Kashmir – 4:00 AM
Aarohi jolted awake at the sound of a loud banging and a piercing alarm outside the door. For a moment, she blinked, disoriented, her mind scrambling to remember where she was.
"You're up? Good—I was just about to wake you!" Neha's voice broke through her thoughts. "Come on, hurry! Grab your brush, change of clothes, whatever else you need—we need to move before the line gets too long."
Still groggy, Aarohi nodded, dragging herself out of the warmth of the blankets. Her body craved more sleep, but her brain knew better than to challenge authority here—especially him. She didn't want to give Captain Khadoos any excuse to single her out.
As she reached for her clothes, Neha paused and gave her a once-over. "Aarohi, not those. Pick something comfortable. We've got warm-up drills first thing."
Realization dawned. Aarohi quickly swapped her outfit for track pants and a light T-shirt. The two rushed to the washroom, joining a short queue.
"Thank God we came early," Neha whispered. "Let's brush and freshen up here—our turn should come by then."
Aarohi gave a sleepy nod and yawned. Mornings were not her thing. In fact, the best mornings, in her opinion, were spent curled up in bed with no alarm and no screaming army discipline.
Her mind drifted to last night's conversation...
Flashback – The Night Before
Neha stretched and said, "Let's sleep, okay? We need to be up by 4."
"Whattt?! Four a.m.? WHY?" Aarohi groaned in horror.
"It's wake-up time here," Neha replied casually. "And from 5 to 6:30, we've got warm-ups and drills."
"I thought I was just an intern! I figured I could wake up at 7 and report at 8—simple!" Aarohi exclaimed.
Neha chuckled. "That's cute. But since this is a border base camp, everyone—including interns—has to participate. Captain Rathore says it's for self-protection. Makes sense, I guess."
Aarohi let out a dramatic sigh. "Noooo! My sleep! My beautiful sleep!"
Neha laughed. "Sleep fast. You don't want to be late—especially not with him in charge."
Aarohi narrowed her eyes. "Wait... you mean that guy? The stone-faced, green-eyed tower of rage?! He's leading the morning training?"
Neha burst out laughing at the description. She was already well-versed in Aarohi's dramatic run-down of her first day. "Yes, him. And judging by your luck today, I'd suggest you hit the bed. Now!"
Aarohi groaned but reluctantly slipped into her blanket.
Flashback Ends
"Oye Aaru, kya soch rahi hai?" Neha nudged her. "I already showered—go, it's your turn!"
Aarohi blinked back to reality and nodded. She quickly kicked off her slippers and began peeling off the layers—two pairs of socks included. It was Kashmir, after all, and for someone raised in Mumbai's heat, this was basic survival.
She leaned toward Neha and whispered, "Hey... do we have a washroom with hot water?"
Neha smiled. "Yes. Come on in."
Aarohi lit up like a child and grinned. Best friends were indeed found.
"You go ahead and get ready," Aarohi offered. "I'll manage."
Neha smiled warmly and said, "Aaru, I'll wait here for you."
Aarohi frowned gently. "Arey, koi na. You go get ready, I'll be fine."
But Neha shook her head. "Nahi. I'll wait. I'm not leaving you alone."
Aarohi's heart warmed. Her newly found, long-lost bestie-turned-sister was waiting outside for her, even though she needed to get ready too. That small gesture etched itself into Aarohi's heart. She nodded, smiled, and headed into the washroom.
"Go before the line builds up."neha said
The other women in line were already looking impatient. Aarohi ducked inside, took a quick shower, and emerged, wrapping herself tightly in layers. The chill bit through the air. Her thermals were on, with a T-shirt layered under her jacket. Neha helped her dry and tame her hair—Kashmir's dry air had tangled it into knots.
Just then, Neha got a call from her colleague at the medical wing. She was needed urgently.
"I'm sorry, Aaru—I've gotta go. Meet me directly at the training ground. And don't be late!"
"I'll be there," Aarohi assured her, waving her off.
But as Neha disappeared, Aarohi glanced at the clock and froze.
4:56 AM
"Oh no no no!" she muttered, rushing into action. She threw on her training shoes, picked rubberband to tie her still-wet hair into a messy ponytail, layered double socks under her shoes, and bolted out of the room, locking it behind her.
Training Ground – Day 1
The sun hadn't even risen yet, but the base was already alive.
Boots thudded against gravel. Breaths synced into rhythm. The sharp chill of the Kashmir morning clung to skin like a silent challenge.
