"I'm coming." Shaurya smiled at his friend who was sitting on the seat beside his as the day of returning finally came and he was now settling his luggage. His friend poked his head out of the window and saw a beautiful lady standing there in a maron coloured dress.

"Oye yaara, bhabhi is beautiful! You didn't tell me when did this happen?" Shaurya's cheek painted with a deep blush as he lowered his eyes but then giving a smile looked at his friend.
"I didn't tell you before but now. You've to do everything in my marriage."

"Yayyy, my brother's marriage." He stood up and pulled his friend in a hug.

"Oye ajay, our marriage didn't happen yet. Now let me go. She is waiting for me." He said while glancing at his saira who was still waiting for him there. Ajay nodded and asked him to go fast.
"Tell me the name of my bhabhi!"

"Saira!" Sharuya said and moved from there.

Outside on the platform, saira saw his figure as she came few steps forward and soon wrapping her arms around his waist embraced him. Shaurya too reciprocated as he pecked on her head. "Saira?"

"Jana jaruri hain kya? Can't you take some more leaves?" Saira's gloomy voice met with his ears as somehow he felt hard to say no! He couldn't do anything as his duty was calling him but the same time saira's sadness was bothering.
"What did I tell you? I'll come back soon this time. Nothing will happen to me. Tumhara pyaar hain meri hifazat karne ke liye. Bas kuch dino ka intezaar karna padega." Saira pulled back as she tried her best to hide her tears. But only if her tears could stay hidden from him. Shaurya's thumb brushed over her cheeks as he lifted her face holding in between his palms.

"I can't see you in tears  stop crying please. Meri saira ke aakhon mein se aasu aayenge toh main bina maut mar jaunga. Ek wada karo, kuch bhi ho jaye kabhi bhi apne aasuon ko behene nahi dogi. Apne liye nahi lekin mere liye." Saira felt like crying but she took control over her emotions and nodded her head. Shaurya smilingly leaned forward and he pecked a kiss over the partition of her hair, where the colour of vermillion was still visible.

"So, Mrs. Saira Singh be ready. After I come back we will get married. Aapko le jaane hum aayenge puri tayari ke saath aur fir pure rasmon riwajo ke saath firse shadi karenge." She gave him a tearful blushy smile once again embracing him closer to herself, maybe she was feeling his warm arms for the last time?

"I want my Mr. Singh only. Please come fast as soon as possible!" Finally she spoke out something gluping over her paining throat.

"Soon!" He promised her as unwillingly though they both separated from each other. "Take care of Drishti! After me only you're there for her. She is little stubborn but loves you a lot. If she does some mistake then please forgive her thinking a child!" His eyes were moistening while thinking about his sister. It was like first time when she wasn't there to bid him bye. He was missing his little one but couldn't do anything.

Realising the moistness in his eyes saira cupped his face. She smiled at him and assured "Don't think about her. She is like my sister only. I love her like you do  Aapki aamanat humare paas ek dam salamat rahegi. Agar aap ussko apni palko par rakhte hain toh hum usse apne dil mein rakhenge." His lips curled with a smile as he nodded his head.

Their trance broke by the loud sound of train which was signally to get ready for departure.
Ajay came near the entrance and called for his friend. "Shaurya!! Come fast Bhai!!"

"Yes, coming!"

I'm going Saira__" He said before their hands separated from each other. Once he smiles and nodded at her the grip of their fingers left. A gasp left her mouth which she successfully put hidden from him.

Shaurya stood at the entrance as soon the train began leaving while waving his hand he bid her a bye with a big smile over his lips. Saira was getting emotional but she didn't let her tear fall. She waved her hand back and lastly he disappeared from her vision making her weak once again.

Taking a seat over the bench beside she let go of her tears not wanting to store them inside. Her throbbing heart again and again was indicating her about the bad feeling but only for shaurya she kept the hope in it that everything will go fine!

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"I've decided that I'll wear this dress in your wedding with this jewellery and if time permits I'll take Bhaiya for shopping and then new dresses!!" Drishti jumped out of joy as she placed her dresses and jewellery on the bed showing everything to saira. Saira giggled on her excitement while trying to calm her down.

"Drishu! There is time for thr marriage. First let your Bhaiya come first, then we'll do this okay. He already told me that he'll appeal for leaves in some days and after that it'll take one more week for acceptance. Till then leave all this and now come, have your dinner." She went near the cupboard and placed her little to be sister in law's dresses inside.

"But Bhaiya will come this month only na? And in next month the marriage programmes will be started. Wow!! I am so excited!! I've to practice all the dance moves from now, then the themes. Ufff! Lots of arrangements!" She earned a smile from saira who came near her holding her wrist asking her to get down off the bed as she was jumping there.

