A ball of rage is roaring upward and the flames rise boldly against the black sky. That great fire glows their skin red, orange and gold. Every eye reflects the flickering, each iris containing a small picture of the bonfire. They are roasted from the front, frozen from behind. Plumes of grey are buffeted into that night sky; carry aimlessly by chill January wind of Ambala. The voice of crackling firewood is trying to break the silence which fills in the air.

5 young soldiers are watching the bonfire as if it can burn up their inner rage, as if their frustrations, anger and vulnerability are the fuel turns into black confetti. It is that same lakeside place in Kanchanjunga Military Academy' where they had spent best days of their life. Now all those days seem like one big dream for them. Everyone is in his own thoughts. It is not that they are oblivious about each other presence. That feeling of togetherness is the only oxygen of their life which gives them strength to fight battles outside the battlefield.

Yudi gets irritated with that voice of uneasy silence which is feeling the air. He decides to break the ice. "Guys, we are meeting after 9 long months. Aaj bhi tum sabko hamesha ki tarah koi baat nahin karni ? This is the same place jahan hum kitni masti karte the, hamari aawaj ki gunj aaj bhi hai yahan ki hawa mein. Jab Naina saath hoti hai toh koi nahin thakta.. sab bolte hi jatey hain.. ab kya hua..? "

"Naina ke liye hum sabko outdoor mode on karna hi padta hain Yudi. Uska silent mode atleast normal mode ho jaye. Lekin aaj tak apne software ko nahin thik kar paye uska kya thik karenge..." says Pooja who is still playing with grass. Helplessness reflects from her voice.

"Ek baar ke liye dimag toh samajh bhi jaye par iss dil ko kaise samajhaye. Jab hum duty par hote hain tab dil laga rehta hai. Lekin ab ye 40 din ki chutti..." Yudi interrupts Ali, "Dude, what are you saying? tumhe ye holiday nahin chahiye? Jab se last year KMA se pass out huye hai tab se ab jake sabko ek sath mili hain holiday. Tumhare aur Pooja ke engagement mein bhi nahin mil paye the hum because duty join karke jyada months nahin huye the. Aur ab jab unexpectedly 40 days ki lottery lagi hain wo bhi ek sath toh tum pareshan kyu ho?" asks Yudi surprisingly.

"Hum pareshan nahin hain Yudi bhai.. khushi toh hume bhi ho rahi hai lekin sath mein ye jo sabke chehre pe mayusi hain wo hum phirse dekhna nahin chahte the. Waise kaha jaye toh aaj hum sabke liye khass din hain. Aaj hum sabko hamare Gantantra Diwas ke sanchalan me shamil hone ka mouka mila. Meri aur Guru ki regiment thi.. iss saal army ne hamare defence ke ladkiyon ki shakti dikhane ke liye unki tukdi ko khass roop me sanchlan me shamil kiya tha jis mein Pooja thi aur jisko lead Naina ne kiya.. Huda bhai Bikes ke manore mein the.. aur aap.. aap toh hum sabse aage nikal gaye.. aapko hamare desh ka Rashtragan bajane ka mouka mila. Itna garv ka din hain aaj lekin aap khud hi batayiye ke kisike bhi chehre pe wo garv aap dekh pa rahe hain.. wahi udasi hain, wahi adhurapan hain jo hum khud bhi mehsus kar rahe hain. Aaj agar Rajveer sir hote toh unko humpe kitna garv hota." Ali explains sadly.

"sahi bola usool tu. Aaj apunko sirf do logonki bahot yaad sata reli hai.. ek apunki maa aur Rajveer sir. Agar wo dono aaj hote toh aapunse jyada khushi unn dono ko hoti. Kash aaj aapunko parade me left right left karte huye unhone dekha hota..." Aalekh says without even changing his gaze from burning fire.

