My sincere apology in advance if the update is not good enough or is absurd or draggy. My state of mind is not that great but penning down as a source of distraction. Kindly adjust..

Thanks for understanding.

என் வீட்டு செல்லகட்டி
என்னோட மல்லுகட்டி
என்கோட்ட தாண்டு தடி
கண்ணம்மா என் கண்ணம்மா...

Brig: send them in. Boys, Captain kathir would be your head, he is leading the IB and Cyber wing of the northern terrain.

When the whole battalion, saluted for their head, there stood a guy with wide opened eyes and mouth forgetting the military rule and protocol.

Seeing the new joiner, standing or more of gaping without the protocol salute, he stepped into the brigader shoes.

Brig: subedar Kannan, weren't you taught the manners in your training?

He didn't hear any reply.... shaking his head, he gave away the punishment

Tomorrow don't join duty without doing 100 pushups in the ground.

Still, he noticed the subedar's vision was glued onto something or someone.

Prabhakaran followed the line of vision of him and to his surprise, it was affixed on to his favorite man, Kathir, but what surprised him or rather shook him was the fact that Kathir also kept his eyes locked with Kanna.

Heck, what the hell was happening he wondered?

Was it just him letting his thoughts run wild for a mere coincidental thing? He didn't know.

But before he could ponder much, he heard a melodious familiar voice calling out for him.

"Prabhakaran sir, epdi irukinga"

"Nala iruken ma...unkita ethane mura solradhu ma...enna sir nu lan koopdadha ma...uncle ne koopdu nu"

"vidunga vidunga.....aanalum idu konjam too much. Inaiku dane discharge aninga adhukula new batch joinees aa meet pananuma"

"enna ma unnoda intelligence dept, enga military aa vida fast aa la iruku" he joked looking at kathir.

"Cha cha...chanceless...unga intelligence dept aa vida better aa irundirunda indha joinees vararthuku munadi naan vandirupene"

"Chithapa, tablets" she passed on the tablets and the water for gulping it down.

"Hi Captain, hi major"

The major nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"mulla vaa, chithi coffee ready nu sonanga"

Poorni dragged Mullai for having their coffee.

"Izhukadha di.... nee coffee kaga izhukala nu theriyudu" she teased.

Three months for sure brought both Poorni and Mullai close to each other, one their common connect with the language and their almost same age group, another thing he knew or understood was Madhan, Mullai's friend. Some how he felt something was cooking between Poorni and Madhan, though nothing was explicitly known till now.

He turned his attention to his soldiers, after all that was why he had called them.

Brig: well, Team, as I was telling earlier you would be reporting to Captain Kathir and he would be assigning tasks when you are posted in Northern terrain under the IB wing. Your accommodation is arranged in the base camp, along with other Subedars.

Similar to your BSF training days, there would be restriction over your personal gadget usage, your every call would be tracked, so would your every communication be. The routine physical exercises and missions would be as per schedule, which would be communicated by your Head, in your case Kathir.

Any change in schedules or training or your inputs for our betterment or any issues felt you could anytime contact him, in case you guys feel he isn't being considerate to your words you could contact Major Singh or Myself anytime.

Well, that's it for now.

Hopefully my instructions are clear boys.

Boys: Sir, yes sir.

Brig: Disperse.

Boys: Sir, Jai Hind Sir.

Brig: Jai Hind.

And had marched back to their vehicle, he noticed that subedars eyes lingering for a minute on kathir, when a voice called out.

"kanna"

Brigadier and Major did turn back to see how she knew the subedar.

She felt him giving a tiny smile, something totally so not from Kanna's behavior.

"dei nee enna da Kashmir la....."

Again, a tiny smile...

"dei kanna...enna da aachu" she shook him.

She saw him mildly shake his head as nothing...

"Mulla, unaku epdi ma subedar aa theriyum"

"kanna is my best friend" came her ready answer before kathir could reply. He was someone who maintained his professional and personal relationship separately, a reason why he had stayed mum after the initial shock weaned off.

"Ohh...That sums up why subedar kanna, missed the protocol I suppose. In that case, I would cancel off your tomorrow's punishment, but let this be the first and last" he warned without giving another chance.

