The night was still on. Because on the corner of ground Vihan was standing and had been watching it all from beginning. In fact he had come here behind Naina to accompany her, to irritate her and to have the pleasure of spending time with her.

But the moment he saw Naina going stiff in passage and then breathing deeply as if she had decided something to take on, She had gone straight to the bench where captain Rajveer was sitting.

He didnt get her reasons of escape from him until she herself mentioned.....

....Divorced.

Both were once married to each other. And the way both talked it seemed Rajveer was one to be blamed.

So Vihan waited....for Naina to disappear from the scene because he had not this gut to go and ask her how her torturous relation with Raj as he had assumed from her talks, broke.

Now when Captain shekhawat was all alone, he grabbed the opportunity.

'So.....Your the one. I mean I dont know how to put it. I may see you as an insane crazy person who'd let go someone like Naina. And I may see you as the worst type of humankind ever too. The way she explained in few sentences to you why she'd not come back to you, is enough for understanding your part. But still...Captain..I dont see any reason...why  you are hell bent on taking her back that too lamely!'

Vihan had assumed his blunt and venomous remarks would cause him something drastic but it got him a sardonic smile..

'I too cant understand it. But You know what Vihan...When you lose the pearl, you understand its value. How precious Naina is and had been, I was ignorant of it. You see we men have this humongous ego. Size taller then Burz Khaleefa. Mostly times we need a head to start something. Sometimes we kill the nascent beauties. But when we come to know later, Its late too late..'

He sat with Raj. Examined him. Raj was still same. The day first they witnessed him in shabby beard. It still was there.

'Why you let her go then? And above all why you tormented her?'

He laughed.. painfully.

'I was blind in my ego.'

Then he went silent. But Before Vihan could throw his next question, Rajveer sighed and resumed.

'I want to tell this Naina. I want to tell her that She is the most beautiful thing of my life. She never was stain. She never will be. She is the lost pearl of my life which I'd always repent. I so want to tell her that even when I was crushing her slowly slowly, I was well aware of the fact that she is the star of my darkened life. She was and is and will be always Sirius. Always. But today I cant even tell her any of these.'

'You know Vihan...I married her. I was  the one who dragged her into my life. And ironically I was the one who threw her away.'

'Since the day She left me, I died every single moment slowly slowly. But not completely. When I had no other option, I seek nicotine and liquor. I wanted to forget everything. I wanted an escape. But when I came here and met her, my all efforts died. I dont know how...and when I realised that my escape is impossible. In fact I am meant to be perished. I cant escape my Karma. So the best thing I can do is....live. And for living I need her. I need her smiles, laughter, banter, nonsense tricks, clumsiness, Boring romantic books, and her slangs which she secretly uses. I need her more than my own heart. My own existence.'

And for a first Vihan saw Captain Rajveer crying. He felt so helpless. He could not even support him, hold him...and even offer his own handkerchief to wipe his tears. Not that he was not eager to, but he was unsure. Unsure of righteous of his right and HIS(Raj') wrong.

'I....I dont even know what to say. When I came here I had so many things. I wanted to thrash you, abash you, tell you your such an idiot bastard. But....

....

...

...Rajveer Sir, You dont know that Naina....she...She is passing through same phase.'

He wanted to tell him that Naina too loves him...more than he ever did.

But it was her secret not his right..either his place.

'I can see that. I have become....Poison of her life. And....I am so helpless that I cant even change it. I....I ....I cant see her in pain..'

Rajveer wailed. His cries and tears got out of him. This time Vihan held his shoulder. Pressed it and spoke...

'I like Naina..Sometimes It feels like I love her. But...I want her happy more than her accepting my love or me in any manner. If...If..You want, I'll help you. As much I can to bring her smile back. To bring real Naina back.'

Raj wiped his eyes....

'I dont even know where to begin. She has gone rigid. There is no window in her wall.'

Vihan smiled...

'The thing you forgot is her walls are lower..too lower. Just..Just simple pushes and you will see real Naina. I did.'

Both sat silently. Vihan though was calm instead of having turmoil and storms as he was having earlier.

Then something struck him.

Naina was lucky...Wasnt she!

The person whom she loves is too deep in her love. Though he cant flaunt it or even express it properly but his actions are enough to tell so.

And that makes you, Mr. VIHAN a broken heart!

He smiled. It was inevitable since the first day. Naina is delicate and pure. She would see her faults first everywhere even if she was innocent as a baby. She would not have gone in solitude if it was not for her own over thinking. So he cant even persuade her....to accept him because he loves her selflessly and can cure her more than Rajveer. He can be her remedy..But Vihan doesnt want to.

He dies as rajveer slowly slowly wheneve he'll see her silently hoping for Raj, craving for Raj, burning for Raj.

Whatever their relation had been, right now both are at same place....and yet distant. Too much distant.

So....You have decided to play cupid? Mr. Vihan.

He laughed. No one can play cupid for his own love. He was happy as Naina' friend. He could not help Rajveer. Rajveer had to seek his own ways..Perhaps it was the best way to help them.

He looked at Raj who was staring at zero.

A question popped in his mind..

'Do...Do you love her?'

It caught Raj off guard.

'No. I am not capable of. She is too good and I am too burnt. Ashes cant be rubbed on roses.'

And he had to smile.

