The camp was quieting down for the night. Trainees were settling into their tents, murmuring among themselves before sleep overtook them.
Karan walked with measured steps, his expression unreadable, his presence alone making a few trainees straighten unconsciously. But his focus was on only one tent.
Naina's.
As soon as he stepped inside, the hushed conversations died completely. The other trainees inside exchanged glances, their eyes darting between him and Naina, who was curled up on her side, her back facing him.
He exhaled sharply before stepping closer.
"Naina."
No response.
His jaw clenched as he bent down and shook her shoulder firmly.
"Utho."
She stirred but didn't open her eyes. "Kya hai?" she mumbled, her voice laced with exhaustion and irritation.
"Dining area chalo." His tone was clipped, authoritative.
That made her eyes snap open. She turned to look at him, frowning. "Main thik hoon. Mujhe sone do."
His eyes darkened. "Bina khaye nahi. Chalo."
"Mujhe bhook nahi hai." She turned her back to him again.
Karan inhaled slowly, his patience thinning. "Tumhaari marzi nahi chal rahi yahan, Naina. Main keh raha hoon, chalo."
She didn't move.
He sighed, standing straight and folding his arms. His next words made everyone in the tent freeze.
"Yeh ek aadesh hai."
A command.
Naina's fingers twitched at his words. The trainees all looked at her, waiting to see what she would do.
For a moment, she didn't move. Then, with an annoyed huff, she threw off her blanket and got up, glaring at him.
"Agar aap itne hi ziddi ho, toh theek hai! Chalti hoon!"
She stomped out of the tent, Karan following right behind. The moment they left, hushed whispers broke out among the trainees.
By the time they reached the dining area, the fire had dimmed, and only a few lanterns flickered around. The place was empty. Karan had made sure no one would be around to witness this.
He gestured toward the seat. "Baitho."
Naina crossed her arms stubbornly. "Bas khilane laaye hai ya aur bhi koi aadesh hai, Commander?"
Karan sighed and sat down across from her. Without a word, he picked up a plate, served some food, and placed it in front of her.
She stared at it.
"Mujhe nahi khaana."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "Mujhe maafi maangni hai."
That caught her off guard. She blinked, her anger faltering. "Kya?"
Karan ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Subah... jo kaha maine... galat tha." His voice was gruff, quieter than usual. "Mujhe tum par chillana nahi chahiye tha."
Naina's lips parted slightly. For the first time in two days, she looked directly at him.
His eyes held something she hadn't expectedâregret.
"Kha lo, Naina." His voice was softer now, almost careful. "Zid mat karo."
She glanced at the plate. Then at him.
And for the first time in two days, she silently picked up a bite of food.
Karan watched as Naina silently took a bite of her food. For the first time in two days, she wasn't avoiding him. The tension between them was still thick, but there was a shiftâsmall, yet noticeable.
He exhaled, running a hand over his face. The flickering lantern light cast sharp shadows on his features, making the exhaustion in his eyes more evident.
"Mujhe gussa tum par nahi tha," he said suddenly, his voice quieter than usual.
Naina didn't look up but continued chewing. She wasn't ignoring him this timeâshe was listening.
He leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping against the table. "Subah ek chitthi aayi thi. Angrezon ki taraf se."
Naina finally glanced at him, her chewing slowing.
"Naya kanoon aaya hai. Ab se kisi bhi naujawan ko bina unki ijazat ke sena mein bharti nahi kiya ja sakta. Jo bhi training le raha hai, use ya toh British Army join karni padegi ya chhodni padegi."
Naina frowned, setting her plate down. "Yeh toh..." she trailed off, realization hitting her. "Toh iska matlabâ"
"Iska matlab yeh hai ki agar humne khud ko British Army ke liye tayar nahi kiya, toh humein yahan training karne ka haq nahi rahega," he interrupted, his voice cold and sharp. "Woh chahte hain ki ya toh hum unke liye ladein ya phir ladna hi band kar dein."
