Author's Notes:
Fourth special. Attached to chapter 61. Enjoy.
The courtyards of the Defence Academy in Maharashtra were grand, it almost reminded her of her time in Sandhurst.
Saraswati was given a dorm room that faced the gardens, it was a beautiful sight to wake up to every morning for the last two months. The Academy Commandant who was her father's old classmate loaned her the room and said it was where her father bunked with him when they were mere aspiring cadets hoping for a better future for their families and for their nations.
It was the same Academy commandant who arranged with his friends in high places whom were his and her father's year group to establish a dialogue between Kyrat and New Dehli. She had been hard at work flying to and from the Capital of india for the Parliament building and back to monitor the progress on the cadets and officers bought over to study field craft in their military courses as guests.
"Saraswati, you there?" A knock came to her door.
"Yes?"
A female cadet popped her head in.
"Just checking that you're alright, you need me to help pack?"
"No. That's alright, I'm fine doing it at my pace."
"Mmm…. Can I enter?"
"Of course, you can. Akhila." After giving her permission the young woman happily strolled in looking around the room that was in the midst of clearing up.
"So you're really leaving this place, huh?"
Saras put down her folded clothing and looked towards the anxious woman with a smile.
"It was a short but enjoyable stay, you and the girls have made it so. I have a civil war to return to and there's someone who needs me back home."
"Back home?.. Ahhhh…" Akhila smirked, as she got the meaning.
"A special someone I see."
"That's right, nothing to get worked up about, my dear." Saras sighed as she returned to packing her bags. While she had until the end of the day she liked to prepare early so she was free to do whatever she liked right after.
"Nothing to get worked up? Royal Kyrati Army Major Saraswati Roka, the dazzling ocean jewel amongst the already few women in the NDA. Whom the dashing young officers would gather around from all services training wings could only dream of having just a mere chat with?"
"…."
It's not that she wanted to draw attention everytime. She faced the same dilemma in Sandhurst when some of the fellow British cadets of hers hit on her every opportunity they could, it did however allow her to go home with top honours since every bright charming officer was willing to lend her a hand in earning credits just for a smile or pleasing compliments. She chuckled as it was seemingly the same everywhere than just Sandhurst.
"Men are simple creatures, they'd go all lengths for just to please you but don't fall for their façade." It was profound advice from her mother which she took to heart. But Ajay was different from the rest of the men. When she first met him, he was probably the first not to stare at her for her looks or proportions. At the time, the only thing on his mind was his mission, so he judged her by her capabilities than her appeal. He even shunned her advances which were initially playful teasing. Her father initially had good vibes about him as well but soon changed his mind as he was building a reputation as a grim reaper of the King that struck all who dared to harbour ill will towards the king. He was loyal like them, but his loyalty was not to the position but the man on the throne. Her father once said if he had to chose between saving Kyrat and King Min, he'd would likely chose the latter.
It was clear he had a complex history with King Min due to his mother and her aunt, Lady Ishwari. Though she missed the coronation ceremony at Crystal Falls for the shocking news that Ajay had been conferred the title of Duke and Mistress Lau became the next queen-consort. There was a small celebration within the quarters for the Kyrati Officers, all of them held Ajay in the highest regard, some Indian officers were invited to party with them. Although Maya's brother was a little too silent for his own good at the party.
She knew it wasn't ill thoughts, he was merely concerned with Ajay's constant stream of reckless actions and demands. When King Min first appointed him to be his attendant, his mission was to protect Ajay. Yet at every corner, Ajay shoved him aside from danger. He wondered if he was being the one protected instead, it obviously was. Ajay did it because of their father's sacrifice and Maya's only living family.
Duke of Lakshman. She had heard his families epic when he told Noore. The name of the child that would have become Princess Min had Mohan not killed her twenty-five odd years ago. He honoured his dead-half sister by naming the town after her. It made Saras realise how broken his family truly was, she had the fortune of having loving parents that were still in mutual terms. It made her admire his courage to accept such a incomplete family.
She wondered when did her admiration turn into an affection for him. Was it after the airport offensive? Or was it when they first met? The man who donned mask and title of demon, vicious to his enemies yet forgiving and benevolent towards his people. That was probably the part which attracted her to him, someone that selflessly gave not just his all but his everything to bring peace to Kyrat without ulterior agenda without expecting returns. When she followed him into the mountains and became a burden he did not complain once about her stubbornness to follow, when he thought she died. She witness him go on a self-destructive rampage, forgetting his own mission to save Maya. Threatening the ethereal mysterious power that he would burn its essence for taking her away to the point that the presence feared him. She could feel all of this while she'd been trapped within the presence's collective conscience which it chose to sever from her to save itself. This she did not tell Ajay, because even she didn't understand it at the time. But her heart melted to see him do such a thing, that her life had such a meaning to him. Though he had constantly denied having that sort of feelings to her, actions were always louder than words.
