Vikram had been awake all night, sleep was the last thing on his mind. ..on his stand sleep was for the weak. ..He was a warrior like his ancestors. ..but, obviously not in their way. ..before him , his ancestors had fought for their glory and courage. ..

   This was defenetly not the same with vikram. .He fought for  money. ..money. ..and only for money. ...

He never had a thought of doing crime at the shadow of his royal family. ..time faded away the royal history and vikram had no one to belong with. ..He blamed the society that was sophisticated with money for the  endless chasing of his identity. ..

   As days grew, he created his own way of getting money, an underworld white collard crimes. ..!

   He's a renowned lawyer and a business person at the society 's eye. .He had developed a well rapport with the high officials of defence dept. ..Sooner, he was at the good books of everyone. ...no wonder, he had hightened his qualifications as a representative of India in international criminals court too. ..ofcourse, these were the basic necessities for his shadow life. ..

        Now, the reason for his restlessness was the secret wing which was working to get the main leader of the terrorists. ..

  He couldn't pin point anyone and he was helpless to get informations as he, himself was told that it was highly a secret mission. ..

  At one point, he grew tired. ..He needed some relaxation. ..

Sleep. .? There are far better ways to relax. ...

  Unlike his men, he had developed a more nourishing addiction than drugs. ..He took pride on his body -a well tuned, lethal machine. ..

He descended down to his underground gym. ..started to workout ruthlessly. ...that was like a long overdue meal. ...

      At the end of the session, he felt energised. ..a quick glimpse of  plan sparked  in him ...He smirked satisfactorily. ...

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

    "Ranjith. .."  Shravan's  tone cracked in disbelief. ..

  Without the second thought, he tightened the grip ....

    At the very first hold itself, Ranjith understood that it's shravan. ..He didn't resist and he remained in the same position. ..

As  shravan advanced his hold, sudden sharp pain made him to groan. ...yet, he didn't attempt to free himself though he knew how to do it. ..

  " shravan. ..it's paining  man. .."

He spoke with pain. ..

Shravan's hands fetched him strong. ..His words came out like a thunderstorm. ..

" just shut up. ..don't you dare to call me by my name. .."

Ranjith still whimpered in pain. ..

" I can explain. .." He requested helplessly. ..

    " no need. .."  an arrogant commando was on. ..He let a quick check with Ranjith. ..

" man. ..I am not armed. .." Ranjith pleaded. ..He knew shravan 's way of enquiry well. ..and a coat of slight fear casted his eyes. ..

Shravan yanked Ranjith to their room. .

" call the number to whom you've spoke with. .."  He ordered. ..

" no. ..I can't. .."  Ranjith denied. ..

Shravan was shocked to observe his adament. ..

" Ranjith. ..I said to call you the number. ..or else, you know me. ...right. .."

  He shouted with much annoyance. ..

Ranjith sat relaxed. ..a undefined smile crept on his lips. ..

" shravan. ..it's not a big deal as you think. ..relax. .." 

" then, why you had a new simcard. .?you don't want to be  read by isro. ..right. ?" 

Shravan was logical. ..

Ranjith hadn't reacted and kept cool. ..

Ranjith s calm and quite approach provoked shravan. ..Ranjith had been his childhood friend and he couldn't believe what's happening right then. ..

  As a patriotic commando, shravan  neglected his own feelings ...He pointed his gun at Ranjith and unlocked the gear. ..

" now, do what I said. .."  His words were strong enough. ..

    Ranjith was taken aback, he raised his arms up and nodded with a deathly silence. ...His calm eyes alone stared at shravan. ..

For no reason, Shravan wasn't sure  ..He had pointed his gun at Ranjith which actually he didn't want to do. ..Ranjith s inbuilt mischief vanished and his silent eyes crushed him to death. ..His eyes casted a sudden tears. ..

Even then, he gestured him to call...

  Ranjith did what he said. ..

  As the ring proceeded, Shravan's  heart thumped hard. ...

  " how dare you cut my call in between. .? You. ..meow cat. ..belly monkey. ..sleepy bag. ...go to hell. ..don't call me ever. .. (after a pause ).....now, tell me why did you call. .." the voice was soft and cuddly. .

  
" err . ..I was in a hurry. .I will talk to you latter. .."

Ranjith cut the call. ..

Shravan dropped the gun and huffed with relief. ..

  He hugged Ranjith and spoke. ..

" Ranjith. ..I was worried that you were wrong. ..I am sorry man. ."

Ranjith knew shravan since he knew himself. ..

" it's okay shravan. ..may be it's right from your position. ..leave it man. .."

  Ranjith  sensed Shravan's guilt and said reassuringly. ..

   Shravan tweaked Ranjith s ears,

"It's preethi. ..right. .?what's happening. ?." 

