After assigning the mission, MGG & BC left. MV too excused herself but not before giving some files to the Capts & Lts regarding the mission. Shalini took Aditi along with herself to the infirmary. Abhi & Gunny went to do the necessary arrangements for the mission.
Alekh noticed Naina lost in thoughts, so he tapped on her shoulder to bring her back in senses & asked "kya soch rahi hai?"
Naina- kuch nahi..... (Alekh gave her a sharp glare for lying again) wo bas soch rahi thi ki ye kitna dangerous mission hai... Humare pass kitna kam time hai... Hum iske liye tayar hai?
Yudi- Mai bhi yahi soch raha tha yaar aate hi mission par bhej rahe hai... Thoda pehle bula lete toh itna rush nahi hota....
Puja- Hmm.. baat toh teri thik hai par ab jitna time humare pass hai ussi me sab karna hai... Akhir hum soldiers hai aur sipahi jung ke liye humesha tayar rahta hai.... Thik keh rahi hu na mai Ali? (Loudly) Ali...
Ali- (startled by the pitch of her voice) Ha... Ha Puja! (Nervously) Aap kabhi galat hote ho kya!!
Par filhaal (indicating towards the Lt who were fighting like nursery kids. Rummy was handling Purvi while Mallah & Peter had a tough time controlling Akriti) inka kuch kariye... agar Ye aapas me hi ladte rahenge toh dushmano se kaun ladega....?
Alekh- (Sternly in loud voice) ye sab kya ho raha hai yaha... kis baat par itna bahas kar rahe ho... Apne seniors ke samne pesh aane ka ye kaun sa tarika hai.....?
Huda looked at him surprisingly, but Alekh completely ignored him. Lts bowed their heads & muttered a quick sorry.
Naina- Lt. Bisht & Lt. Bhatt... kya baat hai... Hume bataiye....
Purvi- (nervously) Kuch nahi Ma'am... Hum toh bas aise hi.... (Naina glared her) wo ma'am mai toh bas ye keh rahi thi khas hum sab ek hi team ban kar ek saath iss mission me jate toh kitna accha hota... (Excitedly) Kitna maza aata... (pouting) Bas mera itna kehna tha aur Akriti bhadak gayi mujh par....
Akriti- (angrily) Gussa na karu toh kya aarti utaru tumhari.... Ma'am ab aap hi samjhaiye isse hum mission par ja rahe hai picnic par nahi jo maza aayega...
(They again started arguing)
(Captains smiled seeing their bickering while remembering their old days as Cadets.)
Puja- ye bilkul hamari tarah hi hai... Hum sab bhi toh aise hi the nahi... nahi actually hai...
Yudi- Yup! You're absolutely right Puja... Maine toh umeed hi chhor di thi ki mai bhi ek din soldier banunga... But see today I'm a Capt aur ye sab possible hua Rajveer sir ke bharose unke believe ki wajah se....
Huda- Bilkul sahi Yudiye! Hum sab ko yaha tak pahuchane me aapne Rajveer sir ka hi toh haath hai... Aaj meeting me jab teams divide hue toh mai toh soch me hi padd gaya ki aisa kyu kiya gaya hai... wo toh accha hua Tau ne sab clear kar diya... Warna mujhe toh laga unhe shak hai humari kabiliyat par.... Hum par bharosa nahi hai....
"Agar bharosa nahi hota toh aapko yaha bulaya hi nahi jata" said MV, entering the room. & all became quite seeing her.
MV- Aur raha sawal shak karne ka toh... Aap sab KMA ke cadets reh chuke hai... Army ke top soldiers ne aapko train kiya... Aapki capabilities par shak karna KMA ki trainings, yaha ke faculties par shak karne ke barabar hai... (All became glad hearing this) It's just that humare pass waqt bilkul nahi tha, hume iss pure attack ki lead 2 din pehle hi mili, jiske turant baad aap sabko contact kiya gaya... Aap sabko alag-alag bulane ke pichhe bhi reason tha... Humare dushman KMA ke aas paas nazar rakhe hua hai... Ek-ek movement par unki nazar hai... humari taraf se ek single mistake KMA ke liye bahut dangerous hoga... Isliye aap sabke past records aur expertise ko dekhte hue ye decision liya gaya hai....Crystal? (All nodded positively.)
