Chapter Seventeen
Now
Naina watches from across the mess as Naveen sits at a table with Dr Mishra. Laughing at something he said, she lays a hand on his arm and Naveen grins in response.
"If this becomes any more serious I'm going to have to tell him the truth."
Sherry glances over at them, frowning. "What we need is a way to expose her without telling him how we know. But how do we do that? Suriji wasn't here on alumni night and Dr Shalini hadn't arrived yet. Neither Brigadier Chandook or Major Nair seem to remember her from anywhere."
"Pictures." Aalekh breaks in. "They always take pictures, took enough of us at the Fresher's Ball."
"But who would have them?" Naina muses, "There's no photo albums available in the library."
Naina knows, she's searched. She hadn't been looking specifically for Dr Mishra then but for Raj, for another glimpse of his face. She had found his yearbook eventually and it had almost broken her heart to see him so happy and carefree within it, never able to guess what fate had in store for him.
Aalekh shrugs. "Suriji would know."
"I could ask him." Naina muses. "Say that I'm looking for old photos of my brother to prepare a surprise for him for his birthday, it would make the most sense out of all of us for a reason to ask."
"When is Naveen's birthday?"
"Another four months away so I'm going to have to pretend it's a very long term project."
Sherry laughs, stopping abruptly as Abhimanyu walks in and studiously turning her attention away from where he is in the room.
Naina notices even as she sees the Captain look at Naveen and Ritu's table and choose to take a seat with Dr Shalini instead. "What's going on with you two now?"
Sherry splutters. "Why would anything be going on? Nothing at all is going on."
Naina trades a look with Aalekh. "First you hate him, then he's practically your best friend here, and now you're pretending that he doesn't exist."
Sherry sighs, looking over to the table that Abhimanyu now sits at. He looks over at precisely that moment, catching her gaze, and she looks hastily away. "He wants to do something about my father."
"I want to do something about him too." Aalekh comments darkly. "If I'd known that night..."
"Note to self, keep both Aalekh and Abhimanyu Sir away from my father." Seeing Naina's clenched fists she tilts her head. "And apparently Naina as well."
"If Raj were here he would never have been able to get away with it." Naina keeps her voice low, careful not to let anyone overhear. "If we can bring him back..."
"Which is exactly why we need to concentrate on that, rather than what my father does or doesn't do." Sherry stresses upon it. "And we all know what we need to accomplish for that."
They're just about to resume discussing what can be done about the photos when Huda strolls over, a smirk on his face. "What are you doing over here being a kebab mein haddi, Sherry. Now that these two have decided to make their love public you might as well come and get to know me better instead."
Aalekh stands up from the table. "The only thing that's going to be made public here is my fist hitting your face."
Huda shrugs. "Well there's no accounting for taste, is there Naina? But at least Sherry's path to me is clear now."
He winks at her and whistling a tune, saunters out the door.
"Apparently my brother wasn't the only one we needed to handle." Naina mutters. "Is there a bigger idiot in this academy than Huda?"
"Your boyfriend had better not take things the wrong way."
Naina shakes her head. "He knows he has nothing to worry about. I'll talk to Huda, I don't think I could stand..."
"Boyfriend? What boyfriend?"
They have been so focused on their discussion that they hadn't noticed Naveen approach and Naina thanks her lucky stars that no names were used when he could hear them.
"Did you mean to listen in to our conversation, Bhaiya?" She asks him pointedly.
"That part was an accident but I couldn't avoid hearing the part where you apparently have a boyfriend."
Sherry very studiously eats her food. Aalekh shifts in his seat as if he's deciding whether to run away or give an explanation.
Naina pauses, takes a deep breath in, and then stands up from her seat, clapping her hands.
"Attention everyone. As we all know, Huda is a bit of an ass and still not over the fact I chose to go to the Fresher's Ball with someone else. So ignore him, because that's what I plan to do."
Her piece said, she walks outside, knowing that her brother will follow her.
"You still haven't answered my question, Naina."
Naveen stands with his arms crossed when Naina turns to face him. "Why are you so concerned, Bhaiyya?"