  Preethi was Shravan's cousin. .she was a female version of shravan in short. ..Ranjith had been with shravan in their every family occasions. ..so, obsolutely they're known to each other. ..shravan wasn't aware of  their bond so far. ..

" Ahh. ..shravan. ..we are just friends. ."

" friends. .? I don't think so. ."  Shravan eyed him doubted. ..

Ranjith huffed. ...

   " you're right shravan. ..she loves me. ..she proposed me at one of your family party. .."

  " i cant believe ....what about you. .?"  Shravan's brows creased. ..

Ranjith laughed sarcastic. ..."What to say shravan. ..we're  not white collar  professionals. ..Our life is at risk in every single minute. ..I didn't want to give a false hope to her though I love her a lot. .. to be frank, I am at the borderline of the relationship. ..she kept on trying to make  me understanding how much she's in love with me. ..I. ..I. .I turned to  deaf every time even though I knew her heart well. .."

" let's see. .."   Ranjith was a bit emotional. ..He sighed and  turned to leave. ..

  " Ranjith. .." shravan called him and made him to sit beside ...

   Ranjith had been a mischievous young man throughout his life. ..He was fond of food and Shravan's friendship. .. today.. his matured thoughts made shravan to wonder. ..

  " Ranjith. ..it's not that the commandos shouldn't marry  and have their own family. ..i accept, we have committed to death at anytime. .but, it's not in our hands. ..to be honest, we should feel proud of ourselves to serve our country. ..anyways, preethi made a good choice. ..i am really happy to have you in my family. ..."

" so. ..next time. ..Make my sissy happy by accepting her love. .."

He winked at Ranjith. ...

Ranjith  's eyes  were moist. ..and he tugged him to shravan. ..

" oyye. ..naughty foodie. ..hereafter, if you eye some other girl, I would be the first one to kick you. ..remember. ..I am the proud cousin. .."

  Shravan burst into laughter. ..

" shravan. ..you have pointed your gun at me. ..don't you deserve a punishment. .?"

Ranjith smirked. ...

" are you serious. .?"  Shravan grinned. ...

" yes. .."  Ranjith was serious. ..

" go ahead then. .."  shravan jerked. ..

  " I need that cheese omelette. ..same like Suman's. .."

Ranjith's  eyes widened. .

" you. ...stupid bhukhad. ..I don't know how preethi gonna manage you. .."

Shravan  punched him playfully. ...

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

The next day morning was too early for the Maitri residents. ..

   All the gadgets had been on working mode. ...everyone returned to their corresponding tasks. ..

Suman was ready to dive into the deep ocean of Antarctica for the very first time. ..

  She came out of her room hurriedly and knocked with a sturdy frame  ..she rubbed her forehead and looked up irritated. .at next instant ..she was stupefied with what she had seen. ..

  Shravan was in his uniform looking dazzled. ...Suman blinked twice as she couldn't stop herself from gazing at him. ..

" hello. .."  Shravan's  taunted voice broke her spell. ..

" h...hai. .." she replied automated. ..

" how are you feeling now. .."

" I am at better side now. .."  suman was stuttering and shravan saw her quizzically. ..

" what's wrong. ?"  His brows went high. ..

" no. ..nothing. ..I was little nervous to see you in uniform. .."

She said calmly. ..

" Oh. .Suman. ..what's so ever. ..I am your shravan. .."

Shravan's word play tangled with his mischief. ..

" What. .?"  Suman shrunk her face. ..

  " no. ..I mean, we're friends. ..you know. .."

   He threw a seductive smile. ..

Suman glanced him steadily. .."hhan. ..friends. .."  she matched his mischief. ..

   Their conversation came to an abrupt end as they hear the call from daisy. ..

     " good morning guys. ..today is the day one and be careful on your every move. ..because, we are much valuable than we were. .."

" suman. .are you okay. ..what's your  today's plan ?"

" Daisy. ..yeah. ..good. ..I am gonna observe the physical side of Antarctic ocean as it's vital to go forward. ..I have my apparatus and I am on. .."

Daisy nodded and called shravan. ..

" shravan. ..I think you should go with her. ..get a  handheld radio with you so that we could contact you then and there. ..and suman. ..Needless to say. ..even then. ..take care buddy. .."

Daisy hugged suman. ..and wished her good luck. ..

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

   
   here's the next part. ..hope you guys are on the track. ..as we know Ranjith wasn't on wrong trial. .. (sighs. ..)

Shraman had developed feelings for each other. ...😍😍😍

   Suman was ready to dive into the ocean. ..what will happen to her. .? will they complete their mission without much ado. .?

Vikram. ..what do you think about this mysterious character. .?

   Stay tuned for the answers. ..

Have a happy read. ..and hit the star to make me smile. ..

Do vote and comment generously. ...

Cheers,

Arulpirai. ..