At the front of the open ground stood Captain Veer Rathore — arms crossed, gaze unyielding.
He didn't shout. He never needed to.
With just a flick of his hand, the soldiers fell into line. And so did the Non-Combatants.
The routines were different — the soldiers powered through sprints, crawls, and partner carries, while Group B's warm-up was lighter: basic jogging and core stretches.
But Veer's eyes scanned both groups alike. No one escaped notice. No one got a pass.
His gaze swept across the line of Non-Combatants.
And then it stopped.
Aarohi Sharma was missing.
His jaw clenched.
Of course.
He had already predicted this.
He'd seen her the night before — sleep-heavy, emotionally wrung out. A girl like her didn't belong in the rhythm of 4:00 AM calls and icy morning drills.
But discipline didn't care for stories. And this — this was intolerable.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Aarohi appeared, breathless.
Wearing her training suit and sneakers, hair still damp and loose from the washroom, she sprinted across the ground and skidded into position beside Neha — flashing a sheepish smile as she did.
Saved.
One minute early, Veer noted after glancing at his watch.
Good for her.
Aarohi, on the other hand, was internally screaming.
She could still feel the cold air crawling down her spine from her wet hair, and now she had to tie it up — something she rarely did. Tying wet hair? That was a headache waiting to happen.
But she didn't have the luxury to complain now.
She sighed, quickly twisting her hair into a messy ponytail just as that hoarse voice rang through the ground.
"Height formation. Now,"
Veer ordered.
It was simple. Efficient. Somehow, even more intimidating than yelling.
Everyone moved instantly. Aarohi hesitated for half a second, trying to judge where she fit.
Her eyes darted from a guy built like a wall — aka Captain Veer himself — to another taller boy.
Eventually, she figured out her place and stood first, thanks to her above-average height.
She hated this already.
She glanced at Veer.
He wasn't looking at her — not really. His gaze scanned the line, sharp and calculated.
And yet, she felt his gaze linger for a beat too long.
As if... measuring her.
Then his attention shifted.
"Group B. Warm-up, then follow Instructor Sen for non-combat PT. Move."
By the time the sun had crested over the snow-dusted ridges, the soldiers had already pushed through their sprints, drills, and cooldowns under Lieutenant Neil's lead. Their uniforms clung to sweat-drenched backs, but their movements were sharp, practiced, and precise.
Captain Veer Rathore wasn't just overseeing—he was with them. Jogging in rhythm, no signs of fatigue on his face. His sweat-lined jaw held no tension, his breath was steady. To Aarohi, he looked like a storm held perfectly in place.
Meanwhile, Group B—hers—was only getting started.
"Non-combatants. Ground. Now," Instructor Sen's voice rang across the open space.
Aarohi moved, legs still heavy, nerves biting at her spine. Around her, others stretched with practiced ease—clearly used to the routine.
She wasn't.
She had never run a kilometer in her life. Morning walks? Ha, never. And now she was standing here, body aching from cold and panic, trying to blend in.
But she moved. Because everyone else did. Because she knew he was watching—or at least, it felt like he was.
Warm-up began. Simple stretches, they said. But her body screamed by the time they transitioned to jogging.
"Only two rounds," they said.
It felt like twenty.
By the time she hit jumping jacks, her lungs were on fire. Her legs moved like they were made of steel. Her throat burned.
Everyone else still seemed... okay. A few puffed quietly, but they were steady. One girl moved like a machine—definitely from a military background. A guy had already ditched his hoodie and was pacing himself.
And then there was her. Aarohi. The intern gasping like a fish, hair sticking to her face, sweat dripping down her spine.
"Plank. One minute," Instructor Sen ordered.
One minute? This was a punishment.
Her elbows dug into the gravel. Her spine was on fire. Her breath came in bursts. She was shaking by the thirty-second mark, but she didn't collapse.
Somehow, through all the noise, all the pressure—she was still aware of him.
Captain Veer Rathore.
He was at the far end now, jogging alongside his men, voice low as he guided formations. But even from a distance, she could feel him. As if his presence was stitched into the air.
Her body screamed. Her pride stung. Her limbs trembled.
But she sat up after the drill—back straight, fists clenched on her knees, breath hitching.
Across the ground, Captain Veer turned his head.
Just slightly.
His gaze landed on her.
No frown. No words. No nod.
But he saw her.
And somehow, that single second of eye contact made her square her shoulders a little higher—even if her legs were jelly underneath.
Neha jogged over, instantly reading her face.
