Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional, and only for entertainment purpose. The army lifestyle and workstyle is inspired purely from all the Movies I have watched. In case, if something is absurd or stupid, I apologize in advance. In case there is anything offensive, kindly let me know and am more than willing to change it ONLY AND ONLY IF ITS OFFENSIVE. Enjoy the part.

உன்னாலே சில முறை இறக்கவும்
சில முறை பிறக்கவும் ஆனதே
அட ஆத்தோட விழுந்த இலை
அந்த ஆத்தோட போவது போல்
நெஞ்சு உன்னோடுதான் பின்னோடுதே
அட காலம் மறந்து காட்டு மரமும் பூக்கிறதே

Kathir walked her out of the army office towards the pathway leading to the entrance. A gentle breeze flowing was making the atmosphere too pleasant for them.

They both were walking enjoying the silence prevailing between them.

She must have been too lost in the moment, as she had tripped over the very same shawl she had draped around herself for them to have the picture-perfect cliché hero heroine scene, where she trips right into his arms.

Kat: hey paathu ...

Mul: am fine.....thanks...she muttered though embarrassedly.

Both started at the same time.

KM: Nee inga?

Both stared at each other again.

Kat: nee Bengal issue dane cover panitu irunda, all of a sudden inga epdi.

Shock would be an understatement.

Kat: en mulla, ipdi pendha pendha muzhikira?

Mul: naan Bengal la cover panen nu unaku epdi?

Kat: I have been following CNN for the past half-decade, seen you grow from an normal IJ to Senior Investigative Journalist.

A surprised smile for sure adorned her face.

Kat: enna shock aa pakura....

Mul: nee en work aa follow panuva nu...

Kat: nenachu paakala correct aa..

Mullai softly nodded her head.

Kathir simply gave out a smile.

A smile which had 1000 meaning behind it.

They continued walking.

Mul: nee inga epdi kathir?

He again gave out a smile.

Mul: ipdi verumana siracha enna artham? Nee Army join panadha kanna solave illaye.

Kathir smirked lightly, it kind of riled her up.

Mullai stared at him and his smirk.

Kat: yaarukum theriyadhu except Vetri.

Mullai stared at him.

Kat: sonna othuka matanga...adhan...

Mul: adukunu ....

Kathir simply shrugged.

Kat: nee solamata nu namburen.

He smiled, by then they had reached the entrance gate, where Madhan was seen waiting.

Kat: dho un friend um vandachu. Camera la eduthacha madhan.

Madhan nodded his head.

Kat: inga epo vandinga, he repeated.

Mad: Jan 7

Kat: ohhh...temporary or how is it?

Mad: illa we should be around for quite sometime I suppose.

Kat: then we ll be meeting around I suppose. 9********* is my number. Don't hesitate to call in case you need any help.

Mad: sure.

Kat: enga stay panringa?

Madhan was a sensible guy, he knew though the questions were thrown in his directions, the questions were to know about the girl standing in his right, Mullai.

Mad: naan inga oru cottage la stay panren

Kat: cottage is not that safe for women here.

Madhan let out a smile.

Mullai was surprised seeing the concern and worry dripping out of his tone.

A clear indication of the affection and may be love he still held for her.

Mad: Mullai is staying as a PG with the local family.

Kat: that's not safe here either.

That kind of irriated both of them.

Mad: enna kathir enna sonalum idaye solringa.

Kathir could very well sense the irritation in their voices, but he maintained his cool.

Army for sure had added on patience to his crown.

Kat: I know my concern will always be mistaken. I just stated the facts, inga almost 2 years aa iruken, but then am no one to comment.

Thanks Mullai, for saving me from my very first memo.

Vetri aa ketadha sollu.

Mudinja kanna kita solama iru...

Be safe and take care.

And he left without turning back.

Mad: 2 years aa ingaya? Hey Mullai, anaiku Vetri anna wedding apo kathir US lendu vandada dane kanna sonan.

Mullai nodded her head, but her mind confirmed it was Kathir she had seen running on that day in the terminal.

Though Investigative Journalism was her forte, as a change, her senior had bestowed her with covering the norther terrain and the issues over the LOC and other places.

That's how she had landed here, but never in her dreams she thought of meeting Kathir.

Also, she noticed, how Kathir asked not to mention only to his younger brother, not to her brother.

It had only one meaning, Vetri knew of kathir working in army.

How she wished she was on talking terms with them, she really wanted to know more of him. He knew her about her life for the past 5 years, she was sure, heck he had been following her professionally, and she was sure her or his brother would have dropped a word or two about her.

But him,

He remained a mystery.

May be his brother knew, but she couldn't contact.

"Fuck" she cussed, and Madhan had to drag her from the camp.

Sleep had almost eluded both of them that day.

They sat reminiscing the moment they met and what they would be doing now.

Its been almost more than a decade, that they have stayed in the same vicinity.

Later, she was in Bangalore and him in Chennai, moving on to Mumbai, US and so on.