"You bet man.. seriously main bata nahin sakta ke jab main hamara national anthem play kar raha tha tab mujhe kitni khushi ho rahi thi.. Red fort pe hamare bharat ke republic day pe Jab hamara Tiranga aasman me lehraya toh sirf ek hi baat..."

"...mujhe yaad aayi" suddenly says Huda and all turn to look at him, who was still laying near lakeside, keeping his one hand on his forehead and other on his stomach, "hum kisi seema ki raksha nahin karte hum is jhande ke abroo ki raksha karte hain." This one sentence of Huda succeeds to take all of them back to that unfaithful day. They all drive themselves back to 1 and half year.. That independence day which they all are unable to forget... or for them it is impossible to forget...

That day.. Tiranga was flying as high as it is flying today. There stood the man who they still admire the most. They all were waiting for his orders. He was proudly watching his Tiranga flying high and started interacting with his cadets without turning his gaze from his Tiranga...

"Yahi hain hamari pehchaan... yahi hain hum.. iske bina hum kuch nahin." Now he started looking at them and continued with his last lesson, as their teacher, as their mentor, "Iske liye hum jaan de bhi sakte hain aur isiki shaan ke liye hum kisiki jaan le bhi sakte hain. Isi ke liye hum jeete hain cadets aur issi ke liye marne ka khwab bhi dekhte hain. Jaante ho cadets, isse bada, isse upar aur isse ahem hamare liye kuch bhi nahin. Kyunki chahe hamare pass zameen ho ya na ho, daulat ho ya na ho, Pariwar, khana, dost ho ya na ho, hum sirf tab tak hai jab tak hamare pass hamari apni aazadi hain. Hum isi aazadi ke rakhwale hain. We are soldiers of THIS flag. Hum kisi seema ki raksha nahin karte, hum iss jhande ke abroo ki raksha karte hain. Main nahin janta ke aanewale waqt mein zindagi hum sabko kis mod par le jaye. Lekin bichdne se pehle mujhse wada karo cadets, ke apne khoon ke aakhri katre tak tum iss jhande ki abroo ki raksha karoge. Wada karo mujhse ke tum log khudko mita doge lekin iss Tirange ki shaan ko kabhi maila nahin hone doge. Come on guys, wada karo mujhse." He took this promise from all of them and then disappeared.

"...we are soldiers of this flag".. Yudi completes his remaining sentence. Tears are rolling down from every eye. "Aaj tak aapun log sir se kiya hua wada nibha rela hai aur aage bhi nibhate rehnge. Issi jhande ke liye jiyenge." Aalekh once again makes that promise to his sir.

"Yaad hai guys, uske last year ka Independence day, hamara Kma ka pehla Independence day.. tab exactly flag hosting ke time chotasa blast hua tha aur hum.." Yudi laughs on himself.. "aur hum Bharat ke future jawan, kaise ghabrake idhar udhar bhage the, tab sir ne humse kaha tha..."

"Agar kabhi sar katane ki noubat aa hi gayi toh sab se aage, sabse pehle, Main Hoon Naa..!!" This time Ali interrupted Yudi. "Aur hamare sir ne aakhir tak unki baat sach karke dikhayi. Hamesha hamare saath, hamare aage khade rahe, hamari dhal banke. Hamari har musibat pehle unhone jheli." Ali smiles remembering all incidents when Rajveer saved them from Maj. Bhargav, Maj. Nair and sometimes even from Brig. Chandok.

Yudi looks at Ali angrily, "Aaj koi mujhe meri baat complete karne dega? Har baar koi na koi meri baat kat raha hai. This is not done man! Pehle ye Huda aur ab tum. Are mujhe bhi toh Rajveer sir ki sari kahi baatein yaad hain." Yudi says all these with his mock anger. "Nautanki..." Aalekh whispers to himself

"Oye thand rakh Yudie, ek toh jabse hum yaha aaye hain sari purani yaadein fir taja ho gayi hain. Academy ke har ek kone mein Rajveer sir ki yaadein hain. Aur ek tu hain ke jo apni liye baitha hain" Yudi creases his eyebrows with anger and is going to react when he again get interrupted, this time by Pooja.