"Will do all these later but now finish your dinner. Fast!" They both ran downstairs as reaching there saira served food in both of their plates and they enjoyed eating it.

The telephone ring began ringing taking out the attention of both ladies. Drishti nodded her head and got up to walk there. Saira too followed her as both of them sat on the sofa and she picked up the call. After a wait of week finally her longing ears felt satisfied hearing his voice.

"Hello!? Saira? Drishti?" Shaurya called from the other side sensing silence around.

"How are you shaurya?"

"I'm fine saira! How are you both? Drishti are you troubling her?" He asked out intentionally trying to light both of their moods.

"Why I'll trouble, Di? Only you do this to her and then blame me!"

"Shaurya, she didn't trouble me ever. Our Drishti is so cute."

Shaking his head shaurya chuckled "Okay, forgive me my Mother Indias! Leave it, you both had your dinner? How're your health ?"

"We're fine and what about you? And why did you take so much time to call us?" A concerned saira asked out.

"I was out for the duty, that's why didn't get time to call you! Now again I've to go tomorrow. So I was wanting to talk to you before leaving. I'll come soon." Saira's heart beats increased as out of sudden the dreadful scene of that nightmare crossed her mind. She felt her tongue stammering and unable to form words.

"Saira, take care of yourself. I'll come back soon after this mission and this time I'll take long leaves. Don't worry, Tum chinta mat karna meri main jaisa tha waise hi wapas lautnga!" He told knowing she must had tensed up by the mention of mission and after knowing about her nightmare he just didn't want her to scare unwantedly.

"Shau__" Before she could utter anything shaurya's telephone disconnected due to some problem..

"What happened, didi? Don't be tensed, maybe connection problem. Bhaiya, will come back soon. Don't worry!" Drishti said placing her palm over saira's shoulder.

"I don't know, I'm too scared. Just hope that he comes back soon!"

"Don't worry, everything is gonna be fine." She assured her smilingly though her own heart was fearing but she knew that her brother was brave and nothing could happen to him.

......

"What happened, shaurya? Tu thik hain (Are you okay)?" Shaurya's attention diverted as he looked back at his friend. Ajay came and stood before him placing his palm over shaurya's shoulder.

"Don't know, yaar but I'm feeling uneasy  For the first time, I'm little scared. If something happens to me, if I can't come back then what will happen? Saira ka dil todne ki himmat nahi hain mujh mein (I don't have the power to break the heart of Saira)!!" His scared inner self showed the fear in his words.
"Bhai, if this is the thing then let me go and command for this mission. I'm going!"

"No!! I'll command only. I can't be a coward and fear for death. Jo hoga dekha jayega but just promise me one thing!" Shaurya's determination filled voice ranged in his friend's ears as his chest swell up with proudness.

"Tere liye jaan hazir hain. Bata kya wada chahiye (I can give my life for you, tell me)!" Shaurya smiled then taking out something from his pocket he placed it in Ajay's hand.

"I bought this from the market that day. I wanted to give it to her after coming back but if something happens to me then you please give this and tell her that I love her so much." Ajay's eyes filled with tears as he hugged his brother like friend.

"Bhai, you're just scared with no reason. You'll give this to Bhabi only. I'm warning you that if you don't come then I'll come there to take you! And about this Mangalsutra? I'm keeping this near me for sometimes but only you'll have to give this to Bhabi!" Shaurya gave him a smile which was probably for assuring his friend but inside he was somehow loosing his self confidence. He had just holding himself up for his team which had gotten ready for the mission believing on him.

"I've to go now. In the morning, I've to climb the mountain and till night I've to cover the area." Both the friends hugged each other as shaurya picked up his gun hanging a heavy back behind with a box of bullets.

"Iss baar bhi apni bahaduri se sab ko maar girana mere sher!" One last passing a smile to ajay shaurya left from there.

Ajay fisted his palm under which the mangalsutra was squeezed. His own self had been stressed by shaurya's words. He just wished that his friend come back soon in single piece.

.......

The darkness of the night covered the atmosphere as with slow movements shaurya and his team settled behind the rock. They were almost on the top of cliff and now expecting to attack on the enemy. Due to the high level height of the mountain they were having problem to breathe normally but without caring of that they ignored it. Shaurya's sharp vision caught the movement of opposite side as he moved his hand and indicated his army to be ready as at anytime anything could happen.

"Subedaar ji! Be ready! When I'll say attack then you guys have to start firing and be careful. Your legs can be slipped. It's too deep and there's no chance to find you ever. Khayi bohot geheri hain." He ordered in a regal voice.

"Ji sir! You just give the order!!" They bent down and with the help of elbows ans legs pushed their bodies little more up so that they could target their enemies easily.

