"Okay guys... I apologize for my late arrival. But sirf aap sab hi nahi jinhe first day formalities poori karni pad rahi hain." Raj said and the cadets chuckled in response.

"Okay everyone.... I want you all to introduce yourself." Raj said.

The cadets began their introduction. Soon, it was Naina's turn.

"Naina Singh....." She paused.

Are you ashamed of yourself?  Her mind reminded her of Brigadier's words.

"Naina Singh Ahluwalia, sir. I am from Nainital." She said.

Rajveer sucked his breath as he heard her speak.

"Naveen Singh Ahluwalia, Sir. I am from Nainital." 

He could clearly remember that day. The only difference was... at that time, he was sitting next to the speaker and today, he was standing in front of her.

"Welcome to the class, Cadet Singh." Rajveer said in a formal tone with a smile.

Naina released the breath she was holding.

"Okay. Now that everyone's done, let's move on to the lecture, shall we?" He asked and all the cadets nodded enthusiastically.

"So, who can tell me what is the importance of communication and strategy in military?" He said and he wrote 'ROLE OF COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGY IN MILITARY' on the board.

When he turned around there were a few hands raised up.

"Jinhone hath nahi uthaya... kya unhe nahi pata ki what is communcation and strategy?" Rajveer asked.

The ones who didn't raise their hands looked down to avoid being called. Rajveer smiled seeing their childish tricks.

"Cadet Sahni?" He called Yudi and he begrudgingly stood up, looking here and there, nervously.

"Um.. yes sir?" He asked.

"What is communication?" Rajveer asked him as he stood straight with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Uh... a form to communicate with others." He said, almost unsurely. The whole class laughed hearing his answer and Yudi's ears turned red with embarrasment.

"Why did you all laugh?" Rajveer asked and everyone turned silent.

"Does that mean that Cadet Sahni said something which made a little sense to you all. Maybe not entirely along the lines of a bookish definition... but he still was able to convey his thoughts to you all, right?" Rajveer asked and this time everyone turned a bit serious to understand what he was trying to imply.

"This, my friends, this is communication. A way to express our thoughts, our feelings, our conditions to others." Rajveer smiled in victory and the cadets looked at him like he had shown them some kind of a magic trick.

"Now, was it that hard to understand? It means all of us know the answers of these basic questions... that is why we are sitting here, in this class... So, I do hope ki baaki bhi jinhone hath nahi uthaya unka aisa karne ka reason hesitation ho... na ki ye ki unhe communication or strategy ka matlab nahi pata..." He joked and everyone smiled.

Just then, the bell rang, marking the end of the lecture.

The cadets groaned in disagreement as they were thoroughly enjoying Rajveer's lecture. 

Rajveer shook his head in amusement.

Soon the day first day came to an end and the cadets were more than ready to collapse on their beds.

"Oye aaj to mere handset ki poori battery hi down ho gayi. Ab recharge hone do koi." Pooja said as she plopped on her bed.

Naina chuckled seeing her antics and changed into her night dress. 

Soon both of them were sound asleep.

But these sweet hours were ended very soon as at 1:30 am, seniors barged into the rooms of the cadets.

"Hanji... kal apka tha first day to humne apko special treatment to de hi diya. Chaliye aaj se apne traditions ko aage badhaya jaye." The older girl cadet said.

Naina and Pooja sat up straight with the speed of lighting. 

"Ye sab kya ho raha hai?" One of the girls asked.

The same was happening in the boys hostel of the academy.

Soon, both the boys and the girls were gathered in the hall on first floor.

"Ye sab kya ho raha hai?" Ali asked in nervousness.

Although, every single one of them, now had a slight idea of what was about to happen.

But one of them was far away from all of this.

"Pata nahi kaisi jagah par fenk gaye hein ye apun ko. Par apun ek number ziddi hai. Khali fokat idhar apun ka time waste-ich nahi karega." Alekh was grumbling as he was walking down the road, just outside of the academy campus. He had somehow managed to climb off the boundary to run away.

Rajveer was coming back from the local market when he saw someone walking away from the academy grounds.

"Itni raat mein... ye kaun hai jo itna chhup-kar bhagne ki koshish kar raha hai?" He said to himself and directed his car's headlights on the person.

Alekh tried to shield his eyes but Rajveer recognized him.

Rajveer immediately put 2 and 2 together. Afterall, it was common for one or two cadets to leave the academy in the first of joing.

He went near him and lowered the glass of his car's window.

"Kahin jaa rahe hein aap, Cadet Sharma?" He asked in his ever-so-calm voice.

"Ye idhar kidhar se aa gaya?" Alekh said in annoyance.

But in return, Rajveer just tried to hide his laughter as he was least offended by his words. He was aware of Alekh's background and hence he was more than willing to convince him to stay.

"Baith kar baat kar sakte hein? Tumhara zyada waqt nahi lunga." Rajveer said as he got out of his car.

Alekh looked at him suspiciously, but later decided that he can stay for a while and listen to what he was about to say. So he just nodded his head and sat down on the footpath. Rajveer too, joined him. Alekh stood up as shocked to see his teacher sitting beside him on the footpath.

Rajveer just smiled in victory. 

'So, he knows respect... the problem isn't his behaviour... but the fact that he is allowing his background to define him.' Rajveer thought to himself.

"Sit down, Alekh. Are apne time par hum bhi kabhi-kabhar yun hi is taraf aa jate the.. or fir ghanton yahan baith kar batiyate rehte the." Rajveer said and Alekh, eventually sat back down.