"Because you haven't mentioned seeing anyone and you usually tell me everything. Is that who you were on the phone to?"
"And have you told me about every single one of your relationships? Have you told me anything about what is going on between you and Dr Mishra?"
"This is not about me and Dr Mishra." Naveen's tone is annoyed, his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't understand why you're so set against her, I haven't seen anything that justifies your dislike of her."
"Because she hasn't let you see it." Naina hisses, her voice kept purposefully low. "Bhaiyya I've never asked you to trust me blindly or interfered in your personal life but I need you to trust me now. Please be careful when it comes to Dr Mishra."
"Abhimanyu said the same thing." Naveen muses, "But it would be easier if either of you could give me a definite reason why I need to be."
"You'll see it eventually." Naina states, reaching out to take his hand. "Just promise me you won't give your heart away to her easily. Give it some time before you commit to anything."
"If it means that much to you, Naina, then I promise you I will do that." Naveen tells her sincerely. "But we both know that wasn't what we came out here to discuss."
He stands expectantly and Naina goes still, dropping his hand. She looks down for a moment, her hand clenching as she resists the urge to bring it up to the ring that hangs under her clothes. She takes a breath in and prepares to lie to her brother.
"There's nothing that I can tell you, Bhaiyya. Maybe there is someone that I like but I'm here now at the academy and until I accomplish my goal I won't let feelings distract me. The day that I feel I'm ready to commit to a relationship with someone you'll be the first one to know."
It's not entirely a lie. While Naina may have conveniently skipped over the part where she's already committed both heart and soul, there is precious little that can happen in their relationship until her mission is complete.
"Why do I always feel like you're hiding something from me, Naina? I'm not accusing you of anything it's just... I've always known when you're holding something back and I sense that now."
Naveen's expression is open and honest and it hurts in that moment to know that she can't tell him the truth for his own good.
Naina has come too far to endanger her mission now though. "I promise Bhaiyya, that one day I'll be ready to tell you everything. I just need time, can you give me that?"
Naveen nods. "I can, but Naina, if I hear anymore rumours don't expect me not to come asking questions about them."
She watches him leave and hopes that the day when she can tell him the entire truth will come soon.
/
Life settles down again post the Fresher's Ball and Naina is glad to see that Naveen seems to be taking her advice seriously regarding Dr Mishra. There are no more dates and while he does still tend to sit with her in the mess at mealtimes, he can also be found just as often with Abhimanyu.
Everything is going according to plan until Brigadier Chandook announces that the academy's annual appraisal has been moved up.
It is the middle of the night when the alarm blares, jerking Naina awake from her bed as Pooja tumbles out of hers in fright.
"What's going on?" Pooja asks, "Is this an emergency signal?"
"I think we need to assemble at the parade ground." Naina tells her, already pulling on her own shoes and lacing them up. "I'll wait for you."
They meet Sherry in the hall, rubbing her eyes but also otherwise ready and she and Naina trade a significant look. Quickly the three girls make their way down the stairs together and outside, finding their place in the formation. Naina looks around and spots her brother and Abhimanyu standing to the side, a strangely tense look on both their faces as they watch Major Nair converse with an officer she doesn't recognise.
When all of the cadets are in place he turns to face them, tugging his beret down on one side.
"Is this what you call a batch of cadets? Pathetic, if it had taken that much time to assemble in my academy we would have all been put on half rations. Now you might be wondering who I am and why you've been called out at this time of night." He strolls in front of them, looking them over with a strict eye and it seems to Naina as if his gaze lingers on Sherry for a moment longer than the others. "I am Major Bhargav and I have come to conduct the academy's appraisal. In short, I will decide if your academy stays open or not. We do not tolerate traitors in the army, and academies that produce them must be under extra scrutiny."
While the others might not yet have caught on, Naina knows exactly who this man is. Raj had discussed him on one of their last days together, and Naina is fully aware that Major Bhargav did everything in his power to see Raj convicted to further his own career without bothering to conduct a proper investigation. She understands now why both her brother and Captain Abhimanyu look so uneasy.
Naina schools her face into an impassive mask, she can't allow herself to betray any trace of dislike when she shouldn't even know who this man is.
