'What! Major Rawat? But isnt it his first time! Sir. Case itna critical he aur panel me rawat jaise officers kyu rakhe ja rahe he?'

Naina curses system while having talks with Col. Mehta, father of Late Captain Naren mehta.

'Beta. I too am shocked. Samajh nahi aa raha kya karu! Tumne Paatil se baat ki? Kya bola case ke liye?'

Naina sighs in frustration.

'Sir. Us ne mana kar diya. Bol rha tha ki case me koi dam nahi he. He'll not risk his career for us.'

'To phir ab kya hoga! Itni mushkilo se ye case re open huya he. Aur uske baad bhi mushkile kam nahi ho rahi. Aisa lagta he..ki Uparwale ko mere bete ki begunaahi raas nahi aa rahi. Kuch bhi sahi nahi ho rha..'

'Sir. Aise kaise kaam chalega. Himmat nahi haarni he hum logo ko. Koi na koi rasta jarur milega.'

'Pata nahi Naina. Kahi aisa na ho ki jung khatm na ho aur meri saanse jawab de jaaye..'

'Sir. Pleasee.. Try to be brave. Hum ko hi ladna he. We'll get them justice. Himmat harne se kuch nahi hoga.'

Col. Listens and nods. Naina talks some more and disconnects the cal.

She had hoped when Naveen' case is reopened thing will be easier for her but it seems they will never get simple let alone be easy. The PIL has been accepted but there is no body who wants to risk their career against captain salve. She will be the prosecutor against whom nobody wants to stand. Her ruthless prosecuting is famous. Moreover they see nothing in case of two dead soldiers.

Getting justice is indeed hard and getting it on time in Indian judicial system is impossible...when you dont have loads of money and connection..

Naina looks at her watch. She is late again. She can not help. The fight is taking a toll on her. Struggle is getting tougher and harder. By every minute and by every second she can feel herself losing...the battle which haven't started yet.

She opens the bedroom and comes in. Throwing away her stuff and falling on bed on her stomach.

Strange. When case was not started she was madly running after the case to be re opened. And now when the court has accepted it, She is losing the chance.

Her cell rings.

'Hello..'

'Hello. Naina. Vijay here..'

Vijay Naina' IMA batchmate. Right now posted in Sikkim. Last time he phoned her he was about to get a promotion. The happiness he wanted to share last time Naina is annoyed that she cant be jolly enough to receive same this time too. She gives no two shit whether someone is living or dead. Right now she is about to collapse.

'I am Sorry. I know about Naveen bhaiya' case. I am sorry that I am not there with you. But..Tu to janti hi he na..Duty and responsibilities..'

Naina hums. Taking no interest in his sympathy..

'Tujhe S.S. Tyagi yaad he? That guy who used to lose Maj. Nair' drill always?

Her mother...Maj Gen. Tyagi. She is the reputed lawyer. Agar unhone tera case liya..to bat ban sakti he. Tu baat karke dekh.'

'Maj Gen. Tyagi has denied. Mehta Sir ne baat ki thi..'

'Mehta Sir ne khali hath baat ki hogi. S. S. Tyagi ki ma he wo. Beta Maa par gaya he Naina. Soch kar dekh..'

Naina keeps quite. Calculating what she can bet this time..

Vijay and she talks for some more time. Naina' mind preoccupied with the plans of collecting some precious and costly offer for M.G. tyaagi.

********

Next Day.

At a high profile Club.

One woman holding some cards and smoking is being attended by some three or four people. All same. Having almost same amount of cash in their pockets and same zeal to have fun except the new joined face is bit unknown to one of the people.

'Shikha. Have you thought about that apartment i showed you last week?' Man in front of Mrs. Shikha Tyagi speaks.

'No. Sikandar. I didnt like the view. Beach bhi door padta he. And my so told me it was not as per Vastu.' Sikandar' face falls.

'By the way, How Mr. Grewal got some time to enjoy with us? Aapki Lucknow base wali deal to settle ho gayi thi na. Specially South Block se phone gaya tha. Haina Grewal Sahab.'

Sujal gives a small smile.

'Aisi baat nahi he Singh Sahab. I am a regular visitor here bus life multitasking ho gayi aur yaha aane ka time nahi milta ab....warna aap logo se milne ka mauka roz roz thode na milta he.' Sujal sets his cards while his eyes set on the lady. Mrs. Shikha..

'Kya aap bhi majak karte he! It should be us who are willing to throw some minutes and hours spare for you. Aap kaha busy businessman.' Sikandar is trying to impress Sujal.

Sikandar is a builder in Benguluru and recently he has bought a building in Mumbai. He is planning to sell the apartments. Recent one was with Sikha who plainly refused to buy one of the apartments.

'Sunday ke din kaun business karta he bhala!' Sujal' reply makes all laugh.

And..then...

'I am done for this round. Aap teeno continue karo. Abhi party meeting ka text aaya he. Jana padega.' Arun paliwal local M.L.A. stands up.

'Paliwal sahab. 10 ka nuksan leke ja rahe ho.' Sikandar pitches.

'P.a..se bat kar lena. Abhi jana jaruri he.' And arun leaves.

Similarly within next half hour Sikandar too leaves when he loses the somewhere 15 lacs after winning twice.

Now its Sujal and Mrs. Shikha.

'So...Mr. Grewal. Kya lagaoge daaw par!'

'Jo aap kahe..' his smirk high on his face.

Game goes on..

And soon Sujal loses a good hefty amount.

He shakes his hand with Mrs. Shikha.

'Aapse to jeetna namumkin lagta he. Man na padega..court ke andar jeetne ki adat bahar bhi same he.'

She stares into his eyes...

And silently pulls something out of her purse.

'Take my card. Its my personal number. And one more thing Mr. Grewal...Meri jeetne ki nahi Aadmi parakhne ki aadat Same he. I know who I am dealing with and You...You are not the one to lose so easily.' She is sitting there rolling chips..

Sujal stands up and smiles. He goes out leaving three aces on the table. While the lady on the table keeps on staring his back with a small smile..

**********

Later that Night....

Naina gets a call from Col. Mehta who tells her that M.G. Tyagi has accepted their offer of taking case of two deceased soldiers with no major proof. Naina is shocked. Her earlier requests had been futile. Nothing came out of them.

After all she had got to meet her after so much difficulties. Citing the name of being batchmate of her son amd then giving huge bribe to the person who arranged the meeting. Yet Mrs. Tyagi had plainly denied to take their case.

And suddenly she has accepted the case. Sure there must be a someone or something.

Naina knows who it can be. In fact she knows who it is. Actually it is he. She knows who he is....

Who else than Sujal.

Very hideous in helping. Instead of talking with her about it Sujal did the deed and won the woman for her.

But suddenly she has this many questions asking his motive. Like they have not been that close. They have not formed that bond. The paths of Sujal and Naina still running in distance. Not parallel not close not beside.

She has not tried to involve him in this case. She had married him for getting transferred in HQ. The motive is proven for good. Now what! The battle is hers. only hers. She can fight it alone...

But there deep in her heart there is a pang when She sees herself tired and worn out...And Sujal doesnt turn his head for once.

But when he does He just knocks her already shaken world out. It gets entangled and complicated...more. and a simple way out is...Run away From Him. Thats what she does and plans to do for the time Naveen' case is in court. And there will be no thoughts of what's after...

Ironically that is the most asked question in her mind. Naina hides this truth....for well being of her sanity.

But.....

Can she be sane? After all this....after all the mornings, days, evenings and nights? The care, the company, the comfort and the passion; will she be able to?

She hopes she will...she does badly.