.... After an introductory meet.... All the officers were quite comfortable with each other in the informal army ball held by the sr.club members....

She was there... Dressed in a peach coloured saree.... Looking ravishing enough to make heads toss and turn..... At her beauty.....

Hair hung in a loose bun..... That pretty nose ring..... With hazel stone complementing her eye colour......that perfect womanly countenance..... She carries so well..... As she politely refuses the 10 th officer asking her for dance.....

Perhaps waiting for someone.... Or at least pretending to.....

Standing at the corner..... With a glass of wine in her hand..... Trying her best to look happy...... But.... Its him.... He knows... She isn't..... He could read her eyes from afar...

"so sorry jaan.... M late" a guy in a black suit.... Fairly handsome and crisp approaches her.... Kissing her cheek... While she tries her best to not look awkward....

"i. Have been waiting for an hour karan"
She complains... He raises her hand.... To kiss her knuckles. Highlighting the Tiffany's diamond ring on her finger....

"sorry jaan.... Ek urgent meeting thi...."

"but atleast you could have called" she complains...

"are bhai.... I m genuinely sorry...... U know ... You can punish me... Wo kya kehte he... Court marshal me.... Ek itni khoobsurat army officer ko wait karvaya.....i deserve a punishment"

She smiles at this.....

And they join the buffet....

He was silently observing how time flew like a flock of geese..... So quickly...... And moments passed one after the other... Like pages of the diary turning due to wind..

And the page he is currently on.....

Is completely new..... Unknown.... Without a context.... Just like his life.....

..he sees her.... Trying so hard to blend in.... To smile..... To enjoy... With that fiance of hers..... And as much as pangs of jealousy he feels... Trying to grit his teeth..... He knows..... There couldn't have otherwise...

She is where she belongs.....
With an eligible guy who is correct for her....

He tries to be happy for her..... He really does....

......

"tum pagal ho gai ho cadet singh..... Tumhare liye mere mann me esi koi feelings nai he..... Jo kuch bhi captain salve ne kaha... It was a lie.... A dirty lie to frame me..." he sternly puts her off... After she confesses that she is in love with him... Crying as he is about yo leave for tawang.... To not leave her.....

" sir aap jhut bolrahe he na..... Meri nazar is baat par dhokha nai kha sakti.....aap bhi mere bareme kuch feel karte he... I know thT" she hugs him from back... Trying to melt him.... As he is stoned.... Due to what happened a few days before during g the trial

"tumhara dimaag kharab he.." he pushes her.....

That trial had changed the equation between them.... She was terrified that she will lose him... Yet another person she loves...like she lost her bhaiyya.....

She was on her knees that day..... Begging him to forgive her. For her stupidity...... And accept her love....

All the time... He never looked in her eyes. For once..... As he turned her off ...
"tum...sath bitae lamhon ko misinterpret kar rahi ho naina......mere dil me tumhare liye wahi jagah he... Jo ek student ke liye... Ya dost ki behen ke liye honi chahiye..... Please band karo ye sab" he says breathing with a great effort

"sir... Mai jaanti hun.... Aap ke saath mene galat kiya.... I shot you.. Accused you... Mistrusted you... And there is no way i deserve you... Par mai nai jee pau gi aapke bina.... I don't know how all this happened .... I had promised myself not to let my feelings in the way of your career.... Me aapse koi sawal nai karungi.... Please ek baar.... Admit kar dijiye.... Kya aap ne kabhi mere liye.. Kuch mehsoos nai kiya... Have you never been in love with me... "

" never cadet singh... Never ever... Have i loved you... Or will love you..... "he turned to her...... With cold eyes....

" Haan.... Mehsoos jaroor kiya tha thoda attraction tumhare taraf... Par.... It was. Just a short lived infatuation... Aur ab me jaan gaya hun.... Ki uska kitna bura asar ho sakta he mere career aur life par....... "he says plainly...

" i can't ruin everything i have worked so hard for.... For a few moments of pleasure isn't it....... "he says.... A wry laughter....

" just in case.... You still want to please me..... I wouldn't mind... "he says.... And she covers her mouth with her hand... At his shameless confession.....

He walks towards the door... As she walks a step back..... With him moving closer....
Finally trapping her between the door and himself... So close.....

He rubs her thumb on her lips..... While she is frozen.... At his audacity.....

"bolo cadet singh.... I can be you lover... For one night..... Is it okay with you...." he pulls her closer for a kiss.....

Brushing her lower lip with his..... And she instantly pushes him away..... In disgust......

"jaanta tha.... Tumse nahi ho payega...such a waste of time... ...." he. Says..... Wiping his lips...

And she leaves... Running as fast as she can..... From the facet of him... She just witnessed.....

He leaves for tawang... And she decides... To forget all what happened... Like a. Nightmare..... And move on....

But this one... Doesn't leave her that easily... She is haunted every night...by his memories.... No matter how hard she tries to forget him.
"..

......

She is dancing with him.... Her fiance.... Trying to smile at his jokes.... Nodding a bit later.... Just so he feels she isn't zoned out of the conversation.... But her eyes distant.... As if looking for someone

He is smiling at her..... A little distant....

Walking towards her... With a teasing look.... While she nods in a negative.. As karan is there....

He still keeps coming closer..... Just close enough... To hypnotise her with those eyes.....

Bows down and asks....
"may i have a dance with the lady..."

Karan smiles courteously.... And she does too... Willingly forwarding the hand...

As he holds her by the waist.... "i am. Captain vansh by the way..."

"lt. naina. Ah sing.." she says... Stammering... As she comes out of trance..... Its not him....
"naina ah singh... Interesting name..... You look stunning today"
She stares at him wide eyed...

"i beg your pardon.... I didn't mean to make fun.... Its just that...." he is a bit worried.....

"no... Its okaay..and thanks for the complement" she masks the tempests going inside her brain... With a smile.....

And again gets lost.... Trying to pretend to be attentive to what he is saying..... Apparently...
Holding back.... Every thing.... Like she had always done... She hasn't seen him. Since 2 years.... Nor heard from him.... In reality....

Dekhun chahe jisko...

Kuch kuch tujhsa. Dikhta kyun he

Jaanu... Jaanu na mai...
Tera mera.... Rishta kyun he...

Kese kahun... Kitna bechain... He dil mera tere bina....
....
...