"Alekh tum yahan se kyun bhagna chahte ho?" Rajveer asked directly.

"Ye jagah apun ke layak nahi hai, Sir." Ever since attending his class, Alekh was sure that atleast Rajveer was not like the other faculties in the academy. He himself was shocked to see how naturally he responded to his question.

"Ye academy tumhare layak nahi hai ye ya tum is academy ke layak nahi ho?" Rajveer asked again. This time Alekh remained silent to think of the answer.

"Apun is academy ke layak nahi hai." Alekh said.

'Bingo! Good job, Raj. Tera andaza bilkul sahi tha.' He mentally thanked the God, that he found Alekh on time.

"Tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai?" Rajveer asked in a polite voice.

"Kyunki apun un logo ke jaisa nahi hai." Alekh said, this time in a normal voice, without any grimace or annoyance.

"Kin logo ke jaise? Ye jo academy mein cadets ban kar aaye hein un jaise? Ya fir jo border par hein un jaise?" Raj asked.

"Ye... ye sab log.... apun ka koi lena-dena nahi hai in sab se. Apun se na ye ABCD aati hai ya apun un logo ke jaise farratedar angrezi bol sakta hai. Isliye apun ko apne raste jane do sir... kayko apna samay barbad kar rahe ho idhar?" He ranted and got up to leave.

"Ek jawab bas maang sakta hu tumse?" Raj said and Alekh, although who was now irritated with constant questions, nodded his head.

"Police officers tumhe kaise arrest kar sakte the?" Raj asked and Alekh looked at him shocked.

"Jaise qaidiyon ko arrest kiya jata hai." Alekh answered in somewhat angry voice.

"Maine puchha kaise Alekh?" Raj again pushed him.

"Dekho sir, apun ko ye khari baatein sunne ki adat ho gayi hai. Isliye apun ka or apna time kayko barbad kar rele ho? Gher ke pakadte the apun ko... aur kuchh?" He almost spat these words.

"That's strategy, Cadet Sharma. Aur apka un officers ko chakma de kar bhagna is counter-strategy." Rajveer said and Alekh looked at him, unsurely.

"Kabhi tala toda hai?" Rajveer asked.

This time, Alekh answered as if he was trying to understand what was going on in Rajveer's head. "Toda nahi... par khola bahut baar hai... wo bhi bina chabi ke."

"That's planning. Bina chabi ke tala isliye khula kyunki tumne use kholna chaha... am I right?" Rajveer asked.

Alekh nodded, still very confused as to where this conversation was heading.

"Bina chabi ke tala kaise kholna hai.. that's planning. Police walon se bach kar kaise bhagna hai... that's strategy. Academy ki tight security ke bawjood deewar kood kar yahan aana... that's sheer will. Tum kaan ko left se pakdo... ya baaki cadets kaan ko right se pakde.... pakad to kaan hi rahe ho na. Jo qualities unme hain wo shayad tum me nahi hain. Par jo tum mein hain... kya wo un mein milegi?" Rajveer said and Alekh stood silent like a statue.

"Aaj tumhara jo bhi past hai... tumne wo nahin manga... wo bas tumhe mil gaya... is mein tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Par ab agar apne andar ye sab qualities hone baad bhi tum apni zindagi ko na badlo.. to ye tumhari galti hogi Alekh. What's done is done... that can't be changed. But now, now you have a choice. Har insan ke paas choice hoti hai Alekh. Is raste se tum seedhe jaoge to tumhe tumhari purani zindagi milegi... jo shayad tumhe abhi pasand zarur ho... par wahan sirf gaaliyan or taane hein. Or deewar ke us paar wo zindagi tumhara intezar kar rahi hai... jo shayad aaj tumhe pasand na aaye par kal... kal wahan sab tumhe salute karenge... tumhari izzat karenge. Aaj jo log tumhe pehchante hein.. wo shayad kahein ki 'beta, bade ho kar is Alekh jaisa mat banna...' par... kal... kal ye hi log tumhara example denge. Is academy mein tum na un police officers ke liye aaye ho... na mere liye... or na hi is desh ke liye. Sabse pehle apne liye. Jis din.... mumbai ka tapori na ban kar... Alekh Sharma ko dhundh loge... us din is desh ko Lt. Alekh Sharma apne aap mil jayega." Rajveer said and put his hand on Alekh's shoulder.

Alekh didn't even realize when his face got soaked in tears. He just shook his head and wiped his tears. 

Rajveer too, decided to give him a moment and went to start his car.

"So bataiye, cadet Alekh. Bus stop kuchh hi door hai. Apko wahan tak drop to kar sakta hu main?" Rajveer said from the driver seat with smile.

Alekh too, gave a small smile saying, "Kisi aur din drop kar dijiyega, Sir. Kal subah 4 bje drill hai." 

HEY EVERYONE, I AM BACK AFTER A LONG TIME. AND I AM ALIVE (PARTIALLY 🤧) ANYWAYS LET ME KNOW WHAT DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THIS UPDATE. I HAVE TRIED TO PUT RAW EMOTIONS IN THIS CHAPTER TO GIVE IT A REAL MILITARY ACADEMY FEEL. 

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND YEAH DO COMMENT. THAT BEING SAID.. TAKE CARE PEOPLE... LOVE YOU ALL ❤️ 

NEXT UPDATE WILL BE ON : NOT DECIDED YET

WORD COUNT : 1833 WORDS

DATE : MAY 05, 2023