Naina paced around in the washroom waiting for the stick to change color. "Not Now" she thought, "this can't be happening now".

The stick turned blue confirming her pregnancy.

"O my god...How could I be so careless...ab kya karu mein...agar mujhe pata hota ki aisa hone wala hai..I would have thought of some other way to bring this network down. I would have never shown them my face..."

She sat down on the floor, with her back to the wall. She couldn't leave the network. There was only entrance, no exits. The would find her and kill her, especially after the information she had recovered, eavesdropping on Dev's calls in his house.

"May be I can just leave...tell Rajveer everything...he will protect me and Naveen."

Deciding on that, she picked up her cell phone and dialed for Rajveer. Voicemail. He must be in the field. Naina put down the phone, dejected.

******

The next morning, Dev called him to come and meet him at the bungalow immediately.  As she dressed, she tried to get over her morning sickness.

Dev took her into the basement of his house. It was luxurious, but was guarded by his own private guards, with weapons so impressive, Naina was sure were not made in this country.

There ware a few else there, some army officers in high ranks and a few politicians and one person, whose face she couldn't see. Dev lead her to the sofa and asked her to sit, while he went and told the other person that she was here. The other person, put down the phone , nodded to him and turned.

Naina looked into the face and was glad she was siting, as she would have definitely fallen otherwise.

Bikram Singh Rathod, the president of the ruling party. He was the co-founder of the most powerful party in the politics and a winner of the Padma Vibushan, the second highest civilian honor.  

Dev, told her that they were very happy with ' Operation Iron Justice' failing, and have called her here for a new assignment. This assignment would change her life, he told her.

As he explained the assignment to her, Naina felt her head spin. What these people were trying to do could harm the entire nation, leave the country vulnerable to attacks from outside nations. Dev was explaining her part, and the officers she had to co-ordinate with. 

*****

She was walking slowly on the road, her head still reeling with all the information. She knew only a part of the plan, but she certainly knew the outcome. She could not even fathom how low these people, people who were in positions of power, could sink for just money and position.

She rushed to the trees near the roadside and vomited. She was feeling too sick. She took out her cell to dial Rajveer again, but stopped. Dev had implied that all people part of this assignment will be watched. He had even joked that if he even felt that somebody thought of betraying them, he would make sure that they would regret it.

She walked a little further and saw a private hospital. She went inside to get a checkup.

"Mrs Shekhawat...your scanning shows that you may have a difficult pregnancy ahead. You haven't been on the prenatals yet and your blood pressure is high. You seem to be very stressed that is affecting your baby. I would suggest you to take some time off and take complete bed rest." said the doctor.

********

Naina paced in the headquarters. She thought about the assignment and the people who can die because of this. She crossed the wall of fame. So many brave officers , including her brother, die everyday to protect this nation. Their sacrifices couldn't go futile. She din't know who to turn to. Even if she told any of her friends, would't it be jeopardizing their lives. If not by cell, the only way to reach Rajveer would be to reach him via the army channels, and who knows who might be watching them. But she wanted to hear his voice once. 

She went to the exchange and they tracked his location down. They connected to his commander and and he called Rajveer.

"Naina" said Rajveer coming to the phone. " Kaise ho ? Naveen kaisa hai ? Tang to nai kar raha tumhe?"

There was a lot of noise and landmines going off behind him.

"Mein theek hu Rajveer. Naveen Nainitaal gaya hua hai. Aap kaise hai?"

"Good." yelled Rajveer to make his voice heard.

"Rajveer, suniye...mein..mein soch rahi thi, ki woh jo ghar hum construct karva rahe the, woh hum continue kare. "

"Par Naina...humara bank loan abhi tak sanction kaha hua..."

"Haan...lekin, woh meine ek aur bank se baat kiya...woh hume loan jaldi de rahe. "

"Umm..mujhe theek se sunai nahi de raha...but if you think it is a good idea...go ahead...I trust you." said Rajveer, before the call got disconnected.

******

"I trust you." she repeated Rajveer's words again and again in her head as she laid down on the table in the hospital.

"I hope you will forgive me for this, Rajveer. Many people have sacrificed so much for our army. I am sacrificing our child" she prayed , while closing her eyes, letting her tears flow out.

******

Naina returned to the headquarters after two days. Their new commander Col.Shah, had looked over their work and had asked them to check a few things in Delhi outskirts. Her and Gunny had made a makeshift campsite and were watching a few officers.

