Naina and Aalekh finished their drill first and reached the endpoint with the rifle they were supposed to find. Nair frowned in disbelief as he saw them coming first. A few minutes later, Yudi and Ali also finished, and Pooja, Huda, and Mrinal (the senior cadet) arrived last. Nair gave his feedback and dismissed them. Pooja was still grumbling when she joined Naina and Aalekh.

"What happened, Pooja? You look angry," Naina inquired, even though she had heard the curses Pooja was throwing in Huda's direction.

"Do you know why our incoming was late? It was because that stupid Huda was busy playing flirty ringtones to that Mrinal," Pooja complained.

"What else can you expect from him?" Ali commented as he also joined them.

"Yeah. Does Huda ALWAYS have to act like a jerk?" Yudi commented.

"Guess that's the only ringtone he has," Naina joked, making the rest of the group chuckle.

"What are you guys laughing about?" Huda asked curiously as he joined them. He felt bad that the rest of them had made a group without him.

"You, dude. We were laughing about YOU," Yudi replied, smirking.

"Let's go, everyone," Naina suggested, and the group moved on, leaving Huda behind.

He watched them leave, his anger brewing. "I'll get revenge on all of them," he muttered.

...-...

Rajveer scanned all the cadets, checking their calls and verifying their educational backgrounds. He then summoned the reception's duty orderly, who was responsible for handling incoming calls. The orderly began grumbling about the new batch, mentioning that Ali's five sisters had called more than ten times in the last few days, while Pooja had chatted to a wrong number for over fifteen minutes. The receptionist also reported grievances about a few other cadets.

Rajveer then asked about Huda and Yudi, to which the orderly replied that they belonged to well-to-do families and probably had their own mobile phones.

"What about Cadet Campbell?" Rajveer asked, to which the orderly shared his confusion about her. He informed Rajveer that Cadet Campbell had arrived in a Rolls-Royce Phantom worth more than Rs. 8 crores, suggesting that she came from a wealthy family. However, on the first day, her father called the landline instead of her personal phone, which made the orderly wonder why a rich girl like her did not have her own phone.

Rajveer grew suspicious of Campbell and ordered the orderly to note down the number if she received any more calls from the landline. He felt that something was off about her, from her unusual eye color to the way she stiffened up when he approached her. "Could she be the spy?" he wondered to himself, as history had shown that spies were often attractive. "It's time to have a face-to-face chat with her," he said to himself determinedly.

That evening.

Rajveer instructed an orderly to summon Naina to his room. Five minutes later, he heard a knock on his door. Upon opening it, he was greeted by the sight of the stunningly beautiful Naina standing before him. Despite wearing a simple beige hoodie, black high-waisted leggings, and off-white sandals, Rajveer couldn't help but be struck by how gorgeous she looked.

"Please come in, Cadet," he said, stepping aside to allow her entry.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Naina stated, through clenched teeth. She was unsure of how she was supposed to control her thirst in a closed room with him inside. It was like placing a chocolate cake in front of a food addict and telling them not to eat it.

"What do you mean?" Rajveer asked, curious about her refusal.

"Sir, I'm a girl. It won't look good if I enter a male teacher's room alone in the evening. Can we please talk here?" She provided a valid reason for her hesitation.

"While I understand your concern, I don't think we would be able to speak freely here," Rajveer insisted apologetically.

"Why is he so eager to die? Who invites their death so welcomingly?" Naina thought to herself, her senses being overwhelmed by Rajveer's heartbeat and pulse. She was losing her composure, struggling to control her thirst. "Then... can we keep this door open as we talk?" she asked, gesturing towards the doorway.

"Certainly," Rajveer replied, accommodating her request.

Naina stepped inside, cursing Rajveer's existence for making her life difficult. "Yes, sir?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.

"I was just double-checking some facts. The reception orderly told me that you arrived at the academy in a very expensive car. What does your father do?" Rajveer asked, taking a seat on the couch and opening her file.

"He is the owner of India's largest diamond import/export business," Naina replied matter-of-factly, with no hint of arrogance or pride in her voice.

"Wow... Then he must be very wealthy," Rajveer commented casually.

"Hmm."

"With a father that rich, I'm sure you have a personal mobile phone. So why did he call you on the academy's land phone that day?" Rajveer asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Because he had something urgent to tell me, and I didn't have my phone with me. We're not allowed to take phones during class and drill hours," Naina answered in a dry tone.