"No sir, I would like to take the punishment, I wouldn't wanna compromise or any special treatment. Thanks", and he left to join the rest of the team, not before giving the departure salute.

"Kanna" kathir had started but he was gone.

"Oh shaa..."that's when Mullai realized reason behind kanna's aloofness. Fuck, how did she forget it.

"Crap" kathir kicked the ground

"Captain Kathir" reprimanded Singh.

Taking a couple of calm breath, he uttered "Kanna is my brother" staring at the ground.

"So, Captain, your brother has also joined your team, you guys look quite surprised and shocked, all fine?" questioned Singh

Kathir shook his head as nothing.

"Well, last time when your cousin met you, you almost got the memo and this time when your brother met you, he is getting the punishment, well runs in the family I suppose" he joked.

Kathir's stand was one of neutral, a tiny smile. Only he knew the turmoil his heart and mind were undertaking. He could understand his tiny brother, he wouldn't have expected such a betrayal from him.

This wasn't how he wanted the faceoff to be, maybe he should have at the least told kanna he thought quite regretfully.

"Kathir, ellam okey va" Prabhakaran felt and knew everything wasn't fine.

Kathir nodded in yes.

"un family ku theriyadhu la about you being in army"

He nodded. Prabhakaran knew the state of mind his favorite boy would be in. Kathir took his leave, and Mullai joined him shortly uttering how she would visit them soon. Though Prabhakaran wanted to question on mullai's answer, he let it surpass for the time being.

Somewhere in the middle of the road, she had to pull the hand break seeing his concentration on the road go bonkers.

"kathir" she yelled and saw him come back to the present.

"enna aachu kathir, vandi otra nu kooda nyabagam illama enga iruka"

"kanna" was his only reply.

"nama vena un camp ku poi avan ta pesalam" nee ipdi irunda epdi seri agum.

"Hmmm...." He was about to drive, but she reprimanded.

"nee ota venaam....i will drive"

"Jeep....nee epdi"

"Adelam I can manage...un personal jeep dane military du ilaye so no issues" and she took off his vehicle.

But to his bad luck, the whole batch had gone for a shooting mission and were to be returning back only early morning.

"paravala kathir, nalaiku pesikalam" she tried convincing him.

He didn't reply but instead nodded his head and they started back to home. The rest of the day she saw him glued to his laptop like usual for his work, but she wasn't sure about his state of mind or was he pretending.

She knew kanna was hurt, it was pretty much evident from his blank looks today, all she prayed was that he will come around soon.

Before she could call out to Kathir, there was a Skype call from his home, which he picked up quite reluctantly. He didn't know if his family knew from kanna or not.

Anticipating the worst, he picked the phone, all ready to hear the accuses for breaking their trust.

True to his belief, his annas, anni and amma were yelling at him.

But the reason was altogether different.

Apparently, kanna had called in a couple of hours earlier, informing about his joining at the norther terrain in the Kashmir camp and the family were super worried about his safety.

"ellam unnala dan da kathiru...nee matum anaiku avana support panama irunda ipdi lan nadakumma...ellam unna solanum...

Unaku enna da..Nee anga jolly aa UK la vela pakura, varushathuka oru mura vara virundali madiri, vaarathuku 3 skype call, un vaazhka settle ayidichu da...

Aana kanna, chinna payan, edo arva kolarla kooda solirupan, ellam nee okey sonadhala dan...."

He was getting riled up to some extreme level, making him hang up the phone in frustration. Lest he might tell something rude to his brother he always admired and worshiped.

"kathir, enna pazhakam idu, phone aa ipdi edum solama cut panradhu"

"aama ellam en thappu dan...ellarukum naan panradhu dan thappa theriyum" he uttered thrashing the contents on the table on to the floor frightening the shit out of her.

"ipo nee eduku ipdi kathura...." She said equally yelling.

But seeing him still in his posture, angry and irriated, she walked towards him and embraced him from the back, patting his chest, uttering " vidu kathir...kanna dane paathukalam....Avan purinjipan"

Kathir nodded his head, "hopefully"

"seri naan poi padukuren....am not feeling that well"

"saptu thoongu da"

"venaam"

"venum...enakaga....nalaiku kanna kita ellam soli sanda poda Thembu venama...va"

The dinner was more of a ritual, done more for namesake. That night, his guilt was making sleep stay away from him, twisting and tossing, until she had to hold him in place by sleeping over him, after pecking and patting him.