Rajveer and Naina. They both passed through a lot. Whosoever fault it was, both had equal share of burns. Each of them was perished. Each of them suffered. But in the end...It'd be both of them who are going to see first ray of sunlight in their morning.....perhaps together..at the same time.

Vihan stood up and patted his shoulder. Then he left.

Captain Rajveet as gained his respect in one go, would earn her too. Her respect...her company...her smiles......and perhaps her love too which she had enclosed tightly in the southtest corner of her heart.

And...he heard his own consolation..

Come on Vihan. Naina is your friend..and always will be.

Yes. That will never change.

*****

Rajveer.

After spending two nights alone under sky waiting for her, He was more than happy. Happy to know that he could wait for her...wait for her to return to him...wait for her..to accept his presence.

And it made him late in both mornings. Earning him her glares. Her inherent ramblings which he was sure contained nothing but swears for him.

He waited for every single opportunity when he was able to see her. Every single glance she would spare him and he like any road side loafer would smile in return. Four hundred forty watt smile..if he wanted to measure it!

Once It happened during officer's talk and he had to clarify himself!

Damn!! He was sure his image had lowered one more digit.

But he could not stop. He began to bring her her favourite dishes after cooking them himself. He would knock at hers', she came out and then...he after thrusting Tiffin into her hands would run away like a kid after committing mistake.

He got it two times. Third time she didnt open her door. But he had his communication and stratergy well learnt this time. He screwed her window and jumped in. When she saw him in her bedroom, she went all chudail on him.

'How dare you come inside! How can you do this? Didnt I make it clear that we have nothing left? We cant do over! Cant you understand? Stop all this.....bullshit!'

And with a goofy grin he replied..

'Make me!'

Once again he fled the scene after handing her over the tiffin.

It took him days...many days when she stopped complaining and accepted his tiffins.

Food was her weakness after all!

Rajveer! You hit the bull's eye. Congo.

But his happiness didnt last longer when one day she went infirmary complaining about her indigestion.

Rajveer had to shut his food service for days. Because Naina' health was his priority..

Having no other option left he seeked other option. He began making her coffee.

And this time as usual he was thrown out with his coffee which he readily accepted because she had sipped it unknowingly, considering it to be from mess. He was then standing on her door and smiling ear to ear.

When he bought her her second coffee in a day, she went nuts.

'DO.YOU.WANT.TO.KILL.ME? First oily food then this much caffeine? What are you intentions? Hmm? Tell me?'

He could not help but pout...like a kid who was scolded without his fault.

'What can I do when you cant stop yourself from having more than needed? Did I tell you to eat non stop two tiffins? I had packed that for Vihan not for you. And about this coffee, you were supposed to work late night hence I brought. Mujhe kya sapne aa rahe the tum abhi sab pi logi!'

And she made faces not before throwing him out once again.

He smiled because he was sure...she would now never refuse his cooking. At least his hard work was not going in vain. Only he knew how much he had to do multitasking. Cutting veggies while looking at files. Stirring them while watching cadets' recorded assignments. Making round chapatis while listening Brigadier' orders. And he forgot the count how many times he almost burnt confidential files!

Naina once again was costing him his career.

But this time he was satisfied. He was a fool earlier...He knew it now.

He passed through corridor and found Mrinal. She was one more disturbing soul in his life who would never leave any chance of luring him into a date.

She once again asked...after spotting him in her path.

'You up for Lunch? Rajveer. Anuj told me about new restaurant down the lane. If you are free in evening, we can opt for dinner in case you dont want lunch!'

I have an ex-wife if you may concern! Thank you very much for asking me out but no thanks.

But he could not voice his emotions out. He just shrugged his shoulders and told her he was having headache, stomach ache and back pain...along head spinning.

'Seriously captain! Ni jana he to mana kar do. At least dont feign yourself as a pregnant woman!'

She went away stomping his foot. He cried in pain.

Women are so difficult to handle. Mrinal should be aware he right now is handling Naina. He cant two time.. He doesn't own Naveen' personality.

He left for his room. Now a days it was a place where he had a feeling of closure. Not because he had exchanged his quarter with Anuj.....citing some lame excuses of late night howls and his insomnia, but He was able to reach his classes in time.

Anuj' room is next to Naina' if you have forgotten Captain!

He smiled sheepishly. His ex- wife now a days was so frustrated with his antics that she used to play loud music enough to wake him up during wee hours of night. But he was happy. Moreover he was sleeping during lunch and evening break. So sleep was not his tension.

His tension was hacked data of faculty. Somebody had provided cloud link to all faculties for logging into their details. When they logged in, they unknowingly provided their confidential details to that server. Andd....Mrinal waa first of them. Riya was second to complain. Rajveer had to work on this problem..Along keeping track of other' too.

It was his duty after all. He was getting paid for it. Moreover it was perhaps first in past few years when he was excited to do some work.....both in his cabin as well as in kitchen!

As Naina was not having a happy stomach, he needed to prepare soup and khichadi for her...time to times. The thing that every time he knocked at her, she almost beat him...was another sight to his eyes. First being her dainty legs....

He had seen once all of them...They were so smooth.

And all of sudden, He was having second thoughts about his celibacy....

********

The people who want Naina and Rajveer to unite asap, bahno...Humsr na ho paayega. I am not in mood to give this Raju a chance that too soon. But yes...the bitterness of their relation would resolve...slowly slowly.