*** Trigger alert!
Description of torture might be given, but If you hate Major Nair as much as I do, then I guess you'll enjoy it.
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Later that night.
Rajveer joined the search team while Naina secretly left her hostel and headed to the mill. Upon entering, she discovered Natasha painting her nails, while Jeremy was watching a humorous YouTube video. Naina chuckled and affectionately kissed her mother and brother-in-law on their foreheads. She entered the room where Nair was enduring the Chinese water torture.
"Good evening, Major Nair! Are you ready to talk now?" she greeted.
"I'll talk... just remove this damn thing from me!" Nair growled angrily.
Naina nodded, satisfied that he was willing to talk. She first removed the water bucket, barely concealing her amusement at Rajveer's method of tormenting Nair. From his eyes, she could tell how much Rajveer relished dressing Nair up like a girl and subjecting him to the dripping water. "Did Rajveer sir play pranks on you during his time as a cadet?" she asked Nair curiously.
Nair's response carried a stern expression, providing a clear answer to her question. Yes, Rajveer did indeed play pranks on him. Smirking, she untied Nair, sensing his inclination to flee. As expected, the moment he was freed from his restraints, Nair made an attempt to run, but Naina firmly held onto his arm. She didn't exert her full strength, yet Nair couldn't break free from her grip. It was the first time in his life that he showed fear towards a woman.
"No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to escape from here. It's better if you don't attempt it," she advised him before leading him to another room. Jeremy had already prepared a small table with two chairs, one facing the camera. Naina secured Nair to the chair in front of the camera while taking a seat in the other chair. Jeremy and Natasha entered the room but stayed out of the camera's view. Naina turned on the camera and instructed Nair, "Introduce yourself, and then I will begin asking questions."
"Did the captain leave his girlfriend to handle the interrogation? How foolish!" Nair sneered.
Then before he could even blink, Naina grabbed one of his hands and stabbed him with the metal hairpin fashioned in the style of a chopstick to secure her hair in a bun. The hairpin had a butterfly design on one side, adorned with small bells that dangled from the butterfly's wings. The hairpin pierced the table, sticking Nair's hand with it.
[This kind of hairpin. Do you guys also use this kind of hairpin? I love them a lot.]
"Do not piss me off. Next time, it won't be your hand I pierce," Naina growled at the shocked man in front of her.
Nair was still in shock. he never thought a female could be brutal enough to interrogate a suspect. But now with his hand stuck to the wooden table by a hairpin, he was feeling like he had judged the situation wrong. He had thought he would be able to threaten or taunt Cadet Campbell enough to get out of here. But didn't seem to be the case.
"Now, I'll repeat... Introduce yourself," Naina commanded.
"I... I'm Major Pravat Nair," Nair said to the camera, "I'm the insider who..." he began to confess about his involvement in weapon trafficking when Naina interrupted.
"Stop. I don't need to know about the weapon trafficking. Sufficient evidence has been found by the authorities to suspend or expel you. I'm not interested in that. Instead, tell me about Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia. How were you connected to his case?" she inquired.
"Captain Naveen?!" Nair furrowed his brow in confusion. He couldn't comprehend why Cadet Campbell was interested in the deceased captain. "Why do you want to know about him?" he asked.
"Answer my questions, Major," Naina told him sternly, emphasizing the importance of his cooperation.
"Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia was my student... one of the most annoying creatures I've ever encountered. He never took life seriously, always behaving as if playing pranks and flirting with women was his life's goal," Nair began sharing his account of Naveen. "I felt relieved when he graduated and left. However, he unexpectedly returned two years later, this time as one of my fellow faculty members. I learned that there had been a tragedy in his family or something, and he seemed much more serious than before. I received information from Col. Bajaj that Captain Naveen was responsible for safeguarding the nuclear triggers. Knowing what a flirt he used to be during his cadet days, I suggested a honey trap when Lala sir sought my opinion. Dr. Ritu came into the picture, and as I had predicted, he fell head over heels for her. You see, a dog's tail doesn't straighten no matter how much you put it in a pipe," Nair rolled his eyes.
