Next Morning.

Following the morning drills, all the first-year cadets arrived at the mess hall and noticed Huda present, wearing his shameless smile. They chose to ignore him and took their respective seats. Naina had detected Captain Rajveer's presence long before entering the mess, so she consciously held her breath. Huda then called over the orderly and requested coffee for all the first-year cadets. Ali glared at him, preparing to retort, when Naina reminded him in a hushed voice, "Ali, you were never present in the store room during the ragging incident. If you say anything to him, it will reveal the truth, and the faculty might assume we were responsible for the seniors' ordeal."

Recognizing the logic in her words, Ali nodded and settled back into his seat, also noticing Captain Rajveer standing just a few feet away from their group.

"Naina is right. And if we're getting free coffee as compensation for what he did last night, I don't think it's a bad deal," Alekh chimed in with a smirk.

"Agreed," Yudi winked, a broad grin on his face.

"You're sending the correct message, Qaidi!" Pooja exclaimed, grinning.

"Pooja, you shouldn't call Aalekh that. Just as we don't refer to you as the 'hockey player' simply because you used to play the sport, you shouldn't label him as a 'Qaidi' [Prisoner] just because he was one. We are all cadets here and deserve the same respect. If you wish to give him a nickname, choose something else, but not 'Qaidi,' alright?" Naina firmly addressed Pooja.

Aalekh stared at Naina, his mouth agape. While he didn't mind Pooja using that nickname since it reflected his truth, the respect Naina displayed toward him melted his heart—a facet he didn't even realize existed within him.

"I'm sorry, Aalekh. Naina is right. I shouldn't address you like that. Don't worry, I'll find a suitable nickname for you," Pooja promised, offering an apologetic smile.

"So, that means you still won't call him by his actual name?" Yudi asked incredulously, causing the others to burst into laughter.

"Come on, guys! Are you still mad at me?" Huda interjected, interrupting their conversation.

"Why would we be angry with you, Huda? Did you do something to make us angry?" Naina inquired.

"Yeah, Huda, did you do something?" Yudi added, smirking.

Huda was perplexed. It was true that when he and the senior cadets woke up early that morning, they discovered themselves bound by ropes in the store room, with no first-year cadets present. However, they all clearly remembered bringing the first-year cadets there the previous night. They couldn't comprehend what had transpired. Moreover, since their actions had violated the rules, they couldn't report the incident to the authorities. Huda was hoping to gather some information from his fellow batchmates.

"Good morning, everyone!" Rajveer had been observing the group closely ever since they entered the mess. He noticed a few first-year cadets glaring at Huda, and Ali seemed poised to speak up, but before he could, Campbell intervened, shifting the atmosphere. The group began taunting Huda with veiled words, withholding any information about the events that had unfolded.

"Good morning, sir," they greeted in unison.

Rajveer took note of Naina's tensed posture as he approached. "How was your first day?" he asked her.

"It was a good day, sir," the cadets responded in a formal manner.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll see you all in my class then," Rajveer said with a smile.

"We're looking forward to it, sir," Ali replied, with the others nodding in agreement.

Just then, an orderly approached and announced, "Cadet Campbell, you have a call!"

Naina nodded. "Excuse me, sir," she said and left the mess. Once she was at a sufficient distance to take a breath of fresh air, she inhaled deeply. "I must have done something truly offensive for God to be punishing me like this," she muttered to herself as she made her way to the reception area to answer the call. "Hello?"

"Nainu, it's me," William spoke from the other end.

"Hey, Dad. Why did you call the landline?" Naina asked, aware that all calls to the academy landline were recorded.

"I found some information, and I couldn't wait," William apologized.

"10m SW corner then," Naina whispered to him before hanging up, ensuring that the orderly couldn't overhear her.

She climbed out of the window of her hostel room, taking great care to reach the southwest corner of the forest near the academy while it was still daytime. When she arrived, she was greeted by William and Natasha, both vampires, who embraced her tightly as she was like a daughter to them. "What did you find?" Naina inquired after exchanging greetings.