"You okay?" she asked softly, concern written all over her.
Aarohi gave a tiny shake of her head, still breathless.
Neha smiled and handed her a napkin. "You'll get used to this."
Aarohi took it gratefully, wiped her face, and they both walked toward the restrooms.
Neha always bathed again after training. Aarohi had no choice—she was drenched.
They cleaned up, changed into fresh clothes, and made their way to the mess.
Aarohi walked like her bones were rebelling, every step a protest. They took their breakfast trays and moved toward the seating area.
That's when Aarohi saw him.
Captain Rathore. Sitting. Calm. Collected. Radiating authority.
She glared.
Full. Blown. Glare.
Veer, sensing the stare, looked up—and their eyes locked. Her glare met his unreadable gaze.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. Raised a brow.
What? his eyes seemed to say.
Aarohi blinked. Eyes widened. She immediately looked down, shook her head, and slipped into the seat beside Neha.
They ate breakfast with light chatter, and by 7:30 AM, they were back in their quarters to prepare for duty.
7:45 AM – Room
Neha stood near the mirror, tightening her braid.
"All set?" she asked.
Aarohi nodded and smiled. "All set."
Neha gave her a quick hug. "Good luck for your first day! And don't overthink anything. Just observe. Do your part. And if anyone yells at you, call me."
Aarohi laughed. "Deal."
Neha left for the medical wing while Aarohi stayed back for a moment.Soon, she grabbed her files, ID badge, and essentials —and made her way to the Cyber Division – East Wing.
Cyber Division, East Wing – 8:00 AM
The corridor smelled faintly of old servers, fresh solder, and what could only be described as army-grade chai. Aarohi walked briskly, boots echoing lightly against the floor. Her navy-blue beanie sat snug over her tied-up hair, ID card swinging from her neck. She reached the glass door with a steel plate reading:
"Cyber Division – East Wing."
Taking a deep breath, she stepped in.
The inside looked like a scene from every hacker movie ever made—and none of them. Blinking terminals, real-time encrypted feeds, digital maps, satellite surveillance across the northern border... it was all there. It felt like NASA met the military.
"Miss Sharma," a sharp voice called.
A tall woman in uniform, late 20s with sharp features and sharper eyes, approached. Lieutenant Deepika Gupta.
Aarohi quickly saluted—awkwardly.
Lt. Deepika smirked. "Relax. You're not joining the army—yet. Follow me."
Aarohi nodded, trying to hide the giddy nervousness.
They moved through the department, past lines of soldiers typing with focus sharper than scalpels. Inside the cold, calculated space, Aarohi felt her own pulse race.
"You'll assist the comms monitoring team for the first few weeks," Lt. Deepika explained briskly. "Observe only. No screenshots. No handwritten notes unless instructed. One wrong click here, and you compromise lives. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Aarohi answered, eyes wide.
"Your background shows Network Security and IoT — interesting. You'll be assigned to Lieutenant Aryan Singh's team. He handles frontline interception and digital forensics."
They stopped at a glass door labeled "Digital Surveillance & Signals - Level 1 Access".
Lt. Deepika turned. "This isn't college, Miss Sharma. No missed deadlines. No sloppy codes. Here, one wrong line can cost lives."
Aarohi swallowed, but she nodded.
"I understand, ma'am."
Deepika studied her for a second. Then nodded."Good. Lt. Aryan will brief you. He handles frontline interceptions and digital forensics. You'll prepare weekly work reports—get them verified by me and submit the final one to Captain Rathore."
Aarohi blinked. "Captain... Rathore?"
Lt. Deepika nodded with a slight smirk. "Yes. He reviews every cyber intel report personally."
Of course. Stormface himself.
Aarohi replied "ok maam"
Inside, the room had fewer people. Everyone was locked into their screens, typing, analyzing, zooming in on spectrograms, satellite trails, and encrypted data packets.
Aarohi took a seat at the empty desk. A notepad, her login credentials, and a map of signal sources sat waiting for her.
Administrative Wing – Officer Review Room – 8:15 AM
Captain Veer Rathore stood straight, files in hand, as the Commanding Officer briefed him.
"The intern. Aarohi Sharma. Reporting to Cyber Division today."
Veer didn't react. But his fingers paused ever so slightly.
"High aptitude. Strong on breach simulations. Flagged once by the NCC Comms team. Sharp. Reckless. Typical civilian brain."
"Background check?" Veer asked coolly.
