Karan stood near the remnants of the burned tents, silently observing the trainees. Despite the destruction, there was no chaosâjust quiet resilience. The trainees, though exhausted and shaken, were seated together, eating their meal. His sharp eyes scanned for any injuries, relieved to see only a few minor wounds, which had already been treated. A faint sense of satisfaction settled in himâat least they had learned something valuable from his lessons.
"Sahab!" A young trainee approached him hesitantly. "Naina ne kaha hai ki aap khana khaane aa sakte hain, agar aap chahein toh."
Karan's brow arched slightly at the message. He hadn't intended to eat just yet, but knowing that she had gone out of her way to prepare food for everyone, including the captains, made him reconsider. With a curt nod, he strode toward where the captains were seated.
As he reached, he saw Captain Jain and Captain Prajapati already eating with the trainees, something he rarely witnessed. It seemed the incident had temporarily erased the rigid hierarchy between them all. Without a word, he sat down beside them and accepted the plate handed to him. The food was simple, but it had been cooked well, far better than the bland military meals.
Silence stretched between them as they ate. But once Karan placed his plate down, he cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Aaj jo hua, woh ek chetavani thi," he began, his voice firm. "Angrez humein daraane aaye the, humein kamzor dikhane ke liye. Yeh sirf ek shuruat hai. Agar tum mein se kisi ko lagta hai ki tum yeh sab bardasht nahi kar sakte, toh abhi laut jao. Kyunki aage sirf kathor pariksha hogi."
The trainees exchanged glances, but no one spoke. No one moved.
Karan's gaze swept over them, lingering for a second longer on Naina. She was watching him, her expression unreadable, yet there was something in her eyesâdetermination. Perhaps, even defiance.
He gave a short nod. "Agar tum sab tayyar ho, toh kal se hum aur bhi kathor training karenge. Hum yeh sab hone nahi denge dubara. Hum lade bina nahi jhukenge."
A murmur of agreement spread among the trainees. They were tired, but they weren't broken. Karan felt a strange sense of pride as he stood up. He gave one last glance at the group before walking away into the night, his mind already working on the next steps.
The sun had barely risen when the trainees assembled on the training ground, their bodies still sore from the previous days. The air was crisp, carrying the weight of discipline and expectations. Karan stood in front of them, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning each face. Today was different. Today, they would step into the next level of their training.
"Aaj se tumhe sirf bachav nahi, balki prahar karna bhi seekhna hoga," Karan announced, his voice cutting through the morning silence. "Ladayi sirf talwaron ya bandookon se nahi ladi jaati. Jab tumhare paas hathiyaar na ho, tab tumhara sharir hi tumhara hathyiaar ban jata hai."
He gestured to one of the experienced soldiers, who stepped forward. "Sabse pehle, bina hathiyaar ke apne aap ko kaise bachayein, yeh seekhna zaroori hai."
The next hour was dedicated to self-defense techniques. Karan demonstrated how to escape a tight grip, counter an attack, and disarm an enemy using their own momentum. He moved swiftly, his actions precise and powerful. The trainees tried to copy him, some succeeding, others failing. His sharp eyes were everywhere, correcting postures, scolding when necessary.
"Zyada zor lagao, agar ek vaar galat pade toh agla mauka nahi milega!" he barked as one of the trainees fumbled with a counterattack.
Naina, standing among them, was trying her best to keep up. Karan noticed her struggling when a larger trainee overpowered her. She gritted her teeth, attempting the technique again, but her hesitation cost her. Karan stepped forward.
"Naina!" he called, making her straighten immediately. "Apni taqat ka sahi istemaal karo. Dushman tumse zyada balwaan ho sakta hai, par tumhari chaalak dimag aur sahi technique usse hara sakti hai."
Taking a stance in front of her, he demonstrated the move again, this time slower. Naina watched intently, determination flashing in her eyes. When he signaled for her to try, she took a deep breath and executed the move with precisionâthis time, it worked.
Karan gave a brief nod of approval before moving on to the next lesson.
Now, it was time for gun training. The trainees stood in a straight line, guns in hand, their expressions mixed with nervousness and excitement.
"Hathiyaar sirf ek loha ka tukda nahi hai," Karan said, pacing in front of them. "Yeh ek zimmedari hai. Galat haathon mein yeh nasht kar sakta hai, par sahi haathon mein, yeh raksha bhi karta hai."
He instructed them on how to load the guns, aim, and fire. Demonstrating first, he raised his rifle, took a steady breath, and fired. The bullet struck the target directly in the center. Without a word, he stepped aside, signaling for the trainees to try.
