Chapter Forty Two
"Are you going back to rest?"
Alekh raises an eyebrow at Naina's question. Ansari and Banerjee have already farewelled them, headed to their quarters to grab some sleep. Naina's question is mainly rhetorical though, she knows neither of them will be able to rest until they've heard from Raj about what the current status is at headquarters.
"I thought I'd go see Reena." Alekh tells her. "I've just messaged to let her know I'm on my way."
"Now it's me that's the haddi in the kebab." Naina jokes. "Maybe I had better head back to my quarters."
Alekh's phone beeps and he looks down at it. "She's told me to bring you along."
"What about your big romantic reunion?"
"Do I look like the type of guy who's going to do all that on some street corner?"
/
No matter what Alekh might say, their reunion is quite touching.
Naina watches from a short distance as Reena tries to stop herself from running the moment she sees him, her steps hurrying anyway. Alekh's arms are around her the moment she reaches him and while they might keep it brief due to their location it's still heartfelt.
Naina waits until they've separated to approach, hugging Reena briefly before she lets go. She smiles when Alekh slings an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders casually. It's good to see him this way, comfortable and content. It's yet one more victory that this life has brought them.
"You're back for good now?" Reena asks them both. "Your mission was successful?"
Naina nods. "We achieved our mission last night. We should be in Delhi for the time being now, at least until they assign us to another project."
"And where's your Captain?"
Alekh snorts at the phrasing and Naina wonders just how much he's told Reena about what is going on. "He's still wrapping things up, he'll call us once he's done."
Reena nods. "Get him to come to the studio once he's free. There's a story that's going to be broadcast tonight that concerns all of you."
Naina's eyes widen, "The red box? But you were going to take that Colonel Chandra."
"Colonel Chandra is the one who told me to release the story." Reena grins. "And what a story it turned out to be. Naina, I think… I think we may finally be able to prove your brother innocent."
/
It's another hour before Captain Rajveer joins them and with only a short time to spare before the broadcast, Reena catches him up quickly.
Alekh watches as the Captain reaches out to clutch Naina's hand, holding it tightly in his as he listens. Either Rajveer Sir believes that Reena already knows about their relationship or he's done with hiding it. They are almost to the end after all, and Alekh can't imagine that either of them would like to be apart for longer than necessary. If Gehlot truly can be brought to justice then there's no reason to remain careful anymore, the only hurdle remaining is to tell their superior officer.
"Then Naveen…"
Reena nods. "We can't prove it absolutely yet, but I've made certain the broadcast speaks about what happened to him and the doubt that's now been cast on his conviction with this new evidence."
Raj rakes a hand down his face, pressing it to his mouth as the emotion of the moment hits him. No matter what Alekh and Naina have fought to achieve, Raj's mission has remained the same over long years of struggle; to finally prove his friend innocent. He had died for that mission in his previous life, rushing towards danger even when there was no hope. Captain Rajveer had never seen their victory in that life, it will be the first time he gets to see Naveen's honour returned to him.
"We owe you a debt, Reena." He tells her at last, "One that we might never be able to repay."
"That's alright. I've got Alekh back now and that's more than enough to make up for it."
When he turns to her, the warmth of Reena's smile is a sight to behold. Alekh wonders just who it is that he owes for his own happiness, whether he made it himself with his choices or if it was always destined to be this way.
Two lifetimes and he finally feels that all of his own debts have been repaid in full.
/
The broadcast is over and they walk through the streets almost aimlessly, having left Alekh and Reena behind. They have been apart for long months and while they could all celebrate together, Naina knows for tonight they deserve to spend it alone.
Doesn't she have the same hopes, always, for just another moment alone with Raj? Just small moments, one more smile or the chance to graze her fingers with his, that's what she's learned to hope for these days.
They must still be careful but Naina allows herself to walk next to him, to have their shoulders brush from time to time as they each collect their own thoughts. She had spoken to her parents as soon as the story was finished, listening to their tears of relief down the line even as they had expressed their doubts that anything might come of it. It is so hard for them to hope now after so long without it.
Naina feels as if a weight has been lifted off her own chest. In this life she had put her quest to prove her brother innocent aside for a time, had let it be secondary to her quest to protect Raj. She knows that Naveen would have understood that a thousand times over but it's a relief nonetheless to have finally done right by him here too.
Naveen's honour will be restored, Gehlot's will be stripped from him, and Naina… Naina will know what it is to live a full life, one where there is both happiness and love.
"When I question Colonel Jadhav and Major Nair, I'll be asking them about Naveen." Raj tells her, pulling Naina out of her own thoughts. "I'll try and work out a deal to encourage them to talk, a reduction in jail time if they'll tell the truth."
"And Lala Gehlot?"