"I got in touch with a friend of mine. Remember when I mentioned the 'Vegetarian' clans that only feed on animals?" Naina nodded, and William continued, "I called Carlisle because he has lived for a long time and has encountered various situations. He has also spent time with the Volturi in the past, so he might have some knowledge. Turns out, I was right. Carlisle has come across such cases twice before. He explained that the blood of each human has a unique taste and scent, but occasionally, a vampire finds a particular human whose blood is almost irresistibly appealing to them. The Volturi refer to this human as 'La tua cantante,' which translates to 'your singer.' The blood of this human 'sings' to that specific vampire. For most vampires, discovering such a human is a remarkable experience, and they would typically feed on them. However, only one other vampire has managed to resist feeding from their singer—Carlisle's eldest son, Edward. He even fell in love with his singer, and they eventually got married and had a child. Interestingly, male vampires can reproduce, but that's a separate matter altogether," William explained.

Naina absorbed the information, deep in thought. She felt relieved to know that she wasn't alone in experiencing this phenomenon. "Can you arrange for me to talk to Edward? I want to know how he was able to resist the strong urge to drink from his singer," she urgently pleaded, the memory of that enticing scent rushing back to her, causing her eyes to darken.

"Take it easy, sweetie. Here... drink this... Fresh blood will help," Natasha said, handing her a large five-liter bottle.

Without hesitation, Naina consumed the entire bottle, knowing that she had Captain Rajveer's class in a few minutes. She sighed in relief as the blood temporarily alleviated her thirst. "Thank you, Mom," she whispered.

"You're welcome, dear. We're proud of you. If any of us were in your place, I don't think we would have been able to resist. You're young, but you managed to do what many older vampires couldn't," Natasha reassured her, giving her a tight hug.

"Your mom is right. We're truly proud of you," William added, offering Naina a kind smile.

"Thanks, guys. I love you. I have to go now. Make sure to text me Edward's contact information," Naina requested before leaving.

When Naina entered the classroom, Captain Rajveer was already writing his name on the board. Taking a breath of fresh air, she politely asked, "May I come in, sir?"

Rajveer turned and smiled. "Yes, you may, Cadet. But may I know why you are late for class?" he inquired.

"Apologies, sir. It was my mother on the phone, and she was concerned about me. It took some time to assure her that I am fine here," Naina explained, making sure not to inhale any air.

"It's alright, cadet, but ensure it doesn't happen again. Go and take your seat," he instructed.

Naina nodded and hurried to her seat as Rajveer began introducing himself and the subject he would be teaching. Suddenly, she heard a paper being torn and felt a paper ball hit her. Frowning, she glared at the paper that fell by her feet, knowing it was from Huda. Instead of picking it up, she faced forward and continued paying attention to the class. Huda threw another paper ball, catching Rajveer's attention.

"Cadet Huda? Would you like to share with us what you seem to be so eager to share with Cadet Naina?" Rajveer called out with a teasing smile.

"Sir, I was just teasing her," Huda responded.

"Cadet Huda, read the note aloud," Rajveer commanded.

Reluctantly, Huda picked up the note from the floor and stood up. It contained derogatory remarks about the teacher being boring and uninteresting. Upon hearing this, Rajveer smiled and lightened the mood before discussing army codes and giving the students a code to decipher as homework, 'Hootie and the Blowfish.' He promised extra marks to the cadet who cracked the code and then left.

"What's the matter, gorgeous? You keep ignoring me. That's not fair," Huda remarked as he sat beside Naina.

Naina stood up and said, "You are not important enough for me to ignore. Just so you know, this world does NOT revolve around you. Each of us cadets has come here with specific goals and aspirations in our hearts. We want to achieve success in our dreams. We don't have time to waste like you do. It would be better if you don't bother us, or else I will file a written complaint with the higher authorities about harassment. Do you understand?"

"Oh, come on, sweetheart! Don't be angry. Beauties like you should be with handsome boys like us... instead of going around complaining about harassment," Huda retorted.

"Handsome? And you? From which angle do you consider yourself handsome? I suggest you visit an ophthalmologist. You need your eyes checked," Naina sternly replied. "And you're right. Beauties like ME deserve better than a farmer boy from a village," she added with a sneer.

Huda's ego was wounded, and he was about to respond when Aalekh stepped in. "If you don't want to be further humiliated and still have a shred of dignity left, stay away from her."

