Kashmir Base - Midnight
A low hiss of pain escaped Aarohi's throat as she jolted upright in bed, clutching her leg.
The cramp had struck again-sharp, relentless, stabbing the same spot in her calf that had been bothering her since the drills began.
"Ahh... no, no, not again-please," she gasped, her teeth clenched as the pain gripped her.
Neha stirred beside her. "Aaru?"
Aarohi couldn't answer-her breath caught in her throat as the cramp tightened like a vice.
Neha sat up instantly. "Aaru, kya hua?"
"Leg... right leg... cramp," Aarohi managed to croak, eyes glossy with pain.
Neha was already out of bed, switching on the bedside lamp. Her voice turned calm and steady. "Okay. Stretch it. Don't tense up. Breathe."
She gently pushed Aarohi's toes upward, massaging her calf in slow, practiced circles. Aarohi clutched the blanket, her jaw trembling.
"It's like knives-why does it keep happening?" she whimpered.
"It's the cold, dehydration, sudden physical stress-shh, breathe. I've got you," Neha murmured, applying firmer pressure.
Ten minutes passed. The cramp dulled, the pain slowly subsided. Aarohi exhaled shakily and leaned back against the wall.
And then, suddenly, her body jolted again-a sharp, stabbing pain flaring up in the same spot, twice as intense. She yelped, tears springing to her eyes.
Neha jerked upright, abandoning any sense of calm. "Again?!"
Without wasting a second, she resumed massaging the leg, trying to ease the pain, stretching the muscle gently even as Aarohi cried out softly.
The episode dragged on. The pain would fade... only to surge back even harder.
For nearly thirty minutes, the cycle continued.
And finally-mercifully-it stopped.
Aarohi collapsed against the wall, utterly drained, eyes closed, body trembling with exhaustion.
Neha gently pulled a light blanket over her and checked her forehead. "Your body's in shock. Tomorrow morning, we're fixing this."
"I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry... I ruined your sleep..." Aarohi murmured, guilt lacing her gratitude.
Neha rolled her eyes and brushed back her hair softly. "Shut up and sleep. And drink water. Seriously."
Early Morning - 4:00 AM
The familiar bang on the door and shrill wake-up alarm shattered the fragile sleep hanging in the room.
Neha groaned, forcing herself up-tired, cranky-but managed a soft smile when she saw Aarohi sitting on the bed, hands folded in a quiet morning prayer.
Her voice, though soft, was clear:
"Karāgre vasate Lakṣhmīḥ, karamadhye Sarasvatī
Karamūle tu Govindaḥ, prabhāte kara darśanam"
(At the tips of my fingers resides Lakshmi, in the middle dwells Saraswati, and at the base sits Govinda-so I behold my hands each morning.)
She followed it with:
"Samudra vasane devi, parvata-stana-maṇḍale
Viṣhṇu-patni namastubhyam pāda-sparśam kṣhamasva me"
(O Goddess who resides in the ocean and is adorned with mountains as breasts, consort of Lord Vishnu, please forgive me for touching you with my feet.)
Neha smiled softly. Despite the pain, the sleepless night, and the exhaustion-Aarohi still hadn't let go of her quiet morning ritual.
Aarohi opened her eyes, still sleepy, still sore, and turned to Neha with a grateful, tired, guilty smile. She parted her lips to apologize again-
"Aarohi, khabardar agar kuch bola!" Neha cut her off in mock anger. "Warnaa mera bhayankar roop dekhegi."
Aarohi giggled despite herself. "Arey, I was just saying-chalo, jaldi! Line badh jaayegi!"
Neha narrowed her eyes and then cracked a smile.
Both girls grabbed their towels and rushed toward the washroom, trying to beat the early crowd and brace themselves for another freezing start to the day.
Training Ground - 5:00 AM
The ground buzzed with the same sharp discipline as always-but today, Aarohi felt it differently.
She stood at the edge of Group B's line, her right leg still tender. Every step felt like a gamble, her body uncertain, her nerves tense. The cold morning air clung to her skin, and all she could think was:
Just survive today. Don't fall again. Don't mess up.
Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be here-
"Height formation. Move."
The voice sliced through the morning haze-calm, cold, commanding.
Captain Veer Rathore had arrived.
Aarohi swallowed and quickly took her place. Neha, standing a few spots away, caught her eye and gave a protective, warning look. Aarohi gave a subtle nod back. She would be fine. Or so she hoped.
Jogging began. The first few steps were manageable.
But by the fourth, the pain returned-sharp, piercing, like a knife twisting through her calf.
Before she could stop herself, her leg gave way-and she stumbled forward.
She collided into the person in front of her.
That person tumbled. So did the next.
