The war was finally over. For seven days, they had fought, bled, and endured the brutality of battle. But tonight, for the first time in a week, there was no sound of gunfire, no sight of fallen comrades, no orders to charge or retreat.
Tonight, they would eat.
Naina and the other female soldiers worked tirelessly to prepare the meal. There was no grand feastâjust simple food made with whatever rations they had left. But after days of eating stale bread and drinking murky water, even the smell of freshly cooked dal and roti was enough to make the exhausted soldiers sigh in relief.
As she moved between the makeshift stoves, stirring pots and rolling out rotis, Naina felt a strange sense of peace. It wasn't that she had forgotten the war or the men they had lostâno, their absence was felt in every empty seat. But for now, she could do this. She could feed the people who had fought beside her.
One by one, she and the others served the soldiers, making sure each plate was filled properly.
"Bas itna kaafi hai, Naina," one soldier said, but she shook her head and added another roti to his plate.
"Pura khaana padega. Aaj koi bhookha nahi soyega."
Laughter rippled through the tent, the sound foreign after days of war. The soldiers ate hungrily, some groaning in satisfaction as they took their first proper bite of food.
Karan sat at the far end, watching silently as Naina moved between them, making sure everyone was taken care of. She was focused, determinedâeven in something as simple as serving food, she gave it her all.
For a brief moment, he let himself forget the war. Forget the Britishers. Forget the battles that were still to come.
Right now, it was just them.
Just the soldiers.
Just a warm meal on a cold night.
And for the first time in days, Karan allowed himself to breathe.
As the last of the soldiers received their food, Naina returned to the serving area to take her own plateâonly to find that there was just one left.
She blinked, then looked around. The other women had already sat down to eat, and Karan was still seated at the far end of the tent, waiting for his turn.
She sighed, picking up the plate and turning toward him.
Karan noticed her hesitation. "Bas ek plate bachi hai?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Naina gave a small nod.
Without a second thought, he gestured to the empty spot beside him. "Toh kya? Baitho. Saath mein khate hain."
She hesitated for just a moment before sitting beside him, placing the plate between them. Without any awkwardness, Karan tore a piece of roti and dipped it into the dal. Naina followed suit, and for a while, they ate in silence.
The air was calmer nowâstill thick with exhaustion, but lighter than it had been in days.
After a few bites, Karan let out a breath and leaned back slightly. "Soch raha hoon... yeh jo ladayi thi, woh sach mein sabse alag thi."
Naina smirked. "Haan, kyunki is baar dushman do the, sirf ek nahi."
Karan let out a short chuckle. "Sach keh rahi ho. British aur Germans dono se ladna pada." He shook his head. "Lekin tujhe kya lagta hai? Angrez hamein jeetne denge bina koi saza diye?"
Naina's face grew serious. "Nahi denge. Yeh sirf shuruat thi, Karan. Woh humein is jeet ka anjaam bhugatne ke liye majboor karenge."
Karan exhaled through his nose. She was right. The British wouldn't take this lightly.
But right now, he didn't want to think about that.
He noticed how she was carefully taking small bites, her movements slower than usual, exhaustion evident in her posture. A part of him wanted to tell her to rest, to take it easy for once, but he knew Naina wouldn't listen.
"Waise, tujhe ghode ki training waali baat yaad hai?" he asked with a teasing smirk.
Naina narrowed her eyes. "Mat yaad dila. Woh ghode mujhe jaan ke girane ki koshish kar rahe the."
Karan laughed. "Ya toh ghode tujhe girane ki koshish kar rahe the... ya tu sach mein bohot hi bekaar thi isme."
She gasped dramatically. "Aap kehna kya chahte hain, Commander?"
"Bas yahi ki tujhe ghodo se dosti karni chahiye thi pehle."
Naina huffed, but the small, amused smile on her lips gave her away. "Agle janam mein ghoda ban ke dikhana fir tumse seekh lungi."
Karan shook his head, a chuckle escaping him as they continued eating.
For the first time in days, the war felt like a distant memory.
For the first time in days, they laughed.
After finishing their meal, the exhaustion of the past week weighed on everyone. Some soldiers sat around in small groups, talking in hushed voices, while others stretched out on their mats, closing their eyes for the first real rest in days.
Naina stood up, picking up the empty plate. "Main bartan rakh kar aati hoon."