His fingers curled into a fist. "Agar maine uss chitthi ka jawab nahi diya, toh woh yahaan aakar sab kuch band karwa denge."
The weight of his words settled between them like a storm waiting to break.
Naina watched him carefully, noticing how tense his shoulders were. She had seen Karan Thakur angry beforeâat trainees, at the British, even at her. But this wasn't just anger. This was frustration, helplessness... even worry.
And she had unknowingly become the target of it.
She sighed, looking down at her plate. "Isliye subah mujh par gussa nikala?"
Karan stiffened slightly but didn't deny it. He looked away, jaw clenched. "Mujhse galti ho gayi."
His voice wasn't loud or commanding this time. It was an admission.
Naina stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head with a small scoff. "Aap bhi na, Commander..." she muttered, stabbing a piece of roti with her fingers before taking a bite.
Karan blinked at her reaction. "Kya?"
She swallowed her food and smirked slightly. "Agar gussa Angrezon par tha toh mujhe kyun sunaya? Kya main British dikhti hoon?"
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Nainaâ"
"Nahi bas, yeh toh hadd ho gayi," she interrupted, shaking her head dramatically. "Commander sahib apni frustration nikalne ke liye mujhe chunta hai. Wah!"
Karan exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Bas, Naina."
But she wasn't done. "Agle baar aapko gussa aaye, toh pehle sochiye ki kis par nikal rahe hain!"
He sighed, giving her a pointed look. "Theek hai. Agle baar sirf Britishon par chillaoonga."
She raised an eyebrow. "Aur mujhe chillane ka kya?"
Karan rolled his eyes. "Nahi chillaoonga."
Naina gave a triumphant nod. "Baat samajh aayi toh sahi."
He huffed but didn't argue further. For the first time in two days, she was talking to him like before. The weight on his chest felt lighter.
As she continued eating, Karan leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. His voice dropped to a more serious tone.
"Mujhe nahi pata ki yeh sab kaise hoga, Naina," he admitted, his eyes dark. "Par ek baat tay hai... yeh kanoon humare liye accha nahi hai. British Army mein bharti hona toh door ki baat, mujhe unka ek aur naya niyam bhi manzoor nahi."
Naina stared at him before nodding. "Toh kya socha hai aapne?"
Karan was silent for a moment before answering. "Soch raha hoon."
She smirked slightly. "Aapke dimaag ke ghode daud rahe hain, hai na?"
He gave her a flat look. "Bohot."
She let out a small chuckle and finally picked up her plate again.
For the first time in two days, Karan Thakur felt something close to peace.
The morning sun had barely risen when the distant echoes of voices reached the training grounds. Karan, who was overseeing the warm-up drills, frowned as the noise grew louder. The trainees, who had been stretching and preparing for the day's training, paused as well.
A commotion. A gathering. Noâa rally.
Karan strode towards the entrance of the training grounds, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. The captains followed, and the trainees, sensing something unusual, exchanged glances before trailing behind.
As they reached a clearing that overlooked the nearby town, Karan's eyes widened. A massive crowd had gathered in the streets, chanting slogans, holding up cloth banners, and marching in unison. Their voices rang clear in the crisp morning air, a mixture of determination and defiance.
"Fauj ka kanoon wapas lo!"
"Humein apni sena ka haq chahiye!"
"Apne logon ki fauj ko ghulam mat banao!"
Karan couldn't believe it. The people were rallyingâfor them.
Naina, standing beside him, whispered in awe, "Yeh log... hamare liye aaye hain?"
Karan didn't respond immediately. He was too stunned. Never before had civilians stood up for the military. The Indian army had always been seen as separateâsomething meant to protect, not something that needed protection.
Yet here they were. Merchants, blacksmiths, farmers, and scholarsâmen and women alikeâmarching for the soldiers, demanding that the British take back their oppressive law.
