Chapter Twenty Two

Naveen is just wiping down the blackboard from his morning class when Shalini walks in carrying two large cardboard boxes. She dumps them onto the desk, dusting off her hands before turning to him cheerfully. "There you go, Captain."

Naveen looks at the box for a moment in incomprehension then back to Shalini in wonder. "The photos, you got them?"

"That I did! I told you that you could count on me."

"I could kiss you." Naveen announces gleefully, moving towards the box even as Shalini places her hand over her heart in mock shock.

"Please Captain, I prefer to keep things professional at work."

He grins back at her. "How did you convince Major Nair though?"

"I would like to say I used my feminine wiles but in the end I just annoyed him until he gave in." Shalini shrugs. "Best of luck."

"I appreciate it." Naveen tells her seriously, "And while I wish I could tell you..."

"Ah!" Shalini holds up her hand to stop him. "I don't want to know, Captain. Plausible deniability will be much easier later that way."

With a wave of her hand, she disappears from the room and Naveen lifts the boxes, hurrying to his own quarters. He places them there safely, locked in his cupboard, before heading towards the mess where he knows he'll find Chauhan. They'll need to wait until the academy is finished for the day to avoid suspicion but tonight one mystery will finally be solved.

/

They skip dinner to start their work.

Naveen hadn't told Shalini to ask for specific photos, thinking it would be best not to arouse suspicion. He wonders if Nair has any type of organisational system at all for them. There's photos from all types of events over the past few years and they're just trying to get them into some sort of chronological order when there's a knock at the door.

They look at each other in panic before Naveen gestures to Abhimanyu to hide the photos, making his way to the door to open it a crack.

"What are you doing here, Naina?"

"You got the photos?" She responds, pushing against the door so that he has to open it and entering the room.

Naveen gapes at her. "How on earth did you find out?"

"Aalekh saw Dr Shalini get the boxes off Major Nair then head towards your classroom." Naina responds matter of factly. "He's been keeping an eye out."

"He's been..." Naveen shakes his head. "You're all in over your heads, Naina, you shouldn't even be here."

"But I am, and I want to help." She responds stubbornly. "You'll get through it faster with me which means there's less chance of someone finding out what you're doing."

"Does Cadet Sherry know?" Abhimanyu asks Naina. "She's not with you."

"No, she's not, because while there's believable reasons why I would visit my brother in his room at night there's not really any excuse why she would be here. Sherry is well aware of what's at stake and why we need to keep this secret."

Looking at Naina, Naveen is once again struck by the realisation that she seems to be very aware of this necessity too.

"Alright, let's begin then. Do you know what Raj looks like to be able to identify the photos of him?"

Naina pauses as she takes a seat on the couch, finally replying. "I saw his photo the day I arrived, the one they threw down from the Hall of Fame."

"You can't remember it that well." Naveen objects. "One moment."

Rifling in his drawer, he pulls out a photo of him and Raj holding a trophy between them out of the pages of the book he'd kept it in.

He hands it to Naina who looks down at it intently as if memorising his features. "I'm ready." With one final glance she sets it slightly to the side.

Over the next couple of hours they work, sorting photos and discarding the ones from the wrong eras. Naina finds some of the years that Naveen, Abhimanyu and Raj spent at KMA and begins separating the ones that have Raj in them.

"Those aren't the ones we're looking for." Naveen tells her.

"That doesn't mean Sherry wouldn't like to have them." Naina responds. "She's not supposed to investigate, but they can't object to her having photos of her brother."

Abhimanyu shrugs to show that he doesn't mind and they continue.

It's when there's only fifteen minutes to lights out that Abhimanyu makes an excited sound, holding up a pile of pictures. "I've finally found alumni night, look here's one of Raj."

They crowd round to look, as he begins flipping through the photos, Naina reaching out to stop his hand as they come to one with a woman, a mask held in front of her face.

"She'd better not be wearing that in all of them." Abhimanyu mutters.

Naveen peers at the photo. "She looks familiar."

Naina's expression is almost distraught when she looks up from the photo. "Put it aside and keep looking."

They flick through three more before they find it, the photo where the face of Raj's date is uncovered. Abhimanyu is just about to cheer when he realises who it actually is. "Oh shit."

