Abruptly, the music came to a sudden halt, leaving everyone looking bewildered as they glanced around. Naina, wearing a grin, announced, "I believe Huda did his part."
"Excellent! Pooja, don't feel down. Stand up and enjoy yourself at the freshers ball," Jeremy cheerfully directed, extending his hand to help Pooja up.
Before long, a lively new melody started playing, causing the faculty members to exchange confused glances before eventually embracing the change and leaving the dance floor. All the cadets eagerly joined in, with Naina and Jeremy dragging Pooja and Ali onto the dance floor. Shortly after, Huda and his date, Alekh, Nilu, Yudi and his partner also joined in the fun.
Bhagre di queen main taan
Kudi so haseen main taan
Meri hai gazab gal-baat
Figure hega kaint mera
Thumka excellent mera
Groove groove hoja mere saath (Repeat once)
Nachange saari raat
Sohniyo ve
Nachange saari raat
Sohniyo ve
Karle thoda sa pyaar
Sohniyo ve
Karle thoda sa pyaar (Repeat once)
[I am the queen of the racetrack,
I am the most beautiful girl,
My talks are amazing,
My figure is amazing,
My dance moves are excellent,
Come groove with me (Repeat once)
Dance all night long,
Beautiful ones,
Dance all night long,
Beautiful ones,
Show me a little love,
Beautiful ones,
Show me a little love (Repeat once)]
Rajveer wore a smile as he watched his cadets, yet unknowingly, his eyes repeatedly gravitated towards Naina's elegant steps on the dance floor. Her radiant expression filled him with happiness. He couldn't help but notice Jeremy's presence by her side, gracefully dancing and forming a protective barrier around her, preventing anyone from intruding on her enjoyment with her friends. It dawned on Rajveer how lucky Naina was to have discovered such a nurturing family. They genuinely embraced her as if she were their own daughter.
Ae jhanjharan da sound
Te hilda ground
Main cham cham nachdi firan
Akhan meri tight
Javan main left right
Ke mundeyan ton bachdi firan
Munda hoga woh to lucky
Jiske liye tune rakhi
Apne yeh aankhon ki sharab
Dil ye mera theek hega
Ishqe 'ch weak hega
Karde tu isko kharab
Nachange saari raat
Sohniyo ve
Nachange saari raat
Sohniyo ve
Karle thoda sa pyaar
Sohniyo ve
Karle thoda sa pyaar (Repeat once)
[With the sound of the anklets,
And the ground shaking,
I dance with jingling steps.
My eyes are sharp,
I move left and right,
Avoiding the boys.
That guy will be lucky,
For whom you've tied
The intoxication of your eyes.
My heart will be fine,
It will be weak in love,
You make it go bad.
Dance all night long,
Beautiful ones,
Dance all night long,
Beautiful ones,
Show me a little love,
Beautiful ones,
Show me a little love (Repeat once)]
Jeremy noticed Rajveer keeping an eye on Naina, causing a soft, knowing smile to form on his face. He pondered how Naina would react to the truth of their lives, knowing how determined she could be.
As the current song drew to a close, Jeremy proposed, "Nainu, why don't you invite the faculty members to join the dance? They might feel excluded due to the music."
"Brilliant idea," Naina enthusiastically agreed, and approached Rajveer and Ritu, who were engaged in conversation while enjoying their wine. "Excuse me, sir and ma'am, but why aren't you both on the dance floor?" she inquired curiously.
"Well, cadet, I would love to dance, but the Captain here has turned old and boring," Ritu playfully teased, eliciting a chuckle from Naina.
Rajveer grinned sheepishly. "To be honest, I don't know how to dance to Bollywood songs," he admitted.
"But Sir, it's easy! Let me show you," Naina urged.
"Why don't you take him under your wing, Cadet Campbell, and teach him some Bollywood moves? Just like how he taught you ballroom dancing," Ritu suggested with a smirk.
Naina's smile momentarily disappeared. "How did she find out about that? I don't remember anyone being near the mess yesterday. The only way she could know is if she checked the CCTV footage. But why would Dr. Ritu Mishra do that? Does she even have access to the cameras? Something doesn't seem right," Naina thought to herself.
Setting her suspicions aside, Naina enthusiastically suggested, "That's an excellent idea. Sir, would you care to dance with me?"
"Gorgeous, why are you pestering Sir to dance with you? Why don't you come and dance with me instead? I'm sure I dance better than Sir," Huda bragged.