"Now cadets, you are going to pick up these bicycles and you will continue running with them around that hill until dawn breaks without stopping. If your academy is going to have any future at all then at least one of you will need to make it. If you all fail... then the decision will be easy for me."
"The secret is to pace ourselves." Naina tells the other two as they wait to collect theirs. "As girls they'll expect us to go slower than the others but that will be our strength. He said without stopping, not that we have to keep up a certain pace. We'll go slowly and we'll make it to the end."
"I don't know if I have enough recharge for this talk time." Pooja comments worriedly as she steps towards the bikes.
"And here I thought you were a champion hockey player! Do you think you can't do this when you have the stamina to play an entire match? You can do this, Pooja, you will!"
With a firm nod, Pooja picks up her bike and sets off, her pace deliberately slow. Naina and Sherry also pick up theirs, following her.
Looking at the sky, Naina calculates that there must only be two hours left until the sun rises. She has spent hours walking from dusk until dawn, she has carried a heavy pack and other burdens besides. Naina has no doubt at all that she will make it through this exercise.
Seeing the pace that the girls have set, Aalekh and Yudi both slow down as well, and they encourage each other as they go, ensuring that none of them are able to give up even when Yudi threatens to after the fifth round. Ali and Huda both go more quickly, neither seemingly bothered by the burdens they bear.
As they pass the faculty each time, Naveen and Abhimanyu try their best to cheer everyone along, hoisting cadets back on their feet when they stumble and seeing them on their way. At the hour mark five cadets have dropped out while others are visibly struggling. Naina pauses a moment to swap her bicycle to the other side and Naveen hurries over to give her a hand so that she won't have to stop.
"You can do it, Naina, I know you can." He tells her and she gives him a determined nod before resuming her rounds, catching up to where her friends have slowed their paces to allow her to.
"This will be worth it just to see Mucchad's face at the end." Pooja comments and Sherry snorts.
"Try not to talk until we're done." Naina tells them, "We need to conserve all of the energy we have."
They continue in silence, their breaths the only noise in the night air even as they can hear other cadets cursing or talking around them.
"I can't go any further!" Yudi declares, when Naina thinks there is only half an hour to go. She has learned how to judge how close dawn is by the colour of the sky. "You all go on without me."
"Don't you dare give up." Naina tells him sternly. "You've already beaten ten other cadets at this point and you're almost there. If you do this today, Yudi, then nobody will be able to say you're less than anyone else in this academy. So get your bike up and don't make me waste my breath on talking again!"
"Yes ma'am!" Yudi lifts his bike again as Aalekh smirks and they continue on their way. Their arms are aching from the effort of holding up their bikes, their legs dragging, but still they make their way forward.
"You can do it, Pooja." Ali tells her as he passes them, seeing her energy flagging. As they draw level, he frees one hand to help her hold up the bike, giving her a few moments respite before he overtakes them.
Nobody speaks of giving up after that and the next time they round the hill and approach the faculty, the sun's rays have risen over the horizon and Naina sees Ali and Huda on the finish line, several other cadets around them. There are others gathered nearby who had obviously given up midway, now tiredly standing to attention.
With a nod to the others, Naina puts on a last burst of steam as the others increase their pace to match hers, nearing the end.
"Well done, Naina!" Naveen calls out, coming over to pat her on the back proudly as she finally puts the bike down, leaning on it.
Major Bhargav regards them both shrewdly. "Your sister, I believe, Captain Ahluwalia." At Naveen's nod, he sneers. "Let's hope she's better at choosing friends than you were."
He surveys the rest of them, his gaze finally coming to rest on Sherry. "And you, Cadet Gehlot, I hope you've come here to make your father proud."
It's then that Sherry gets it.
The moved up inspection date, her father's cryptic warning about needing to prove herself; Major Bhargav is here to test her alongside the academy and if she wants to remain here she'll need to give her father what he wants, a public declaration of her brother's guilt.
/
With the academy currently in uproar it's difficult to find time to meet but they choose their moment later that day during Captain Abhimanyu's drill.
"My father has sent him, I'm sure of it. He will find some way to make me prove my allegiance."