Noore had once told her, he was driven by a deathwish. To free Kyrat from the cursed legacy of Mohan, the Golden Path and himself. He would destroy both, it was his penitence for the crime of rebellion his father incited and an unabsolvable guilt he held. She'd heard the disturbing news sometime later from Layak that Mohan had returned from the grave and the Devas broke out of prison or were coming out of hiding. Their latest plan was her shelved project deemed to expensive to build but after a unanimous decision from high command, mistress Lau and Ajay they commenced construction. They did the insane by building in the midst of the storm which seemed highly risky, but it showed how desperate they were.
Her time was up in India, the replacement officer had arrived to take over her office in delegation and negotiation. She wasn't about to excuse herself while the others were fighting even harder with Mohan around.
"You've been awfully quiet."
"It's fine, just thinking about some stuff back home, that's all."
"We really wish you could stay longer."
"Thank you, Akhila dear." She went over to accept an embrace from the leading cadet.
"Come, I'll lend you a hand with the luggage."
It would be a two-day trip back to Kyrat, they first had to take a coach to New Delhi then a private airfield to charter a flight directly to the Royal Kyrati Airport, otherwise known as Meh Teh. Saraswati took her time to meet with the only person who was returning with her, coming alongside her was Akhila the Army cadet whom she developed a friendship with in that short time span. She also had trouble getting out of her dorm as she passed the corridor. The cadets in the dorm and outside came to say their goodbyes, some handed her gifts to remember them by. So by the end of the building exit, their was a stack on her luggage she and Akhila carried.
"Surprise that person didn't come find you, considering that it's campus wide knowledge of your departure."
"Please don't remind me." Saras responded as if she had a headache. There had never been a person that pestered her as much as he did when he first encountered her during the new year celebration. If fact, it was the time many became acquainted with who was Saraswati Roka, she still could remember their silly faces when she came in with the indigo formal gown. For that night, she was the star of the hall, almost every man requested a dance with her and some bold women too. Akhila had difficulty swatting them away. In the end, she chose the Academy's Commandant, her father's acquaintance. Nobody could be upset about her choice. Except for one very annoying fellow from the air wing.
She wondered if Ajay had ever looked at her the same way she looked at that fella. Because if he did, she felt mighty guilty despite her affection for him.
Of course the person she was referring to-
"My beloved! How could you leave at a time like this?!" A handsome man wearing the uniform of the Air Force wing cadets went down on one knee in front of them as they turned the curb.
"(Sigh)."
That person was Pravindra Kumar, the airforce hotshot in the Indian Air Force. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
"I spoke too soon." Akhila said with her hand to her mouth, covering the chuckling.
Saraswati didn't bother with him and pulled the luggage along to meet up with the person heading back with her to Kyrat.
"Goodbye, Cadet Kumar."
"Oh come on! Are you really gonna leave me?! After all the time we spent together?" He pleaded.
"Invading our privacy at the cafeteria was spending time together?" Akhila couldn't help but frown while saying.
"Shut up, nobody!" He said to her before turning back to Saras.
"Excuse me?!"
"No, excuse me. I'm having a delicate conversation, please leave."
"W-What?" Akhila was too shocked at the ubsurdness of Pravindra's words. But he was not interested to hear her views. Only his 'beloved's'.
A hamper flew his way and hit him on the head
"Ouch! Hehehe! Correcting my speech I see." It had become reflex for Saras, everytime he did something rude she'd throw something at him. She couldn't understand what would make him so aggressive towards anyone associated with Saras. At one time, he even harassed a lecturer who had asked Saras for an opinion regarding defensive tactics because she gave such a fantastic presentation once.
"Come on, Akhila. I don't want to keep Bipin waiting."
"Ah- alright." She mored along with her as they made their way to Bipins dorm before heading to the chauffeured car waiting for them at the academy's front gate.
They barely moved more than three metres before Pravindra came in front of them with his hands raised in a stop motion.
"You can't be serious? Do I mean so little to you?"
Saras wanted to slam her head on a wall. It was always his constant yapping. For once, she was grateful it was only two months before she could leave this place and him behind.
Pravindra had invaded her personal space on several occasions on a daily basis. The Commandant was reluctant to restrain him as the damn pilot had a special status and an impressive record at the flight school and several clashes between Indian and Pakistani airspace that were unofficial. He was a rising 'top gun' star in the Airforce that the joint chief recognised his contribution.
"Yes, please get lost. I have more important things to do." She was not at all tactful in the way she said it as she felt he didn't deserve her respect anymore.