"Oh, really, Cadet?" Rajveer responded, feeling a sense of challenge.
"Captain, are you seriously going to let a cadet surpass you?" Ritu taunted with a mischievous grin.
Rajveer pursed his lips momentarily before giving a nod. "Alright then. Cadet Campbell, would you like to dance?" he asked, extending his hand.
"Absolutely," Naina replied, accepting his hand with a radiant smile.
As the enchanting melody of "Param Sundari" reverberated through the ballroom, Rajveer and Naina graced the dance floor. Rajveer ignited the atmosphere with the spirited essence of Bollywood as he mouthed the lyrics, intertwining energetic Indian dance steps with his tapoori-style flair, encircling Naina.
Seamlessly transitioning, Rajveer drew Naina closer, seamlessly blending their dance into a captivating fusion of Indian Bollywood and professional couple's choreography. Their bodies moved in flawless harmony, executing intricate steps with finesse and precision. As they spun gracefully across the dance floor, Naina's dress swayed with elegance, accentuating the fluidity of their movements.
Amidst the mesmerizing spectacle, their eyes locked in a profound connection, radiating pure joy and camaraderie. Their dance became an embodiment of the profound trust and mutual respect they shared as teacher and student, a captivating testament to their bond.
Ae Bikaaneri Chhokri
Santre Ki Tokri
Ghar To Chhudwaya
Ab Kya Chhudayegi Naukri
Romeo Romeo
Gali Ke Romeo
Bholi Shaqal Wale
Saare Ke Saare Farebiyon
Romeo Romeo
Bhade Ke Premiyon
Kaahe Gale Pade Ho
Bin Bulaaye Baaraatiyon
[Hey, girl from Bikaner,
With a basket of oranges,
You escaped from home,
Now what job will you leave?
Romeo Romeo,
The Romeo of the street,
All the deceitful ones,
With innocent faces.
Romeo Romeo,
Lovers for hire,
Why are you getting so close,
Without being invited, wedding crashers.]
All gazes remained transfixed on Rajveer and Naina, captivated by their impeccable synchronization, as they glided across the dance floor. Their every motion flowed seamlessly, a testament to their extraordinary chemistry that seemed as if they had spent days rehearsing together. The ease with which they moved in unison defied belief, for it was hard to fathom that this was their debut performance.
The spectators were awestruck, their jaws dropping in sheer amazement, as they bore witness to the duo's effortless mastery of the dance. Every step, every gesture was executed with such grace and finesse, leaving the audience spellbound. The duo's innate connection to the music was palpable, as they effortlessly responded to its rhythm and melody, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that held everyone in awe.
Le To Gayi Kaleja
Sang Mein Hume Bhi Le Ja
Ye To Chori Pe Hai Seena Zori
Kabhi Lage Monalisa
Kabhi Kabhi Lage Lolita
Aur Kabhi Jaise Kadambri
Haye Meri Param Param Param Param
Param Sundari
Haye Meri Param Param Param Param
Param Sundari
Sar Se Pair Talak
Betahasha Husan Se Bhari
Haye Meri Param Param Param Param
Param Sundari
[You have taken my heart,
Take me along with you.
This is a robbery, but my heart agrees.
Sometimes you look like Monalisa,
Sometimes you look like Lolita,
And sometimes like a Kadambri flower.
Oh, my extremely beautiful,
Oh, my extremely beautiful,
From head to toe,
Overflowing with boundless beauty.
Oh, my extremely beautiful,
Oh, my extremely beautiful.]
With grace and poise, they executed their dance, earning resounding applause as the song concluded. Naina was overjoyed, considering those few minutes spent dancing together as some of the most memorable moments she had ever experienced. Rajveer, too, felt a sense of tranquility and liberation during those moments, as if he could unveil a part of himself that he typically concealed.
Approaching Huda and Dr. Ritu, Rajveer inquired, "So, Cadet Huda, how would you rate my performance?"
"Wow, sir ji, you turned out to be more than just a pretty face. We young folks need to be wary and vigilant around you," Huda responded with a smirk.
Naina observed him with narrowed eyes. Something about the way he spoke seemed unusual, as if he was insinuating something else.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Rajveer said with a smug smile of his own.
...-...
...-...
...-...