Now knowing they are just at a distance that can be covered in less than 30 minutes was kind of rekindling all their previous moments together.

But, at the end their sickening break-up popped up and brought them back to square one.

Him on to the anger phase, and her to a blank phase which changed to sadness.

Luckily for him, he didn't get any call from kanna or for that matter any family members, enquiring about his whereabouts in India and he was happy she kept up her word.

Hardly a month would have passed, and they did meet almost a handful of times, always professionally.

He didn't have her number to contact, but she had his.

She could have easily contacted him, had she wanted to maintain at the least a cordial relationship with him.

But what he didn't know was the fact that she had realized it was just his concern, and that he of all the people was never one to stop her dreams.

He was a guy who knew the value of dreams, and he wouldn't stoop low to stop her dream.

Had he stooped, he wouldn't have followed her work professionally, and that very thought made her feel sad.

For wronging him, his thoughts and his feelings.

And the guilt was keeping her away from contacting him.

Madhan did mention a time or two about meeting Kathir over a cup of coffee, but she out rightly declined it every single time and he also didn't pester may be kathir's strict professionalism and her non chalant behaviour should have been the reason, she concluded.

Of course, her life had turned too monotonous after the exile of Vetri - Aisha from her life.

Kanna had joined BSF and contact, with him was almost rare. Abhi was the only one she still had contact with, and she was busy with job hunt, aunty had almost started pestering her about getting a job.

But, life always had gifted her a bed of surprise or shock every now and then.

It was no less this time.

One random day after her usual monotonous work, she would have hardly walked down the path where she stayed, when she was caught up between an ordeal between the Indian Military and the local.

The guy she was staying with, was suspected to be a spy, and was taken into custody and was being questioned and every one in the house was also questioned.

To her very bad luck, she saw Kathir checking out every bit of the house for any electronic gadget. He turned and saw her being questioned.

Kat: Major, how is she related here?

Maj: Captain, she has been staying here as a Paying guest, moreover she is from press,

Kathir let out a deep breath and asked him to carry on the investigation.

Mullai's guilt and self-pity had returned, after all hadn't he warned about the safety when staying as a Paying guest.

She calmly answered, to each and everything, and she was let free.

But her things were to go for an examination, something that would take another 24 hours.

She was sitting with head bowed down, when she saw him approaching her.

Kat: You wanna contact Madhan?

Mullai nodded her head in a no

Kat: apdi enna oru thimiru...naan dan edachum sona madam ku pudikadhu, madhan is ur friend right?

Mul; madhan has gone to bangalore for some personal reasons.

Kat: wow, he sarcastically praised.

Mullai bowed her head again in embarrassment.

Kat: enga thanga pora?

Mul: inga than...she uttered slowly.

Kathir chuckled hearing her reply.

Kat: this house is gonna be sealed, until he is cleared of charges. So there is no way you would be allowed to stay here ].

Mul: shit man...she cussed.

Kat: You wanna contact your head? And he passed on his wireless.

Her face didn't change much even after the call.

Kat: enna aachu.

Mul: innoru arrangement paka atleast nalaiku agum, he said he would talk with someone or other and get back to me.

Kat: adu vara enna panradha udesam madam ku.

Mul: nakkal aa pesadha kadhir.

Kat: oru vikkal um illa, am just asking you as ur well wisher may be.

Mul: please don't hurt me with sarcasm.

Kat: oh madam ku hurt lan aguma.

Mul: kathir, she had raised her voice, making many a head turn in her direction, seeing the audacity, tone and the manner she was talking with a captain.

Mul: am sorry.

Kat: pack your bags.

Mul: engaiku...

Kat: innoru stay arrange agara vara, you will have to stay with our support than, I don't want you to stay under Army supervision.

Stay with me till another stay is arranged.

Seeing her nod her head in a no, he added.

"only and only if you trust me"

That line for sure did the trick.

There was never a question of trust, when it was about this guy.

The how could she doubt him now.

Mul: Army camp la epdi naan?

Kat: if you have forgotten, though I am mainly with IB, my rank is of a Captain, and I have my own house with guards.

And officialy with your written statement, you are my family.

Mullai blinked her eyes doubtfully.

Kat: you signed yourself as my cousin, with Colonel singh. I will get the permission ready. Do you trust me is the question?

Mul: I will get my bags.

And he called his senion colonel, knowing Mullai, the journalist all thanks to the memo, he just uttered " Taking care of family is as important as taking care of nation. You could make your cousin stay with you if you want"

He cut the phone with a pride and proud smile, thinking of the heights he had reached,

Kat: I have to give a written statement about you staying here, so I will just send some mail and we can start.

Mul: you are taking so much trouble.

Kat: you are anything but a trouble, anytime.

Somehow his words made her heart palpate and her body warm even in the coldest of the climate.

Seeing her cheeks blush in pink, he didn't know if the climate or was it him that made her turn so.

But, he was busy awaiting to see what awaits them

TBC...

Expecting response similar to previous posts.😉😉😉