Once again glancing at the opposite side shaurya closed his eyes. He took a deep breathe as saira's face came in front of his vision, promising himself that he will return back he opened his eyes as his soft eyes changed with furry and a strong voice came out ordering everyone.

"Attack!!"

Soon the voices of firing ranged around the hills. Both sides were doing a competition to each other. Everyone's efforts were to win the fight by hook or crook. There on other side shaurya was filling bullets. His eyes caught the view of opposite side as there were many soldiers had fallen on ground and only few were remain fighting. He looked at his side and was relaxed to see everyone safe.

"Subedar ji! Cover fire! We're left with only few bullets. We've to go back as soon as possible. Let's kill them and go back. We can't stay here for long." He ordered and waiting for nothing stood up firing his gun. Some of the soldiers followed his order and began attacking those who were trying to shoot shaurya. Once shaurya reached there everyone followed behind.
He jumped a little away as the roof beside burst out due to the bomb he had thrown before jumping.

Silence fell around for few minutes and just then shaurya's ears rang with the cheerful voices of his team members. Shaurya's own face litted up with a smile as he lifted his head and pushing his body up stood on his place.

"We've won sir!!" Shaurya's chest swell up as he looked at the flag now hosting on the place they just had won. He lifted his hand to salute before which something happened that diverted everyone's attention changing their expression horrified.
Shaurya's breathe hitched as he stumbled on his place and turned to see an enemy soldier was standing just before him with a rifle with which he shot him from behind on his back.

Before the soldier could fire second bullet he kicked it out and punched on his face. They both engaged in a hand to hand combat reaching almost on the edge of cliff. Shaurya's balance now was loosing as he had began loosing his senses.
The subedaar of their army ran towards his side to protect him, unfortunately he actioned lately as shaurya's foot slipped from their and to save others he pulled the enemy shoulder with him, falling from the cliff deep down at the end.

"Sir!!!"

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

"Shaurya!!!"

Saira jerked out from her palace as she stood up and directed towards the door opening it in the hope that he had returned but only in her imagination as the entrance was empty and none was there. Her heart had paced in high speed as a gut feeling was knocking inside her that something was wrong. Something had happened that should not had to! Her palm went up grabbing the locket of his.

'He is fine na! Uff! No no! I'm thinking whatever comes in my mind! He promised me that he'll come back and he won't break it. He has to come back for me, for us!' She convinced her heart somehow and again closing the door went inside in his room. She took his shirt and brought it closer to her heart curling on the bed like a ball.

"Please be fine and come back soon shaurya! Hum aapki rah dekh rahe hain!"

With this she closed her eyes and put a hope in heart that her shaurya will come back soon only if she knew what had happened with her shaurya!!

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

After few days!!

"Drishti be ready fast! We have to go and come back early!" Wearing her sandle saira came downstairs. She kept her mobile in the handbag then went to the kitchen.

"Didi! I'm ready! Let's go!" Drishti came down as she picked her bag waiting for saira to come. Just when saira stepped in hall the door bell ranged and drishti went to open it.
Her eyes stucked as she saw few men wearing the olive green coloured uniform, which was similar to the one her brother wore.

"You'll are here? Is Bhaiya with you? Where's he?" Her face held a smile as she gave them space to enter. But on other hand saira has lost the ability to walk. Her feet stuck with the floor as standing like a statue she waited for her shaurya to appear in front of her.

The group of ten-twelve officers came as two of them placed her shaurya's luggage. From behind one of the soldiers walked in front with his head down stuck. His hands engaged holding the Tri-coloured flag over which shaurya's olive green coloured cap was placed.

"Major Shaurya Singh ek mission ke tahit shahid ho gaye hain (martyr). He has fallen from a cliff that's why we didn't get his body. All his belongings and uniform were ordered to bring here." The ground under saira's feet slided as her limbs goes numb to stand anymore, however she somehow collected her self still shocked what the man before her said.

Drishti's eyes teared up suddenly as the smile she was holding till now lost far away leaving her rationally numb. She walked there as her palm stretched forward and the officer handed over her his belonging. The quiring lips curled painfully as her mouth left a painful sob. "Bhai_bhaiya__ you can't leave me! You promised me bhaiya that you'll never leave your Drishu then why are you doing this__ " Her knees collapsed on the floor as hugging the last belongings of her brother she lost her control over the unending painful sobs.

"No!! Nothing can happen to him! He is fine, I know! Go and bring him to us; he can't leave us like this!" Saira's silence finally broke as she held on drishti's shoulders swiftly hugging her to her chest.

"Drishti..... Nothing has happened to him! He can't go anywhere leaving both of us! Don't cry please! Vo bohot bahadoor hain unhe aise hi kuch nahi ho sakta." She kept repeating the line and none from the officers tried to stop her as they knew the pain of losing someone very closer to ourself. They stood there with their heads bowed down in sorrow......

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