As the dinner came to a close, Suriji stood up to make the announcement for Mr. and Ms. Fresher. Huda and Yudi were already envisioning themselves wearing the title and sashes, but their dreams were shattered as Suriji declared Alekh and Naina as the winners. Huda and Yudi's faces dropped into a pout, unable to hide their disappointment.
Alekh, on the other hand, was completely taken aback by the announcement. He couldn't believe that he had won such a prestigious title. Naina, however, wasn't as thrilled about her own win as she was about Alekh's. She knew how much it meant to him and was happy to see him get the recognition he deserved. Throughout the night, Alekh gave shy smiles and nods of gratitude whenever someone came over to congratulate him on his win. The title had given him a newfound confidence, and he felt proud to be a part of the Academy.
Naina and Jeremy exited the venue once the party had come to an end, with only a few cadets left behind. Suddenly, Naina spoke up. "I noticed something, you know," she said.
"What did you notice?" Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You've been acting strange for some reason. You were watching me all night, like you were expecting me to do something," Naina told him candidly. Then, a thought struck her, and she gasped. "Oh! Did you want to see how I would react to being close to my singer?" she asked.
Jeremy smiled. "Remember when you asked me if I saw something just before Pooja came to complain about the music?" he reminded her.
"Oh, yes! So, did you see something? Is it another pair of soulmates?" Naina asked eagerly. "Who is it?"
"Naina, my dear child, I saw your soulmate in there. It was the brightest shade of pink I've ever seen, I swear," Jeremy said gently.
Naina's eyes widened in surprise. "Please tell me it's not Huda," she blurted out.
Jeremy erupted in sniggers almost immediately, doubling over with laughter and clutching his stomach.
"Jerry, please... tell me it's not Huda," Naina implored.
"N-No... It's not him," he managed to reply between chuckles.
"Thank goodness!" Naina breathed a sigh of relief. "So who is it?" she asked, running her fingers through her hair.
"It's... It's Captain Rajveer...He's your mate," Jeremy stated firmly as he held Naina by her shoulders.
Naina blinked in disbelief, then blinked again. "What? Wait... I must have misheard you," she stammered.
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "You're a vampire and you have perfect hearing. You didn't hear anything wrong," he said dryly.
"You have got to be joking... NOOO! Seriously?! Why him? Wasn't it enough that he was my singer and my brother's best friend? How could he become my everything?" Naina exclaimed as she began pacing back and forth.
Jeremy remained silent, allowing Naina to process the news.
Naina was in denial about Captain Rajveer being her mate. "Our kind's FIRST priority is always to protect our mates... but with him being my singer, how am I supposed to do that?! No, I don't believe it. He's not my mate. You must've mistaken what you saw," she said firmly.
Jeremy disagreed, "No, Naina. I didn't make any mistake. Soulmate bond is the only relationship bond I see... and I have full confident on my powers," he said, folding his arms over his chest.
Naina was skeptical, "How can I believe that? Maybe your power malfunctioned. It's not like I could see what you see," she pouted.
Just then, Jeremy noticed that Naina had started glowing as she spoke. "Naina, why are you glowing?" he asked, scared at this anomaly.
Surprised, Naina frowned and looked down at herself. After a few seconds, the glow vanished, and she asked, "What happened?"
"I have no clue. I think we should call Thomas," Jeremy suggested.
Naina nodded in agreement. Just then, Ali and Pooja walked out, both wearing a large pink bow. Naina tilted her head and a confused smile appeared on her face. "Why did they tie themselves with that pink ribbon? They even made a bow," she wondered aloud.
Jeremy was stunned and turned his head abruptly towards Naina. "What did you just say?" he asked in confusion.
Naina pointed towards Ali and Pooja and said, "They tied themselves with a pink ribbon. I wonder what it's about?"
After a quick glance at Ali and Pooja, Jeremy urgently asked Naina, "Can you see that ribbon?"
"Why wouldn't I? It's tied in a big bow," Naina replied, perplexed by his reaction.
"I don't know how, but I think you've somehow acquired my power. This is what I see when I see soulmates," he explained to her.
"How can that be?" Naina asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"I think there's more to you than we know. The other vegetarian coven has a gifted individual who can see powers. Perhaps we should consult with him?" Jeremy suggested.
Naina breathed out, saying, "Yes, please."
"Anyway... since you can see yourself the soulmate bond, I think you should go and find Captain Rajveer. You'll know the truth yourself." Jeremy suggested, "I'll tell the family till then."