Karan, still leaning back slightly, watched as she walked away. It wasn't just her posture that looked differentâsomething in her had changed after the war.
She had always been determined, always strong, but now... there was something heavier in her gaze. A quiet understanding of what war truly meant.
Karan exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. His body ached, his wounds burned, and yet, he couldn't find the will to sleep.
Just then, Captain Jain approached, his face thoughtful. "Karan, baat karni thi."
Karan straightened. "Bolo."
Jain's eyes flickered toward the other soldiers before he lowered his voice. "Britishers se naya sandesh aaya hai."
Karan's jaw clenched. "Kya likha hai?"
Jain sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kal subah baithke padhte hain. Abhi bas itna keh sakta hoon ki unka mood acha nahi lag raha."
Karan wasn't surprised. After what they had doneâdefeating the Germans while eliminating the British soldiers alongside themâit was only a matter of time before the British retaliated.
He nodded. "Theek hai. Subah dekhte hain."
Jain gave him a small pat on the shoulder before walking away.
Karan leaned back against the wooden post of the tent, his mind restless.
He wasn't afraid of the British.
But for the first time, he found himself worrying about what would happen to the people who followed him.
His eyes unconsciously drifted toward Naina, who was now standing near the entrance of the tent, speaking quietly to Kaveri. The lamp's dim light flickered against her face, highlighting the tired lines under her eyes.
For the first time, Karan wasn't thinking about Naina as a soldier.
He was thinking about her as a person. A girl who had once been carefree, who had been thrown into war, and who had now emerged as something more.
And yet, he wonderedâhow much had she lost along the way?
Next Morning
The golden rays of the sun stretched across the battlefield-turned-camp, casting a warm glow over the tired yet victorious soldiers. The war had been won, and though the exhaustion still clung to their bodies, the satisfaction of survival and triumph was greater.
Karan stood near the command tent, stretching his sore muscles when a young soldier approached him with a sealed letter. "Sahab, British camp se sandesh aaya hai."
Karan took the letter and unfolded it, his sharp eyes scanning its contents. His expression remained unreadable as he read silently.
Seeing his silence, Captain Jain frowned. "Kya likha hai?"
Karan exhaled and read aloud, "British fauj tumhare kaam se santusht hai. Tumhari vijay ko dekh kar, tum sabko naye rifles aur afghani talwaron se sammanit kiya jaayega."
For a brief moment, there was silence before Captain Prajapati let out a low whistle. "Toh humein shak bhi nahi hua?"
Naina, who had just arrived with a few other soldiers, smirked slightly. "Nahi. Kyunki yeh soch bhi nahi sakte ki hum unke hi sipahiyon ka safaya kar sakte hain."
A collective sigh of relief passed through the group. The British had unknowingly rewarded them for their victory, completely unaware of what had transpired behind their backs.
Jain chuckled. "Naye rifles aur talwarenâpehli baar in angrezon ne sahi kaam kiya hai."
Prajapati nodded. "Jo mil raha hai, chup chap le lo."
Karan folded the letter and tucked it into his coat, his smirk widening. "Agle das saalon tak yeh yudh yaad rahega. Aur yeh bhi ki humne bina jhukey yeh jeet hasil ki."
Naina crossed her arms. "Toh ab? Hum yeh naye hathiyaar accept kar rahe hain?"
Karan gave a sharp nod. "Bilkul. Hum ladne aaye the, jeet kar ja rahe hain. Aur agar naye hathiyaar mil rahe hain, toh aur behtar."
Laughter and chatter broke out among the soldiers. The war was over, and for now, there was no reason to question their luck. They had survived against all odds, fooled the British, and emerged victorious.
For the first time in days, the camp felt lighter. The warriors who had risked everything now had something to look forward to. They would return home not just as soldiers but as victors.
Return to the Training Camp
The journey back to Rajasthan was long, but the air was lighter. The weight of war had lifted, leaving behind a victorious silence. The trainees, though physically exhausted, sat straighter on their horses, a newfound confidence in their posture. They had left as soldiers-in-training, but they were returning as warriors who had seen battle, survived, and won.
Karan rode at the front, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the horizon. Beside him, Naina adjusted the reins of her horse, her face unreadable. Though she didn't speak much on the journey, she rode with easeâsomething Karan couldn't help but smirk at, remembering how she had struggled to mount a horse just days ago.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the training camp, the sun had begun its descent, bathing the desert sands in hues of orange and gold. The moment they entered, a loud cheer erupted. The soldiers who had stayed behind rushed forward, welcoming them back.