Raj's expression hardens at her mention of the main. "There will be no bargaining for him. We'll request the death penalty for all of his crimes. Everything we've uncovered is barely scraping the surface of what he's done but we'll uncover them one by one from now on."
"We'll do it." Naina reassures him. "We'll make certain that there's no way he can get out of it this time."
They walk further together, the buzz of the crowd around them almost soothing. Naina wonders just where it is that they're heading, whether Raj has any destination in mind.
"Once the questioning is done," Raj pauses, as if trying to work out his next words. "I'll have to speak to Colonel Chandra."
Naina understands immediately what he's saying. "We'll need to be prepared for one of us to be transferred."
"It might not come to that," Raj reassures her. "We wouldn't be able to be part of the same team but one of us could be sent to another department and we… well you know, once we… generally married couples are given the same postings."
Naina stops walking, turning towards Raj with her eyebrows raised. "That might just be the worst marriage proposal ever."
He splutters for a moment and then starts laughing. "I promise you that's not it, I'll do much better when I really do ask it's just… well, we both know what we want."
A warmth settles over Naina, a comforting pressure upon her heart as she looks back at him. It's a strange feeling to have this type of confidence, to know that she's loved and that there's someone she will spend her life with - happily, ordinarily, as normal people do.
"You can ask me now if you like." She tells Raj earnestly. "It doesn't have to be a big occasion. You and me together, that's a perfect enough moment as it is."
He steps forward, closing the space between them, and takes her hand. "I want to do it right, Naina, I want it to be special, to be worthy of how I feel for you."
Reaching up with her free hand, Naina caresses the side of his face, feeling the shift in pressure as Raj leans into it. "Don't you realise? Every single moment I've had with you since the moment I arrived back has been special. Every time I see you, it's like a miracle, more happiness than I ever thought I could have."
"Then marry me, Naina. Let's not waste anymore time. Every moment of this life we've been given, I want to spend with you. What other life can there be for the two of us except with each other?"
The sound of street traffic filters back to them, the flash of lights of a taxi on the road, and somewhere in the distance Naina can hear the strains of an old song floating back to them.
Like every other moment she's been granted to spend with him it's utterly perfect.
Naina stands on her toes, her arms winding around Raj's neck, and kisses him as her reply.
/
There is a week of questioning.
As Raj had expected, Colonel Jadhav seems determined to spill as many secrets as possible to save his own skin. Major Nair, once he learns that Gehlot has been taken into custody is suddenly a lot more forthcoming on what his role was and who gave the orders.
On the last day, Raj has Major Bhargav brought in for questioning.
He's always believed there was a connection there. Bhargav's zeal for proving Naveen guilty and then his targeting of Naina and Raj make no sense if he wasn't corrupt. When Major Nair admits that he knows Bhargav had dealings with Gehlot, it's enough to finally move against him.
He folds quickly once he's in custody, a coward as he's always been when there's no power to back him up. Bhargav is keen to minimise his own crimes and sentence and so he admits everything, placing the blame squarely on Gehlot.
In a dark interrogation room, Naveen Singh Ahluwalia is finally proven innocent.
"That should make you happy." Bhargav sneers at Raj when he's admitted to all he did to falsify evidence. "You always would go to any lengths for your protege's sake, wouldn't you?"
There is a note of suggestion in his tone and Raj avoids glancing over to Colonel Chandra to see his reaction.
"On the subject of protégés, Lieutenant Alekh Sharma wanted me to remind you of something." Raj's lips curl into a mockery of a smile. "Who's the criminal now, Bhargav? Who turned out to be the animal all along?"
It seems as if he's shocked the man into silence and Raj takes the opportunity to leave, Colonel Chandra walking out beside him.
"Is it enough to have Naveen Singh Ahluwalia declared innocent now?" Raj asks as they walk back to the office. "We both know those weren't his crimes."
Colonel Chandra nods slowly. "I'll have to speak to High Command before we do so, but I think it finally is enough."
Raj is elated, waiting to go back and tell Naina that they've finally accomplished their mission when Colonel Chandra clearing his throat brings back Raj's attention.
"About Lieutenant Ahluwalia…"
"I promise, Sir, that I always planned to make a full report on what happened at the base as soon as the questioning had been wrapped up. Lieutenant Ahluwalia was never at any fault in this and I…" Raj stops as he sees Colonel Chandra's expression.
"I was going to ask whether Lieutenant Ahluwalia would be able to testify objectively at the trial or if you think it would be better to keep her off the list of witnesses."
Raj clears his own throat uncomfortably, realising he's introduced that conversation in the worst possible way now. "I believe Lieutenant Ahluwalia will be able to carry out her duties professionally, there's no reason to exclude her from the list of witnesses."
Colonel Chandra nods and then raises his eyebrows pointedly. "And is there anything else we should be discussing about Lieutenant Ahluwalia?"