"What was so important that he had to tell you at that very moment? He could have called you in the evening."

"What's your point, sir? Are you suggesting that just because my family is rich, they can't use the academy's landline? I don't understand the issue here," Naina stated with an annoyed frown.

"There's no issue. I was just commenting. Anyways, is there someone else from your family in the army?" he asked.

"No."

"How many members are there in your family?"

"5 including me. My parents... my older brother, his partner, and me." Naina replied, gulping down the venom gathering in her mouth. The small amount of air that was entering her mouth while speaking was making it very difficult to not kill this man in front of her.

"Oh? What does your brother do? And partner?"

"My brother works with my father. His partner is his spouse. Since gay marriage is not legal in India, we can't call them husbands here. But they got married when they stayed in the USA for a few years," Naina answered.

"Your parents are okay with... this?" Rajveer couldn't stop himself from asking. After all, it wasn't common in India for gay couples to be allowed to stay with parents.

"Yes, they are," Naina replied.

"Anyways, have you ever considered joining your family's business instead of pursuing a career in the army?" Rajveer asked, flipping through her file. "I mean, didn't your family protest about it? Many families feel insecure sending their children into the military since it's a risky job," he asked.

"Each person has their own aspirations in life and dreams of fulfilling them. My father always aspired to become a successful businessman, while my own dream was to become an army officer. I have always wanted to serve my country and make a difference in people's lives. Joining the army has been my dream since I was a child. Despite initial reservations from my brother, who is very protective of me, my parents supported my ambitions, and my brother-in-law, Jeremy helped to persuade him to see things from my perspective."

Rajveer nodded, impressed by her dedication. "That's very commendable, Cadet. It takes a lot of courage and determination to pursue one's dreams, especially in a field as challenging as the army."

"Anything else, sir or can I go?" she asked.

"Yes, go ahead. Thank you for your time." Rajveer told her politely.

Naina rushed out of the room, trying to maintain her composure as she left the academy building. She needed to breathe in the fresh air to clear her mind and avoid Rajveer's scent from triggering her instincts. She gazed up at the empty sky and took deep breaths to calm herself. "If I end up killing that man, I'm not responsible for it. You are," she complained to God. "Who told you to send him to this academy? That idiot would end up becoming a martyr because of his blood instead of his actions as a soldier."

 "But the way he was arguing with BC about Naveen bhaiya that day, he might die because of his words instead," she added with a chuckle. But her smile quickly faded as she remembered something important. "Oh no! How could I forget? In bhaiya's letter, he told maa and baba to trust only his best friend... Captain Rajveer Singh Shikhawat. And that first day, it was his argument about Naveen bhaiya being the best cadet pass out that caught my attention. Naina, you idiot! How could you forget such crucial information? This bloodlust and his blood are driving me crazy!" She scolded herself and rushed to her room to inform her family about this new development. It was essential that Captain Rajveer survived so that she could gather information about Naveen from him.

... -...

...-...

...-...

Naina sensed that something was amiss the moment she reached her hostel. The scents of Huda, Mrinal, and rose plants wafted from her room. As she looked down, she noticed a trail of dirt on the floor leading towards her room.

"Cadet Naina, what are you doing standing in the middle of the hallway like a statue?" Subedar Major Lolita inquired as she spotted Naina.

"Ma'am, do you see this trail of dirt leading to my room, or am I hallucinating?" Naina pointed towards the floor.

"Where did this come from?" Lolita asked, perplexed. "Let's follow this trail. And where are you coming from?"

"Captain Rajveer called me to inquire about my parents," Naina responded.

Upon entering her room, they were shocked to discover a rose plant in the center of her bed. "What the hell?!?" Lolita exclaimed furiously.

Naina went inside and picked up the note, which had a strong scent of Huda. It read, "Sorry, beautiful! Give me a chance." 

"This note appears to be from a boy, but ma'am, how did a boy enter the girl's hostel room? Where is the security? Can't KMA ensure the safety of female cadets in their own rooms? Today, they left this plant, and tomorrow, they could leave a camera behind to take our private photos!" Naina expressed her concern.

"You're right, cadet. I'll bring this matter to Brigadier Chandok's attention. I'll have someone clean this while you inform your roommate about this," Lolita said, realizing Naina's point was valid. She felt offended that a boy had entered their hostel, and her pride was wounded.

