ஒன்றாய் காணும் வானம்
எங்கும் ரெண்டாய் மாற
நியாயம் இல்லை

A heaven never felt before in Earth, that was what both of them felt within each other's embrace. The best sleep of their life.

There was no better a word to describe their present feelings.

He was hers, and she was his, they were man and woman, completely.

But a phone call disturbed their sleep, his landline was ringing repeatedly.

He grumpily opened his eyes, and saw the time was 30 minutes past 6 am.

What could make anyone call him repeatedly on Sunday morning?

For sure, nothing good. He was dreading all of a sudden.

What went wrong? Gosh, he just hoped nothing major or terrible happened.

Keeping his fingers crossed, he picked the call.

Prabh: kathir, get ready. POK camp la oru issue iruku. An attack is being planned, ipo dan namba team decode pananga.

None is picking the god damn phone in the camp.

Rush...

And he kept the phone.

Kathir sat on the sofa broken, POK camp. Kanna...

Crap, and he rushed to get ready.

Mullai, had woken up and had draped herself with the satin sheet.

Mul: enna aachu kathir?

Kat: kanna...

Mul: ayoooo, kanna ku enna da?

Kat: avan irukura camp la edo attack plan panirukangalam...I have to go....anga yaarum phone edukalayam.....i have to rush mulla....

And he was packing his military bag ready, checking the bullets in his personal gun.

Mul: kathir, paathu bathrama iru....kanna ku onnum agadhu...

Kat: hmmm...I hope so....

She changed into her clothes by then and was all ready to send him off to a warzone.

She knew how the next few days are going to be, she knew what she signed for when she became his.

All she could do was pray, nothing happens n there are no major causalities for the Indian army. She really hoped that.

The words about an anticipated attack grew as a fire, she kept her mouth shut, until it was passed through informers.

Things were getting worst.

All the communication with the POK camp had been stopped, no messages were being passed. Even kathir and the support team was unreachable.

Though she kept her mind stable during the work time, she couldn't stop herself from reaching out to Prabha sir at night. The lover or partner in her couldn't be kept sane.

But, there was no big hope.

The attack was still anticipated, there has been no movements later, but the communication was completely jammed.

She really even wanted to go to the POK camp, and cover everything. If she didn't get a reply by tomorrow evening, she is starting with Madhan.

Some perks of being an IJ, Investigative Journalist.

The next crucial 24 hours brought the bad news, the communication though was initialized the information was anything but pleasant.

There was an attack, and apparently the attackers were in the victory's way.

Mad: Mullai, are you sure ? you wanna go there and cover.

Mul: yes, a bloody fucking yes.

Mad: anga nelama safe illa mulla.

Mul: you think I don't know that. Idha enaku cover pananum....

Also, I wanna know about kathir and kanna.

Unnayum naan kooda vara expect panradhu is my selfishness...don't worry, I will manage alone.

Mad: manangati, mooditu vaa...I will take you...

There was constant rings in her phone.

Mad: yaaru adhu phone la, cut panita iruka...eduthu attend dan panen..

Mul: abhi da....naan attend pani enna da soluven...

Mad: aduku nu ipdi dhan phone attend panama irupiya, ava innum bayapuduva...you know how our media is manipulating stuffs la..Nee pesuna avaluku konjam arudhala irukum...

Mul: aana naan ava voice aa keta arudhal aa pesa mudiyum nu thonala madhan....

She cried.

Madhan hated to see his bestie in this state, this was the first time she was like this, for sure this was the first time the news they are covering was emotionally attached to her, right into her life.

He himself didn't know how to console her, he didn't want to take her there, lest if there was anything worst, he wouldn't be able to see her that way.

Gosh, what was he to do?

His editor, had given a thumb up for invading into the warzone. If the journalist didn't care about her safety, they wouldn't have an issue with such an exclusive news. Neither could he forbade her professionally or personally.

Keeping her phone in her pocket, Mullai asked him to follow her. He followed hoping only for the best. The path was too steep and hard to reach, once they reached the supposed POK camp, it looked catastrophic.

A clear indication of why the communication was futile, the place looked completely destroyed. But not far away, they heard sounds of explosives and gun.

Though his mind urged him to follow the sound, the friend in him didn't have it in him to take her there.

Mul: madhan, vaa polam..

Mad: venam mulla...

Mul: seri naan thaniya ve cover panikuren.

Having no other means or go, he simply followed her. What more could he do?

They took their binoculars and focused on the terrain

It looked like stuffs were settling down?

But which side won?

None knew, they were all disguised.

He got into job, took footages of the ongoing clash, for sure they are in for some exclusives.

None knew what was happening exactly, then there was sudden pause.

What happened? They waited.

Then they saw the hoots, hugs and the tri-colour flag being hoisted, so victory was in their side.

They sent out a silent prayer.

But it was short lived, there was another gun shot. What had happened?

They all rushed to someone.

The party and happiness stopped. They saw people rushing to someone and the military ambulance being started. Everything was haywire.