"Clear. Minor remarks about rebellious tone in her blogs. But nothing actionable."
Veer closed the file.
"Keep her under Lt. Deepika. No Level 1 access. Not until she earns it."
As he turned to leave, the officer chuckled, "You don't like her, do you?"
Veer didn't flinch.
"I don't like chaos."
Cyber Division – Intern Terminal – 9:00 AM
Aarohi sat at her desk—nervous, alert, fascinated. A screen displayed encrypted signal data. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard.
She wasn't supposed to touch anything. Just observe.
And yet... her eyes narrowed. A numeric pattern repeated across two feeds. She grabbed her pen and noted it down.
Lieutenant Aryan passed by, glancing at her screen.
"You see something?"
Aarohi sat up. "Ma'am said just to observe—"
Aryan smiled. "Good instinct. That's dummy drone chatter with layered misdirection. Most people miss that repetition."
Aarohi blinked. "I... just saw the numbers align."
"That's why you're here. Keep watching."
She allowed herself the faintest smile.
Parallel – 9:15 AM
Training Grounds – Tactical Bay
Captain Veer Rathore reviewed the last batch of recruits. His movements were sharp, commands efficient. Nothing wasted.
But in the back of his mind, he was aware of a presence — not physical, but persistent.
The girl who arrived late. Hair dripping. Breathless. Eyes defiant.
The one who didn't break under the drills, but also didn't belong yet.
The one who watched him like he was her enemy.
Veer didn't indulge distractions.
But something about her silence — loud and stubborn — stayed.
Cyber Division – 9:45 AM
Aarohi stretched a little, still watching the shifting data streams.
Then a notification blinked:
Incoming Briefing at 10:00 AM – All Interns Report to Strategy Room 2
She glanced around.
Her first real meeting.
She quickly straightened her desk, adjusted her badge, and stood — head held high.
She didn't know how much she'd be allowed to do.
But something inside her whispered —
This is where you're meant to be.
10:00 AM – Strategy Room 2
The conference room was bare. One table, ten chairs, no decoration.
Aarohi walked in with two other interns—both boys. Both from defense training batches. One gave her a polite nod; the other ignored her.
Lieutenant Raina stood at the head of the room.
"The Indian Army doesn't offer internships. This is an exception," she began.
"You're not here to learn. You're here to assist. You won't be treated like students. You won't be protected like civilians."
Aarohi straightened instinctively.
"Today, you'll rotate through Level 0
terminals. From tomorrow, based on observation, you'll be assigned teams. No assumptions. No noise."
Then, she turned to Aarohi.
"You—Sharma. Stay back."
The boys left.
Lieutenant Raina handed her a sealed file. "Captain Rathore needs this uploaded to the secure internal channel. Use Lt. Deepika's system. And Sharma—don't screw up the encryption tags."
"Yes, ma'am," Aarohi nodded.
Digital Surveillance Office – 10:40 AM
Aarohi sat at Lt. Deepika's terminal—her heart pounding.
She placed the sealed file, logged in using the credentials given, and followed the instructions: scan, encode, input security tags.
But at the final step—two options blinked on the screen:
INCOM-CAP.RATH
INCOM-CAP.RATH-Secure
She hesitated.
Then murmured, "Go with the secure one... it's safer, right?"
She clicked it.
Upload successful. No errors.
She exhaled.
Command Corridor – 11:10 AM
She was halfway back to the intern terminal when Lt. Deepika intercepted her — face unreadable.
"You used my system?"
"Yes, ma'am. Lt. Raina asked me to upload—"
"Which node?"
Aarohi blinked. "The secure one. I thought... it was safer."
Deepika's eyes darkened. "That node is for active internal ops. You just flagged a standard brief to a priority alert inbox."
"I didn't mean—"
"Fix it. I'll cover for you this once. But don't let your instincts override protocol again."
Aarohi nodded, cheeks burning.
Then, she saw him.Captain Veer Rathore. Near the glass wall. On a secure phone.
His eyes flicked to her. Just a second. But her heart stuttered.
He knows. Or he will.
Mess Hall – 1:00 PM
The cafeteria buzzed with muted chatter. Uniforms moved with practiced rhythm, trays in hand, routines hardwired into their bones.
Aarohi picked the farthest seat in the corner, tray untouched, heart still stuck somewhere between embarrassment and regret.
She couldn't forget Deepika's glare. Or the second of eye contact with him—Captain Veer Rathore.
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone slid into the seat opposite her.
"You're the intern who flagged the high-security node?" a boy grinned.
