Udaypur Base.

The city is beautiful. It always has been. Founded by King Udai Singh, this is called city of lakes. Not only lakes there are too many other things to visit too. You just need time and money. This city'dThere never disappoint you. It has the charm and grace you'd not escape.

And then there are a bunch of people who is dying to have a day off to see how beauty can lie on grounds and still enclose skies in it. These people are Lt. Riya Verma, Captain Anuj Sikari, Captain Vihaan And Lt. Nitesh Mehra. All of them has there first posting in Udaipur hence they cant miss the single chance of basking in its beauty. Because tomorrow is Sunday, All of them want a day off prior to holiday to have enough time to visit at least three or four spots completely until their souls are contented.

But the problem is their colleague as well as bit superior officer who'd not agree to accompany them. It is not like they cant go without her. Actually Its Vihan' plan to involve her because he thinks her as a loner who needs to reshape her life. Who needs to open up and see hidden beauty in darkness. To feel warmth in blizard of life. Vihan is keen on ivolving her but.....

.......

....

Captain Naina has left going out. She has left being involved in fun...because she has left getting involved.

******

It was arpumd seven the same day i.e. Friday when Vihan knocked at her door third time. She would hesitate always and sometimes didnt open the door for him. But the persiating nature Vihan has he would never  give up. Then comes his  explanative remarkable reason that try to force  lNaina to come out and go buy she resisted as always.

'Come on Naina. Its perhaps millionth time I am asking you to come put..come on woman. Lossen a little. Its just a sight seeing. Why you dont wanna go!'

She is standing close to door on other side. She could hear him but she knows he is the iriitating yet the softest one among whole batch.

'Come on Naina. Stop being a child. We'll enjoy..come on..Yar itna to me bhagwan ke aage bhi nahi roya...Please thodi kripa karo. Bahar aao na...'

And she has no other chance than coming out. Clad in simple top and loose halves she is looking tired. And this makes Vihan feel bit sorry...

'We'll talk later. Just tell me your ready to go. You need rest. Me bhi pagalo jaise Tumko disturb kar rha hu..'

She knows its not his fault. Its in her peraona that cayses people to re look at her becayse she is out of crowd. Being out of crowd never helps in going hidden but it increases chances of coming in lime light. She was afraid of it...and it happened with her too.

'Sorry. Vihan. I cant come. I have few files to check and enough work load..tum log jaao. Show me pictures..ok?'

He is not convinced.

'Dont give false excuses. Why dont you-'

'Please. I have work. I am sleepy too..good night.'

And in same manner the door is closed as it was opened. With a momentary shock.

Vihan is still on the door waiting for her to reappear but she had never. She is the person who'd help everyone if she can but at the same time she is the person who never gets acquianted with you. She'd always talk about work. Always....And nobody knows if she had a personal life or not. Sometimes that too two times she had got letters for her. But she never read them and tore them off. She wants to go invisible but as said before her attempts of going undee shield cayses her attention. Vihan too noticed her sitting idly in the deserted corner of mess. Then in back part of base. Then again in park lonely with a book, specs holding her cute little nose. Then again in base in her offuce where her co-officer lt. Riya was working in silence as was she. But Riya never chose southest corners for lunch. She was another bubbly girl. But again She was another...

Naina was not. Hence Vihan tried to get in touch with her. He teied to know her....and in past six month all he got was their not so frequent conversation on firat name basis....

Naina is mystery for Vihan..He wants to solve her because he is hopeful of somerhing beautiful present in the bottom...

Thw plan was cancelled but Vihan coukd not lose hope. He smiked to himself and began for his room.

Captain Anujh welcomed him with a smirk on his face.

'De gayi Naina dhokha?'

'Shut up anuj. She was tjred. Aur wese bhi uska desk full rahta he files se. Work load hi itna he bechari ghumegi kaise!'

'Gadha he tu. Kabhi bhaaw nahi deti still you need go and hear rejection. Chhod na. Kab tak piche bhagega..'

'Jab tak he jaan!' And this SRK style dialogue got him a punch.

'Dont you dare drop this trip too! We'll kill you.' Both went to Anuj' room where rest of group were waiting for both.

'Tujhe lagta he ki she'd agree to even go out of academy with you? I dont think so. Dont waste your time Vihaan.'

'Cant help. Now I am caught in web. Cant come out.'

'You'll repent. Do you know?'

'Yes. I know.' And he sighed. The rest of night was going to be a discussion of their plan but once again Vihan was searching another topics for having a talk with Naina. She had shut her amd this was not doing good to him....

*****

It was Month of February and base had organised a ball on Valentine's day. Everyone was excited. Vihan saw everywhere. He met with everyone......But one person waa absent as always...

Captain Naina Singh..

He left the party earlier and went to her room.it was locked. He felt bad..He needed to see her. He searched for her everywhere...He looked for her in every corner of base...because it were the moat appropriate place for her. But she was absent. She just disappeared when he was not noticing...And it made him feel worse.