"According to the plan, Ritu was supposed to steal the triggers, and everything would be fine. However, I'm not sure how it happened, but during one of my weapon exchanges, Captain Naveen caught me in the act. I swiftly sent him away, accusing him of trying to disrupt official academy business. However, I could tell he didn't believe me. He started keeping an eye on me, secretly inspecting weapon logbooks and such. Many days he would leave the academy and return looking stressed. If I crossed paths with him, he would change the subject. I knew... I knew he must have found some kind of evidence against me. I immediately informed Lala sir about it. Later, we discovered from Col. Baja that Captain had been making inquiries about Lala sir with the local police and military headquarters. Somehow, Captain Naveen discovered that Lala sir was the mastermind and founder of the notorious anti-national group 'Eagle'. It was clear that Captain Naveen had evidence implicating Lala sir. That's when things started getting dangerous. Captain Naveen became a threat to Lala sir's plans, and I knew he had to be dealt with. We realized we didn't have much time to play around, so Ritu was instructed to either expedite the theft of the triggers or set a trap for Captain Naveen," Nair explained with a smirk, clearly enjoying recollecting the events.
Naina maintained a stoic expression, her face a blank canvas. She listened attentively, nodding along. "What happened afterward?" she inquired.
"I didn't have to handle him after his arrest during the Alumni night. He was taken to the XYZ detention center for interrogation and held there until his court dates. Our men repeatedly questioned him about his knowledge of Lala sir and the evidence he possessed against him. But to everyone's dismay, Captain Naveen remained silent, wearing a smile whenever those questions were posed. I must admit, he was an honorable officer, a genuine patriot. Eventually, Lala sir grew tired of him. Under his orders, Captain Naveen was subjected to a slow-acting poison while in detention. Many hoped he would succumb to it, ensuring that the secrets of Eagle remained buried. However, during a transfer to another prison, Captain Naveen managed to escape. Tragically, his lifeless body was later discovered, bearing the marks of a gunshot wound." Nair shrugged.
In that moment, Naina cursed herself, overwhelmed with a desire to cry tears of anguish streaming down her face. Unfortunately, her circumstances denied her even that ability. However, she could feel the victory drawing near. She was on the verge of completing her mission to avenge her brother. With the confessions of Col. Bajaj and Lala Gehlot, Naveen would be exonerated and declared innocent. His reputation would be restored, and he would be remembered as a martyr rather than a traitor.
After switching off the camera, Naina directed her gaze towards Nair, taking a moment to properly observe his expression. Not a trace of regret could be found there; instead, he appeared almost boastful about his actions. With a soft yet poignant tone, Naina posed a question that delved into the deeper repercussions of Captain Naveen's demise. "Have you ever considered the impact on his family? What became of his parents after Captain Naveen's untimely demise? Can you fathom the depth of their emotions upon learning that their beloved son had been falsely accused of treason, when they knew such accusations were unfounded?" Naina's voice carried a mixture of sadness and empathy as she emphasized the immense emotional distress experienced by Captain Naveen's loved ones.
Nair's confusion turned to disdain as he dismissed any concern for Captain Naveen's family. He scoffed at the notion, expressing his indifference towards ordinary citizens. "Why should I care about them? My objective was to eliminate Captain Naveen, and that mission was accomplished. The fate of some common citizens holds no significance to me," he retorted with evident disgust.
"Before we proceed, there is something I feel compelled to share with you. It is crucial that you understand the ramifications of Captain Naveen's death," Naina asserted with determination. "After Captain Naveen's passing, his sister, who had already gone missing before his graduation from KMA, was still unaccounted for. As a result, he became the sole child of his parents. Upon receiving the news of his death, his father, unable to bear the weight of another loss, suffered a heart attack and passed away. In a tragic twist of fate, his mother, while on her way to arrange funds for medical expenses, was involved in an accident and also lost her life." Naina conveyed, her voice filled with sorrow and anger. "This is how you shattered a family," she added, her tone growing sharper. "And this is how you destroyed MY family."
Her words hung heavy in the air, highlighting the profound devastation and personal loss she had experienced as a result of Nair's actions.
"Your... family? What are you talking about?" Nair questioned.
Naina didn't say anything anymore. She went around the table and grabbed Nair by his neck before carrying him to another room. She had prepared a special device for him. It was a rack. The rack was a device consisting of a rectangular wooden table, with a roller at one end. There were iron cuffs hanging from the roller. The bottom of the rack had a mechanism to stuck limbs in place.
[Like this.]
Naina fastened Nair's wrists to the chains dangling from the roller and his ankles to the mechanism at the bottom of the device.
"W-What is this?!" Nair exclaimed in shock and he looked around. He didn't even realize what had happened to him. Naina had moved at the speed of light, so Nair felt like one moment he was in the interrogation room and then next moment, he was getting attached to this strange device.
Naina lovingly caressed the roller at the head of the rack and replied, "This is the rack. It was the most widely used instrument of torture in the past. It's designed to stretch the victim's body, until the limbs gets dislocated and rips from their sockets."