She looked up. Rudra—one of the defense-trained interns from the morning.
"It was a misclick," she muttered.
He chuckled. "Relax. At least now everyone knows you."
She didn't want to be known. Not like this.
4:30 PM – Cyber Division Intern Room
For the first time that day, Aarohi sat in silence. Not typing. Not watching a screen.
Just sitting.
She thought of home. Her mom's hot parathas. Her friends texting about college fests. Her professor who once said she was "too emotional" for cybersecurity.
And then, of course—him. Storm-faced green-eyed tower of discipline.
Why did his opinion matter?
Why did he linger in her mind?
Frustrated, she picked up her notebook and scribbled:
Day 1 –
Got yelled at. Made a mistake. Learned to shut up and observe.
This place doesn't bend. It doesn't soften.
But maybe... neither do I.
Evening Drill Grounds – 6:00 PM
From her window, Aarohi saw them.
Soldiers, jogging in perfect rhythm.
And at the front of the line—Captain Veer Rathore.
Unshaken. Controlled. Leading with effortless authority.
Even from a distance, he radiated command.
Aarohi watched for a minute. Then quietly pulled the curtain shut.
Cyber Division – 8:00 PM
The division was mostly empty. Just her and a single officer at the far end.
She logged back in, determined to complete her first-day report.
Click. Type. Review.
Then the sound of boots.
She didn't look up.
She didn't need to.
She knew who it was.
"Sharma," came that low, steady voice.
She shot up. "Sir."
Captain Veer Rathore stood beside her—unblinking, unreadable.
"Next time you upload anything to my secure node without authorization—it won't be a warning. It'll be dismissal."
Aarohi swallowed. "Yes, sir. I understand."
He studied her face for a moment longer than necessary. Then added, without emotion:
"Don't try to impress anyone here. Just do your job."
And he walked away.
She sat back down slowly, heart pounding.
Not anger. Not hatred.
Just... control.
Discipline in human form.
Captain Veer Rathore was the calm in the center of the storm.
And she?
She was the fire that hadn't yet learned to contain itself.
8:15 PM – Cyber Division Locker Area
Aarohi logged out, stretched her sore back, and walked toward the intern locker area. The halls were quiet now — the Cyber Division had begun winding down for the day. She placed her files in the locker, locked it, and turned to leave.
Just then, the camp telephone on the adjacent table rang — a sharp, old-school tone cutting through the silence.
A junior officer nearby called out, "Intern Sharma! Call for you — from the medical wing."
Aarohi blinked. "Me?"
He nodded. "Dr. Neha Mehra asking for you."
She hurried over, picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Aaru, Work done?" Neha asked.
"Yeah. Just now. Perfect timing. You?"
"Yup! Let's meet in the room, freshen up, then head to dinner. You must be starving!"
As if on cue, Aarohi's stomach growled.
She laughed. "Very much. Coming in five."
Aarohi & Neha's Quarters – 8:30 PM
Neha threw her arms open. "You came, my babyyy!"
Aarohi chuckled and played along. "My heart! How can I be away from you!"
They both burst into laughter.
Aarohi changed into slippers and kept her belongings. Neha apologized for missing lunch—she'd gone to a medical camp in a nearby Kashmiri village.
"It's okay," Aarohi smiled. "Today was chaos anyway."
Neha grinned. "Then let me treat you."
"I deserve that after today," Aarohi groaned.
She then launched into a full-blown rant—file mishap, Veer's warning, the plank—everything.
The bond between them only deepened.
From strangers to soul-sisters in 24 hours.
Mess Hall – 9:00 PM
As they entered, Aarohi paused.
"Neha, you go ahead. I need to use restroom."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'll catch up."
Neha nodded and walked ahead.
Aarohi returned minutes later and scanned the food section—and immediately scrunched her nose.
"Baigan... Seriously?"
She checked again. Dal, rice, and yes—baigan sabzi.
The universe was officially against her.
She took a small serving of dal-chawal and walked over to Neha, who was seated at a long bench.
To her surprise, Lieutenant Neil was sitting on bench beside Neha.
She hesitated.
As soon as she sat:
Lt. Neil: "Areyy Sharmaa brooo! You came! I was waiting! How are you?"
Neha glared at him.
Aarohi giggled. "I'm good, Lt. Sharma. How are you?"
Neil: "I was not fine, but now that you're here—much better."
Neha muttered, "Monkey-faced jerk."
Aarohi suppressed a laugh.
