I've been trying to make to you is that apart from knowing that Dr Mishra is beautiful and that she likes you, you don't really know anything about her. If Naina objects then there's likely to be a good reason for it."
"Well what have you seen that makes you cautious?" Naveen asks and Abhimanyu is struck by a warm affection for his friend. Even when Naveen doesn't agree he's always willing to listen to another opinion.
"I saw her class. She tore the cadets apart and exposed their weaknesses in front of everyone. There was no compassion or empathy, she saw nothing wrong in how she made them feel."
Naveen bites his lip in thought. "But isn't it possible that she believes that's the best way to make them strong? That might be how she's been instructed to train them."
Abhimanyu scoffs. "Right, I'll remind you of that the next time you object to something Nair does. She might not have physically harmed any of them but to me her methods were just as cruel."
Naveen pauses, still thinking about it, and Abhimanyu sees that he's reluctant to accept this judgement on her. "I've never gotten that impression from her before."
"Which is why I'm asking you to be careful, my friend. Go out on this date with her but if you think you might be serious then make sure that you're getting to know her properly rather than just flirting."
Naveen grins. "Good advice, Chauhan. I will ensure I follow it although there will need to be at least some flirting involved."
Abhimanyu shakes his head, laughing. It is reassuring that Naveen hasn't changed too much over the years but he hopes his friend will take the advice seriously.
He has learned just how badly it is possible to misjudge someone, to not see the reality beneath their facades.
Abhimanyu is frowning when Naveen reaches out to lightly touch his arm, breaking him from his thoughts. "What is it? You've been agitated since you arrived, did something happen?"
Abhimanyu pauses, considering. "I'm not certain if I should tell you or not, but I would like to have your opinion on it."
"What is it?"
"Lala Gehlot has been mistreating his daughter. He left her bruised on the night of the Fresher's Ball when they spoke in private and she implied it's not the first time it's happened."
Naveen presses a hand to his mouth, breathing in through his nose. "You're certain?"
"I saw the bruise myself though she was reluctant to tell me who had caused it."
"And she wants your help?"
Abhimanyu's mouth sets in a grim line. "She specifically told me that I'm not to interfere."
Naveen sighs. "What can you do then, Chauhan? It's not as uncommon as we would like to think and you can't challenge a man like that about how he treats his daughter."
"That's exactly what Sherry said." Abhimanyu stands, pacing away from the table and then back again. "But am I just supposed to stand back the next time he visits and hope it doesn't happen again?"
He's still pacing when he looks up to see Naveen looking at him thoughtfully. "What?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, Chauhan, but it might be better if you maintained a bit more distance from Cadet Sherry."
Abhimanyu stares at Naveen. "What? Why would you say that?"
Naveen raises his eyebrows. "I've noticed how much time you've been spending with her."
Abhimanyu scoffs. "It's nothing like that. She's Raj's sister, if I'm trying to look out for her then it's for his sake."
"Just remember that not everyone might see things in the same light." Naveen warns him. "And now, I believe it's time for me to start getting ready for my date."
Abhimanyu leaves him then, making his way to his own room. Naveen is being ridiculous, he doesn't see how anyone could take things the wrong way when he doesn't give Sherry any more preference than any other student.
For a moment Abhimanyu remembers what she had said about him before he resolutely shuts it away. She didn't mean anything by it and he's not going to allow Naveen's concerns to weigh him down. He will support her, he'll do what Raj would wish him to.
/
Naina tries not to pace as they wait in the entrance hall.
He is supposed to call, it's what they had planned in case she was able to move the red box. Even knowing that their plans are likely to be changed, Naina knows he'll still try to. So she stands in a corner with Sherry and Aalekh, trying to look casual as they chat among themselves and all the while counting down.
He'll call just before the bell for dinner rings, when most of the cadets are headed towards the mess, too hungry and tired to wonder who Naina might be speaking to. Sherry and Aalekh have agreed to be nearby this time to run interference just in case it's necessary.
"Do you want me to tell him anything?" Naina murmurs quietly.
Sherry shakes her head. "You've told him what you could, I can't think of anything else you could say that wouldn't cause problems if it was overheard. He knows I believe in him and that's enough for me."
"Tell him nothing happened between us at the fresher's ball." Aalekh responds, deadpan, and they all laugh.
The ring of the phone disturbs them and Naina tenses, forcing herself to relax rather than reacting until the orderly calls out her name.
"Cadet Naina!"
Naina looks over, nodding, and then walks to pick up the receiver with a thank you to the orderly. "Yes?"
"Naina, I hope everything is alright?" Raj's voice on the other end of the line is warm but concerned, he must have worried about her in case she went ahead with the attempt.
"Yes I did have a good time at the fresher's ball. I danced for most of the night, I tried to dance the closing dance too but I couldn't complete it."
Raj sighs, relieved to hear that everything is fine and Naina wonders if he's disappointed to hear that she couldn't retrieve the box. "And nobody suspected anything?"
"Naveen was a bit annoying, he thought there was something going on between my date and I when we went out for some fresh air but I soon set him straight."
Raj laughs, the sound soft and tender. "I always knew that for all of his own flirtatiousness, Naveen would be a strict elder brother. Do I need to worry about a rival for your affections?"
"I told him not to be ridiculous, Aalekh is my friend." Naina pauses to give emphasis to her next statement. "A true friend."
"I'm glad that you have someone like that." Raj's voice is deep, sincere. "Your friends will be the ones that pull you through the difficult times. Does there seem like a good time to try again?"
"I'm excited for Diwali, we're allowed to head home for a few days but I was thinking I might stay with Bhaiyya in the academy instead to celebrate."
"Be careful if you're going to make another attempt. My freedom is worth nothing to me if you're harmed to gain it."
Naina swallows back a sob, she should have known he would say that. "I'll decide what to do closer to the time."
Out of the corner of her eye, Naina sees Sherry make a sudden urgent gesture.
"What to do about what?"
Naina turns to see Naveen looking at her curiously. He is dressed in casual clothes and Dr Mishra's hand rests upon his arm. Looking at them together, Naina struggles to suppress her horror.
"Sorry, that was my brother." She instead says calmly into the phone. "I'd better go, I'll speak to you later."
"I'll call you next Wednesday, Naina, at the same time. Stay safe."
"You too." Naina tells him and puts down the phone before turning to face Naveen calmly. "Are you in the habit of listening to other people's phone calls, Bhaiyya?"
Naveen doesn't even look the slightest bit ashamed as he raises his eyebrows. "Not generally, but I make an exception for my sister. Who were you talking to?"
"None of your business." Naina responds, crossing her arms. "My friends should be able to call to check on me without me needing to give an account to you."
Naveen is about to retort when Sherry's voice calls cuts across their discussion. "Are you done, Naina? Otherwise Aalekh and I are leaving you here to go into dinner."
"I'm done!" Naina calls back, still facing Naveen. "And where are you off to?"
"Well, I'm the interests of fairness I'll tell you... that that's none of your business too."
With a cheeky grin, Naveen proceeds on his way, Dr Mishra's hand still on his arm.
Naina sighs, watching them go. As much as she needs to avoid Naveen finding out the truth for the time being, she also needs to find a way to make him see see Dr Mishra's true colours.
A/N: Sorry for the delay this time! And a big thank you to the three guest reviewers who I can't reply to personally. It really makes my day to hear you're enjoying it!