He turns to Naveen who looks stricken, his eyes wide with shock. When he turns to Naina, she just looks angry.

"She..." Naveen stops, taking a deep breath in. "Dr Mishra was Raj's girlfriend."

"A fact she has neglected to mention on multiple occasions." Abhimanyu comments. "Including while she was interrogating his sister."

Naina is silent, her gaze fixed on the photo in front of them, her hands clenched tightly.

"If she's come back here now..." Abhimanyu holds up a hand to stop Naveen's musing, knowing that they can't risk mentioning the spy in front of Naina. When he risks a glance at Naina though, he has a strange feeling that she already knew exactly what her brother was going to say.

"Someone will need to tell Sherry." Abhimanyu comments, standing up as if to head towards the door. When she finds out he can only imagine what her reaction will be. She's never trusted Dr Mishra and now they know that she was the one to betray Raj. He only hopes that she'll be able to keep her emotions in check and not reveal anything too early.

"Well it's not going to be you." Naina responds bluntly, standing up herself. Ignoring the alumni night photos, she gathers up the other pile she had set aside from their academy days and puts it in her pocket. "Have you forgotten the warning my brother gave you?"

Abhimanyu sputters. "And how do you know about that warning?"

Naina fixes him with a stern look. "I'm going to give you another warning right now, as Sherry's best friend. She's got enough problems on her plate and this is only going to add to them. She needs friends and mentors to help her and you've been one of her greatest supports but the moment anything else comes into your heart or mind you'd better remember that you're her teacher because I'm certainly not going to let you forget it."

She points her finger at him, her eyes narrowed and Abhimanyu gapes at her. "I swear that I don't..."

"Learn how to lie better, especially if it's going to be to yourself." Naina tells him sternly. "You need to resign from this position first before I let you anywhere near her. Now I am going to go and tell Sherry and you two can decide what you need to do next. We won't tell anyone about this."

"Not even Aalekh?" Naveen asks sharply

"Of course we'll tell Aalekh," Naina corrects herself. "But you know him, he doesn't reveal secrets."

Reaching the door she exits, pulling it shut behind her.

"You were right, your sister is very authoritative." Abhimanyu jokes. "I understand now why you felt you had to listen to her."

Naveen isn't listening though, he's looking down at the photo and when he looks up once more he's clearly distressed. "Do you think she trapped him in exactly the same way? All this time while she's been flirting and... Did she do that to Raj, make him fall in love with her only to use him?"

Abhimanyu lays a gentle hand on Naveen's shoulder. "I suspect she probably did. It's the only thing that makes sense when I think about it, we know there's a spy here now. Why would she come back here of all places if she was innocent, all the while keeping her identity hidden?"

"She came to finish what she started, to get the triggers, and I almost fell right into her trap." Naveen comments grimly.

"But you didn't." Abhimanyu reminds him. "You had figured out what she was even before her identity was revealed."

"Only because of you and Naina!" Naveen counters, his emotions high as he slaps one palm down onto the table. "Or I might still have been blind."

And there it is, the point that Abhimanyu knows he can't bring up right now; Naveen's little sister who knows more than she should. When he thinks back on her expression when they had found the photo there had been no surprise, only anger. Why wasn't she shocked to know that Dr Mishra had been Raj's girlfriend? Why was it that Naina had always seemed to dislike the woman, even from the very beginning?

These are things that Abhimanyu wonders but while he wishes he knows the truth he also knows that whatever Naina is doing, she's definitely on the same side that they are.

/

Aalekh and Sherry have been waiting in the library for her, apparently studying, and Naina dashes in with only five minutes left until lights out. She makes her way towards them, breathing heavily, and takes a seat. "They know now."

"There was proof?" Sherry asks urgently, "An actual photo of her at the alumni night?"

Naina nods. "Only one, her face was covered by a mask in the others, but we have the evidence now."

"Not enough to prove anything other than that she was his girlfriend." Aalekh answers shortly. "She can still talk her way out of it."

"We need to leave that part to my brother and Captain Abhimanyu." Naina responds. "Keep an eye on her and notify them immediately if you see anything suspicious but it's best if the plan to trap her remains in their hands, we're not trained for espionage."

"Will they be able to do it?" Aalekh asks doubtfully. "She's clever, they won't get her easily."