"Okay. I'll prove you wrong." Naina told him firmly before heading back to look for Rajveer. She could easily track his smell.
She found him walking out of the venue with Dr. Ritu. She seemed to be leaning heavily on him and blabbering something while Rajveer was nodding or replied to her. Naina saw a pink ribbon was wrapped around Rajveer's waist with its' other part heading in her direction. She looked down and found the other end of the pink ribbon wrapped around her own waist neatly in a bow. Rajveer saw her standing there and bid her a 'good night' with a nod of his head before leading Dr. Ritu towards the academy. Naina watched as the pink ribbon stretched after him from her.
Jeremy joined her and asked, "So? Did you see what I see? Do you still think my powers malfunctioned?"
"I must've done something really bad to offend the gods that they are now punishing me like this." Naina grumbled, "No... I don't accept it." she stated in a stubborn tone. "It's vanishing." she added as an after thought as the sight of the pink bow vanished.
"The ribbon?" Jeremy asked.
"The ability to see the ribbon." Naina replied.
"I don't know what happened but maybe it was temporary." he guessed.
"Yeah. Talk to everyone and find out what was this, okay?" Naina requested.
"Don't worry, dear." Jeremy assured cupping her face.
...-...
...-...
...-...
The following day, Major Nair's class was scheduled for the first period, which happened to be early morning drill for the first-year cadets. Due to staying up late the previous night, the cadets were not completely alert when they arrived at the training ground. Many of them were still feeling the effects of being drunk or hungover, and some barely had two hours of sleep. As a result, MN's loud greeting was quite agonizing for them.
Following a grueling session of 100 pushups and 200 jumping jacks, Major Nair announced that the first year cadets would be learning how to shoot that morning. After explaining the fundamentals of shooting, he proceeded to call on each cadet one by one to shoot at the target, without demonstrating the technique himself. However, when Nair called for Naina to take her turn, she was lost in thought and failed to respond, which only served to further enrage the instructor.
Nair's angry frown deepened when he saw Naina lost in thought. "Cadet Campbell!" he snapped.
Startled, Naina refocused on him. "Yes Sir!"
"Come forward and complete the drill if you've finished daydreaming," he scolded.
Silently, Naina stepped forward and took the gun, aiming at the target. Despite her efforts, she struggled to control her strength that morning, feeling as though her vampiric abilities were going haywire since learning about her mate. It was as if a part of her wanted to abandon her humanity and run to her mate to cling to him.
She adjusted her grip on the gun, trying not to damage it. Once satisfied, she fired the gun, but the rubber bullet hit the wrong target on the other side of the ground.
"What the hell, Cadet!? That's not the target you were supposed to hit!" Nair shouted, angry that she managed to hit a target that was so far away.
"Um... Sorry, sir." she told him apologetically.
After Nair scolded Naina for hitting the wrong target, he proceeded to insult all the women in the world before dismissing the class. Naina felt completely defeated and dropped to her knees. She couldn't understand how she had become so distracted. She was supposed to maintain a low profile and avoid attracting unwanted attention while investigating her brother's case, but now her bloodlust and mating instincts were interfering with her mission.
Her friends stayed behind as the rest of the class went to the mess. Alekh approached her and knelt beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Ye yedi [crazy], why are you acting like a looser? Everyone has good and bad days. So what if you couldn't give your best today? You'll perform better on the next drill. Okay. Now, come! It's time for breakfast."
"Alekh is sending the right text. So what if your charge was down today? You can recharge is on the next round." Pooja added with an encouraging smile.
"Yes, Naina. I mean look at me... you at least managed to hit a target. I shot that poor orderly instead. Thank God He's okay." Yudi added.
Naina nodded taking a deep breath. They were right. So what if she lost her control for a while. She'll get it back again and focus on acting like a human more. "Thanks guys. It means a lot." she told them honestly.
"Naina ji, you're our friend. How could we see our friend be sad alone?" Ali told her with a kind smile.
"And Gorgeous, you know how that Muchhar is...don't take his words to your heart." Huda added in his usual style. "Now, can we go to the mess? I swear I'm feeling so hungry that I could eat a horse." he said rubbing his stomach. Everyone laughed and went to the mess.
...-...
Rajveer had just finished taking his class. Throughout the class he noticed that Naina seemed upset about something. When the cadets started heading out, he called out to Pooja and told her to stay back for a moment. "Cadet Ghai, what happened to Cadet Campbell? She looked upset... and distracted." he inquired.