But the banter was cut short by a throat-clearing.
Captain Veer Rathore walked over, sat across next to Neil—his signature silence intact.
Aarohi quickly looked down.
Neha: "Hello, Captain Rathore."
A curt nod.
Aarohi gave Neha a wide-eyed glare—betrayer! Neha responded with a guilty smile.
Captain Veer: "Any problem, Miss Sharma?"
She looked up, smiled stiffly. "No, sir."
Captain Veer: "It's Captain Veer."
"Right. Captain Veer."
Silence.
They all began eating.
Neha: "Aaru, why didn't you take sabzi and roti? You're hungry—and you need energy."
From the next bench, Captain Veer muttered under his breath:
"Now I know why you look like a kid."
Neil: "Veer, did you say something?"
Veer shook his head. "No."
Neil: "Weird. Felt like someone muttered something."
Veer resumed eating—quietly listening to the conversation next bench.
Aarohi: "I hate baigan, okay? I've never liked it. Even dal-chawal I don't eat much."
Neha: "But you need to eat something. You've had a tough day."
Aarohi (pouting): "At home, mom would always make aloo for me when there was baigan. I never had to suffer like this."
Neha side-hugged her, smiling gently.
Neha: "I know, baby. But here, there's no 'mom-made-aloo' option. You have to survive."
Aarohi: "Dr. Sahiba, relax. I'll eat this and drink some water. I'll survive."
They laughed.
Veer? He didn't look up.
But he was listening.
And in that moment—when her eyes sparkled in the middle of her misery—
Captain Veer glanced up at her.
Aarohi & Neha's Quarters – 9:30 PM
The cold had settled in for the night. As they walked back to their quarters, the warm mess hall now far behind, Aarohi exhaled slowly. Her breath puffed into the air like smoke from a tired engine.
"My back hurts, my knees hurt, and I think my soul is tired," Aarohi muttered dramatically.
Neha giggled beside her. "Welcome to base life, meri jaan."
They reached the room. Aarohi flopped on the bed without removing her shoes.
"I'm not moving," she mumbled into her pillow.
Neha rolled her eyes and tugged at her ankle. "At least take off your shoes, drama queen."
Aarohi groaned, rolled to the side, and finally sat up. She removed her shoes and jacket, massaged her calves, then looked at Neha who was already arranging her medicines and night cream on the table.
"Neha..." Aarohi said softly.
Neha turned.
Aarohi gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you. For today. For waiting. For staying."
Neha smiled back—warm, genuine. "You don't thank family, stupid."
There it was again.
That feeling.
That even in the middle of snow, soldiers who barely spoke—she wasn't alone.
Not truly.
10:00 PM – Lights Out
The lights dimmed automatically—strict power-down time.
Aarohi pulled her blanket up to her chin and stared at the ceiling. Her muscles still throbbed. Her head felt heavy. And her mind... wouldn't stop.
Her first day at the base was over. Somehow, she'd survived it. Mostly intact.
But her heart was still racing.
She didn't know why that man's voice, so calm yet commanding, echoed in her head. Why every time his eyes met hers—even if for a fraction—it felt like he could see beyond her shields.
"Don't try to impress anyone. Just do your job."
His words played again.
She shut her eyes.
But instead of sleep, images flashed—planks, drills, Deepika's glare, her own stupid mistake.
And his eyes.
Always those eyes.
She groaned softly.
"Ugh, please. Don't dream of green-eyed towers tonight.No Nightmares pls"
Neha stirred beside her.
"What?"
"Nothing!" Aarohi replied instantly.
Neha chuckled, half-asleep. "Goodnight, Aaru."
"Goodnight, Neha."
Meanwhile – Captain Veer Rathore's Quarters – 10:15 PM
He stood by the window again. Arms crossed. Jacket off. Shirt sleeves rolled up. The same posture he always assumed when thinking.
Cold wind slapped the windowpane, but he didn't care.
His thoughts... were not where they should be.
Instead, they lingered on her.
The intern.
The storm in ponytail and stubbornness.
The one who glared at him like he'd personally ruined her world—and yet stood her ground through every drill.
She had fire. Untrained, reckless, but present.
And she didn't look away.
Veer didn't like chaos.
He didn't like unpredictability.
And Aarohi Sharma was both.
Still, she hadn't broken.
And that made her a problem worth watching.
"Control the fire... or it'll burn everything down," he muttered to himself.
Then, finally, he turned away from the window.
Sleep still miles away.
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