Naina was surprised by Aalekh's intervention. She didn't necessarily need help, but the way he stepped between her and Huda gave her a sense of protection, reminiscent of how her older brother Naveen would scold her classmates if they teased her.

"Yeah, I'm leaving. I also don't want an arrogant girl like her," Huda declared before storming out of the classroom.

"If he bothers you again, let me know," Aalekh offered before following Huda.

Naina watched Aalekh's retreating figure, and for a moment, it felt as if her older brother Naveen was present within Aalekh's actions. Venom filled her eyes, and a soft smile adorned her lips. "Tom, Jerry, Mom, and Dad said I would attract males and females like flies, but they didn't mention attracting a brother as well. How interesting," she muttered with a gentle chuckle.

...-...

...-...

...-...

Next morning.

Rajveer stood before the blackboard in his classroom, where someone had successfully cracked his code: 'Blow the fish and I'll play hootie.' He had a strong suspicion that the code-cracker might be the spy he was seeking. "Hmm... it seems someone is challenging me. Very well, let the game begin," he muttered to himself.

Naina, on her way to her next class, overheard Rajveer's voice and paused at the doorway of his classroom. Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Sir, whom were you talking to?"

Rajveer straightened and greeted her with a smile, "Good morning, Cadet Campbell. I was merely talking to myself."

"It's not considered healthy to engage in self-talk, you know," she pointed out.

Rajveer chuckled softly. "No need to worry, cadet. I was simply surprised to find that someone cracked my code so easily," he said, gesturing towards the board.

Glancing at the board, Naina furrowed her brow. "You play the fish? And I'll play hootie? That doesn't make any sense. How does one play a fish? And what in the world is a hootie?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Rajveer observed her closely, recognizing a genuine bewilderment in her eyes despite her suspicious appearance. He noticed the mysterious reddish tone of her eyes, which seemed to reflect all her emotions. "Don't worry about it, cadet," he reassured her. "By the way, do you have any idea who among your fellow classmates might have cracked this code?" he inquired.

"No, sir," Naina replied.

"That's alright, Cadet. Now, you should make your way to your class," he reminded her.

"Yes, sir. See you later," Naina replied before exiting the room. As she walked away, she scolded herself under her breath, "Are you out of your mind? Why did you walk in knowing he was alone? You could have put yourself in unnecessary trouble if you had harmed him."

...-...

Naina sighed in resignation at her situation. It was time for Dr. Captain Shalini's class, where all the first-year cadets had to undergo blood pressure measurements. She relied on the device Jeremy had given her to manipulate any medical equipment that monitored her heart rate, allowing her to pass the test unnoticed. Just as she finished, Major Nair entered the room and briefed them about their upcoming drill. The cadets were divided into teams: Aalekh and Naina, Huda and Pooja, and Yudi and Ali.

Silently, Aalekh and Naina ventured into the forest, relishing the tranquility and each other's company. After thirty minutes, Naina abruptly posed a question, breaking the silence. "Aalekh, why did you intervene between Huda and me? You do realize that he might target you for his next round of bullying."

In a matter-of-fact manner, Aalekh responded, "I don't have any family in this world. So, whenever someone directed hurtful remarks at me, I was always left to fight against the world alone. But that day in the mess, when you reprimanded that Panjaban simply because she had given me an offensive nickname, I experienced something I hadn't before. It was the first time in my life that I truly understood what it meant to have someone on my side. For the first time, it felt like I had someone who would stand beside me in battle," he explained while busily digging a hole in the forest ground.

Naina was taken aback, her mouth agape. She had never anticipated that her simple act could have such a profound impact on someone's life. When she scolded Pooja that day, it was merely a passing remark without much thought. But witnessing Aalekh's reaction made her realize something significant: he yearned for a sense of family, and whoever provided that to him, he would remain loyal to them. Naina felt a strong sense of responsibility towards Aalekh and understood the value of having someone's support. She wanted to be there for him.

"Aalekh, I want you to know that you can rely on me. I'll always be here for you," she said, offering a small smile.

Aalekh looked at her, his eyes brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, Naina. Your words mean a lot to me," he responded, his voice filled with sincerity.