Abhi, Gunny & Suriji who were at the doorstep, listened Vaibhavi's words & they're hell surprised by her thoughts.
Abhi- Gunny! (Gunny looked at him) Jo humne abhi-abhi suna kya wo sach hai... Ya hum koi sapna dekh rahe hai... Major Sharma aur KMA ke faculties ki tareef kar rahi hai... Quite surprising naah... It's Shocking....
Gunny- (shocked) Tareef sunn shock toh lagna hi hai... After all tarif kar kaun raha hai wo bhi toh dekhiye the great Maj Vaibhavi Sharma.. Inhe kitni problem thi yaar... Yaha ke ek-ek members se... Especially hum se... Kyu Suriji aapki kya rai hai?
Suriji- (in his usual jolly tone) Oye! Actually... darasal.. infact baat aisi hai itne time me humari sangat ka kuch toh asar hona hi tha... Akhirkaar Hitler ka dil thoda change ho gaya... Ki kehnde hai wo ha hirdaye parivartan... iss baat par toh party banti hai... Hai ki nahi... (Giggling)
Gunny- Ye hui na baat Suriji! Neki aur puchh-puchh.... Party jarur karenge par mission pura karne ke baad, wo bhi major Chauhan ki taraf se... Kyu?
Before Abhi could say something, Vaibhavi commanded them.
MV- Agar aapki baatein khatm ho gayi ho toh jo kaam karne aaye hai... Wo kare?
(Trio nodded, took their seats silently & then Gunny ordered a orderly to bring some bags & kept them on the table.) Aap sabko ye toh pata hai ki kya karna hai par kaise karna hai ye aapko aapke commanding officers batayenge... Major Randhawa... (Indicating him to come forward)
(Gunny obliged. He switched on the projector & started to brief)
Gunny- So... jaisa ki aap sab dekh sakte hai... (pointing on a mark) Hum sab iss waqt yaha hai... Ab se exact 5 hrs baad hume ye mission start karna hai, next two hours me mujhe aur sare Lt's ko CTC pahuch jana hai... Hum sab yaha se alag-alag niklenge taki unhe koi shak na ho... Dr. Shalini has already left... & let me remind you cadets.. sorry officers.. CTC pahuchne ke within 3 hours me hume iss area me... (Signalling on a point) jaha Dr Shalini hai waha pahuch jana hai.... As this area is very crucial & sensitive as well...
Peter- within 3 hours.... itna kam time... kyu sir?
Abhi- kyuki agar militants ne waha mines bichaye honge toh sunset ke baad unhe identify karne me problem hogi.... & team Alpha... Team Bravo ke nikalne ke baad aap sabko KMA ke surroundings jitne militants ke thikane hai sabme explosive fix karne hai... KMA par attack karne ke liye high level par arms ki smuggling ki gayi hai jo inhi jagaho me stored hai... Din ke waqt wo sare CTC ke jungalo me chupe hua hota hai aur din dhalte hi smuggling ka kaam start kar dete hai... so be extremely careful as in areas me bahut bada hatiyaron ka jakhira hai aapko pehle un hatiyaron ko waha se nikalna hai then waha explosives lagane hai... Dono teams yaha iss jagah jaha Dr Shalini hai yaha pahuchna hai... ek baar explosion start ho gaye toh inka leader baukhala kar khud hi samne aa jayega... Intelligence reports ke mutabik uske yahi kahi hone ke chances kafi high hai....
Gunny- Ye rahe aapke bluetooth devices jiske jariye hum sab aapas me connected rahenge....
(He handed them the equipments) Ek ghante baad hume nikalna hai so get ready. & Be quick.
(All the juniors left from there)
MV- Good luck Major Chauhan & very good luck to you Major Randhawa... (Sighing) Ek aur mushibat aapka intezar kar raha hai waha...