"They'll do it." Sherry says with determination. "They know what rides on it, they'll come up with a plan."

"Then we focus on the red box." Naina continues. "We need to ensure that we move it at Diwali, so that it's safe. They could still destroy it even if we do trap Dr Mishra, we need both to prove him innocent."

"And for that we need Bhargav gone." Sherry comments grimly. "I'll need to speak to him tomorrow."

"You can do it." Naina encourages her. "And try to avoid Captain Abhimanyu for the time being. He wanted to tell you the news himself but I couldn't risk the chance of him realising you already knew."

"You think I couldn't act to cover it up?"

"No offence, but I think your acting strength lies more in the deadpan than the dramatic."

Aalekh's lips quirk as Sherry shoves Naina, causing her to slip in her chair.

"Alright, serious faces just in case anybody sees us on the way back to the hostels."

/

Abhimanyu has already done two rounds more of the grounds than necessary this morning while waiting for them to arrive. He's tired and sweaty but no matter what Naina Singh Ahluwalia might say he's been determined to speak to Sherry about what they discovered last night. He's worried that she might risk their investigation with an outburst and wants to assure her that he and Naveen do have a plan.

Aalekh is jogging with Naina and Sherry this morning, and Abhimanyu remembers that he'd seen Pooja out running with Ali earlier when he first started his rounds.

They slow down as they reach him, Naina crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a stern look. "Sir."

"Cadets."

They stare each other down for a moment and Abhimanyu knows she's not going to allow him what he wants easily after the warning she gave. "Cadet Naina, Cadet Aalekh, please continue, we'll catch up to you momentarily."

"Captain Abhimanyu, you..."

"Cadet Naina Singh Ahluwalia, I am still your superior officer. So now get going."

Naina doesn't look happy about it, glancing once at Sherry, but she does comply. They are just passing out of hearing distance as Abhimanyu hears Aalekh remarking, "Let it be, Naina. Dono bohot ziddi hai. Jodi tho..."

Sherry grimaces at Aalekh's phrasing before she takes a step closer to him. "Well?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing after the news. It had to be a shock learning that his girlfriend has been in the academy this entire time."

Sherry nods seriously but he notices she's avoiding his eyes. "It was, I couldn't believe it at first until Naina told me she'd seen it with her own eyes. That arrogant bitch thinking that she could come back here after what she did. Why is she here now? She must have had something to do with the conspiracy against him."

"We have to keep that photo with us as evidence but did Naina give you the rest?"

"The rest?" Abhimanyu is struck by the surprise in Sherry's eyes, as well as just how quickly she tries to cover it up. "Naina said she had something to give me but we didn't have time last night before light's out."

"It's strange that she couldn't just hand them over when she saw you." Abhimanyu frowns.

Sherry coughs. "Naina's always been very cautious, she must not have wanted to risk anyone seeing."

"I also wanted you to know that Naveen and I have a plan. We will manage to prove that Dr Mishra was involved in trapping Raj but for that I need you to be patient and not reveal what you know. We can't have her become aware that we're investigating her."

"Of course." Sherry responds seriously. "We expected that you would. I knew that as soon as you found out..." She abruptly pauses, "... who his girlfriend was, that you would find a way to the truth."

Abhimanyu is looking at Sherry thoughtfully as if something is ticking over slowly in his mind. "That wasn't what you were about to say."

Sherry avoids his eyes, knowing she's already been found out. "What else could I have said?"

Abhimanyu presses his hand to his mouth, as he turns away, pacing half a circle and then comes back again. This time there's no avoiding his gaze. "You knew, didn't you? Both you and Naina, you knew who she was beforehand somehow. You've known since she arrived."

Sherry stays silent, looking back at him almost challengingly, and Abhimanyu knows that she doesn't want to lie.

"How? The only way I can think is that Raj has been in touch with you, that he told you who she was. Am I right?"

Sherry sighs, her bravado dropping as her shoulders slump. "This is exactly why Naina told me to stay away from you, you read me too well. You know I can't tell you that so please don't ask me."

Abhimanyu is not certain whether he's more angry or amazed. "But why can't you? And why didn't you tell Naveen and I earlier who she was, why allow the drama to play out this long?"