Pooja sighed dreamily. "Sir, you speak and look just Shahrukh Khan. I think I'll call you Shahrukh from now on." she declared.
Rajveer felt his eyes pop out of his skull. He cleared his throat uncomfortably as his cheeks started turning red and stated sternly, "CADET GHAI, that wasn't the answer to my question."
Pooja blinked shaking her head. "Right. Well... actually sir, Naina couldn't shoot the target in today's drill and that's why Major Nair inserted a virus inside her." she told him with a grimace.
"Inserted Virus?" Rajveer repeated, puzzled by her statement.
"I mean, he insulted her badly. That's she's sad and disturbed."
"Okay. Thanks for tell me. Tell Cadet Campbell to meet me in the shooting range during your free period." He ordered.
"Okay Shah.. ah... sir." Pooja replied with a sheepish smile before going away.
Rajveer closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelieve. He couldn't believe that she called him 'Shahrukh' in his face.
...-...
Confused, Naina scanned the deserted shooting range. Earlier that day, Pooja had informed her that Captain Rajveer had requested her presence during their free period, but there was no one to be found. She detected that he had not yet arrived in the area, until suddenly, his scent hit her. She could tell he was rushing towards her by the accelerated beat of his heart. As he arrived, she turned towards him and greeted him with a smile.
"Your mood seems to have improved much since the morning, Cadet. Good afternoon," he teased.
"It's not as bad as it was," Naina replied. "Anyway, Pooja said you called me?"
"Yes, she told me what happened this morning," he said, stepping closer to her. "Listen, I know how Major Nair is. He must not have given proper instructions to you all and expected you to just shoot. He did the same thing with us. So, don't be upset about that, okay?"
Naina smiled and nodded.
"Come, I'll show you everything I know about guns today," he announced.
Naina's smile vanished. She had made a decision that morning. She wanted to maintain a distance between them so that she could focus on her brother's case. But how was she supposed to do that if he came close? "Y-You don't have to take the trouble. I'm sure I'll get it... one day," she protested with a guilty smile.
Rajveer rolled his eyes and smiled playfully. "I'm giving you a private lesson, Cadet. Take advantage of that. I learned from my life that you should never say no to free things," he told her with a wink.
Naina smiled at his cute expression and nodded.
During the next half-hour, Rajveer skillfully instructed Naina on handling the gun with precision and expertise. As she stood with the weapon in her grasp, his attentive gaze lingered upon her, appreciating the strength and focus reflected in her stance. Suddenly, without warning, he positioned himself behind her and gently placed his hands on her waist, guiding her into a more optimal position. Naina felt shivers down her spine at the unexpected touch. Though she attempted to concentrate on the lesson, her thoughts wandered to the warmth of his body pressed against hers. She couldn't help but wonder if he too felt the electric charge coursing through her veins. Her eyes widened as his touch registered, and she inhaled sharply, tensing up.
"Cadet, if you remain so rigid, you might strain your wrists. Loosen up a bit here," Rajveer advised, patting her shoulder.
As Naina tried to follow Rajveer's instructions, she experienced a fluttery sensation in her stomach. She pondered whether it was merely nerves or something more profound. Despite her efforts to focus on his words, her attention became divided by the proximity they shared.
Unsatisfied with her stance, Rajveer started making adjustment to her legs and grip on the gun, Naina's heartbeat quickened. She felt his breath grazing her neck and the warmth radiating from his body. "This is how you need to hold it," he instructed, his voice both serious and gentle. "Keep one hand on the bottom."
The depth of intimacy within the whole experience overwhelmed Naina. She appreciated the valuable lesson, yet she couldn't deny the intense attraction she felt towards Rajveer.
'Oh God! Why are you punishing me like this? Whenever I try to run from this guy, you always do something that creates these scenes where I have to be close to him. And what's with him? Doesn't he have the instinct of 'flee or flight' at all? Instead of running away from me, why does he always manage to come closer to me?' Naina was silently complaining to God that even after trying her hardest, she was getting severely distracted because Rajveer was standing so close to her. He was almost back-hugging her, and his breath fanning her cheeks and neck was wreaking havoc on her body. Naina's eyes fluttered and went unfocused at the sensation.
"Cadet Naina, where are you lost? Focus here," he scolded her mildly, noticing her being distracted.
"Yeah, sorry," she replied, embarrassed at being caught.