(Trio got confused then they realised & Gunny screamed "no".)
Gunny- (scared) Aap majak kar rahi hai... haina Major....(Vaibhavi smirked) Sach me wo humare saath mission me jaa raha hai?
MV- Nahi... Bas aapke swagat ke liye waha maujood honge....
Abhi & Suriji hide their smile.
Abhi- (with a big grin) tab toh sach me aapko good luck ki bahut jarurat hai... Gunny!
Best of luck 👍!!!
Suriji- Oo ji! Meri taraf se bhi very Good luck jii 👍! Rab tujhe us antique piece "team commandar Shlok Berman" ko jhelne ki shakti de!!
Gunny made faces listening them.
At CTC.....
Gunny reached there with the Lt's. ("Welcome! Welcome! Major Randhawa... Aap aur Lts ka KMA commando training centre me swagat hai!")
(Team comm. Shlok Berman)
Listening his voice, Gunny closed his eyes in dismay before facing him then greeted him with a formal handshake.
Shlok- (eyeing the Lt) Aur mere pyare kabootaron kaise ho...? (They all gave him fake smile in response) waise Major Randhawa agar aapke jagah Major Sharma aai hoti toh mujhe unse milkar personally bahut khushi hoti....
Gunny- (removed his spec's & said mockingly) wo kya hai na team commandar Shlok Berman... Major Sharma ke pass itna faltu time nahi hai ki wo aapke bare me soche bhi... So😏
Mission par dhyan dete hai...
Shlok went from there with a frown face. Gunny smirked, while the Lts laughed. After a while they left for the mission.
On the Mission ....
Team Bravo was tackling the militants by using guerrilla warfare tactics very efficiently in the leadership of Gunny. They're fighting furiously & knocked out more than half of the militants successfully in hand-to-hand combat. One the other side team Alpha had been successful in moving the weapons & were fixing the explosives, when a militant saw them. He was about to inform his mates but Naina hit him on his head & he fell flat on the ground. But before getting unconscious, he somehow managed to send signals to his mates. Ali saw that & punched him hard making him unconscious & later informed Abhi about it.
Ali- Sir isne abhi-abhi apne saathiyo ko kisi tarah ka signal bheja hai... Sayad unhe alert kar diya hai...
Abhi punched another one who was about to attack him & said
Abhi- Dammit!.... Aisa nahi hona chahiye tha... Andhera ho gaya hai... aur Agar isne apne saathiyo ko alert kar diya hai toh Dr Shalini aur Gunny ki team khatre me hai... (All became tensed) Capt Sahani jaldi se Major Sharma ya Gunny ko connect kariye... Unhe update karna hoga!
Yudi first connected Gunny.
Abhi- Ek problem ho gayi hai Major... Militants ko humare aane ki bhanak lag gayi hai...
Gunny- (shockingly) What?.... Par pehle ye bataiye aap abhi Shalini se kitni dur hai? Dushman sabse pehle unko hi target karenge as she's in a very crucial point.... Yaha se humari team ko atleast one hour lagega unn tak pahuchne me....
Abhi- That's the problem Major... Hum kitni bhi kosish kar le hume bhi kam se kam one hour toh lag hi jayega aur phir (in a very low tone) aap ko toh uss area ke bare me pata hi hai... (Looking at the Capts) waha pahuch kar in sab par kya betaegi... Hum soch bhi nahi sakte Gunny...
Gunny- Abhi! Don't panic... Sabse pehle major Sharma ko inform karo jisse wo Dr ko alert kar sake... Mai jald se jald waha pahuchne ki koshish karta hu... Ok?
Abhi informed MV & requested her to send a backup for Shalini but Vaibhavi told him that it's not possible as militants had started attacking on KMA as well, so she could only alert her. Abhi hit hard his fist on tree in frustration & ordered to capts to explode the bombs at once.
One the other side Gunny ordered to shoot the goons, so that they could reach to the point as quick as possible.
It's almost dark.....