"Yahi problem hain iss jagah ki.." Pooja wipes her tears and continues, "yaha aate hi hamare inbox ke old messeges open ho jate hain."

"aur isi karan Punjaban, jab tau ne hum sabko aaj parade ke baad KMA aane ko kaha to maine mana kiya tha. Main na aana chahta tha yaha phirse. Lekin phir mummyji ne kaha ke aise badon ko mana nahin karte isiliye mann gaya." Huda says now sitting properly in front of fire.

"Huda, lekin tereko ek baat bhi manni padegi ke yehich wo jagah hain jaha aapun sab ek dusre ko mile. Yahich hamari dosti huyi. Bole toh apunko apni family mili. Yahich wo jagah hai jahan hamari life mein hamare Rajveer sir aaye" Aalekh continues while controlling his emotions. "nahin toh aaj bhi aapun kisi jail mein sad raha hota ya yahich issi academy me orderly bana ghoom rela hota. Lekin aaj aapun army mein lieutenant hain.. aapun sab."

"Yes chief, KMA is like home for me. Yaha hamari kitni memories hain." Exclaims Yudi.

"Acha hua Brig. Chandok ne khud hi humein puch liya nahin toh hum khud unse puchne wale the ke kya hum yaha ek din aa sakte hain kya.. purani yadein hain humari yaha.. yahi humne humare abbu ka sapne pura kiya.. humare pariwar ke pehle army officer bane. Yahi toh Pooja ke roop me humein hamari jeevansathi bhi mili.." Ali looks towards Pooja, she blushes.

"Oye punjaban, tu toh sharma rahi hai yaar. Ye kab sikh liya tune. Phoolan ke saath rehke tu bhi toh mrne-marne ki bhasha karne lagi thi." Huda teases Pooja. "Oye Huda chup kar tu. Apne handset ka volume control mein rakh. Ek toh parade ke baad tu out of range honewala tha. Main toh tujhse baat hi nahin karnewali." Pooja scolds Huda.

"Are punjaban, aise naraj na ho yar mujhse. Meri bhi toh halat samajh. Ek toh wo Phoolan humse thik se baat nahin karti. Apne mein hi khoyi rehti hai. Waise toh sabse bahadur aur achi sipahi wahi hain hum sab mein lekin wo ghut ghut ke jee rahi hain. Main aise nahin dekh sakta yaar Phoolan ko." Says Huda and tries to look anywhere but at his friends. "Aap ab bhi unse bahot pyar karte hain na Huda bhai?" asks Ali.

Huda stares at Ali and looks downwards. "haan yaron, aaj bhi yeh jat Phoolan se bahot pyar karta hain." Aalekh looks at Huda. Huda continues, "Qaidi, tu toh janta hain ye baat. Tu hi toh tha jisne mujhe mere pyar ka ehsaas dilaya tha. Mere pehle tu hi toh samajha tha."

"Huda, jaise aapun ne tere pyar ko dekha tha waiseich Naina ke pyar ko bhi aapun ne hich dekha tha.. khilte huye bhi aur murjhate huye bhi. Lekin uska pyar terese alag hain. Uska pyar uski jid nahin balki wo jisse pyar karti hain uski khushi tha." Aalekh says sternly.

"Mera yakeen kar Qaidi, meri wo jid ussi pal khatam ho gayi jis pal Rajveer sir ke pyar ka pure court me tamasha bana." Explains Huda. "Hold on Huda.. tumhare kehne ka matlab hai ke jab tumhe pata chala ke Rajveer sir Naina se pyar karte hain toh tumhe gussa nahin aaya? Jalan nahin huyi?" Yudi asks surprisingly. "Jat, tere mobile mein koi virus toh nahin fail gaya.. tu ye kya bol raha hain? Pooja joins Yudi.