One by one, they took their shots. Some managed to hit their targets, while others missed completely. Naina stepped forward, gripping her gun tightly. She adjusted her stance, her brows furrowing as she aimed. Her finger pressed the trigger, and the gun firedâher shot landed close to the center but not quite there.
Karan observed her for a moment before stepping behind her. "Tumhari pakad thodi dheeli hai," he murmured, adjusting her grip. "Aur saans rokte waqt apni aankhon ko sirf lakshya par tikaye rakho."
With his guidance, she took another shot. This time, the bullet struck closer to the center. Karan gave a small nod of approval before moving to the next trainee.
By the time the training session ended, the trainees were exhausted but more confident. Karan surveyed them one last time before dismissing them.
"Aaj ka din tum sab ne theek-thaak guzara. Kal isse bhi kathin hone wala hai. Tayyar raho."
The trainees saluted, their faces showing determination. As they dispersed, Karan's gaze lingered on Naina for a moment longer before he turned away, already planning the next stage of their training.
The dim glow of the lantern cast flickering shadows on the wooden walls of Karan's cabin. He sat at his desk, back straight, eyes scanning the scattered papers in front of him. Reports, lists of supplies, and the details of newly recruited traineesâall necessary, but none of it could hold his full attention. His mind kept drifting back to the day's training, assessing each trainee's progress, their weaknesses, their strengths.
A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Sahab," came Kaveri's voice from outside. "Raat ka bhojan tayyar hai. Aap aayenge?"
Karan exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose before responding. "Tum chalo, main bas thodi der mein aata hoon."
A moment of silence followed before Kaveri hesitantly spoke again. "Agar aap der se aaye toh sirf thanda khana milega. Aur aap kal se sirf chai pe jee rahe hain, sahab."
Karan sighed. He knew she wouldn't leave until he agreed. Pushing the papers aside, he stood up, adjusting his uniform. "Theek hai, chalo."
As he stepped out of the cabin, the cool night air greeted him. The sounds of murmured conversations and clinking plates echoed from the dining area where the trainees and captains were gathered. His sharp eyes instinctively scanned the camp, ensuring everything was in order before making his way toward the meal.
Karan reached the dining area, where the captains and a few senior soldiers were already seated. The trainees were eating in groups, their voices hushed yet filled with a quiet determination. The burning of their tents had only fueled their resolve.
He sat down beside Captain Jain and Captain Prajapati, who gave him a nod of acknowledgment. A steel plate filled with freshly made rotis, dal, and a small portion of rice was placed before him. Simple, but warm and far better than the usual bland military food.
As he tore a piece of roti, Captain Jain spoke in a low voice. "Agle hafte naye trainees aa rahe hain. Humare camp mein jagah toh kam hai, par inhe training zaroori hai. British aur recruitment rokne wale hain."
Karan's jaw tightened. He had expected this. "Woh yeh bhi jaante hain ki jitne zyada log ladne ke liye tayyar honge, unke liye utna hi bada khatra hoga," he said, his voice steady.
Captain Prajapati nodded. "Suna hai angrez naye kanoon laane ki taiyyari kar rahe hain. Aur bhi nirdai hone wale hain."
Karan set his plate down, his expression darkening. "Agar hum aise hi sirf kanoon sunte rahe toh yeh kabhi rukega nahi. Humein sirf training nahi, tayyari bhi karni hogi. Jo yeh naye niyam bana rahe hain, unka asar sirf yahan nahi, Bharat ke har kone mein hoga."
Jain exchanged glances with Prajapati before leaning forward slightly. "Tumhara kehna sahi hai, par abhi humare log poori tarah se tayyar nahi hain. Training aur tez karni hogi. Jo aaj ka hamla hua tha, woh sirf chetavani thi."
Karan nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. "Kal se naye tareeke se training hogi. Zyada kathor, zyada sakht. Hum ab aise nahi baith sakte."
The captains agreed, their expressions grim. The British were tightening their grip, and they had no choice but to prepare harder.
Karan finished the last of his meal, his appetite dulled by the weight of responsibility. Tomorrow would be another step toward something biggerâtoward war, toward freedom.
Karan wiped his hands on a cloth, about to push his plate away and stand up whenâthap!âanother warm roti landed right onto his plate, followed by an extra serving of sabzi.
His brows furrowed as he looked up, only to find none other than Naina standing beside him, her expression unreadable but her actions speaking loud and clear.
"Aapne bas do roti kha kar kaise soch liya ki khade ho jaayenge?" she said, arms crossed. "Itni training dete hain, itni daudvaate hain sabko, khud ko bhi taqat ki zaroorat hai ya nahi?"