Both the teams tried hard but they're still far. Shalini along with few soldiers were in the enemy soil on the pretext of preparing new drills. Enemies ignored it at first thinking of some routine work but now when they're alerted, militants instantly gathered in the surroundings of the base camp & started to attack. Seeing situation getting out of control, Shalini herself took a rifle & then started to fight. She managed to keep the militants at a fair distance from her. Both the teams reached there & started cover firing, by hiding behind trees & rocks. Seeing them, Shalini sighed in relief, thanking God.
She quickly handed them bullets, replaced their weapons & gave them medical aid as there were some cut & bruises. When she tried to bandaged Abhi's bleeding hand, he stopped her.
Abhi- Dr aap meri fikar matt kariye... chota sa cut hai bas... Mai bilkul thik hu....
Shalini- (angrily) Doctor aap hai ya Mai...? (He went mum) Mai hu na toh mujhe mera kaam karne dijiye... Aapna haath dikhayiye...
(She started cleaning the wound.)
Abhi- (slowly in low tone as he didn't want to angry her further) Mana ki doctor aap hai par jung ke maidan me sipaahi aapne har chot par marham ki umeed karge toh jung kaise ladega....
Shalini- (bandaging his hand) Umeed par toh duniya kayam hai Major! Aur waise bhi ek ghyal sipahi aapni team ki takat kaise ho sakta hai... (coldly) wo toh unki kamjori ban jata hai.
(Saying this she left from there.)
Time was passing very slowly or better to say have stopped for them. A bullet hit Mallah's shoulder, he fell aside & hissed in pain, others became worried for him. Shalini immediately started to treat him.
Mallah- (breathing heavily) Hey Bajrangbali! Aisa lagta hai iss raat ki kabhi subha nahi hogi... charo taraf bas andhkaar hi andhkaar hai...
Shalini- (softly to soothe him) Aisa nahi kehte Lt! Koi raat aisi nahi jiski subha na ho... Jaise har problem ka solution hota hai... thik waise hi dekhiyega iss raat ki subah aapne saath hum sabke liye nayi umeed aur dher saari khushiyan le kar aayega... Bas thoda sa wait...
Mallah nodded, till then she had bandaged his wound, he got up & again took his place. Whole night went in fighting as the enemy were in a large number.
When the first sun rays hit the ground, Naina looked around her surroundings & realised that it's the same place where Rajveer's jeep was blasted. She got flashes of the incident & started walking absent-minded in that direction.
Abhi saw her & called her name but she didn't respond to his calls, so he signed Alekh & Huda to stop her from going there, but they couldn't as they're busy with the enemies.
The enemies started to overpower them, when another round of firing started on them from behind. A soldier (face covered) jumped in front of them & started fighting furiously. 4 goons at the same time attacked on him, Shalini shooted two of them where as the soldiers was handling the other duo. A goon pushed him & he was about to put his foot on a land mine, but Shalini caught his hand & pulled him towards herself, thus saving his life. The soldier thanked her, she nodded in response & both resumed the fight.
Meanwhile, a goon was about to shoot Naina but someone hold her hands, turned her towards himself & shoot down the goon dead. Naina found the touch very familiar, she looked at his face which was covered but she easily recognised him by seeing his eyes & said in a stammering voice....
Naina- R..aj... Rajveer Sir... Aap?
He shockingly looked at her, his eyes became moist & absent-minded removed the mask from his face, revealing himself.
Naina couldn't control her tears after seeing him. Finally after so many years, she saw him. She touched his face to confirm that it was not a dream which she saw every night, he is here in real & wouldn't vanished now. She was about to hug him when bullets being shoot towards them, Rajveer pushed her aside along with him & shot the militant dead.
"Are you alright?"
Someone shouted from a distance, she recognised that voice too. She was sure that this voice was of none other then her Naveen bhaiya, she ran to him & hugged him tightly.
That soldier removed his mask too &, yes he was none other than her brother, Naveen Singh Ahluwalia.