Sherry throws up her hands. "How could I have told you? With what proof? It was better if you saw it with your own eyes and better if Dr Mishra wasn't tipped off too early. We always planned to step in if things appeared to be going too far with her and Naveen. We wouldn't have allowed her to place either of you in danger."

Abhimanyu crosses back over to Sherry, reaching out to her agitatedly, his hand hovering just next to hers. "What do you actually have planned? Please, tell me, give me some way to help. I don't understand why you won't tell me and I can't stand the thought of you in danger."

"Don't you understand..." Sherry starts, her hand moving towards his of its own volition. She stops as Aalekh and Naina re-enter the copse from the other direction, staring at them.

"We thought we'd just do a loop then pick up Sherry before anyone else arrives." Naina announces, easily picking up on the tension as she looks between them.

"Do another round, cadets." Abhimanyu grits out.

"Sir..." Aalekh starts to say.

"You heard me! A longer one this time!"

They take off running, exiting the copse again and this time Abhimanyu reaches out to grab Sherry's hand. "Don't I understand what?"

"The whole plan hinges on you not knowing about it. The people who trapped Bhaiyya will be watching you, waiting for you to make any sort of move. We can't risk them finding out about this in advance or it will fail." Sherry grips his hand back tightly. "Trust me, please, and know that by finding evidence against Dr Mishra, you will be doing the one thing that we can't. We each have our parts to play and if it all goes well, if it..." She closes her eyes tightly for a moment as he steps closer. "If we do this correctly then Bhaiyya will be proven innocent and he can finally come home."

"You're asking a great deal of me, Sherry, to just stand back and let you go ahead with whatever you're planning." Abhimanyu tells her seriously. "You don't know what they're capable of. Naina and Aalekh probably don't really know what they've gotten themselves into either."

"I do know and so do they." Sherry tells him shortly. "Do you think that after what both of them have lived through they can't do this? We all understand and we're prepared to see it through. This is the only way it can happen without you and Captain Naveen being placed in danger. Now, will you stand by us and let us do what we need to?"

She looks up at him, face solemn and expression completely open for once. Abhimanyu knows how much this means to her and as much as the idea of her putting herself in danger tears at him he also knows that he has no choice but to trust her.

"And so I'm just supposed to let you put yourself in danger so that you can save me from it? Do you know difficult that will be for me?"

"Yes." Sherry grasps his hand finally, tightly. "Yes I do, but I need you to promise me that you will. I need you to promise me that you won't breathe a word of this to Captain Naveen because there's no way it can happen successfully if he knows, he'll try to intervene or to find out what's going on and it will ruin everything."

"I..." Abhimanyu rakes his hands through his hair uncertainly, his turmoil apparent. "I'll do it for you. In return I'm trusting you to know when you need to come to me for help."

"You know that I will." Sherry's voice is softer now, her hand warm in his. Abhimanyu knows that he should drop it but he finds his thumb tracing over her knuckles instead.

Sherry coughs suddenly, letting go of his hand abruptly. "There is something that I need from you."

"Tell me what it is and I'll help."

"Good. This evening I'm going to ask Major Bhargav to meet me by the lake to discuss things. I need you to be there in case you have to step in at the right moment."

"What are you planning exactly?"

"That depends on his responses." Sherry replies, her lips pressed thin together. "But one way or the other, today I need to ensure that he goes."

The sound of Naina and Aalekh approaching comes to them and she steps back from him, moving to join the others as they arrive.

Naina spares a glance at him, her expression tense as if she's considering just exactly what he knows now, and Abhimanyu is once again struck by the thought that she's more invested in this than someone just helping their friend would be.

Sherry nods in his direction once, an acknowledgement of his agreement to help her later, and the trio takes off jogging as Abhimanyu remains in place to watch them.

He sees as Sherry reaches out to push Naina slightly to the side and strains to hear what they're saying. "...took them for me, was it?"

"Sherry, I swear..."

The rest is cut off by Aalekh's laugh and turning away, Abhimanyu begins to make his way back to the academy at a slower pace. Sherry has trusted him with a task and all Abhimanyu can hope is that she knows what she's doing.

A/N: I'm sorry about the delay on this one, I'll try to get the next chapters up faster!

A big thank you to the guest reviewers and I'm glad you liked the interactions between all the characters 😊