|VIRAJ|

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I heard Naina's sobs. I closed my eyes trying to compose myself but for the first time in years a stray tear dropped from my eyes. I brushed it off discreetly before Neel and Arjun could notice. I feel like I have left a piece of my soul behind. Now I know why goodbyes are always this emotional.

We boarded the plane and settled in our seats. I knew my friends weren't uttering a single word for a reason. I fastened my seat belt and glanced out of the window. Neel sat beside me and Arjun at the very corner. I wish there was a perfect world where I could spend every breathing second with Naina but duty calls first.

I'm so glad that we didn't confess our love for each other. I can only imagine how much more harder it will be once we share our real feelings with each other. Neel cleared his throat trying to get my attention. He tapped on my shoulders and gave me a sympathetic look.

"Dude first time is always the hardest. You'll get used to it. I know it feels like your heart is being ripped open right now. Naina is a mature girl, she'll handle everything." I turned towards him after letting out a shaky breath. My eyes once again brimmed with tears. I cleared my throat and asked him.

"How do you guys do this every time? Doesn't it hurt?" Arjun leaned in to answer the question. " I am not going to sugar coat it for you, it will be hard but that's only until both of you find a comfortable spot. Just remember that once you return it'll be the best feeling ever. It almost feels like you're at the beginning of your relationship once again."

I sighed and nodded my head. "Don't worry about her safety. Our team will look after their safety. Plus Annie is there with her too." Neel added with a smile. I felt so much better but it's still not easy. Before Naina and Veer I never had anything to leave behind. My parents are no more and relatives ha what a joke? They don't even care about my existence. That's a story for another day.

"Okay, umm thank you!" Arjun and Neel glanced at each other and shoved me together. "Seriously when will you understand you don't need to thank us." My lips tugged into a small smile. "So you are very serious about her then?" I gave Neel a "Are you serious look?" Neel raised his arms shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay cool I was just making sure!" Arjun scoffed at him. "Shut up asshole! Didn't you see how they were at the airport?" He flicked his head. "Hey like I mentioned before I'm didn't want either of them to get hurt so I'm just making sure everything is good!" I rolled my eyes at him but mentally appreciated his concern.

"So I have another question." I raised my brows at Arjun. " What?" He hesitated before asking and I'm guessing it's about the whole marriage thing. "Did you talk to Naina about you guys getting married?" Bingo I was right.

I nodded my head, "Yeah I did and I think she's confused. Who wouldn't be right? We didn't even confess our love for each other. I don't know her reaction was mixed. Most importantly before we move forward she wants to talk to her parents about us."

I ranted out and my friends nodded their heads. "Meeting the parents is never going to be easy but I wish you all the luck!" Neel chimed sarcastically . Arjun and I scoffed. I don't blame him after all the things he had to endure because of Indu's parents. I can only imagine how horrified they'll be once they get to know that Indu and Neel are already married.

"Stop scaring him! Everyone's experience might not be the same. Viraj don't listen to him and moreover Neel didn't say that they were warming up to the idea of having you as their son-in-law." Neel rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I'm sorry! It's just that even now her dad makes quick little digs at me. It pisses me off but I think we're kind of getting along but still have a long way to go. Plus you have an advantage her parents aren't conservative right? Since you're a north Indian and she's a South Indian?"

Shit! I didn't even think about that. I never even asked Naina about what her parents would think. God I do hope they don't have a problem with that. Else it'll turn out into a situation similar to Neel and Indu. They were still waiting for my reply. "Uhh I don't know. I never asked her." I replied casually shrugging my shoulders.

"Well then ask her! So that you can be prepared!" Neel literally screeched Arjun laughed and I rolled my eyes at him. "Okay calm your nuts! I'll ask her. I mean how bad can it be? It's not like we have to cross the border and ambush the enemy I mean even that's not hard with proper planning." Neel brusted out laughing. I rolled my eyes.

"You'll know soon enough that crossing the LOC and infiltrating the enemy is much more simpler that talking to the farther of the woman you love." I hate him right now for planting the seed of doubt in my head. I was so confident but no he had to come and mess it up. "Fine I'll think about it later." Neel whispered a good luck while Arjun laughed at us.