Meanwhile all the militants were dead. All reached to the trio & after seeing NavRaj alive, standing right in front of them, they were awestruck. Naveen broke the hug & glanced his sister from head to toe, who is now a Capt in army & a very brave soldier, indeed he was very proud of her. Alekh, Huda, Ali & Yudi engulfed Raj in a bone crushing hug. Abhi became emotional & hugged Naveen but he stole eyes from Rajveer. Rajveer noticed it & he knew the reason very well.
Background music.....
Abhi mujh mein kahi
Baaki todhi si hai zindagi
Jagi dhadkan nayi
Jaana zinda hu main toh abhi
Kuch aisi lagan iss lamhe me hai
Ye lamha kaha tha mera
Ab hai samne...
Issey chhoo loon zaraa
Mar jaaoon ya jee loon zaraa
Khushiyaan chom loo
Ya ro loon zaraa
Mar jaaoon ya jee loon zaraa...
Ho... o... abhi mujh me kahin
Baaki thodi si hai zindagi......
Just by looking at them one could easily feel their emotions, their pains & suffering which they had to go through in all these years. There was a flood of emotions. When all left Raj, Shalini hugged him in the flow of excitement. Raj got surprised & shy away from her, others giggles seeing his reaction.
Huda- (whispering) Yudiye! Dekh raha hai... Ma'am ne gale kya laga liya, apne Rajveer sir toh sharma gayee.... Chal accha hua Phoolan ne gale nahi lagaya warna toh ye yahi zameen me hi dhas jate....
Yudi glared him playfully, Alekh rolled eyes showing irritation & Ali gestured him to shut his mouth. Lts were overwhelmed, seeing their seniors happy. Naveen saw Gunny.
Naveen- Gunny! Tu kya bas Khade-khade hume dekhta rahega.... Itne saal baad mile hai, gale nahi lagayega Yaar!!!
Gunny went near him, looked at him for 3-4 secs as if confirming he's real or a ghost & hugged him tightly.
Gunny- Tu sach me zinda hai.... kaisa hai tu.... Kitna saalo baad dekha hai tujhe... par tu.... Tu...
Naveen- (completing his unsaid words) Mai zinda kaise hu? Yahi puchna chahta hai na tu... (Gunny nodded) mujhe maaf karna mere dost par iss waqt mai kuch nahi bata sakta... (Gunny understood that) Ab hume jana hoga... Chal Raj!
Abhi- Naveen! Kaha jaa rahe hai aap dono... Itne saalo baad mile hai phir se durr jane ke liye?
Rajveer- Hum majboor hai Chauhan Sahab! Hume aapni identity reveal karne ki permission nahi thi... Par (looking at Naina) phir bhi hum aap sabke samne aa gaye... Anyways mission complete ho gaya hai... Ab hume jana hoga....
All became sad listening this & their faces fell down. Naveen saw Shalini & went to her. Forward his hand, he said
Naveen- Before we go... I want to thank you.... Meri jaan bachane ke liye aapka bahut-bahut shukriya.... Major.....? (don't know her name)
Shalini (with a smile 🤝)- Shalini.... Major Dr Shalini.... (Naveen got surprised listening this) & no need to thank as we are soldiers & this is our duty. (Naveen smiled in response)
Gunny went near Raj & said- So.... Aap hai Rajveer Singh Shekhawat.... Bahut suna hai aapke bare... Rather bahut achha suna hai... Nice meeting you Major!
Raj- (smiled) Pleasure is mine Major... Mujhe bhi aapse mil kar achha laga... Chale Naveen
As they turned to say good bye, both froze seeing Naina who was looking not less than a statue. There was no motion in her body, she was just staring them continuously & tears were following uncontrollable. Seeing her like that... Their hearts pinched a lot. But with heavy heart, they started to retreat. Naina would have fallen down if Shalini & Alekh hadn't caught her on time. Abhi too wanted to stop them as he had to ask for forgiveness from them.
"Halt officers!!!" shouted Major Sharma. Both stopped & turned back. She stepped down from the jeep & said something that all became amused & NavRaj were short of words.
To be continued......
Thanks for reading 🙏.