Raina Shots

Kashmakash- Chapter 9

"Main bilkul akela pad gya tha Naina..
At that time I really wanted smone by my side, I really needed someone by my side aur aise me us wakt mujhe sirf wohi ek chehra nazar aaya jo mujhe laga ki mujhe sambhal sakta tha aur wo tha Kajal ka....,"

Naina felt a pang in her heart listening smone else name from his mouth & thinking that why she was not there vth him when he was in his most broken state & really wanted someone by his side to support him, to understand him, to listen to him, to give him some strength, to care for him & probably to give him some love too. It was smone else where he had to find those things.

"Whom I met three months ago during inauguration of N.S.E. Education College, Solan.....I was invited there.," He said

"She is...," Naina tried to ask but ans came before she could complete her ques as he already knew what she was going to ask

"She is Lecturer there..New college New joining..," He told

"Woww," Naina said meekly. Then asked little hestitentily,

"First Meeting,"

"No but yeah after many years," He replied in the same tone.

"Phir..kab mile the..aap Kajal se..pahli baar," Her words came out from her mouth vth difficulty

"During 2nd year of my engineering course in Ahmedabad," He replied slowly not looking at her coz as usual he was not able too see pain in her eyes

"Apne engineering bhi ki h," She asked little amusingly.

She was really unaware of this fact abt him. During their conversation most of the time they used to talk abt only Naveen. It has always been the central topic between them leaving those few times when they discussed on subject related topic. She felt she never tried to know abt him.

"Only one & half year approx then left," He replied

"Whyy," She tried to know more

"I was never interested in all that, Naina. From the v beginning I have only wish & aim & that was only to serve my country," His tone little normal this time

"Then why u entered in that field," Naina asked again

"Coz of Lala Saheb..He never wanted me to join Army...unka mann tha ki main Doctory, Engineering, MBA kuch bhi karun but Army join na karun.. Coz he didn't want to lose me what he used to say..aaj samjh a rha what was the actual reason..He knew if I join Indian Army sooner or later we would
stand facing each other as enemies," His tone aching now.

Naina hesitently put her hand on his shoulder to give him some strength

"Bahut kiya tha unhone mere liye so I couldn't deny him & unwantedly took admission in engineering college...But even after trying a lot, I couldn't give my heart to it. When he saw I m really unable to do, he freed me & finally I joined army," He explained

"So Kajal was ur classmate there??," Naina asked after some time

"No, actually she was junior to me in dfrnt clg, situated just opp side of the road but owned by the same owner of my clg..,"

"Ohh," She could speak only

"When I was on my 1st semester of 2nd year,foundation day preparations were going in her college which was going to be held on three months later. I was told to volunteer them coz theme of the programmes for the foundation day was decided to be Patriotic by the faculty. Few big names including Governor were invited to attend the programmes. I was good in finding dfrnt & unique ideas when the matter is patriotic. Faculty of the clg knew abt it so they gave me this responsibility," He said going in the memory lane