Nair's eyes widened. "I'm your senior, Cadet Campbell! Even if I'm a criminal, you can't torture me like this. Military police will be after you for this!" he warned, but the trembling in his voice made Naina smile.
"Major Nair, You're calling me by my new name. I don't want you to do that. For the during of this torture, you will call me by my real name. Naina Singh AHLUWALIA," she growled out the surname angrily.
Nair was shocked. "Ah-Ahlu...walia?"
"Yes. Remember? Captain Naveen had a little sister... It's me." Naina told him pointing towards herself as she gave him a sadistic smile.
Then, she slowly started rotating the lever and stretching Nair's body outwards. Nair's eyes bulged in fear as the chains holding onto his limbs tugged and stretched slowly. Naina was going slow because she wanted him to suffer for a while and endure the pain as they made her family endure the pain.
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Two days and three nights had passed since Major Nair's daring escape, leaving the search parties empty-handed after thoroughly scouring the entire forest. Colonel Shakti Chandra's frustration was palpable, as he grappled with the fact that they had lost Nair in such a way. The rest of the team shared his sentiment, their anger simmering over their inability to capture the elusive fugitive.
In response to Nair's escape, BC took decisive action to protect the academy. He tightened the security measures, leaving no room for any potential security breaches. With a heavy heart, he entrusted Rajveer with the responsibility of overseeing the safety arrangements, knowing that he was the most reliable and competent person for the task. Yet, the escape gnawed at BC's thoughts, and doubts began to plague his mind. A nagging feeling suggested a link between Nair and Naveen's case – a connection that he couldn't fully comprehend. Nair's animosity towards Naveen in the past seemed to resonate in his suspicions, but the uncertainty left him perplexed. As he mulled over the possible implications, BC knew that uncovering the truth was imperative.
With Major Nair's absence, Gunny stepped up to fill the void as the new drill commandant. His authoritative presence and experience made him a suitable candidate for the role, and he took on the responsibilities with unwavering dedication.
Meanwhile, Naina and her trusted friends, Alekh, Huda, Ali, Yudi, and Pooja, delved into decoding the cryptic message left behind by Naveen: "Strawberry basket in the hub." Curiosity burned within them as they gathered in the game room, eager to uncover the meaning behind those enigmatic words. Naina lied to them that Rajveer had stumbled upon this code within Naveen's old recorder. The significance of the message eluded them, but they were determined to unravel its hidden secrets. As they brainstormed theories and possibilities, their collective intellect and varied perspectives formed a formidable team.
Late into the night, they huddled together, notebooks and pens strewn across the table, dissecting every word, searching for clues. Each of them brought their unique skills to the table, combining their knowledge of ciphers, technology, and intuition. It was a collaborative effort fueled by their friendship and shared determination to bring justice to Naveen's case. As they explored different angles and potential interpretations, Naina's mind raced with thoughts. She couldn't shake off the feeling that this code held the key evidence of Lala Gehlot's involvement. Perhaps it was a cryptic message from Naveen himself, guiding them towards the truth. The answers lay hidden within the confines of those words, waiting to be deciphered.
Yudi chimed in with a suggestion, "Why don't we explore synonyms? It's possible that the synonyms of these words might provide us with a clue."
"Great idea, Yudiye. Let's consider... well, strawberry is a fruit that's typically red in color. Could it be something red?" Huda speculated.
"Huda, it's not just 'strawberry.' It's 'Strawberry basket.' Perhaps it refers to a red-colored packet, container, vessel, case, or box?" Pooja pointed out, contributing to the discussion.
"Ah, a red container! That does make sense, I suppose," Ali remarked, deep in thought.
Naina sought their input, her curiosity piqued. She posed the question, "And what about the word 'hub'? Any ideas on what it could signify?" She was eager to hear their thoughts, wanting to tap into their collective knowledge and insights.
Yudi pondered for a moment before offering, "The synonym of 'hub' is often used to describe a center, a place that acts as the focal point or the heart of various activities."
"Ah, interesting. So, Naveen sir must have meant a place that serves as the center of activity. Could it be our training ground? Or perhaps the academy courtyard? Maybe even the gym?" Huda proposed, considering various possibilities.
"So, the code 'Strawberry basket in the hub' could mean 'Red container at the center of activity' or 'Red container at the heart of something.'" Alekh guessed, before asking, But what could that 'something' be?"
"That makes sense. It means this 'hub' AKA center of activity has a red container that Captain Naveen sir was hiding?" Pooja guessed.