He didn't have to face any parents but boy did he get warnings after warnings  from the nuns who raised Annie. It was funny to watch him all nervous and sweating out. "Yes good luck! These things are never easy." Arjun flinched, looks like he recalled some of his horror times.

I glanced put of the window once again. The sight was beautiful. The clouds appeared like cotton candy and the shade of blue was such a calming sight. I closed my eyes and recalled the last conversation that I had with Veer last night.

|FLASHBACK|

Naina was sleeping soundly on the couch with her head against my shoulder. She didn't care if the position was uncomfortable and that made my heart flutter. God I feel like a teenager who is spending the night with his crush. I stared at her face for sometime and tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. She looked peaceful unlike yesterday when her face had so much anguish in it.

I decided to close my eyes and bask in the moment. I pecked her forehead and she sighed contently making me smile at her. I had everything that I had wished for right here with me. Veer was safe and tucked away in one of the bedrooms and Naina was right beside me what more could I wish for. I wish my mom and dad were here they would have been so proud of me to have chosen Naina as my life partner.

I was about to fall into deep slumber when I heard a crying noise coming from the guest bedroom. I carefully untangled myself from Naina grip and tucked the blanket around her. Veer was turning his head left and right. He seemed really restless and crying in his sleep. I sprinted towards the bed and sat next to him. I shook his arms trying to wake him up.

"Veer wake up, it's just a bad dream! You're a strong boy come on!" Finally after about five minutes of whining and shaking his head no he finally opened his eyes. His face gleamed under the moonlight making him appear more vulnerable. All I wanted to do was hold him in my arms so tight that no one would never harm him. I brushed his hair trying to calm him down.

He threw his arms around my shoulders and tucked his face under my chin. "Vee scawy man get me! You no go please!" I sighed and rubbed his back trying to get his breathing back to normal. He was shaking and sobbing. What did those bastards do to my strong boy? I am going to torture them and tear their limbs one by one when I get my hands on them.

"Veer I promise you no one will ever hurt you again! If they do then they have to face me. You are my strong boy aren't you? Will you do me a favor?" Veer nodded his head slowly against my neck. I pulled him awau from my neck and made placed him on my lap. He leaned his head against my chest. I rubbed his arms in a soothing manner.

" Do you remember how those bad men took you away? Can you try to remember how they looked?" Veer glanced up at me and nodded his head slowly. I smiled at him, "Can share with me? If you do I am going to catch them and we will punish him for hurting my Veer." Veer's eyes gleamed with happiness. "Rewally ?" I brushed his hair nodding my head. Veer crawled out of my lap and craned his neck trying to look at me.

"Okay I tell!" I gave him an encouraging smile. "Vee there were three men! Big men!" He stretched his arms trying to enact the word big. "I was plawing hide and seek with Meera but then shuddenly one biwg man caught hold of me and ran away with me. I trwy too run Vee but they very stwong. One man cover my mouth and take me to a van. In the van they gave me something that poke me." Oh right that must have been the tranquilizer. Bastards have no sort of empathy.

"Then everything black Vee! I miss you and Nea." Veer completed narrating his story and puffed his cheeks. I smiled at him and thanked the lord for keeping him safe. I picked him up in my arms and he placed his head on my shoulder. I leaned against the headboard and rubbed his back trying to console him. He had endured so much more than most adults have.

"Veer you are a strong boy. I will catch those bad men and teach them a lesson for hurting you. Don't you worry." I was waiting for his reply but all I heard was light snores. Poor boy had fallen asleep. He must have been exhausted. I vow to myself that I am going to capture Aman and Amar again and that third bastard. He seems to know a lot about my personal life.

I still need to find out who my father was. Sameer is still trying to find the third owner. With all these thoughts looming in my head I fell asleep with Veer in my arms. Somewhere in between the night Naina too had joined us and the rest of the night was perfect. I was going to miss the both of them so much.

|FLASHBACK ENDS|

Some one shook me vigorously disturbing my slumber. " Wake up sleeping beauty. Your castle has arrived!" Neel screeched in a high pitch voice and Arjun was laughing his ass off. I groaned and flashed him my middle finger. Asshole spoiled my beautiful dream. Well that is the end of dream world and now here begins the reality.