"You say such hateful things so soon, I know! You are just trying to break our bond so that I would not suffer so much! So you do care for me!" He begun making stuff out of his ass. Akhila was having a headache as well. She couldn't believe how the once prideful and arrogant top student was like butter in front of Saraswati. Saying stupid things.
"You're the most annoying person I've ever met, please stop breathing in front of me." She said as she moved around him.
"Ah-…wait!"
"Major Roka." Bipin appeared around the corner with all his luggage with him. Dressed neatly in his royal red formal uniform of the Royal Guards, he looked every bit an officer of the Royal Guard.
"Ah- Bipin! You're out early, I was about to head over to help you. And what did I tell you about my name, just call me Saras. Your elder sister calls me that too anyways." It was a 180 treatment she gave to Bipin compared to Pravindra which made him turn red with jealousy.
"With respect, ma'am. I don't possess the same status as my sister. You are still my superior officer so the compliments will be such, ma'am." He said in an orderly military way without much emotion.
Saras chuckled. "You've certainly grown quite a bit these two months, I hope Ajay feels the same way as I do." She said with a smile. Bipin jittered about uncomfortably at the mention of his charge's name.
"Who is this Ajay? Please share with me, beloved! Why does mentioning his name bring a smile to you?" Pravindra asked anxiously as he cut in rudely.
Saras was at her limit, the mores she went physical like she usually did the more he took it as affection. The same applied for hateful words, but it was becoming tiresome to let him jabber while she maintained her silence. Which was why she suddenly thought of a way out with the concern Pravindra suddenly showed with the mention of Ajay.
"Oh, him? Why, that's the name of my husband." She said with a smile that was not a bit fake. Because it wasn't technically wrong.
Akhila raised her hand to her mouth in surprise. Bipin sighed. And Pravindra wore a face of utter grief. It turned so pale, his healthy tan skin turned so pale he could have passed for a corpse.
"You-….be- beloved? M-Married?... Uh- Beloved, you've pulling a fast one on me right?" He looked at her with a speck of hope in his eyes. Why didn't she just say it in the beginning, she didn't know why. At this point, she felt a sadist in her call out to crush this fool for his constant harassment he gave her. And she gave in and was reward.
"I didn't say wrong, Ajay is the name of my fiancé, whom I deeply love and care. The feelings are mutual on his end."
"Uh-…..ah-…"
No words could form in Pravindra's mouth after the revealing of Saraswati's married status. He felt like his entire world shattered in front of him.
Pravindra slumped to his knees and remained motionless.
Saras felt a bit of pity that he took it too hard even if she was stating just the truth of it. She held the handle and mored on but not before leaving the words.
"(Sigh)…. Take care of yourself, Pravindra." She wasn't so heartless.
"Come on, you two." She said to Akhila who carried her other luggage and Bipin who watched her break that man's heart.
"Ah- ok! Coming. Uh- thank you!" Akhila followed Saras and along the way Bipin took the handle of Saras's luggage on her behalf.
They loaded all the luggage onto the chauffeur car which the Commandant had called for to bring them to the train station. Bipin requested she sit in the passenger seat while he loaded the stuff.
"Alright, I guess this is goodbye then, dear." She hugged Akhila who came with her to the front gate.
"Goodbye, take care of yourself." The cadet responded, Saras nodded and walked to the door of the limo.
"Um-…. Saras? What you said back there, was it true?" She asked as it was the first time hearing such a thing.
Saras sat in the cabin and smiled.
"Every word. I hope to hear from you soon, take care, Akhila dear."
The neatly dressed woman nodded and smiled waving as the limo drove off with Bipin and Saraswati. Though her meeting was brief. Saraswati was a friend she would never forget in her time at the academy.
"(Sigh) I can't wait to get home." Sarawati stretched in the seat. Not hearing that jabber from Pravindra was a relieving feeling, it was definitely the last she would hear of him. End of story.
"…"
She patted Bipin on the back.
"And I thought you would have made a lady friend back there."
"That-…. Wasn't the.. p-priority." He said with his eyes darting about. Saras chuckled at his embarrassment despite his modest effort to maintain an upright demeanour during his stay at the National Defence Academy in Maharashtra.
"Mmmm…. Perhaps your preference is Kyrati." She said with a finger to her chin.
"What?!"
"Did I hit the mark?"
"No. I mean-…. It was never something I considered up til now." He said flustered.
"Alright then, it's decided. I'll find you a nice girl in the territory for you, anything for Maya's baby brother!" She tossled his hair on his head. He had to reach up to stop her.
But he could see that she was genuinely eager to get back, and he knew the reason for it too.
News back home was anything but good. Saras had sealed the deal on India's support to the crown, Bipin had scrutinized all available learning resources on Armored Warfare in the libraries and lectures. Hopefully, their return would bring about more positive light to the ever growing shadow of the Golden Path.