"Rajveer sir said Naveen bh- uh sir hid all the evidence against the real traitor somewhere. Apparently that's why he was tortured a lot during his prison days." Naina shared softly. "Those people wanted to know the location of those evidence." she added.
"Then, this evidence are crucial for Naveen sir's case. They could proof his innocence," Ali exclaimed, all fired up.
"How about this... from tonight, every night after lights out, we will start looking into the places with most activities." Alekh suggested.
"Mmmm... I can't tonight." Naina interrupted.
"Why?" Yudi inquired, confused.
"Rajveer sir has been too busy looking for Nair in his every spare moment. We didn't get much time together. So, I want to have a date with him tonight." Naina told them, pouting.
"No problem, yaar. You go and have fun." Pooja told her with a grin.
"But... protected fun. We don't want a junior Phoolan or junior Sirji so soon." Huda added with a devilish smirk.
Ali and Alekh gasped before glaring at Naina. "There should be no such thing before marriage!" They said at the same time with grumpy expressions on their faces.
Naina narrowed her eyes at Huda. "I'm going to hang you upside down form a tree, you brat! Look what you did!" she scolded, pointed at her brothers.
Huda was too busy snickering to take her threat seriously.
Naina then turned towards her brothers and said, "Back off. Brothers shouldn't be too nosy about their sister's relationship... specially the physical part of the relationship," she poked her tongue at her brother
"There should be any physical relationship before marriage." Ali grumbled, making a face. Alekh nodded in agreement.
Naina rolled her eyes and ignored them. Rest of their friends were too busy snickering behind their hands.
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Rajveer, accompanied by his group, wearily returned from their exhaustive search for Nair in the dense forest. The day's arduous journey had left him bone tired and longing for respite. As he entered his room, a delightful aroma greeted his senses, emanating from the kitchenette.
To his surprise, he found Naina busy cooking, her attention focused on the task at hand. She appeared radiant, wearing light blue jeans and a simple white cropped t-shirt beneath her kitchen apron. A smile illuminated Rajveer's face as he approached her from behind, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Hi, sweetheart! How was your day?" he inquired, his voice reflecting his longing for her company after being apart all day.
Naina turned her head, placing a tender kiss on his cheek. "The day was quite productive. I'll fill you in on the details later. But for now, why don't you freshen up? Dinner will be ready by then. I'm preparing chicken biryani, just for you. Is that alright?" she suggested, her eyes filled with affection.
A wave of gratitude washed over Rajveer as he expressed his appreciation, "I absolutely love biryani. Thank you, my love. You take such good care of me." With those words, he peppered her cheek and shoulder with gentle kisses, eliciting a joyous giggle from Naina. Rajveer then excused himself to shower and change into fresh clothes, eagerly looking forward to the delicious meal that awaited him.
After a refreshing shower, Rajveer emerged from the bathroom, feeling revitalized and ready to indulge in the enticing aroma that filled the air. He had changed into clean clothes, feeling a sense of comfort as he approached the kitchen where Naina was putting the final touches on the Chicken Biryani.
Naina turned towards him, her eyes gleaming with affection as she caught sight of him. "You're looking much better now," she remarked, a warm smile gracing her lips.
Rajveer walked over to her, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "It's all thanks to you," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude. "You have a way of rejuvenating my spirit."
Naina leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his presence. "I'm just glad I can be here for you, Rajveer." she murmured, her voice filled with tenderness.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the tantalizing scent of the Chicken Biryani continued to waft through the room. Dinner was soon served, and Rajveer savored each flavorful bite of the aromatic Biryani. With every mouthful, he felt not only nourished by the delicious meal but also by the love and care that Naina had poured into its preparation.
"It's been three days now, Naina. What's happening with N.. um.. Muchchhar (Mustache)?" he inquired in the midst of dinner.
"Tommy and dad brought Col. Bajaj two days ago and we got his confession on the record too." Naina whispered so that only Rajveer could hear her. "I've been prolonging their punishments so that they could feel the same pain and hopelessness my brother had felt during his last days." she added gritting her teeth.
Rajveer nodded, understanding where she was coming from. After all, he had been one of the people who had seen Naveen last and knew what he looked like at the end. "When do you plan on revealing their bodies? That way I can stop walking around the forest, pretending to look for him," he sighed, tiredly.
Naina ran her fingers through his hair affectionately. "Give me one more day." She pleaded.
Rajveer grabbed her hand and placed a kiss at the back of her hand. "Take as much time as you want. I can do this much for you and for Naveen." he assured her with a smile. Naina beamed in answer.
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A/N:::