Karan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Captain Jain let out a small chuckle, while Captain Prajapati smirked into his plate. The other soldiers around them had clearly heard the exchange too, but they kept their heads down, silently enjoying the rare sight of someone ordering Karan Thakur to eat more food.
"Mujhe lagta hai ki mujhe pura Bharat chalaane ke baad bhi kisi ne kabhi itne haq se khane ke liye nahi kaha," Karan muttered, eyeing the roti suspiciously.
Naina shrugged. "Bharat nahi, bas khana sambhal lijiye. Warna kal subah aapke bina training kaun lega?"
A few muffled laughs came from the trainees nearby. Karan shot them a sharp glare, and the laughter immediately died down.
With an exasperated sigh, he picked up the roti, breaking off a piece. "Agar zabardasti ho gayi toh kal ka punishment double hoga," he said, giving her a pointed look before putting the bite into his mouth.
Naina smirked, clearly unfazed. "Tab tak toh aap taqatwar ban jaayenge, haina?" She gave him a mock salute before walking away, her work here done.
Karan chewed his food slowly, shaking his head in disbelief. He wasn't sure what was more surprisingâthe fact that she had dared to scold him, or the fact that he had actually listened.
Captain Prajapati leaned in slightly and muttered with amusement, "Lage raho, Thakur. Mujhe lagta hai ab tumhe sirf British se nahi, is ladki se bhi jeetne ki zaroorat hai."
Karan sighed, knowing full well this conversation was not ending anytime soon.
Karan continued chewing slowly, his mind still processing the sheer audacity of what had just happened. Naina ne mujhe zabardasti roti khilayi? He had led countless soldiers, faced ruthless enemies, and even stared death in the eye without flinching. But today... today, he had lost a battle he didn't even know he was fighting.
He sighed, shaking his head. Across from him, Captain Jain and Captain Prajapati were exchanging highly amused glances, enjoying this historical moment.
Captain Jain leaned forward, tapping his fingers on the table. "Toh, Thakur sahab, kaisi lagi roti?"
Karan shot him a dry look. "Roti thi, kha li. Koi itihaas nahi likhna iske upar."
Prajapati smirked. "Itna bhi kya guroor? Itni izzat se kisi ne pehli baar tumhe khilaya hai, shukriya toh ada karo."
Karan huffed, tearing another piece of the roti as if it had personally insulted him. "Shukriya tab bolta jab zabardasti na hoti. Ye toh seedha emotional atyachaar tha!"
Just then, Naina walked past the table again, clearly overhearing his words. She didn't stop but casually called outâ
"Aur agar zabardasti karni hoti, toh do aur rotiyan daal deti!"
The entire table burst into laughter, and even some of the trainees sitting nearby covered their mouths to hide their amusement. Karan, on the other hand, froze mid-bite.
He swallowed and muttered under his breath, "Ye ladki ek din mujhe pagal karke chhodega."
Captain Jain laughed, patting his back. "Mujhe lagta hai, woh din door nahi hai!"
Karan exhaled sharply, pushing his plate away. But before he could stand, a steel glass of buttermilk appeared right in front of him.
Naina was back.
"Pehle ye khatam kariye," she said, arms crossed again.
Karan narrowed his eyes. "Agar mana kar doon?"
Naina didn't even blink. "Toh kal subah ki daud 5 kilometre extra ho jaayegi."
Karan stared at her. She stared right back.
Captain Prajapati wiped a fake tear. "Aaj tak kisi ne Thakur sahab se aise baat karne ki himmat nahi ki."
Captain Jain nodded solemnly. "Sach mein, yeh toh naye Bharat ka uday ho raha hai!"
Karan groaned, snatching the buttermilk and gulping it down in one go, slamming the glass back onto the table. "Bas! Ab aur koi farmaan mat sunana!"
Naina simply smiled. "Jee, Thakur sahab. Kal subah milte hain 5 baje."
With that, she walked off, leaving Karan glaring at his empty plate, the buttermilk glass, and most importantly, his fate.
Prajapati leaned in again. "Toh, tum dono ki shaadi kab ho rahi hai?"
Karan almost choked.
Jain and Prajapati roared with laughter as Karan shook his head in sheer disbelief.
It was well past midnight, yet sleep remained elusive. Karan lay on his cot, staring at the ceiling of his tent, his mind restless. The day's events, the British attack, the upcoming trainingâall of it swirled in his head like a storm refusing to settle. He ran a hand over his face with a sigh before finally giving up.
Pushing himself up, he stepped outside into the cool night air. The camp was silent, save for the occasional crackle of a burning lantern and the distant hoot of an owl. He took a deep breath, hoping the stillness would ease his mind.
Then he heard it.
