Chapter 7: chapter 7

 Each day served as a painful reminder of his fall from grace, yet Kaushal was determined not to dwell on the past. The monotony of his desk job had become a self-imposed prison, but one he had to endure to rebuild his life.Kaushal had embraced his new role with a level of determination that even surprised him. He meticulously recorded every detail, drafted reports with precision, and offered determined support to his superiors in any way he could. It was as though he had transformed into a ghost within the system, quietly labouring behind the scenes, patiently biding his time.Simultaneously, his mental health treatment continued, and he found solace in the therapeutic sessions. Opening up about his vulnerabilities and acknowledging his anger issues proved to be a cleansing experience. It was a slow and arduous process, but one constant during this tumultuous period was his love for Sheetal. Their communication was sporadic, often limited to letters since phone calls were closely monitored and scrutinized. Through these letters, Kaushal shared the stories of his past arrogance, his attitude towards his juniors, his conflicts with Riya, and the mistakes he had committed in the heat of his pride.Sheetal, though hurt and disappointed by Kaushal's actions, couldn't deny the genuine remorse in his words. She could still see the man she had fallen in love with beneath the layers of anger and pride. Slowly, she began to believe that Kaushal was on a path of self-discovery and redemption.One day, as Kaushal was deep in thought, his phone buzzed with a message notification. It was from Sheetal. Her messages were always a source of both joy and trepidation for him. Sheetal: Kaushal, I've been thinking about us.Kaushal: Sheetal, I think about us every day. I miss you so much.Sheetal: I miss you too, Kaushal. But we cannot keep living like this, in limbo. We need to face the reality of our situation.Kaushal's heart raced as he read Sheetal's words. He knew she was right, but the prospect of facing the reality of their circumstances filled him with dread.Kaushal: What do you suggest, Sheetal?Sheetal: I think it's time we talk to my father.The mere thought of confronting Col. Prakash sent shivers down Kaushal's spine. He had never been more terrified in his life. He knew that facing Sheetal's father was an inevitable step in their journey, but it was a step he had been avoiding. Kaushal: Sheetal, I want to be with you more than anything, but your father... I don't know if he'll ever forgive me and I don’t think I’m still ready to confront him.Sheetal: We won't know until we try, Kaushal. I believe in us, and I believe in your redemption.Her words were a lifeline, a source of strength for Kaushal. He knew he couldn't keep running from his past, and if facing Col Prakash was the price he had to pay for a chance at happiness with Sheetal, he wanted to do it, but he also knew he wasn't ready yet.Kaushal: Sheetal, I understand, but please give me some more time.Sheetal: As you wish, Kaushal, but I don’t want to talk to you unless you are ready to confront my father.Sheetal knew she was being tough on Kaushal, but she believed that setting a deadline would push him to collect himself and prepare for the daunting task ahead.Kaushal couldn't respond to Sheetal's last message. He understood her reasons, but he still wasn't emotionally prepared to confront Col. Prakash.There was one aspect of his past that continued to haunt him – the deceit that had ensnared him in the first place. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the story than what he had initially perceived. He wanted to dig deeper, trying to uncover the truth that had remained hidden beneath the surface but somehow he wasn't getting the courage.One late evening, when he was drinking, something from the past struck him. His conscience questioned how could the brave himself lose to circumstances. Has he lost his manhood? In that moment of self-doubt, Kaushal resolved to revisit the events leading up to his downfall.His new position granted him access to numerous confidential files. Hence, this was the best time to dig into the past!He meticulously searched through the documents related to the operational delay that had sealed his fate. After hours of searching through the online reports, some discrepancies didn't add up, inconsistencies that raised suspicions in his mind.As he delved into the details, the picture became clearer. It was as though he had stumbled upon a concealed puzzle, and this piece he uncovered revealed a new layer of deception. Kaushal realized that someone had deliberately manipulated the evidence to frame him. The question that gnawed at him was: Who could have orchestrated such a plan, and why?His investigation led him to revisit his rivalry with Major Riya. She had assumed temporary command after his expulsion, and it struck him as peculiar that the investigation had seemingly absolved her of any wrongdoing. Could she have been involved in the conspiracy to tarnish his reputation?To get closer to the truth, Kaushal discreetly began looking for the comments from the investigation reports related to Major Riya's involvement. He carefully probed for any information that might shed light on the deceit that had led to his downfall. He discovered some conflicting comments among these submissions, but the summary of the investigation always matched hinting that somehow the investigations had been influenced to arrive at a certain conclusion.Another evening, in a dimly lit corner of a cantonment bar, Kaushal connected with one of the investigators, Surya Verma, whom he knew from his initial days. With cautious words and furtive glances, Verma revealed that there had indeed been external pressure to find Kaushal guilty. The source of this pressure, however, remained shrouded in secrecy.Kaushal's heart raced as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had stumbled upon a conspiracy that reached beyond the cantonment's walls, a conspiracy that had been carefully orchestrated to bring about his downfall. It was a shocking revelation that left him both furious and determined.As the days passed, Kaushal's investigation into the deceit deepened. He began to suspect that a higher-ranking officer was pulling the strings behind the scenes. Someone with a hidden agenda, someone who had a vested interest in removing him from the picture.One night, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Kaushal decided to take a huge risk. He discreetly accessed the communications logs of Col Dinesh, hoping to find evidence of any correspondence that might reveal the identity of the puppeteer orchestrating his downfall.To his astonishment, he discovered a series of encrypted messages between Col. Dinesh and an unknown recipient. The messages were cryptic, but they hinted at a larger conspiracy. Words like "eliminate the obstacle" and "ensure the lady officer's ascent" sent shivers down Kaushal's spine.With trembling hands, Kaushal continued to decrypt the messages, and as he read through the exchanges, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. It became apparent that Col. Dinesh was not acting alone; he was merely a pawn in a larger game. The orders he had received came from someone higher up the chain of command, someone who had a vested interest in Major Riya's rise to power. But, unfortunately, he had no clue of who this was!Kaushal's mind raced as he considered the implications of his discovery. He now had concrete evidence of a conspiracy againsthim, evidence that could potentially clear his name and expose the true culprits behind his downfall. But it was a double-edged sword – revealing the truth could also lead to a dangerous confrontation with those in power.As the weight of his discovery settled on him, Kaushal knew that he had a long and treacherous road ahead. He was no longer just seeking redemption; he was on a mission to uncover the deceit that had ensnared him to his current state. The glass window in his office, once a symbol of his fall from grace, now reflected the steely determination in his eyes. The chapter of deceit had just begun, and Lt Col Kaushal was ready for the revenge and his first target was again, Major Riya!~~~~~