They have almost reached Colonel Chandra's office now and Raj realises that it's as good a time as any. There's certainly no concealing it for any longer when he's already half confessed. "It would be good to have a conversation on that topic, Sir."
Walking into the office, Colonel Chandra gestures for Raj to take a seat in front of his desk. "Tell me, then."
"During the investigation, there was a time when Lieutenant Ahluwalia and I were forced into a compromising situation. We were searching for the map to the cache when Captain Santosh returned early, and to disguise our intentions we had to make it seem as if we'd met for… other purposes."
Colonel Chandra nods. "I'd guessed as much when Lala Gehlot brought it up. Given the circumstances it was clever thinking on both your parts to save the mission, it won't be held against you."
It is a clear out if they want to take it, but Raj doesn't want to keep things secret for any longer, not when there's no reason to. "Thank you for your understanding, Sir. It is a topic that has been brought up by the prisoners on more than one occasion and I am worried about the effect it will have on Lieutenant Ahluwalia's career if word gets out."
The side of Colonel Chandra's mouth twitches though his expression remains completely serious. "And what do you think needs to be done?"
"I think that it would be best if Lieutenant Ahluwalia and I were to be placed on different teams while things are sorted out. I intend to speak to her parents, to ensure no damage is done to her reputation."
Colonel Chandra's lips definitely quirk this time. "For Lieutenant Ahluwalia's reputation, is it?"
"Yes, Sir." Raj replies uncertainly, wondering just what it is the Colonel is thinking.
Finally, Colonel Chandra nods. "I have no objection. I'll move Lieutenant Ahluwalia to Captain Sinha's team tomorrow and then you can both do as you see fit."
"Thank you, Sir!" Raj responds, barely able to keep the enthusiasm out of his voice. "I'll ensure everything is handled tactfully."
"You'll all have some leave in hand once the charges have been filed to do so, and Captain…"
"Yes, Sir?"
"I expect to get the first wedding card."
/
"And that was it? He didn't seem upset or angry?"
Raj shakes his head. "If anything it seemed like he'd already figured it out, there wasn't much surprise when I told him."
"So from tomorrow… I won't be under your direct command?"
"That's correct." Raj grins. "And there will be absolutely nothing to stop us from being together."
"Do you think we should tell my parents straight away? With the news about Naveen Bhaiya being proven innocent, it might be too much all at once."
"It's not just that." Raj pauses, his expression serious. "I think you should tell them the truth about Naveen's death and that I killed him, I would hate for them to find out later after they've approved."
"You're right, I should tell them." Naina sighs. "It's a relief that I can at least reveal that he was already dying of poison when you shot him. If the red box contents hadn't already been released I couldn't have."
Raj reaches out to take Naina's hand, squeezing it comfortingly. "I'll take your lead on it. We have a week of leave once the charges have been formally filed, when you go home you can get a feel for if it's the right time or not and let me know if I should come."
"Alekh and Reena are coming home with me when I go." Naina tells him, "We decided it yesterday since she's due for some time off as well."
"And for some reason they didn't decide to spend it alone somewhere?" Raj asks humorously and Naina makes a face at him.
"Just because that's what you would prefer."
"I wouldn't… I didn't mean…" He stops when he sees the grin on her face, knowing that she's joking. "Well, it's not entirely untrue."
"Raj!"
/
The announcement that Naina and Alekh will be swapping to Captain Sinha's team while two of her officers swap to Raj's is met with bemusement by everyone.
"Not that I'm not happy to have them, but…" Captain Sinha starts before it clicks in her mind. "Ah, yes, a very good decision indeed, Sir."
"Why is it a good decision?" One of her officers asks, still confused.
"Do you mean, finally…" "That we can give our congratulations?" Ansari and Banerjee speak over each other.
"Well, it would be best for the reputation of the department if none of us ended up getting court martialed." Captain Sinha jokes.
Raj is certain that his face has reddened, but looking around at Alekh's grin, Naina's rather more subtle smile and Ansari and Banerjee's antics, he finds that he doesn't mind the teasing at all.
Was there really a time when he thought they couldn't reach this point? It had seemed hopeless once; that she could ever forgive him let alone love him, that anyone else would accept them even if it was that way.
With everything that Naina has achieved in this lifetime already, Raj doesn't doubt that she'll see them both safely through to the end, until they have every happiness they could ask for.
A/N: Firstly, I am very sorry about the time it's taken to post the remaining chapters. There's been a lot going on in my life, between illness and work, and for a time I struggled to get anything written as a result. At that point, I thought it had been so long since I'd posted that it would be best if I finished the story entirely before putting anymore up. I do always come back to finish what I started, so I will be posting the remaining chapters up pretty quickly together.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!