They saw the Prisoners of Wars being taken up in another jeep, there were splits in the team.

What were they doing now? It was a wrenching sight, the rest team picked up the martyr's body and were clearing the place.

So there had been casualties

Neither could he or he guessed Mullai could guess who were whom?

All they could do was hope to see the known people alive.

Mullai: madhan, nee poi footage aa kudu. I will go to Military hospital.

Mad: hey edhuku military hospital, ipdi abasagunama pesadha...kathir kanna ku edum ayirikadhu...

Mul: madhan......

Naanum adhan hope panren...

But there has been casualties, Kathir wouldn't be in camp, avan hospital dan povan, I know him.

Adhan solren, I will go to hospital, nee footage aa process panu nu...

Madhan could understand the truth in her words, kathir was a compassionate captain, there is no way he would leave the injured men in team and reach his base camp and rejoice the victory.

Mad: seri, just give a closure line in this background.

Mul: ennala mudiyu nu thonala...

Mad: you can, go for it.

Mul: Taking some deep breath, she started "It's again a feather in cap moment for us proud Indians, from the terrains of victory, with our proud Indian flag flying high in my background, this is Mullai murugan signing off with cameraman Madhan".

Mad: Kathir and kanna are going to be proud of you, he patted her cheeks and started their vehicle and dropped Mullai in army hospital and left to process the footage. Theirs was going to be an exclusive.

While taking every step into the army hospital premise and showing her ID card, her heart was thudding loud. Nothing bad or worse should have happened.

She chanted.

She knew she was being selfish by praying her bestie and her partner should be fine, but she couldn't be selfless.

There she could see many a men stand outside the emergency department.

She was keeping her fingers crossed while stepping into the place.

She couldn't find the strength in her to enquire if there was any patient name Kanna or Kathir. What if they say a no?

What if she will have to check their name in even worse register.

Mul: mulla no...veena thappa yosikadha...no...no...

While she stepped closer, she could hear Captain kathir and bullet being used in hushed words in the background.

Two more steps, and she let out a gush of air. She smiled finally.

There was Kathir standing in blood and flesh before her, but his stance wasn't good. What happened?

Gosh, how many men did he loose?

This was the first time this was affecting her so much.

She could date back to some 8 months back, how she had met kathir while enquiring and questioning him about two martyrs', there had been no casualties later. This was the first.

Composing herself, she walked towards him and kept her hands on his shoulders.

Mul: Kathir..

She called him out slowly but was shocked to see his state. There were bruises on his face, he was bleeding from a cut on his forehead, why wasn't he tended, she wondered?

But, before she could question, she was hugged tight by him and he teared up.

The whole team was shocked and surprised to see their captain in tears. He was not only in tears, but he was actually wailing.

Mul: kathir, enna aachu?

She saw Singh sir coming, and she tried sushing him.

Mul: kathir, singh sir vararu...

But neither did that bring him out of his state.

What happened, did something miserable happen to Kanna?

Singh: Captain kathir, congratulations on our victory. He was not even in a state to acknowledge it.

That's when the doctor came out.

Doc: don't worry, both your soldiers are fine. They are away from danger, everything is only superficial. You could meet them if you want, we are shifting them to wards.

And kathir sat with a thud and burst out in tears of happiness.

That's when Mullai saw kanna being rolled out in a stretcher. No wonder, he was broken.

Seeing Kathir's state Singh sir enquired the other men.

Singh: Only martyr's were informed first right, so how come we have two injured soldiers.

Another major briefed, how once they were in the cheer up mode, one of the allegedly dead terrorist had aimed it at Kathir, but Injured men had put him into the line of attack, thus getting injured.

Mullai felt bad hearing this, she knew kathir would have never been able to forgive himself had anything at all happened to kanna, but now knowing it was for saving kathir, he would have never been able to forgive himself.

Mul: kathir, azhuvadha...please....

Kat: kanna mullla....he weeped more.

Mul: he is fine...nee dhan doctor sonadha ketala...

Kat: ennaku aim panadhu, loosu madiri vandu munnala vizhundan di avan....muttal...

She rebuked his act.

Mul: nee paniruka maatiya...kanna edathula yaara irundalum neeyum panirupa kathir. Don't blame yourself for his state. Please da...

Kat: naan abhi kita enna soluven mulla...

Mul: kathir, veena ededo yosikadha, andnobody is going to blame you. Also, kanna is fine.

Many soldiers were from Kanna's batch and they knew how kanna was romantically involved with the Captain's sister in law.

So, they just assumed the rest and frankly, they knew they didn't have the rights to question their senior officer regarding his emotional burst out.

Singh sir though found it weird, felt it bad to enquire his captain about anything in his present state of mind, may be a soldier getting injured in the line of saving him had caused trauma for the young man.

But, he was needed to complete the paper works and give a brief outline and manage the media. He had leaded the support team, and it was his work to do with the BSF major

Singh: captain kathir, now that the subedar is fine, I want you to complete the rest formalities in the base camp.