Both of them resumed their work, enveloped in a comfortable silence, lost in their individual contemplations. Naina couldn't help but reflect on the bond she had formed with Aalekh in such a short span of time. She felt an undeniable connection with him, and she sensed that he reciprocated those sentiments.

As they continued their tasks, it dawned on Naina that she had discovered something she had been searching for a long time. In Aalekh, she had found a sense of belonging, a newfound family. And she was determined to safeguard it at all costs.

"When you stepped in that day, you reminded me of my older brother who passed away a few years ago," she shared, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

Aalekh sat there, stunned and speechless, as Naina shared her heartbreaking story. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What?! But Pooja said you told her that you have an older brother now." He pointed out.

Naina lowered her gaze, her voice filled with a mix of sorrow and resilience. She took a seat beside Aalekh on the ground, wanting to be closer to him as she revealed her past. "When I was just a young child, I was kidnapped and sold to human traffickers," she disclosed, her words heavy with the weight of her experiences.

Aalekh's eyes widened in shock, his mind struggling to process the enormity of what Naina had gone through. "You mean to say... then?" he managed to utter, momentarily forgetting about the alcohol bottles that had consumed his attention before.

Naina nodded, her expression somber. "After enduring countless attempts, I managed to escape from their clutches a few months later. But being so young, I couldn't recall my address or phone number to find my way back home. I sought help from kind-hearted individuals who brought me to an orphanage. The Campbell family, who longed for a daughter, adopted me into their loving embrace. They already had a son named Thomas, who treated me with immense love and care. However, the longing for my biological brother never left my heart."

Her voice trembled with a mixture of gratitude and longing as she continued, "As I grew older, Thomas revealed his true self—he was gay—and his partner, Jeremy, became an integral part of our family. They showered me with love, but it only intensified my yearning to reunite with my biological family. I mustered the courage to confide in my family about my desire, and my father, William Campbell, promised to help me find them using any information I could provide. Years passed by, and then the truth unfolded."

Naina paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself as the pain resurfaced. Her eyes filled with a mix of venom and sadness. "It turns out that my brother had been tragically killed, and upon learning this devastating news, my parents suffered their own tragic fates—one from a stroke and the other in a fatal road accident."

A heavy silence hung in the air, punctuated by the weight of their shared grief. Aalekh couldn't find the words to express the depth of his sympathy for Naina, but he reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering silent comfort in the face of unimaginable loss. It's when he realized something strange. Naina was awfully hard and cold, as if he was touching a stone. Shaking his head, he focused on her words.

"I never met my parents. But losing them after meeting and knowing them has to be harder. And in your case, you lost them twice. If you have no problem, you can think of me also as your family," he offered.

Aalekh's heartfelt offer touched Naina's heart, and tears welled up in her eyes. She nodded, the warmth of his words enveloping her. "Thank you, Aalekh. I would be honored to consider you as my family too," she replied, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Naina's smile radiated through her tears as she wiped them away. Her eyes regained their usual warmth as she looked at Aalekh. "And you, my dear brother, can always count on me. You're not alone anymore," she said, her voice brimming with affection.

Realizing that they had a drill to complete, Naina rose from the ground, signaling their readiness to continue. Aalekh followed suit, feeling a newfound sense of belonging and purpose.

Curiosity flickered in Aalekh's eyes as he glanced at Naina. "There's more to your story, isn't there?" he ventured to guess, sensing that there were still untold secrets.

Naina's expression turned pensive, contemplating the right course of action. "Yes, there are two more secrets," she confirmed, her tone carrying a hint of mystery. "One, I will reveal in due time when the circumstances are right. And the other... it's something I can never share, not because I don't trust you, but because it's a burden I must bear alone."

Aalekh nodded understandingly, his smile unwavering. "Everyone is entitled to their secrets, Naina. I respect that. You've already entrusted me with so much, and that means a great deal to me," he reassured her, his eyes filled with unwavering support.

With a renewed sense of trust and kinship, Naina and Aalekh prepared themselves to face the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that they had each other as family to rely on.

...-...

...-...

...-...

A/N::: Hope you enjoyed the chapter. 

Did I manage to capture Alekh and Naina sibling bond? Let me know.