Whole night he was awake in his room...pondering over this strange woman who knew very well how to disappoint you when you've a slight hope of meeting her again for a full fledged talk.

And that very night Vihan found out He was not only his colleague but more than his crush also. The web has entangled him more and a heartbreak was inevitable.

'Damn! Where you landed yourself, Mr. Vihaan?' And the night went away...

Nobody in base was intereated in finding about Naina or look for her because she was juat another psycho. The person who's afraid of crowds or the person who wants to avoid people as she has lot of to talk with herself. But for Vihan she was more than his colleague. Her eyes had that spark..he had seen her innocent and pure smile one day...And current Naina was million mikes away from this loner Naina...who hides in corners, flaunts professionalism and avoid talks..

******

Next day Vihan decided to talk with Naina. To tell her about his likeness to her..About his nascent feelings...

Luckily he found her coming out of Brigadier' office. He ran to her and tried to initiate a conversation as a warm up for his profession.

'Hey..Where were you last night? We missed you.'

She saw him as if telling him to stop with his lies..

'Ok. I missed you.happy now?'

She was rushing on...and Vihan was running to keeping up with her.

'Yar. Ek minute ruko to sahi.. I need to talk with you.'

She stopped and showed him her index finger..where a visible tan was telling him another story. The story which'd cause his inevitable fate to arrive sooner.

'Work and life. Both has happened to me. Dont waste your time.' And she left leaving him rooted...at his place.

Riya later shook him and took for coffee. Vihan was still to come out of that shock.

Not only she was loner...she was emotion less soul too whose rigidity has caused her heart to stop beating against it...

All pf sudden he started justifying his likeness....Brutal rejection had ended his smile for today....

******
NAINA

She opened that box again....it was Pandora' box but she being the little excited child could never cope with her curiosity and caused a disaster.

She closed it again. Her chain was there. The difference was that it was no more nuptial. It was now an ordinary chain. But still its effect had not lessened a bit. She was still attached to it yet cold to it.

Rajveer can divorce her. He can leave her. But....She cant..At least not completely.

It was not what she wanted.

It was not why she planned on telling him everything and ending her part from his life.

It was not why she left her house three years back to get back to back postings. No matter where no matter how...She was not at home..Even Naveen' marriage was distant affair for her which she could not attend as work came in between. But she tried to fill in by attending their reception party..

It had turned out in other way. Her heart was still there...With someone names Shekhawat..With someone paranoid and spineless...with someone inhumane and cruel.

Why it always her who had to sacrifice her feelings in the end!

Because she was always the one who'd let her emotions loose every time. And the result would be same as again..

Hence she stopped feeling. She stopped meeting people. She stopped conversation and meeting. She cut herself from society..and made corners her home..Because it helped her in two ways. She could have silence and let her mind make all possible noises...

She got up and shut her window. The wind was blowing little fast today and she was not in mood of welcoming that euphoria again.

'Do you love storms?'

'Yes I do.'

'Why?'

'They make me realise my place.'

Conversation was not over but she left as Alekh was asleep long ago. Shalini was amzed hearing her answers..And he was too.

Soon she heard his foot steps in her room aka study...

He had brought her ice cream..Which was now just ice cold liquid.

'Sorry. It melted.'

She nodded. And held that bowl. She sat on couch to read her bookmarked page of 'The fault in our stars.'

'Its depressing to read tragedies. Read comedies. Do one thing. Pick any ramdom book and  speak loudly and I'll listen. Then I'll tell you to read further or not.'

She stared at him...But gave in. Soon she was reading him a random book. And be was giving her his not so precious random silly remarks..

Night ended in starry nights and dreamy eyes. Storm was still far away. Ice cream on the table was long forgotten....It was the sudden fall of bowl because of her hand that woke both up....

Night was still not ended..

She jerked and came out of her thoughts. Storm was coming but she was deaf to signals ..she missed the prevailing silence before storm and made her castles. Now this was rhe end ahe met for being idiot..

She stopped reading. She could not read in past three years..every book was taking her back...The maze had a black hole and her co ordinates were so close to its position..She'd always fall and never come out until her heart' shatter in pieces. Then next few days would be spent in picking the parts up and sticking them together with hope.

So finally she gave up. Silence was soothing than presence of someone...Aloofness was better than involving someone. Stuck pieces were better than heart break...

It was over all better....So Naina was a loner now. One in thousands. Yet content...

Wasnt she?

She lied and shut her eyes. She'd never return back to the starry night. Darkness is better. A lunar moon always takes you to dark nights. Light always takes you to black out because sooner it'd fade..

Her breathing went slower and she dozed.

Wasn't she peaceful alone!

At least she was sleeping. It was better lying alone than besides someone who'd cause you so many nightmares...It was overall better. Life was good.

And still she could feel herself losing....Falling....and slipping....Past was painful to forget. But memories were impossible!