Veer strolled back, first he had no clue what to talk about and how to convince Aarti... he never did any love talks with her, he watched her going towards the snow clad mountains. She looked pretty he thought "but she's become very arrogant..." he turned around and went to the nearest coffee shop...

There were very less people on the road. All he could see was mostly old people with their morning newspapers and coffee. Aarti stopped and turned around...but he wasn't there "snob" she murmured

Veer took his phone out... after talking for few minutes he was about to walk away when he thought of talking to Aarti one last time. Since he can't stay here for that long.

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"I am leaving tomorrow" he said sitting In front of her

"Good, go" she said while flipping the pages of the magazine.

"Aarti, I am serious"

"So, am I" she didn't look at him

"Aarti" he shouted

She put her finger in the ear "why do you shout? I am not deaf"

He banged his fist on her table making her look at him "Veer"

But he didn't listen this time "I explained you everything"

"So?"

"What do you mean so?" he snarled at her

"Stop behaving like a child Aarti"

"And you stop irritating me. Leave me Veer"

He walked away angrily ...

She knew Veer doesn't know how to express his feelings. Aarti smiled a little. She was happy to know that Veer loves her. She could read on his face but she really wanted him to express.

---------------------------------------------

Veer packed his bags, he had no time to waste. He knew his next mission is waiting him. He took out his phone "Sir, I will reach tomorrow if the flight's not delayed."

He had been around with several missions, but this time it was tough. He must reach on time before it gets too late.

He left a note for Aarti "I am really sorry for hurting you every time Aarti. But my mission is important. I will talk to you later"

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Few days later

The news shocked everyone...Aarti watched the news with moist eyes. She hoped Veer was not in any danger. News covered about the death of few commando officers who were leading the mission against the terrorist group in Nepal. She sat against the wall silently. She will die if something happened to him. She cursed herself for not talking to him when he came to see her.

Mumbai

There was a huge rush at the minister's office. Important meeting was arranged between the defense and the government

Mr Sabarwal the head of defense was upset over the entire government who failed to send a search team for his commandos.

"You are the Chief Minister, we are requesting to send a search team to find our commandos, but why is government not giving any response?"

"Mr Sabarwal, calm down. Its only ten commandos. Why do you panic?"

Mr Sabarwal was now getting impatient but his duty didn't allow him to argue with the chief minister "Sir, do you even know how we train our commandos. They were the best team. And Veer is one of my best commando officers who was heading this mission"

Minister Sinha looked at some files "we can send more military in the area – but still their survival is not guaranteed. I don't think those terrorists must have left any of the commandos alive."

Mr Sabarwal shook his head in despair "don't know about my other nine commandos but Veer is definitely alive"

After much discussion , it was assumed that the ten commandos must be either dead or inside the enemy's territory. It was decided to send the helicopters and military forces to check for any traces.

------------------------------------------------

Few weeks later

Little conscious of his whereabouts, he knew he was in enemies territory.

Veer opened his eyes again to find himself on the big chunk of ice, with his hands and feet tied to a strong rope. He tried to fidget many times, but couldn't release himself. He had several bruises all over his body. He recalled last time when he was saving one of his commando, he felt unconscious after that.

He felt his chest numb because of the ice. He doesn't remember since when he had been unconscious. The frowns on his forehead gathered. He flared angrily, his eyes could only gather one small light coming from a distance.

It was pitch dark. Veer didn't knew for how many days, weeks or may be months he was comatose. All his sore eyes could see a little light, his body was numb.

Soon he heard some footsteps...

"You can't run this time" he heard a voice but couldn't see anyone

"But last time he broke the iron bars, we had to call twenty people to tie him with the ropes." This was another voice.

Veer could feel the cold ice under his body. He knew he has to get out from here with all the secret information that he's found out.

"He's the biggest warrior of his country. Well we must keep him alive so that he can die everyday"

A few laughter's, then there was silence.

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Two Months Later

Aarti was sitting outside the hospital for Mr Oberoi who couldn't tolerate the death of his Son Veer. But Aarti didn't lost all hopes. She was still waiting for him. She knew that Veer would come back one day.

"Aarti, what is all this? Why have you come to Mumbai?" Kirti yelled at Aarti who never heeded to her sister... "Will you come back, or we should come to take you. Do you even know Mom is ill because of you?"

Aarti disconnected the call and covered her face with her hands. She knew she was hurting her family. But she cannot marry anyone else. She loved Veer, and she knows he can't leave her alone. And Mr Oberoi needs someone here.

"Aarti"

She stopped crying and wiped her tears "yes Doctor,"

"Mr Oberoi wants to talk to you"

She adjusted her hair and wiped her face nicely, "sure" she nodded

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Few days Later

Veer frowned angrily at his enemy sitting opposite to him. His hands tied behind the chair.

"Veer, I pity your condition, if you agree to give us our information back, we can let you go. Otherwise we have to kill you"

Veer wanted to kill them. Heatedly he tried to fidget "then kill me"

"Not so easily. You are a precious gem of your country. And government will give us anything to return you to them."

Veer knew these people will demand something big and before this happens he has to get out of this place.

"OK I will give you all the information"

"That's a like a good commando...we will release you but we have to think about the demand we must place in front your government."

"even if I give the information?" Veer glared angrily.

"not so easy Veer. You will have to wait."

Veer was sitting alone in the room, with some light coming from outside. He glanced around. He could hear chirping of birds. He tried to untie his hands from the rope. He kept on trying. Before these terrorists demand something big, he must escape.

----------------------------------

Veer watched the man doing his security outside the iron bars.