Fresh morning did bring about new hopes to kathir.

After dropping off Mullai to work, he reached his camp, only to know his professional interference was most needed in that hour.

It was almost 4pm, before they could come to the conclusion that the decoded message was not something of concern.

And that they could rest.

Even in the tough situation, he did not fail to notice that his brother hadn't even acknowledged his presence nor did he try to initiate any conversation.

Fuck, he missed his brother, the chirpy one who loved him to its and bits, who always loved him the most among other brothers.

Seeing him leave along with his other batch mates, he called him

"kanna, please come to my cabin"

"Yes captain" and he followed him just like any other subordinate would, pushing him more rigorously into guilt.

Once inside their cabin, he gave his salute.

"ukkaru"

"sir, no sir"

"Kanna, unna ukaru nu sonen"

" Oru captain munnadi oru subedar ukkara koodadhu sir"

"Naan un anna"

"sir, en rendu anna Chennai and kadasi anna UK la work panranga sir"

"Kanna en porumai aa sodikadha da" he yelled quite loudly banging on the table, gaining few audience, who did pass on the information to their superior.

"naan solradhu konjam kelu kanna"

"Neenga en senior sir, neenga enna sonalum keka naan kadama patruken"

"Apdiye aranjen na paathuko" he had walked towards him, but he was stopped by his seniors.

"Captain kathir...This is military base camp, not a place for your family duel. No more personal talks within the military camps. Captain please wait in my cabin" were Prabhakaran's order.

"Subedar kanna, be ready at 5 pm" he threw his order and left to join Kathir

"Kathir, what was that? Adu un thambi aa ve irukalam, but he is also ur subordinate, ipdi voice raise pani pesa this is not the place, I didn't expect this from you, let it be the first and last"

Before he could give his excuse, he also added, "Kanna, va evening naan veetuku kootitu varen around 5.30, settle it out there. You can leave Captain"

"Sir, Jai Hind sir" he was thankful of his senior officer, who did go beyond his line of duty he knew only because it is him.

He was really nervous as the clock was ticking until it was 5 and he could start. Though he wanted to wait and pick his brother, he thought its better to let Prabhakaran sir do it for him.

One thing he forgot in the mashap was Mullai, the fact that his brother was also kept in dark about his relationship apart from his profession.

At sharp 5pm, Kanna was seen waiting near the entrance, two of his batchmates had accompanied him.

Prabhakaran came in his vehicle, and asked him to hop in.

"come on, vandila erunga"

"eduku sir, enga kootitu poringa"

"enga porom nu itinerary kudutha dan thambi varuvingala"

He sensed the tone in his words, and hopped on, he did not want a memo on the very next day of his joining.

"Enna padichinga"

"Masters in Computer"

"TN lay ava?

"College Bangalore Christ college"

"How old are you?"

"25 sir"

He hmmed and kept silence, till he entered a guarded mansion.

"Inga eduku sir" he was suspicious, and doubtful, but only for a second till his brother joined them.

"sir, inga eduku sir kootitu vandinga"

"kanna, idu en quarters da"

"seri sir, enna en kootitu vandinga"

"Kadupethada kanna, please"

"naan en sir kadupethanum, naan yaru adu lan pana"

"kanna, en da ipdi pesura....konjam naan solradha kelen"

"illa avasiyam illa sir, paravala"

Prabhakaran shook his head seeing them both.

"unga family prechanai la I don't wanna interfere, naan kelambaren"

"sir, please drop me back in camp"

"kanna, camp lan venam da, ingaye iru...sir neenga kelambunga sir..thank you so much"

"Sir, I wanna go back to camp"

He was really about to break his head seeing the brother's childish fight, but he was relieved on seeing the person's entry.

"ada mulla va ma, nee eh vandu inda sandaya theethu vai ....peru ku dan army officers aana china pulla thanama sanda podaranga un cousins rendu perume...

Nee ivunga sandaya enjoy panu naan varen...

Apo naan varen kathir, see you in camp young man"

And he left having a casual chat with Madhan, who had come to drop off Mullai not seeing that Kanna was in the state of confusion, not really getting what his senior was blabbering now.

TBC....