"Whatever it is, do it." Aalekh advises. "Say and do what you need to, it doesn't change the truth."
Naina nods her agreement. "It's what my brother and Abhimanyu Sir have had to do, and Raj knows how you really feel." She pauses. "There's more you need to know about Major Bhargav, he was in charge of Raj's investigation and trial. He's corrupt, he left no stones unturned to see that Raj was convicted, he wouldn't even consider any evidence that might have proven his innocence."
"So you're saying that with someone honest in charge he might have been proven innocent?"
Naina nods. "The evidence was circumstantial at best. Raj told them the truth, about Dr Mishra and what he suspected happened. Major Bhargav chose not to listen."
Sherry frowns. "We need to know what he plans to do here. I can't be blindsided."
"Go ask your favourite teacher." Aalekh quips, nodding in Abhimanyu's direction.
Sherry rolls her eyes at him but she heads in Abhimanyu's direction as the other two head back to the academy, catching up to Yudi, Pooja and Huda along the way. In the distance, Sherry sees Naina throw up her hands at something Huda has said as Pooja starts laughing.
Abhimanyu looks up from his inspection of the returned rifles as she approaches. He quickly finishes his count before turning towards her fully. "Let's talk as we walk back, I don't want you getting into trouble with all the new rules here at the academy."
"I think that Bhargav is here for me." Sherry starts bluntly. "I think my father has asked him to test me and to have me thrown out if I don't pass."
"It's possible he is just here to complete the inspection but the timing is too big of a coincidence to ignore. Have you decided what you'll do if he does ask you to prove your loyalty?"
"I'll have to lie." The very idea roils Sherry's stomach. "I'll hate doing it but it's more important that I'm able to remain here and finish what I came for."
When she looks over, Abhimanyu is smirking. "So maybe you finally understand my response to BC that day in the mess."
Sherry rolls her eyes. "I already told you that I understood, I know I overreacted."
"Ah yes, the day we became friends." He grins at her and for a moment everything else fades away, the orderly walking in front of them, the sound of far away shouts in the second year drill.
Sherry looks quickly away.
"What can you tell me about Major Bhargav?" She asks. "How much does he know about Bhaiyya?"
"He was in charge of Raj's investigation and trial." Abhimanyu's voice is kept purposefully quiet. "And he did everything he could to see Raj convicted. I've always thought that there must have been someone else pulling the strings; that he rose through the ranks quickly afterwards precisely because of the favour he'd done for that person."
Sherry stops, considering. "So if we find out who helped him at that time, it might lead us to who trapped Raj in the first place."
"Sherry, I want you to be careful." Abhimanyu's tone is full of warning. "Major Bhargav is dangerous, if he suspects anything then he won't stop until you've been forced to leave."
"Don't worry, Sir." Sherry tells him. "I'm ready for any test he might have for me."
"Good, because I would hate to have to see you go."
Despite herself, Sherry smiles.
/
"Does anyone know what the exercise is today?" Yudi asks, looking around at the faces of his friends. They are lined up in one of the drill fields, facing what appears to be covered combat dummies.
"No clue, but I wish they'd hurry up and get on with it." Huda replies, "Ever since Mogambo arrived there's been no free time and Sheetal has been waiting for me to meet her."
The others groan at his statement, shaking their heads at their friend. As annoying as Huda can be at times, he has somehow become a friend, more often a part of their group than not. Even Naina has to admit he has his good points and he's let her be since she admitted she liked someone else.
Their wait is brought to an end as Major Bhargav strides to the front, the remaining faculty members ranged to the side of him. Whatever it is that he has planned today, it appears that he intends to make a show of it.
It clicks in Sherry's mind then, this is it. This is the moment when she'll have to prove herself to him.
She stands in the second line beside Aalekh, as the Major begins a monologue about traitors and patriotism, seeking answers from the crowd.
When Naina tells him that it is a person's conscience that stands between betrayal and patriotism he seems to judge that the time has come, and he yanks the covering off the dummies, revealing the face that has been attached to each.
"It's time to kill your inner traitor!" He announces. "It's time to kill Rajveer Singh Shekhawat."