Captain Jain let out a low whistle. "Pehli baar dekh raha hoon ki sena ko logon ki madad mil rahi hai... hamari nahi, hum unki raksha karte aaye hain."
Captain Prajapati crossed his arms, his face unreadable. "Yeh angrezon ke liye achha sanket nahi hai. Log agar fauj ke saath khade ho gaye, toh inka raaj kamzor ho jayega."
Karan remained silent, his eyes locked on the swelling crowd. His heart poundedânot with fear, but with something unfamiliar. Hope.
The trainees behind him murmured in disbelief. Many of them had joined the military for personal reasonsâsurvival, rebellion, honor. None had expected that one day, the very people they swore to protect would stand up for them.
Karan took a deep breath and turned to his trainees. His voice was firm, but for the first time in a long time, there was something else in it. Conviction.
"Aaj tak hum yeh soch rahe the ki hum akele hain." He gestured toward the rally, where voices grew louder, unwavering. "Lekin yeh log... yeh bata rahe hain ki hum akelay nahi hain. Angrez samajhte hain ki yeh kanoon hum par thop sakte hain kyunki hamari awaaz dabayi ja sakti hai. Magar jab awaaz sirf hamari nahi, poore desh ki ho... tab kya?"
A murmur of agreement spread among the trainees. Some of them, who had never known what it felt like to be supported by their own people, stood straighter.
Naina, her gaze still fixed on the rally, spoke softly, "Yeh sirf shuruat hai na?"
Karan glanced at her, then back at the determined faces in the distance.
"Haan, yeh sirf shuruat hai."
Two days passed, and the tension that had settled over the camp finally lifted when the news arrived.
The law had been revoked.
A messenger from the British headquarters had arrived at dawn, handing Karan an official notice. He read it over twice, disbelief flickering in his sharp eyes before he turned to his captains.
"Angrez peeche hat gaye," he announced. "Naya kanoon wapas le liya gaya hai."
A wave of murmurs ran through the trainees. Some of them stared at him in stunned silence, others exchanged uncertain glances, as if afraid to believe it.
The captains, too, looked equally taken aback. Captain Jain let out a low chuckle. "Kya sach mein?"
Captain Prajapati crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully. "Logon ki awaaz dabana chahte the, par yeh socha nahi tha ki fauj bhi unke saath khadi ho sakti hai."
Karan's gaze swept across his trainees. For the first time since their training began, he saw something different in their eyesânot just discipline, not just obedience, but power. They had witnessed firsthand that change was possible. That they weren't just pawns in someone else's war.
For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, a few trainees clapped. Others joined in. Soon, the entire camp erupted into cheers.
Naina, standing amongst them, simply smiledâa knowing, quiet smile that told him she had never doubted this outcome.
Karan let them celebrate, but his own thoughts were already moving ahead. This was a victory. But it was also a warning. The British wouldn't forget this humiliation. And they would retaliate.
A Command from the British
It came faster than he expected.
The very next evening, another letter arrived. Unlike the first, this one bore a more urgent seal, and the British officer delivering it did not look pleased.
Karan broke the seal, eyes narrowing as he scanned the message.
Then his jaw clenched.
The British had given him orders.
He was to lead his soldiers in an upcoming warâon the side of the British.
His grip tightened around the parchment, fingers nearly crumpling the edges. His mind raced. He had fought battles before, but thisâthis was different. This wasn't just war. This was a test of loyalty. A test of obedience. A way to keep the Indian soldiers under control.
And the worst part? He had no choice.
Captain Jain, sensing the shift in his demeanor, stepped forward. "Kya likha hai, Thakur?"
Karan exhaled sharply, then spoke, his voice laced with anger.
"Humein jung ladni hogi... Angrezon ke liye."
The air grew heavy. The captains stood in rigid silence. The trainees, still unaware, carried on with their evening duties, oblivious to the storm that was about to come.
Karan's gaze darkened as he stared at the paper once more.
This was not a command. This was a threat.