Days passed by and the air was as though casting a spell on him....
Be it her pale smile or a breeze of calmness that he felt as she passed by him...
Those sad eyes..kept distracting him everywhere ... In the drills , classroom...
Suddenly he wanted to know her....but not like before...he was intrigued earlier...now he is Bewitched.....

She did nothing to charm him in particular...infact looking at her he could clearly tell she was so close to falling apart....something eating her up on the inside ...something she couldn't share with anyone...
He knows what that feels like..he had been there.  But he also has his fixes...seemingly she doesn't ...

Everyone submits their assignments on codes and analysis in modern warfare as he had instructed them to...

"Good work guys....it's the first time that someone has managed to impress me...I must say..everyone made a good attempt to crack the codes...some of you were even close....but one of you in particular....was exceptional...remarkable ..brilliant ."he praises passionately looking at her. Who is fidgeting with a pencil...not looking up out of embarrassment...

"Isko Kya hua..sala kuch zyaada phail nai raha..."Huda whispers in ud's ears...

"Dude you are just jealous....ke kahi rajveer sir ne Mera naam le liya to.."if excited ..

"Baavli puch...yo Huda jealous hoga ..wo bhi tujhse..."he shrugs off..in his typical style

"And that cadet is...cadet aalekh....."he pats his shoulders...looking at her. 
"Three out of the four codes tht I gave were cracked accurately by cadet aalekh.."

"Boleto 4 the code ne apne dimaag ki dahi kardi....kuch samajh nai aaya.."aalekh tries to cover up his embarrassment..a bit overwhelmed at being praised publicly for the first time.....a bit fond of rajveer as he didn't find a trace of mockery in his tone today which was a welcome change.

"Agar chautha code crack Kar dete to aap mujhe challenge karte cadet Sharma..which would have been..."he narrows his eyes  trying to find appropriate word ...."interesting.   But it was a great effort "

No matter how much they despised him personally every cadet was now convinced that rajveer was at their sides...and particularly harmless then most of the faculty ....and a brilliant teacher..they respected him....

His eyes still guaging her ...

"So . Today I am going to start another interesting topic..Dewey number system..."
He carries on with the lecture seemingly less distracted .

Everyone collect their graded assignments and leave class turnwise..she is the last one...as her sheet was deliberately not in the stack .she gets nervous..
He never turned back to him cleaning the board...
"Looking for something ..."he calls her out .

"Where's my sheet...."she asks flustered...

He smiles and places it on the table ...
"It's an utterly poor performance cadet Singh...."his tone serious....

"What do you mean..I have  all the codes correct don't I .?"she is puzzled....

".well u did..most certainly.."
She sighs....a clear resentment in her eyes ... "well...How was my performance poor then..."

."..this wasn't some class test where you give all the correct answers  to impress the teacher cadet singh....you still have a childish perspective"he makes her literally fume by his blunt criticism....chuckles a bit then continues ....
"I wasn't trying to impress anyone"she  speaks in haste...

"Well you were.....not intentionally ...more out of habit though.."she narrows her eyes curiously
"....this sheet implies something deeper.....i can read through your personalities....your weaknesses ,your strengths...you see cadet it's more like a customized blueprint of your mind and it's workings. He taps at the paper...his tone is articulate . serious...intruiging. ..

She was about to roll her eyes...but a part of her finds him making sense ..
"So much work done by a little peice of paper...."she tries to hide her amusement though ..... offended by his earlier snide remarks

"What did you figure about me then...?"she asks looking at her answersheet .....dreadful on being unable to hide curiosity in her voice...

"well it reveals....That you have a weakness cadet Singh "he takes a huge pause...as though playing with her patience.  
....."this urge inside you ....to want to be right ....prove that you are correct....."he lisps...watching her reaction change from anger to resentment....

"It's......you have always  dreaded looking like a fool haven't you .....aced in schools ,colleges.a teacher's pet ...never been an underperformer ever...typical typ A personality.."he continues ..

She shakes her head at his relentlessness

"That was a really good analysis....you could easily give poor Dr Mishra a run for her job...."she jokes and shrugs him off considering that first mockery..then flattery ...then flirting .. that's the algorithm he has decided to follow today....
She is about to walk away....his voice halts her ..

"In a wartime situation ...we need to understate our skills and strengths...and look weaker than the enemy to create a false illusion of victory in their mind......playing a fool counts as a useful and safe trick in many situations .."he elaborates ..

"Brilliant minds have big egoes... that's what leads to their downfall..'he makes a simple statement..

"Sorry but I have never  myself presumed to be one"she couldn't help but argue in
her defense
"Of course you have....u want everyone to someday spot your subtle brilliance wrapped under this  veil of modesty and shy demeanor....but consider it cadet Singh .....no one cares about the perished and defeated one's  in a war....all that matters is who makes it to the end....all we want is to do...is survive. ..."he paused taking a deep breath...

She thoughtfully stands looking at him .......unable to be angry at him anymore....

"See you at 16:00 hrs sharp...in the library..."he smiles......
"Dismiss"

She leaves giving him a meaningful look......analysing his words ....