Bayonets are handed to the first line and Sherry steels herself. She can do this, it's just a dummy. Her brother is far away and unable to be harmed by this stupid exercise and if she does this, she has a greater chance of saving him.
Sherry knows she can do it, that she has to, but looking over at Naina she is suddenly struck by the realisation that the woman who loves him might not be able to.
Naina has turned pale and Sherry looks down to see that her hands are shaking where she holds them by her sides.
"Can you do it?" Sherry whispers urgently even as the first line reaches their targets, bayonets piercing the dummies. Naina flinches.
The first line are now returning and it needs to be a split second decision. Sherry is already under watch, she can assist them but she can't complete the main mission. If Naina gives herself away though then everything they've worked so hard for is ruined.
As the first cadets return, holding out the bayonets to those still waiting, Sherry knows what she needs to do.
Abhimanyu and Naveen are watching her and Abhimanyu gives her an encouraging nod, he believes that she'll get through it.
Sherry takes a deep breath even as Naina fumbles with the bayonet as it's handed over. "My brother is not a traitor!"
There is pin drop silence and every eye rests on her. Close by to Major Bhargav, Sherry sees Captain Naveen drop his head down, Abhimanyu presses a hand to his mouth before hurriedly removing it.
Major Bhargav smirks.
Sherry ensures that she does not look at Naina then, she can't afford to have any attention directed towards her friend until Naina has recovered herself.
She throws the bayonet she was handed down. "Don't pretend you didn't know what my relationship to him is, Sir. This exercise is only for me."
In the background, Sherry can hear a buzz of voices, Huda's exclamation and Pooja's soft query to Ali. She wonders if they will be so keen to be her friends now that they know the truth, if it will change the dynamics of the group.
"Cadet Gehlot." Major Bhargav walks towards her, almost relaxed, the same smirk on his face. "Are you telling me that you are Rajveer Singh Shekhawat's relative?"
"We grew up together, I tied him a rakhi for every single one of those years. It doesn't matter if we're blood relatives or not, he is my brother and he's not a traitor, I won't participate in this."
Brigadier Chandook looks furious while the two Captains look concerned. To Naveen's side, Dr Mishra appears to be fascinated with the proceedings.
"Major Bhargav, dismiss the cadets! I am calling an immediate meeting of the faculty." Brigadier Chandook calls out. "Cadet Gehlot, you will be escorted to one of the holding cells, to remain there until we call for you."
The orderlies come to escort her and Sherry puts up her hands to show she'll make her own way and that they don't need to force her. Abhimanyu gives her a confused look as she goes past but Sherry turns her face away.
Whatever needs to be done now it's best that she handles it herself without involving any of the others.
/
As Sherry is escorted away and the rest of the faculty depart, Aalekh places a gentle hand on Naina's arm. They share a look of understanding for a moment, both of them know why this really happened and Naina feels the guilt gnaw at her, that in a critical moment she could not control her feelings. It shouldn't have mattered to her, she should have completed the task and then forgotten about it but the moment they had revealed his face all she could think of was every injury ever done to him, the marks on his backs made by those he had once trusted.
The cadets gather in groups, discussing what has just happened. "Did any of you know about this?" Yudi asks them. "I'm shocked."
"Why should she have told any of us?" Aalekh retorts. "She would've known what reaction she would get."
"You haven't answered Yudi's question," Huda breaks in. "Did you two know? I've seen you all whispering together, sharing secrets the rest of us don't know."
"I would never share a secret it wasn't my place to tell." Naina states simply. "Yes, I did know. Sherry's brother was my brother's best friend, I worked it out."
"But he's a convicted traitor," Ali breaks in. "The army tried him and found him guilty. If Sherry doesn't accept that, they won't allow her to stay here."
"Not everything is fair in life, Ali, and justice is not always carried out. Sherry believes her brother is innocent and someone's sentence alone won't change that."
"But he's not even her real brother." Huda objects. "Why would she risk herself for him?"
"I would do it for anyone I loved, blood or not." Aalekh states, his expression hard. "Now I need to know if all of you are with her."