We unloaded our bags from the top compartment and exited the flight. Not before getting a wink and a call me sign from the air hostess. I glared at them and walked away. Seriously don't they have a life??! We collected our bags from the Kashmir airport and found a jeep waiting for us.

We were quite the whole was back to the posting area. The valleys looked so beautiful. The hill tops surrounded by the clouds, the cool air hitting our faces and of course the permanent mist that surrounds this area. It was a beautiful sight indeed. I do miss Naina and Veer but being back here reminded me why I joined the army in the first place.

We took turns to drive the jeep. By the time we reached the camp it was 6pm and dark. We unpacked our bags in the tents that were assigned to us. After which we reported to Colonel Bakshi. "Welcome back my best team! There's a reason why the three of you were called this early. I know you three were assigned to a mission in Dehradun but right now the one that is here is much more important."

I wondered what it could it be. Officer Bakshi stood up from his chair and walked towards the Indian map display. He pointed at Kashmir and let out a huge sigh. "Kashmir is supposed to be the most beautiful place. It's apparently paradise on earth." The three of us let out a bitter laugh. What an irony, this is the most beautiful place but yet it is always in constant despair.

"We all know how far away that is from the truth. Can you see this place? Last week when some of the soldiers were patrolling this area they found something unusual. I for one think someone out there from the other side of the border is trying to sell powerful weapons to some mere kids and luring them in by spewing bullshit."

"You could have assigned this mission to anyone right? Why did you have to bring us back?" Arjun asked him, to be honest I was thinking the same. This was bad but we have handled a lot of situations like this and so have the others. Officer Bakshi gave us a serious look.

"I called my best men back because we need you here. This is a very important mission. Remember the terrorist that you captured?" We nodded our heads, it was not an easy job to capture that bastard. "Good! As you should, these people luring the kids is not something new but what is new is that one of the kids who was brain washed and made to join that group has captured some civilians."

Oh fuck! Why does this keep happening? Why won't they ever let others live in peace? "Let me guess he's demanding that we let his boss go in exchange for the lives those civilians right?" I asked him, because this has happened a lot of times too but I know there is something worse and I am waiting for him to tell us what that is.

"That's just one part of it. The bastard who we captured in one of the sessions blurted out that he had been planning to plant some bombs in  some schools and market areas here in Kashmir. They are going to do that with or without their boss." This is definitely worse way worse. "What!!?!?" Arjun and Neel screeched together. I would have but I am just better at marinating my demeanor.

"How are you so cool about this? From where did this mere boy get intel to do this? When did this happen?" I stood there with my blank face as my brain was already analyzing the situation and trying to hatch up a full proof plan. "37 hours, I immediately asked for you three the minute I realized there is no one better than you three to handle the situation. Viraj what do you think is the best course of action?"

"First things first, does this bastard know that he blurted out about the bomb blasts to us?" Officer Bakshi smirked and shook his head no. " Not at all, in fact he was so out of it when he informed us about it." I nodded my head with a satisfied expression. "That gives us a huge advantage. I want to know who this boy is. What is his story? Do you have any information on that Sir?"

Officer Bakshi gave me a satisfied look and nodded his head. As I have mentioned previously he is my inspiration and before he stopped taking up missions he was one of the most ruthless soldiers. So to be called by him personally and to be asked ti take up this mission was a huge honor. He shuffled through some papers that were on his desk and pulled out one sheet before passing it to me. He sat down by his desk and waited for our response.

I scanned at the piece of paper. His name was Javed, turned 18 a few months ago and he has been arrested several times for selling arms illegally since the age of 14. Neel and Arjun let out a shocked breath. What the fuck? He was barely 14 when he started doing these horrible things

"What in the world? How is this even happening? At the age when he's supposed to play outside with his friends or maybe play a video game instead he is dealing with arms." Arjun shrieked near my ears. This is not new but we have never come across anyone who was this young and has such authority and influence over a freaking terrorist group for god sake. Many of them start of young but gain power only when they get a bit older.