A rhythmic soundâlow grunts followed by soft thuds against the ground. His sharp eyes scanned the area, and there, a little distance away near the large tree, he saw her.
Naina.
In the dim moonlight, she was on the ground, doing push-ups, her movements steady and determined. She wasn't counting aloud, but from the way she moved, he knew she had been at it for a while.
Karan folded his arms, leaning against a nearby post. "Tumhare paas sone ke alawa koi aur kaam nahi hai?"
Naina didn't stop. "Kahi suna tha ki jo log raat ko nahi so sakte, unhe mehnat kar leni chahiye." She pushed herself up again. "Aap bhi toh jaage hue hain, sahab. Aap kyun nahi so rahe?"
Karan huffed. "Mujhe neend nahi aayi."
Naina sat up now, brushing dirt off her hands. "Mujhe bhi nahi aayi."
For a moment, neither spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, just... present. Karan hadn't had a conversation this late at night with anyone in a long time.
She stretched her arms, tilting her head toward him. "Bachpan se aise hi ho? Neend kam aati hai?"
Karan smirked slightly. "Bachpan se nahi, lekin jawaani se zaroor."
Naina chuckled. "Haan, yeh toh dikhta hai." She paused, then asked, "Aapke parivaar mein aur kaun hai?"
Karan's smirk faded. His arms remained crossed as his eyes drifted toward the sky. For a moment, he didn't answer. He never spoke about his family. Not to anyone.
But strangely, tonight felt different.
He exhaled. "Meri maa thi. Bahut pehle guzar gayi." His voice was steady, but there was an underlying roughness to it. "Aur ek chhoti behen thi."
Naina blinked, surprised. "Thi?"
Karan nodded slowly. "Uski shaadi kar di gayi thi jab main fauj join kar raha tha. Uske baad..." He shrugged. "Uske pati ki naukri doosre rajya mein lagi, toh woh chali gayi."
Naina remained silent, sensing that there was more, but she didn't push. Instead, she simply said, "Aapko kabhi milne ka mann nahi karta?"
Karan chuckled humorlessly. "Mann toh bahut kuch karne ka karta hai, Naina. Par fauj mein mann se zyada zimmedariyan hoti hain."
Something in his words hit Naina. She looked at him, really looked at him. He wasn't just their strict commander, or the fearless soldier everyone saw. He was also a man who had lost, who had sacrificed, who had chosen duty over everything else.
She smiled faintly. "Phir bhi, kabhi milna chahiye. Apno se rishta todna asaan nahi hota."
Karan glanced at her. "Tum toh jaise bahut samajhdaar ho."
Naina smirked. "Aapko kya laga, sirf aap hi gehri baatein kar sakte hain?"
For the first time that night, Karan chuckledâa real one, not the sarcastic or bitter kind. It was soft, barely audible, but it was there.
Before the moment could pass, Naina dusted off her hands and sat back, stretching her legs. "Meri bhi behen hai."
Karan looked at her, intrigued. "Chhoti ya badi?"
Naina smiled faintly. "Badi. Par hamesha mujhe chhoti ki tarah dekha." She exhaled. "Sabse samajhdaar thi. Bachpan se hi zyada zimmedar."
Karan studied her expression. There was something bittersweet in her voice. "Ab kahan hai?"
Naina plucked a small stone from the ground and tossed it into the distance. "Uski shaadi ho gayi. Mujhse door chali gayi. Par jab tak saath thi, tab tak maa jaisa hi dhyaan rakhti thi." She huffed a short laugh. "Main toh bas aawara thi."
Karan smirked. "Woh toh aaj bhi ho."
Naina laughed. "Haan, lekin ab zimmedari bhi hai."
She leaned back, propping herself up on her elbows. "Aap toh waise bhi gusse wale ho, magar ghar pe bhi aise hi the?"
Karan raised a brow. "Tumhein kya lagta hai?"
Naina grinned. "Main soch rahi hoon bachpan mein bhi aap doosron ke upar chillate the kya? Jaise maa ne ek palak zyada de diya toh 'Mujhe palak pasand nahi!'" she mimicked his deep voice with exaggerated authority. "Ya phir behen se kehte the, 'Chhoti, apni kitaabein theek se rakh!'"
Karan gave her a deadpan stare. "Agar tum fauj mein nahi hoti, toh nautanki ban sakti thi."
Naina dramatically bowed her head. "Shukriya, sahab."
Karan shook his head, smirking. "So jao, Naina."
She gave him a mock salute. "Aap bhi."
With one last glance, he turned and walked back toward his cabin, his thoughts still tangled but his heart feeling... lighter.
Maybe, just maybe, not every wall needed to stay up forever.