Kaveri was the first to reach Naina, practically tackling her in a hug. "Tu theek toh hai na? Mujhe bata bhi nahi ke tujhe le jaa rahe hain!"
Naina chuckled, patting Kaveri's back. "Main bilkul theek hoon, bas tujhe miss kar rahi thi."
Other trainees surrounded those who had returned, eager to hear about the war. Some were shocked to see their seniors alive and well, while others looked at them with admiration.
Karan dismounted his horse, handing the reins to a stable boy before turning to the awaiting captains. Captain Jain, arms crossed, gave him a knowing look. "Zinda laut aaye? Mujhe laga tha British humein wapas dekhna bhi nahi chahenge."
Prajapati grinned. "Zinda hi nahi, naye rifles aur talwaron ke saath laut rahe hain!"
Laughter rippled through the group as Karan smirked. "Agle hafte tak yeh naye hathiyaar pahunch jayenge. Tab tak, sab apni chot ka ilaaj karwa lo."
The trainees groaned at the mention of treatment, but none dared to argue. They had fought hard, and now, all they wanted was rest.
As everyone began dispersing, Naina looked around, her eyes searching. Karan caught the hesitation in her gaze and raised a brow. "Kisi ko dhoond rahi ho?"
She shook her head and walked past him, but not before muttering under her breath, "Bas soch rahi hoon, ghar walon ko khabar pohch gayi hogi ya nahi."
Karan watched her go, a flicker of something unfamiliar in his chest. The war had changed many things, but for some, it had also deepened old wounds.
As the camp settled in for the night, Karan knew one thing for certainâthis was just the beginning.
The days passed, and life at the training camp resumed its usual rhythm, but for Karan, something had shifted. Something he wasn't sure he wanted to acknowledge just yet. His focus, once unwaveringly fixed on discipline, tactics, and duty, now found itself drawnâunintentionally but persistentlyâto one person.
Naina.
It wasn't something he actively thought about; it was just there. In the smallest things.
When he barked orders during training, his gaze would instinctively search for herâwatching if she followed, if she struggled, if she succeeded.
When he sparred with the trainees, he'd notice how she never backed down, even against stronger opponents. The slight smirk she gave whenever she landed a solid hit made something tighten in his chest.
And then there were moments outside of trainingâunexpected, fleeting, yet impossible to ignore.
Like in the mornings, when he went for his usual jog before sunrise. It had always been a solitary habit. Until one dayâ
"Akele bhaagna zaroori hai kya, ya main bhi aa sakti hoon?"
Karan had barely taken five steps when Naina suddenly fell in stride beside him, grinning mischievously. He scowled. "Tumhe apne kaam nahi hain?"
She stretched her arms as they ran. "Hain na. Par tumhe dekh ke laga ki agar main bhi jogging shuru kar doon toh shayad tumhe harane ka mauka mil jaaye."
Karan scoffed. "Mujhe harana? Sapna dekh rahi ho?"
Naina didn't reply. Instead, she suddenly sprinted ahead, laughing over her shoulder. "Sapne tabhi sach hote hain jab unhe jee bharke dekha jaye, sahab!"
He rolled his eyes but found himself picking up his pace.
Then there were the afternoons, when he'd take a few minutes to freshen up, splashing cool water over his face near the well. That had been peacefulâuntil she started showing up there too.
"Waise tum bina uniform ke normal aadmi jaise lagte ho." She had commented once, watching him from a few feet away with her hands behind her back.
He had frowned, rubbing his wet face with a cloth. "Matlab?"
She shrugged. "Bas... itni daantne waali shakal nahi lagti tab."
Before he could retort, she had skipped away, leaving him standing there, utterly bewildered.
He wasn't sure what it was about her that got under his skin. Maybe it was her defiance. Maybe it was her confidence. Maybe it was the way she treated war wounds as if they were mere bruises, laughing in the face of danger.
Maybe it was just... her.
And before he could even realize it, Karan Thakurâstrict, disciplined, no-nonsense Karanâfound himself waiting for these moments.
Waiting to see her try to outrun him.
Waiting for her sarcastic remarks.
Waiting for the flicker of mischief in her eyes.
Because somewhere, somehow, Naina Rao was becoming the one thing he never expectedâunavoidable.