"Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
So do you "

"Wow! Very poetic. Where did you learn? In borders of Czechoslovakia? "Kriya threw the phone back to my bed and clapped at the top of my head.
This is a silly habit we are practising from childhood. Whenever any one of us want to rile the other we clap above the centre of their head.

This habit pisses me the most.

" Stop it. You should be honoured that I didn't pull my trigger at your head for annoying me"

" Oh, the little captain did that annoy you huh? You will be doomed for attacking a civilian" Kriya patted my head.

"Come on Aarav it is for a dating profile not for a school competition. Be unique and be you "

"What was that pep talk for? "

" Do you need a girlfriend or not? " Kriya asked.

"I need love not a girl to fling during these remaining twenty days"

" So what do you think I am trying to?" Kriya asked.

"I don't know, How about any matrimonial site? " I am clueless and so as desperate.

"So you wanna get married? " Kriya walked towards me with an eyebrow raised.

"No, I didn't mean marriage. I cannot marry a girl who will know nothing about me and the dangers of my job" I was interrupted.

"Woah Woah! I am going to stop you there. Save your soul talks to your future wife. Let me just create a profile and I have a life to live for" Kriya took good five minutes and did my profile and handed over me pictures of girls and taught me what those right and left swipe will do.

She is gone. She is indeed gone when I kept my phone back on the table after looking through various profiles and few swipes.

This technology is surreal. How the hell people come up with these applications?

The dinner table was filled with laughter and teasing about my childhood embarrassments. I was babbling about camp and border funny stories as I was two bottles drunk.

I remember my father dragging me upstairs and I am pretty sure I was mocking someone not sure who.

My phone quacked in my nightstand during midnight as it whelmed with notifications. Somewhere photos of my friends and message from teammate informing to meet him tomorrow. And there was finally one message from the dating app.

I am not sure about excitement, I was having one hell of a headache. Rummaging through my cupboard and chiffonier, I couldn't get hands-on my medicine. My head was experiencing throbbing pain, this is worse than the camp hangovers.

Slowly stumbling my way I walked down looking for a hot pack or any medicine that could ease the pain.

My phone beeped again with a notification.

I was about swipe when the light flashed from Kriya's room and her door creaked as she ran into my parent's room with someone on the call.

"Kriya? What happened? " I asked her as she was in a haste. I walked after her to my parents' room.

There was my father profusely sweating, breathing heavily lying holding his chest.
My mother was sitting beside trying to give him water and medicine which he was refusing to have.

"What happened? Let's take him to the hospital" I spoke as I sat near him.

"I called the ambulance, they will be here now" Kriya informed us.

"Pa, it is going to be okay. Do you hear me? Stay with me now. You will be fine. We will take you to the hospital now, they will just cure you soon. Are you hearing me? You got this. Stay with me. Ma? " I was repeating myself fear of losing him.

Slowly my father looked at me, holding my hands he whispered ' I am fine'

"You are going to be fine, I will save you" I finished as ambulance alarm sounded indicating it's proximity.

I helped my father to walk slowly and led him to an ambulance, we set to the hospital.

As soon as we entered the hospital, a stretcher was brought to carry him inside.

"Aarav, stay with mom, I will make the admission" Kriya went to the counter.

Nodding, I got hold of my mom's hand, we were informed that dad was taken to ICU as he became unconscious on our way back.

"He is going to back. Isn't he? " Her voice broke my trance.

" He will ma, he is a warrior. He will be back " I pressed her shaking hand assuring her as her tears fell on our hands. I held her close and she rested her head on my shoulder.

Kriya stood behind me holding my shoulder she hugged me by my head and pressed a kiss on my head.

Nobody closed our eyes for a moment, we stayed up all night and got anxious when a doctor came by 1:00 PM informing us saying that they are taking my father for open-heart surgery and made us signed for required forms.

Sobs and prayers were the things that came from us. The night passed as we pacified and assured each other.

We were able to relax when doctors informed us that he is out of danger and the operation was successful. He was shifted to a room and we were waiting for his conscious to return.

Kriya asked mom to sleep and she went to finish off the fees and get him medicine. As not more than one person was allowed to be with the patient. I sat outside and the head pain was back. I decided to sleep for a while to get rid of the pain.

I woke as sunlight blew straight on my face. Rubbing my eyes, I checked it was 7:00 A. M. Dad must be awake, I marched into the room.

"He is still sleeping " Mom replied.

" Ma, why don't you go home, take a nap, have breakfast and come back. He will be back by the time " I suggested.

"She won't Aarav, I have asked her many times" Kriya informed spoke in a half-sleep state.

"Isn't it against hospital rules to be more than one person in the room? " I asked.

"Yes, but it is allowed when you have a doctor friend " She tied her into a ponytail.

"Ma, coffee or tea? " She walked up to mom and took her bag and phone.

"Tea." Mom replied. She looked at me.

"Coffee for me." She walked past me.

"Fine, I will be back in twenty minutes. Don't leave the room you both " She ordered.

Chuckling, I walked close to mom.
Pulling a chair, I sat beside her.

"Just like her father," She said looking at the door. I chuckled.

"Mom" I could muster only that word, I couldn't hide my tears anymore.
I am solider, I faced many deaths on the battlefield, but this encounter terrified me. He has a history with heart problems but I never was with him during such situations it was always Kriya held him and mom. It was the first time and I am here crying.

"It's okay Aarav, he is fine another attack we have to be careful okay, that's it, he will not leave us. " Mom comforted me.

As soon as she moved to me I hugged her by the waist, hiding my face I cried.

"It's fine Aarav, he is strong, look at him breathing, he is with us, he is strong " My mother's voice trembled at the end.

"Last time wasn't this frightening, to be honest, he was awake after one hour, he never went through an operation. This time surgery is done and they said it was successful but I am scared. I tried all my best, I tried everything in power to keep him away from this. I don't know where and why I failed? Don't he want to live? I know he doesn't listen to me but I wish he did. If he will not I am going to say until he hears it. " My mom sniffled and continued.

"Something is troubling him Aarav, he wouldn't share with me. I cannot put myself in ease unless he is safe and happy. Now, he is healthy and safe. That's a relief though" My mom pulled my head upwards and wiped the tears.

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"This is love " I smiled.

I realised and felt it right with my parents. Arguments and difference in opinions were just a facade their true love was lingering in all those words they spoke against each other.

"I am back " Kriya came in.

Groaning in pain my father opened his eyes and smiled at us.