While Lolita headed for BC's office, Naina went searching for her friends, sensing that Huda was trying to divide their group. She had seen the envy on his face earlier that day. Naina had observed the entire scenario when Pooja excitedly shared news about Rohit with Ali. She had seen how Huda and the senior cadets teased Ali, and how it affected him. Rather than joining the others in the game room, Naina followed Ali and found him sitting on a bench outside the boys' hostel.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked Ali, who was startled by her sudden appearance.

"No, of course not, Naina ji," he replied, and she sat beside him. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Ali spoke up.

"Why doesn't Pooja ji understand that her friendliness could be perceived as flirting? I'm not here to help her find a boyfriend; I'm here to become a soldier. I can't get distracted by her," he said, his frustration evident.

Naina could see that he was struggling to understand Pooja's behavior, so she asked him, "Do you know why she hugs you and shares her feelings with you out of all our batchmates?"

Ali looked at her curiously and asked, "Why?"

"It's because she knows you will never take advantage of her," Naina replied honestly. Ali was surprised by her words, and Naina smiled at his reaction. "Girls have an instinct for which boys look at them respectfully and which ones do not. When Pooja hugs you, she knows you would never be improper with her. She knows she's safe with you, and that's why she comes to you with all her troubles."

Ali seemed lost in thought as he considered Naina's words. Then she added, "And as far as being a soldier is concerned, Ali, remember that it's not just the soldier who fights in battle—it's the army. We are your army. During a war, it's not a fight between two soldiers; it's a fight between two armies. You can't be a good soldier if you can't work with your team, your army. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Ali nodded in agreement, and Naina knew she had helped him see things in a different light.

Smiling, Naina stood up and left Ali to his thoughts. She thought to herself, "That village brat!"

Later that night, Naina noticed Pooja getting up at 1 am. "Pooja, why are you up so early? There are still four hours left until the wakeup bell," she asked.

"I received a letter that my Rohit will be in the boy's hostel, room 201 tonight. I'm going there," Pooja replied excitedly, showing Naina the chit.

Naina took the chit, and the scent was familiar – it was Huda's handwriting. "Pooja, this is Huda's handwriting. I don't think Rohit is in the boy's hostel, as outsiders are not allowed in the academy, especially at night. I think Huda is playing a prank on you. It's Ali and Aalekh's room number. Huda wants to break Ali and your friendship, that's why he's doing this," she explained firmly.

Pooja's smile faded as she understood the logic. "How did I let that virus enter my handset? You're right, Naina. They were certainly teasing Ali earlier because I hugged him," she said with a pout.

"Pooja, how about I help you look for Rohit? My brother Tom has a huge connection. I'm sure he'll be able to find Rohit if I tell him," Naina offered.

"Would you do this for me?" Pooja asked excitedly.

"Sure, why not! Let's call him now," Naina said, grabbing her phone from the side table and dialing her brother's number.

"Wrong time, baby girl!" grumbled Thomas, answering after five rings.

Naina giggled. "Sorry, Tommy!" It was clear from his irritated tone that she had interrupted Tom & Jerry's intimate moments.

"Do NOT call me that, you brat!" Thomas growled.

Naina laughed more. "Okay, bro. I need a little help," she told him.

"What is it, Nainu? Is it..." Jeremy asked from the other side.

"No, no. It's my friend and roommate, Pooja, who really needs some help," Naina interrupted him, putting her call on speaker.

"Hello, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Jeremy! It's nice to make a connection with you. I'm looking forward to see your handsets," greeted Pooja.

"Huh?! Handsets? But why do you need to see our... handsets?" Thomas inquired, befuddled.

"Pooja meant that she's pleased to get to know you and is looking forward to meeting you," Naina translated with a smirk.

"Nice to talk to you too, Pooja. It's a pleasure to know that our baby sister found a friend there," Jeremy said kindly.

"So, what can we help you with, Ms. Pooja?" Thomas asked.

Pooja then shared everything about Rohit with them. "Pooja, leave everything to us. You focus on being one of the best female cadets of KMA, and Thomas and I will focus on finding Rohit. I promise that as soon as we know anything about him, you will be the first one to know. Okay?" Jeremy assured her.

"Thank you," Pooja said, sniffing. She was really touched by their actions. When her own family asked her to move on and forget Rohit, these two strangers offered their services, and all of this happened because of Naina. "Thank you so much, dost!" she said, hugging Naina after Thomas and Jeremy hung up.

...-...

...-...

...-...

A/N::: Finally, Naina found a reason not to kill Rajveer. Hehehe..