"If someone accused one of my cousins, I would never believe it. You don't cut your family's calls." Pooja is quiet but confident and Naina knows that she has been won to their side.
"I don't know if Sherry is right or wrong but I can appreciate her sentiments. She shouldn't be punished because she loves her brother." Ali has always believed strongly in the concept of justice and he will stand by her.
"Well, it did surprise me but I don't see why it should change anything. They knew what her relationship to him was when they let her in." Yudi says with a shrug.
That leaves Huda. The Jat has his arms crossed, looking at all of them carefully. "I hope you all know what you're doing, because if they do decide to throw her out then we'll all be out with her."
"Are you with her or not, Huda?"
He shrugs. "I always did like that girl."
/
Inside Brigadier Chandook's meeting, the overall feeling about Sherry is quite a different story.
"She needs to be expelled immediately." Major Nair states forcefully. "Our academy's reputation has already been compromised by Captain Rajveer's treachery, we can't afford another case like his."
"I won't tolerate this deceit, I agree, she must be dealt with." Brigadier Chandook concurs, and it seems that Sherry's mission might come to an end there and then until Abhimanyu speaks up.
"Who did she deceive, Sir?"
The others look at him in surprise, and Naveen hopes that his friend knows what he's doing.
"What do you mean, Captain?"
"I mean that you knew exactly what her relationship to Captain Rajveer was when she was admitted, it wasn't hidden. She hasn't deceived anyone."
"She lied about her earlier condemnation of him." Major Nair points out as if he's found the winning argument. "She fooled us into believing that she agreed with the verdict."
"If I'm not wrong, then her father was the one that condemned him, not Cadet Sherry. Did anyone outright ask her what her opinion on his conviction was?"
"Her father assured me that she wanted to make amends for their family and that was the reason she was joining!"
"Perhaps you should have asked her as well." Abhimanyu points out. "As I was saying, Cadet Sherry's relationship to Captain Rajveer was already known here, and nobody asked about her opinions before today. As far as I'm aware she hasn't broken any academy rules and there is no reason to expel her."
Naveen stays silent, seeing that Abhi has the situation well in command. It's best if only one of them draws attention to themselves today. He doesn't know if it's a good idea for Raj's sister to be here or not but Chauhan seems to have developed a strange bond with her and Naveen doesn't think it's fair for her to be asked to leave.
Dr Mishra is the next to speak up. "But can we trust her reasons for being here? She may not have lied to anyone but it can't be denied that it appears she has ulterior motives for joining the academy. Motives which could certainly cause damage to our reputation."
"And you think you understand her motives without even speaking to her, Dr Mishra?" Abhimanyu's eyes flash with anger and watching both of them, Naveen is struck by Ritu's cool demeanour, her lack of emotional response to Abhimanyu's challenge.
"I think if anyone at this table is well placed to do so it would be me." She tells him almost dismissively. "If Cadet Sherry is to remain then I will need to conduct a detailed psychoanalysis on her."
"You know the effect that can have on someone, Doctor, I would urge you to think twice before suggesting it, you could completely destroy her self confidence."
"Don't you think you're taking this just a little too personally, Captain?"
Abhimanyu is about to reply when surprisingly Shalini speaks up. "By now I've worked with all of the cadets. I've seen nothing to indicate that Cadet Sherry is a risk. She is sincere and hard working and a good cadet. Even if she's not ready to admit her brother is a traitor that doesn't mean she has any other motive to be here."
Abhimanyu shoots Shalini a grateful look even as Suriji nods. "The girl seems to be good at heart, she's well liked by the other cadets."
"Even Captain Rajveer was well liked." Major Nair comments darkly and it appears they're headed for another round of discussion when Brigadier Chandook holds up his hand.
"Captain Naveen, you haven't spoken yet. What's your opinion on the matter?"
Naveen looks up to see all eyes on him, the table expectantly waiting for his opinion. He had always intended to speak in Sherry's favour but Naveen likes to wait and judge the mood of the others first before he gives his own opinion rather than jump straight in as Raj and Abhimanyu tend to do.