"I am thirsty" Veer raised his voice

Security man laughed and opened the Iron Gate. The moment he came near Veer, he swooped him in between his legs "open my hands, or I won't mind pressing your neck with my legs" Veer angrily knocked him.

After the man freed his hands, Veer killed him fiercely "you did very wrong, shouldn't have released me"

He smirked angrily and opened the gate.

The moment he stepped on the threshold he heard a long beep. "Siren to wake up the bastards" he wiped his face, picked up the chair and threw it on the siren.

Veer could hear footsteps, one by one he hit them badly. With continuous bashing, knocking and firing Veer finally escaped the place. He couldn't look at the light instantly, being in the dark from last months.

Very slowly he opened his eyes to look at the sky. He was thirsty, hungry from days. He walked towards a steep path. He had no clue where he was going. He thought of resting under a tree for a while.

-------------------------------------------

Aarti looked at Veer's picture.

Mr Oberoi looked at Aarti with moist eyes "Aarti, come have some lunch. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday"

Aarti wiped her tears, she walked towards Mr Oberoi "did you take your medicine?"

Mr Oberoi saw Aarti giving him medicines. He remembered the day she came to this house after Veer's death. Though he knew that Aarti loved his Son the day she came back but he never thought Aarti would stay in this house. "Aarti, Veer is no...more. Why are you spoiling your life? You must go back to your house"

Aarti didn't look at Mr Oberoi "are you saying this to Aarti or Veer's wife?"

Mr Oberoi knew Aarti was adamant. From the past three months everyone thinks Veer is no more but Aarti is the only one who believes Veer will come back.

Sadly she ate few morsels, then got up and walked towards Veer's room.

She closed the door and cried "come back Veer, please come back"

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"I told you already Kirti, I am not going back. I love Veer"

"But Veer is no more, what the hell are you doing here?" Kirti yelled at her Sister

Aarti looked at Mr Oberoi who walked to his room. Aarti glanced around the lounge room, then looked at Veer's picture on the wall "he will come back"

Kirti was furious at Aarti "oh really? When. Do you have a date?"

Sheetal watched Aarti's condition. She looked pale, week and depressed. "Aarti, your sister is right. Please let's go back"

"Sheetal please, not you at least" Aarti shook her head

"Fine Aarti, you know Mom is in hospital, she wants you to..."

"Tell her I am married" Aarti shouted

Kirti slapped her tightly on the face "you have completely lost your mind...I pity you Aarti"

Kirti and Sheetal walked away

---------------------------------------

Mr Oberoi saw Aarti sitting in the garden on the bench. She had been crying for almost three months now.

"Aarti"

Aarti turned towards Mr Oberoi

"Aarti, do you really consider me your Father. Yes or no" Mr Oberoi asked softly

"Of course I do"

"Then you must listen to your Father. And go to your Mother. She's really worried for you"

Aarti looked at him with moist eyes "but, who will look after you"

Mr Oberoi kept his hand on her head "you can visit me anytime, but now I really want you to listen to you Mother"

Aarti was silent

"You must start a new life. You have looked after me like my own Daughter. I would have happily accepted you as my Daughter-in-law but Veer is..." he paused

"I know it's not easy to forget him, but life doesn't stop Aarti. It's my wish to see you getting married"

"Do you want me to die?" Aarti sobbed

"No Aarti, why do you say that?

"I will die if I marry someone else. I have waited for him all these years. And I can wait my whole life for him. Please never say this again, otherwise I will kill myself. I cannot even think of anyone else, except my Veer."

She sadly walked in. Mr Oberoi felt bad for her.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was late night, Aarti had never seen heavy storm in Mumbai before. She walked to Mr Oberoi's room to only to check, he was sleeping peacefully. She gently closed the door and walked downstairs to the main lounge room. One by one she was closing the windows when she saw a shadow outside.

She carefully looked out the window...it was dark, she couldn't see clearly. With the thunderstorm lightening she briefly saw someone walking slowly towards the house.

She quickly opened the main door and stepped outside, as she reached near him. Her voice chocked, she struggled to find words. It was him. He was alive, she knew he was. Tears gathered around her eyes. Another instance she embraced him tightly in her arms.

"Aarti" he whispered softly.

She closed her eyes. She felt his arms tightly encircled her.

After few moments she pulled away...she gazed at him. He was tired, weak....he needed rest.

She hold his hand and walked inside...

The moment she saw him in light... she started crying. He had bruises all over. "Veer..."

She looked at his tattered uniform. His long hair, and stubble. But thank God, he was alive.

---------------------------------

She kept his clothes on the bed. He was still in the shower. She would ask him tomorrow about the whole thing, where he had been in the last three months. Deep inside her heart she felt the pain. He had suffered so much. The bruises on his face and body tell everything.

She neatly arranged food for him. She thought of telling Mr Oberoi, but he might feel sad after looking at Veer's condition.

She must wait for the morning.

She took the plate to his room and knocked the door.

He opened the door "Come Aarti"

He looks much better, she thought.

She kept the plate on the bed. He was about to eat "no..."

He frowned a little

"I will feed you"

He smiled

That made her live again. He was her life. With every morsel that she put in his mouth, she felt like heaven. She never wanted anything else in life. She knew he was hungry. She made sure she got everything healthy for him. He looked at her sore eyes... "Don't cry now, I am alive"

"I am not crying..."

"You are" he whispered

She shook her head and smiled

"That's better"

"You must rest" she said softly

She kept the plate on the side and helped him lay on the bed. She caressed his forehead and saw him sleeping peacefully...Aarti slowly pulled her hand from his grasp. She quietly closed the door behind her.

She walked downstairs and folded both her hands to pray to the Gods, for saving his life. She wiped her tears and kept the plate in the sink.

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