Let's keep it simple

part 18

"What's with you nowadays "?
Ud asked in his typical ud style....

"What's with me "?
Naina asked rhetoricaly

"There is constantly this  smug on your face
What is so amusing"
He asked taking sip of his coffee.

Pooja saw Naina struggling with the answer and decided to help her

"Problem kya hai Tera ud..
Pehle ye humesha Sadi Hui rehti thi...
Ab Kum se kum normal to hai.... nazar mat laga..."
She slapped his arm hard...

And ud left the table rubbing his arm cursing Pooja under the breath....

Pooja went back on her phone
Naina felt gratitude for her ... She knows that Pooja understands .... But she has become wise enough to not talk about it...
Talks converts into rumour in no time...

Later that night as Pooja was applying nail paint sitting on her bed and Naina was untangling her hairs she decided something
She felt a strong urge and she decided to act upon it.

She went over Pooja's bed
And offered to help her surprising Pooja a bit.

And as she sat there painting her nails

"I wana share something with you"
She took care not to spill the colour out of nail.... While Pooja looked at her curiously

She raised her eyes to meet hers and while she dipped the brush in bottle

"I kissed him....."
She said and painted one more nail...

While Pooja was astonished

"You kissed who"
She asked carefully

"Captain rajveer"
She said as she looked down painting the last nail..

"Darwaza band hai na"
Pooja asked completely astonished...
Wanted to make sure they don't get overhead.

She replied in a nod ...
And Pooja sat attentively while naina continued

"That party
He was totally wasted and confessed that he feels for me....
And then I kissed him."

"What were you thinking Naina"

"I wasn't thinking Pooja... It just happened"

"Now what
What do you feel"?

"I think I love him too"
She confessed for the first time in front of Pooja
She said out loud for the first time

And Pooja smiled with all her heart
And pounced on her hugging her tight

"This is the first time you confided in me... Thankyou...."
The hug was tight and Naina felt happy...
No matter how good friend Alekh is
Nothing can beat a girl to girl talk.

"But i believe he doesn't remember anything?"
She asked as they got apart

"Nope"

"So you are gonna tell him"??

"Are you crazy
He will freak out... He is very cautious about concealing his feelings
And i don't wana. Invite any trouble for him."

"So you are not gonna act upon it until we graduate
And that's another six months "
Pooja pouted

"I am happy for you friend...
And i am always here to listen to suggest whatever u need
U can always trust me"

"I know...
I just don't know how to deal with this..
Whenever I see him .... I get frozen feet...
I mean he is there being the charming and perfect him
And i just get amazed.... I never thought this will happen to me....
And i feel cold and short of breath
I am just not getting use to with this idea of me and him....
It's a moral struggle
An ethical barrier , considering him as a teacher....

I get goosebumps even with the idea of thinking about him in that way...
You know non teacher way

I am damned Pooja..."

She hit down on Pooja's bed as Pooja chuckled over her poor friend's  love life.

"It's Just another 6 month then he won't be out teacher anymore
And there is no rule against dating your senior"
Puja explained

"How was the kiss"
She asked laying beside her.

Naina turned to her and smiled

"It was my first time
It was subtle and perfect....
I never knew I can feel this way"
She felt shiver even as she talks about it

"Haye Mera sharuk"
Pooja got excited and both girls end up giggling

Naina felt light sharing with her .
That's the thing with happiness, you want to share it with your close one.. it taste different
For the first time she discussed her love interest with  a girl friend.

It's a totally new chapter in her life...

She felt glad to have Pooja by her side
While Pooja was thrilled with their new level of intimacy in friendship

----------

"U asked for me sir"?
She knocked

"Get in Naina"
He replied looking serious....

She entered examining his mood and body language
It looked like he is about to talk some serious business.

He signalled her to sit...
Naina saw a folder on the table which he slided towards her asking her to pick it up.

"What's this "?
She asked as she opened it.

"This is Naveen's investigation while he was posted here....
His entire work and the reason of his downfall "

Naina started reading the papers
There were some profiles of influential names...
Which included
Army delegates and Ministers

"Where did you get these from"?
She asked as she was going through them in haste

"Major nayar spilled few beans....
Gave us few address, and we confiscate a few potential material."

He waited for her to reach the last profile
And saw her face colour changing

"Sir....
Ye to.... It's lala Gehlot....
There is a profile about him ... You saw this"
She got anxious and shocked

"Bhaiya suspected him for adultery and fraud"
She saw him for confirmation and he was just looking down ashamed and devastated

"I had promised you that I will tell you everything.. so here it is....
My mentor , the man I respected and trusted the most... Is a corrupt man and also responsible for my best friend 's death.
And i feel like i am the most idiot man in this world
An emotional fool who got played..."

There was anger and pain on his face and tremor in his voice

"You know the worst part Naina
I withheld this information as I wasn't ready to believe this ... I was so desperate to find a loop hole to give him benefit of doubt."

This explain his miserable condition two months ago she thought.

"But i couldn't find any.
And now I am gonna submit these in the headquarters... As we have verified it's authenticity "

"I failed you Naina "
He said and left the room while she sat there with the evidence that can lead to her brother's innocence.