Kathir was in a turmoil, how could he leave kanna and go, but Mullai ushered him to do his duty.

Mul: naan inga iruken....kanna kan muzhichadum unna koopidren...nee poi adukula formalities aa mudi.

Poo kathir.

Kathir nodded his head and left hoping to come back before his brother gains consciousness.

Thankfully, Kanna was in ward, and she could wait outside. Also, she knew the doctor attending kanna was the same one who tendered kathir last time and bandaged him this time as well.

So, when kathir requested for permission for her to stay, the doctor didn't find any major reason to avoid it.

After couple of hours, all the soldiers were in the Observation unit along with kanna, when the nurse mentioned subedar had opened his eyes and was being checked upon by the doctor.

She immediately called kathir, but even before his pager was connected, she saw him rushing towards the place. He was followed by Singh sir and Prabha sir. She could very well remember the calm soldier he was when he was injured, but now the elder brother in him was not letting him be in peace.

She smiled and shook her head. She suddenly missed Vetri and Aisha all of a sudden. But she wiped her tears, knowing that would be a dream for her.

Kat: mulla, avan...

Mul: kan muzhichitan, doctor check panitu irukanga.

Kathir let out some deep breaths, he thanked all the supreme power, even if he was an atheist. She picked her phone and called abhi, told her kanna is all safe. She dint want to fear her out with injury, she knew how did she feel when kathir was in the very same position.

Once the doctor left, the whole battalion saw kathir rush to kanna's bedside and press a kiss on his forehead and the tears that rolled his eyes.

Kan in a feeble voice: enaku edum illa annae...

Kathir burst out in tears with that single word, annae.

Kat: apdiye potaen na paathuka, periya ivana da nee...

Loosu madiri vandu bullet munna vizhara.

Unaku edachum ayirunda...

Kennae...Kirukku...

Unnaya apdiye...enaku vara athrathuku ongi rendu appu appalam nu iruku....

He started yelling out loud, going all hysterical.

Kan: mulla, dhayavu senju kootitu poyen...alapara thangala..

She giggled, heartily.

Mul: pottaen na paathuka...

Kan: seriyana kolagara kudumbama la ya iruku...maathi maathi ipdi odambu seri illatha pullaya potaena na nu meratriga.

Idhelam seri illa.

Even she couldn't stop those tears from falling out, his casual talk with her, gosh she missed it so much in the past 4 months. She patted him and hugged him tight sideways.

Mul: I missed you da loosu...

Kan: ayyayyoooo....paara..

He joked. But seeing kathir still being in hysterical mood, he called out slowly.

Kan: dei anna, enaku edhum illa...naan nala than iruken...

Kat: edhu, dei anna va....pottena...

Even he laughed.

Kat: oru nimisham padhara vachuta da nee....unaku edhavadhu ayirunda naan enna da panuven...

Kan: adan onnum illaye...aprom enna...vidu...

Paaru nee ipdi Thembi Thembi azhuvaradha paathu motha team um shock la irukanga..

That's when he remembered well, he had shown his pasamalar before his whole batallion of people. He simply scratched his neck and turned towards the gaping them.

Their face was a reaction to watch.

Singh: how are you subedar kanna?

Kan: all fine sir. Thanks for asking.

Singh: seems like your captain is quite a bit attached to you.

Kathir let out a tiny embarrassed smile.

Prabha: enna kanna, anna mela irunda kovam lam poidicho...

Kanna let out a tiny smile.

Prabha: singh, ofcourse our captain is very much attached to kanna. Have you ever felt before that they are siblings?

He smiled out.

Singh: what?

Kat: he is my one and only younger brother.

Kathir claimed proudly, giving a tiny whack on his back of head. Mullai smiled thinking some things just don't change.

Sing: you never behaved so earlier. I cant even believe this. At least, when your fiancé cum cousin made an entry, you were on the verge of receiving your memo. Well, this for sure is a shocker.

Am proud of you captain for maintaining the professional façade so well.

Though the word fiancé did catch her off the guards, she giggled thinking the truth behind their professional façade.

Kat: mariyadhaya, discharge anadhum veedu vandha serara...mavane periya ivan aatam, naan camp la dan irupen nu edum solu...

Palla pethruvan paathuka...

Kan: mulla, un aaluku thambi mela romba paasam dhen...

He joked.

Mul: adhu enna en aalu, un Annan dane vera epdi irukum....

Kan: naan vandha aprom unga privacy ennathuku avaradhu...

KM: oru aaniyum aagadhu..

Kan: ohoooo...sodiya solrihalo....varen....Discharge anadhum...aduku munna poi indha azhuku sattaya mathu ne...

Kathir nodded his head and left with Mullai. His other teammates riled him up for keeping such a thing hidden.

Kanna simply smiled. Once inside their jeep, kathir hugged Mullai tight.

Kat: kanna, namala manichitan mulla...am so happy...

Mullai joined him in the hug, feeling all the more relieved and happy.

TBC....