"Shocking I know. As of for the latest information he contacted us last night and wants us to hand over his boss Bassim as soon as possible maximum 10 hours at the most or else you know the rest fill up the blanks. He might be just an eighteen year old but remember he has an intellect that is way bigger than his age. I want you three to select a few more soldiers into your team and do that is required to do."

We saluted him and screamed out a loud " YES SIR!" He stood up and saluted back. "Now get to work Siddharth will join you boys in a few with all the information that is required. I would recommend a team of 7. The fewer members the better you can coordinate. You will report to me about each and everything. You will be operating from the third control room of this camp. Viraj don't let your anger get the best of you. Please cooperate and follow all the protocols. Am I clear?"

We shouted another course of "Yes Sir's" and scrambled out of his office. I had already sent out a word asking for Siddharth to report to me immediately. I immediately went to the control room with Arjun and Neel following me. The three of us got to work. I was checking the GPS trying to pin down the exact location of all the schools and market places. I'll be damned if I ever let any of the kids get injured.

"Sir Siddharth Mehta reporting to duty!" Siddharth one of my juniors entered the room. I saluted back, so did Neel and Arjun who were busy trying to collect as much as information they about the locations where Javed was currently present.

"So Siddharth I want you to inform Akhil, Veena and Sahil to report to me right now. We are going to do this within two hours I want all of them here right now!" I commanded him and he saluted once again sprinting off to bring the others.

It might look like we just got here but things had to be done as soon as possible. There are so many lives at stake and we will capture this asshole Javed as soon and that is a promise. Something still doesn't merge up. I feel like this is still a huge distraction. "Arjun I want you to find out how this Bassim is related to the evil twins. I'm willing to bet everything that they are. I just want to know how. Right now?"

Arjun nodded his head and sat in front of the computer and started scanning through the records. Everyone else reported and I assigned each other with their respective jobs and excused myself for a minute. I fished out my phone from my pocket and tried to find signal. Fortunately luck was on my side.

I called Naina quickly before all the bars would go away. Hopefully she picks the call because I had to call her with another SIM. I checked the time and was shocked to see that it's already 8pm. A few more hours of preparation and we'll be going on this mission.

I was really restless and the only thing that will make me feel better is by hearing her voice. I tapped my feet continuously and stared at the foggy night sky waiting for Naina to pick the call. She did not pick the call. I called her once again waiting to hear her sweet voice.

Finally after four long rings she answered the call. " Hello! May I know who's speaking?" I laughed lightly but my heart tugged at her hoarse voice. It sounded like she had been crying. "Hey Naina it's Viraj. How are you?" Naina gasped into the phone and let out a small cry breaking my heart a little.

"Hi Viraj! Did you reach safely? Is everything okay? Did you eat something? Is it cold there?" She bombarded me with a bunch of questions. "Woah calm down Naina! Eveyrying is going good! Don't worry so much! I did eat and yes it is cold here. Such a weird mix of questions!!" I exclaimed with a laugh and finally she laughed too.

It warmed my heart to hear her laugh. Finally something good that brightens up my day. "Okay Naina I hate to cut this short but I need to go right now. Duty calls I hope you understand. Please eat on time and take care of yourself. Say hi to Veer for me!"

"Oh well okay! You take care too! Please be safe!" Not once did she complain that this was a short phone call. "Of course!" I assured and cut the call with one last bye. I pulled out he locket that she had gifted me for my birthday and stared at the picture for a while. With a heavy heart I tucked it back in my pocket and walked back to the control room. In just a few hours a lot of things are going to be blown up. Time to catch this brat.

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Ta-da I'm back! This is an emotional chapter. I loved the moment between Veer and Viraj! They're so cute together😭.

My heart goes out to the families who have to be away from these brave hearts. The amount of sacrifices they have to do is unbelievable.

Hope you liked this chapter! If you did please do vote and comment. I would love to know what you think!

P.S. Everything that I described about the army is fictional and a fragment of my imagination.

The post below! I could not have described it better.