"Since Cadet Sherry arrived at the academy I have observed that she is one of the best cadets here. She picks up new skills easily and has a sharp mind. I have taught her in both theory classes and drills and seen her interactions with the other cadets. I haven't seen anything in that time that would lead me to believe she is here for any other reason than to complete her training."
"Just because you haven't seen it, Captain, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It is possible for people to conceal their true nature."
Naveen looks back at Ritu and for the first time he thinks that yes, perhaps it would be possible for someone to conceal their true self from him when he's been blinded by his own wish to believe the opposite.
"And what is it that makes you so sure that's the case with Cadet Sherry, Dr Mishra?" He addresses her. "What have you seen that makes you think she could be a danger?"
"Her dislike of authority and rebellious attitude." Ritu answers bluntly. "Her personality doesn't match with what's required at the academy."
"And yet I haven't had any issues with her in my classes." Naveen counters. "She's been a model cadet, obeys every order and has done well in every drill."
"It should be expected that you would defend the sister of your dear friend." Major Bhargav breaks in sarcastically. "When you couldn't recognise a traitor in him why would you recognise one in her?"
"Yes, well some of us like to conduct a proper investigation first before we condemn someone but I'm not certain you would know what that's like, would you, Major Bhargav?"
The Major stands, looming almost threateningly as Naveen stays seated, calm and unblinking.
"That is enough!" Brigadier Chandook interjects. "We came here to decide a cadet's fate, not trade personal insults."
"I'm sorry, Sir." Naveen says, even as he continues to look up at Major Bhargav.
"Sir." The Major says shortly before he sits back down.
"I'm in favour of Dr Mishra's psychoanalysis exercise." Brigadier Chandook tells them. "I was planning to dismiss Cadet Gehlot directly but the points that you have given in her defence have convinced me that she deserves the chance to prove she should be allowed to stay."
"Sir, I believe you are making a mistake. The cadet should be dismissed immediately without any further chances."
"Why is it that you're so keen to see her go quickly, Major Bhargav? Do you have some interest in this matter that the rest of us should be aware of?" Abhimanyu glares at the man, his brows knit together and Major Bhargav is just opening his mouth to respond when Brigadier Chandook holds up a hand.
"I've already given my decision. Fetch Cadet Gehlot from the holding room, we won't waste any more time."
"I'll do it." Abhimanyu offers, and at Brigadier Chandook's nod he leaves the room.
The others stand more slowly, Naveen last of all, and when he reaches the doorway he finds Ritu waiting for him.
"I hope you don't object to my plan like Captain Abhimanyu," her voice is soft, as if cajoling him to believe in her. "I suggested what I thought was necessary to resolve the issue once and for all."
"I believe there could have been other ways of resolving it, such as a one on one discussion with the cadet before your suggestion became necessary." Naveen replies, looking down at her.
Ritu blinks as if in surprise. "I thought that you at least would be able to examine the issue without letting emotions compromise your judgement."
Naveen thinks he understands then what Naina and Abhimanyu have been trying to tell him. He takes a step towards the doorway, looking back at her as he does so.
"Dr Mishra, the very worst of judgements are often made when people forget to take emotions into account."
/
When Sherry is released from the holding room it is to find Captain Abhimanyu waiting outside for her.
"What have they decided?" She asks him. It is all she has thought about since she was brought there.
"Dr Mishra is going to conduct a psychoanalysis on you, it's very important that she's convinced the only reason you're here at the academy is to become an army officer." Abhimanyu looks down at her, his expression plainly worried. "Why did you do it, Sherry?"
Sherry thinks of all the reasons she could give him, all of the excuses that would cover up the truth. In the end, she doesn't want to lie to him.
"You'll understand one day." Sherry promises him.
"Better your post than your conscience." Abhimanyu mutters softly, his gaze searching her face as if to try and confirm the reason.
Not finding the answer there, he gestures for Sherry to follow him and she trails behind, headed towards her fate.
A/N: A big thank you to the two guests who reviewed since I can't reply to you directly! It's funny that you mentioned Operation Marriage here because as strange as it is to say so given the very different tones of the fic there are some parallels between them later on.
While I know everyone is going to miss the past Raj and Naina scenes please do rest assured that he'll still be very much part of the story even if he's not physically there with her.