"Punjaban, virus toh pehle faila tha. Uss din toh puri tarah se nikal gaya. Mere Captain sir ki izzat meri aankhon me tab 100 guna badh gayi." Says Huda feeling proud on himself and on his Captain sir. "Aap sach mein bahot badal gaye hain Huda bhai. Inn 9 mahino mein jab jab hamari aapse telephone pe baat huyi tab tab humne ye mehsoos kiya ki aap ab woh Huda bhai nahin rahe jinse hum Academy mein mile the" Ali says while looking towards Huda.

"Haan Usool, main badal gaya hun. Maine bhi khud mein badlav paya hai." Continues Huda. All starts listening carefully what is he saying, "Pehle main jo bhi tha sirf mere mummyji ke karan tha lekin aaj main jo kuch bhi hu wo sirf Rajveer sir ke vajahse. Agar wo nahin hote toh main ek dehshatgard bankar reh jata naki jo aaj hu, Lt. Amardeep Huda." All 4 are shocked after listening Huda's words. "Tu kehna kya chahta hai saaf saaf bol" demands Aalekh.

"Doston aisi bahot si baatein hain jo aap sab ko nahin pata." Huda starts narrating his story. "Tum sabko yad hain jab Rajveer sir ka accident hua tha aur Phoolan ne jaan pe khelke unhe wapas laya tha tab mainehi unke jeep ke breaks fail kiye the." "What...???" Shouts Yudi. "Haan Yudie, mujhe academy mein phone aaya tha ke Rajveer sir desh se gaddari kar rahe hain aur Indian Intelligence ne mujhe chuna hain unko unki anjam tak pahuchane keliye.. aur main pagal Jat, unpar vishwas kar baitha. Phir jab Phoolan unhe wapas le aayi tab un logon ne mujhe dhamki di thi ki agar maine ye kaam pura nahin kiya toh wo log Phoolan ko mar denge. Toh maine uss party ke bahane unke wine me poison mila diya. Lekin hamare Captain sir toh sachhe sipahi the unhone mujhe pakad liya lekin arrest nahin kiya balki meri aankhein khol di sachhai se rubru karwake." Huda remembers that incident which still frightens him. "tune ye sab us waqt aapun sab ko kyu nahin bataya?" Aska Aalekh. "kyunki Qaidi wo nahin chahte the ke kisiko ye baat pata chale. Sabse important baat toh wo unka mission aur identity kisiko pata nahin chalne dena chahte the aur unko mere future ki bhi parvah thi."

"Hamare Rajveer sir sach mein great the, sabse alag. Hamare sabse ache teacher aur sabse ache dost bhi."Yudi says remebering Rajveer excitedly. " Hain.. Rajveer sir aaj bhi sabse best hain aur bole toh Naina ke jaise aapun sabko bhi ye yakeen hain ke wo jarur aayenge." Aalekh corrects Yudi and takes Huda back to topic, "Itna sab hone ke baad bhi tune kya kiya Huda jab wo mogambo aaya tha academy mein? Tu uss vakil Salve aur Abhimanyu sir ko dosh deta hain hamesha kyunki unhone sir ke pyar ka tamasha bana diya pure court mein. Tune kya kiya.. tune bhi toh puri academy ke samne unka pyar uchal diya na?" Aalekh asks angrily.

"Qaidi, main aaj tak sharminda hu mere uss ek gunha ke liye. Aur zindagi bhar rahunga." Huda tries to explain but Yudi interrupts, "Huda tab tune ye bhi nahin socha ke sir ke career ka kya hoga jinhone tera career bachaya."

"Behek gaya tha yaar main Yudie, mogambo ne mere Phoolan ke liye pyar ka acha isstemal kiya." Huda accepts. "Aap sab sirf Huda bhai ko kyu dosh de rahe hain hum bhi toh uss sab mein utnehi gunehegar hai.. unhone mera bhi toh career bachaya hai" Ali also accepts his mistake again. "Aur mere bhi phone me virus tha uss waqt." Pooja joins Ali.