Naina was also working tirelessly on her assignment. Getting them the information needed, but internally trying to make a solid list of all the recordings and names.

One night, Arnav visited the camp site. As they were working, Naina contemplated her move.

She was going through the initial evidence they had collected when Brig. Bisht was there. When she had made copy of the file, she had scanned the memo. As the paper was in the trash, it was in bad shape, resulting in the last two lines being cut off. That means, whoever had the copy din't know she had the knowledge of the two additional names.

She moved towards Arnav.

"Hey Arnav, I need your expertise. Can you please authenticate this memo for me. "

"Sure" said Arnav and lookedd at the memo. He did a few checks and gave her the stamp of approval this document was real and could be submitted to the court.

Naina felt a relief. 

As they continued to work, it was late in the night. Gunny offered to go and get coffee. As Gunny stepped out, a bomb fell on the campsite. Boom.

Two armed guards entered the tent from the rear and held Naina and Arnav. As Naina tried to free herself, the guard whispered. " Naina ji, chup chap chaliye...Dev saab  ne hi bheja hai hume."

She turned, and not having a choice, she followed the guard, while the other guard dragged, a shocked and squirming Arnav.

As she ran , she turned to see if Gunny was alright. She caught a glimpse of him through the smoke. Assuring herself, she ran quickly as another bomb fell on the tent.

********

Rajveer was working, when Col. Sinha, who was the commander of Rajveer's unit came to him.

"Rajveer, we need to go."

"Sir, iss waqt, hum to abhi mission ke liye nikal rahe hai na."

"Nahi, this is important, aapka mission mine Maj.Saahil ko saup diya hai. He will take care."

"But sir" started Rajveer, but the Colonel had already walked out.

Not understanding anything, Rajveer followed him and sat in the jeep They started off towards Delhi.

After a few minutes of silence, Rajveer asked," Sir, hum kaha jaa rahe hai. "

"Delhi ke campsite mein bomb blast hua hai..jaha..aapki wife kaam kar rahi thi."

Rajveer looked at the Colonel shocked. His heart sank.

"N..Naina theek hai ? usse zyada chot toh nahi aayi..kab hua yeh."

"Kal raat, karib 2:30 ko...officers ko hospital le jaya gaya."

Rajveer looked at his watch. It was 4:30 in the morning. " Sir, Naina kaisi hai..." he asked again.

"I don't know all the details Major...Waha jaa ke hi pata chalega." lied Col Sinha. 

Rajveer tried to calm his beating heart. She will be fine. May be hurt, but fine.

As they reached the city, rajveer asked. "Sir, hum campsite ki taraf kyun jaa rahe hai...mujhe hospital le ke jayiye."

"Major Rajveer...teen log the campsite pe....sirf ek ko hospital le ke jaa paye...aur woh Major Gunny hai. " said Col Sinha slowly.

Rajveer slumped back in his seat, processing what the Colonel just said. Was he saying his Naina ..?

As they reached the campsite, Rajveer leapt out of the jeep, running. It was all sealed and filled with black soot.

He approached the officers. " Meri wife kaha hai..? aapne dhunda theek se...she might be hurt....hurled into the woods due to force of the bomb." 

He started searching, within the woods. " Naina..." he called out. "Naina...NAINAAAA."

"Sir" said the officer following him. " Humne dhund liya sir...koi nahi hai aas paas."

"Toh aur deep jaake dhundo..she might have been running from someone...or.."

"Sir..humne dhunda...I am sorry...par woh tent ke andar hi thi...aur bomb direstly tent pe gira...there is no chance of survival. Your wife is dead, sir"

Rajveer turned with his eyes red. He held the collar of the officer.

" Dobara yeh kaha toh tumhari kya halat karunga yeh tum soch nahi sakte. Aur tum kya yaha the, kal raat ko..tumhe kaise pata ki woh tent ke andar thi ya kahiin aur. "

He snatched the torch from the officer's hand and went in the woods, to search himself.

He searched like a mad man, calling her name out until his throat became dry. He din't stop even then. The day turned to dusk.

"Naina...kaha ho tum...kahan chali gayi ho"  he called out as his legs gave away and he went down on his knees. A lump was forming in his throat. He cried, putting his hands on his head.

A jeep came in his way. Col. Sinha and Alekh were in it Alekh rushed towards him.

"Sir..sir"

"Naina...Naina" . Alekh held him as he fainted.

*****