"Lekin doston sirf yahi wajah nahin hain ke meri najar me Rajveer sir ki izzat badh gayi." Continues Huda with his guilty eyes. "Maine Rajveer sir se help mangi thi Phoolan ka dil jitney ke liye, maine unse unki Naina ko manga tha aur Sir ne bina kuch soche mujhe promise kiya tha ki wo Naina ko jitne me meri madad karenge aur unhone ki bhi.. unhone Naina ka haath mere haath mein de diya. Jab court me mujhe Rajveer sir ki feelings ke bare mein pata chala toh unke selfless pyar ke aage mera jid wala pyar sharm se jhuk gaya, haar gaya mera pyar. Koi insaan itna acha kaise ho sakta hain? Har baar sirf dusron ka sochna. Mujhe pura yakeen hain, appraisals bhi Sir jaan-buchke hare the apne dost ko jitane ke liye lekin uss dost ne unko kya diya, solitary confinement..? Puri army ke samne unke emotions ka majak bana diya.."

"Huda, tum Abhimanyu sir ko kabhi maaf nahin kar payoge na..?" Yudi asks Huda but he knows his answer. "Nahin, main uss jhabrile ko kabhi maaf nahin kar payunga. Uss din court mein gawahi dena uski duty thi ye main samajh sakta hun. Actually wo bhi puri tarah se thik nahin tha kyun ki exactly waha pe kya hua ye kisine nahin dekha. Lekin uss Captain Salve ko Rajveer sir aur Phoolan ke rishtey ke bare mein batane ki usse koi jarurat nahin thi. Jis tarah se ye baat court me uchali gayi... Rajveer sir ke aankhon ke aansoo main aaj tak nahin bhool paya.. jab jab Rajveer sir ko apne dost ki jarurat thi wo kabhi nahin tha unke pass.. nahin.. bilkul nahin, main usse kabhi maaf nahin karunga" Huda says angrily.

Again voice of silence fills in the air. Everyone chooses to stay silent for some minutes. All are remembering all that incidents which happened with their Rajveer sir. Again Huda start talking, "Mummy ji ki kasam doston Mogambo ke jane ke baad maine kabhi sir ke liye na kuch bura socha ya na kuch bura kiya. Aur khas kar jab maine unhe apne desh keliye ladhte dekha uss gaddar Dr. Ritu ke sath. Goli lagne ke bawjud bhi sir jeete. Sir ka wo jazba main kabhi mujh mein laa bhi paunga ya nahin pata nahin." All look downwards when they remembered the incident. When their Rajveer sir needed them most, they were not there for him. They failed. At that time personal goals were important for them than their country.

"Lekin maine ek baat notice ki uss din.." Huda continues, Jis Phoolan ne sir ko apni jaan pe khelke bachaya tha wo Phoolan uss waqt unka sath dene ko bhi taiyar nahin thi. Itna hi nahin usne to unka first aid bhi nahin kiya. Usne kabhi nahin bataya ke jab Dr. Ritu ne sir ko goli mari tab wo kya kar rahi thi. Uske baad bhi wo kitne dino tak sir se thik se baat nahin kar rahi thi. Ye bhi ek reason tha ke jisse mujhe laga ke ab main Naina ko paa sakta hun." Huda confesses.

"Haan, ye toh uss waqt maine bhi notice kiya tha. Lekin mujhe laga ke Naina ka phone Abhimanyu sir ke aane se double sim ho gaya toh iske vajahse. Lekin Naina ne sir ka first aid bhi nahin kiya..?" Pooja says confusingly.

Aalekh, who till now listening this conversation, decides something and declares in loud voice, "Rajveer sir ko goli Dr. Ritu ne nahin Naina ne mari thi."

*******