And in a horrifying chain reaction-an entire row collapsed like dominos.
Gasps. Groans. A few curses. Then-silence.
Even the air held its breath.
Aarohi stayed frozen on the ground, her heart pounding, her leg screaming, and her face burning with humiliation.
Then came the steady thud of boots on gravel.
Captain Veer Rathore approached, arms folded, expression unreadable-but colder than the morning air.
He stood before the mess of fallen trainees, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.
"Is this a training ground... or a circus?"
No one answered.
His gaze shifted sharply-and landed on her.
"You."
Aarohi slowly stood, pushing through the pain, spine straight, fists clenched.
"Yes, sir," she said, voice tight.
"You brought down a full row. Explain."
"I-my leg cramped-"
"Then you don't run," Veer said icily. "You report it. You observe. You don't create a pile of broken necks."
His tone sliced deeper than the injury.
"This is not a place for drama or excuses, Miss Sharma. You are here on conditional privilege. Don't test the limits."
The humiliation pooled in her throat, but she bit it down.
"Yes, sir," she replied evenly.
Veer didn't nod.
Didn't blink.
He just turned and walked away.
Neha was at her side in seconds, her face pale with concern. "Aaru, are you okay? Should I take you to the medic-?"
"No," Aarohi muttered, shaking her head. "I'm fine."
But she wasn't. Not even close.
Because something inside her burned hotter than the cold... hotter than the clot forming in her leg.
Anger.
Humiliation.
And a fierce, pulsing need to prove herself.
The rest of the drills continued in strained silence.
Aarohi ran. No more limping. No more complaints.
She jogged with her jaw clenched, fists tight, every step sending fire up her leg. Her lungs burned. Her legs begged to stop. But she didn't.
Captain Veer didn't look at her again.
Not once.
But his silence? It was deafening. It was the kind that said you've already failed.
Neha slowed down to match Aarohi's pace, whispering, "Aaru... it's okay. Ignore him. You're trying your best."
But Aarohi didn't want to ignore him.
She wanted to scream at him. Glare at him. Tell him she wasn't weak. That she wasn't a joke.
That this-this pain, this stumble, this mistake-didn't define her.
But she said none of it. She just kept running.
Because maybe the only way to silence Captain Stormface... was to finish every single damn round.
After Training - 6:30
Aarohi collapsed onto the ground, her body curled in on itself, face down, barely breathing through the pain.
Neha sat beside her silently, placing a hand gently on her back.
Aarohi gave her a small, tired smile.
Neha didn't push.
They showered, changed, and rushed to the mess.
Aarohi's mood was lighter now-Neha's presence had that effect.
They ate their breakfast and juice, talking less, thinking more.
As they exited, Neha suddenly paused.
"Aaru, tu chal. I'll be back in two minutes."
Aarohi frowned. "Kahaan jaa rahi hai? Sab theek hai?"
"Sab mast. Tu ja. Main aayi."
Aarohi nodded tiredly and limped down the corridor.
And then-bam.
Another bump.
Aarohi staggered two steps back, rubbing her forehead. "Yaar, yeh beech mein kya aa gaya-"
Her words stopped short as her eyes met Captain Veer Rathore.
She straightened instantly.
Captain Veer's eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched.
"Watch where you walk, Ms. Sharma. Or go get your eyes checked-clearly something's wrong," he snapped.
Aarohi's brows shot up. Anger flared.
"Sir, I'm fit and fine. I do watch where I walk. Maybe you should take your own advice," she snapped back.
Veer took a slow step toward her, the temperature between them dropping instantly.
"Oh, really?" he said, voice low and cutting. "Because it looked like you were too busy daydreaming to see a full-grown adult walking straight at you."
Aarohi didn't budge, though her heart thundered.
Veer's smirk returned-mocking, cold.
"Next time, keep your head up-not just for safety, but so you can see who you're crashing into. Might save you another embarrassing moment."
And he walked off.
Aarohi stood there-humiliated, frustrated, and boiling inside.
Just then, Neha returned and spotted her.
"Aaru, tu abhi tak yahin hai? Room mein nahi gayi?" she asked.
Aarohi sighed. "Lagta hai aaj ka din hi kharaab hai, yaar."
Neha blinked. "Kya bol rahi hai? Thik se bata. Chal, chalte chalte bol warna late ho jaayenge."
As they walked, Aarohi ranted-about the bump, the insults, the sarcasm.
Neha's eyes widened.
"Wait wait wait-you talked back to Captain Veer Rathore?" she gasped dramatically. "THEE Captain Rathore?"
"I didn't talk back! I just... replied."
Neha snorted. "Ukk Aaru, please. We're talking about the man who makes the walls stand straighter. He's the poster boy for military perfection. People hold their breath when he passes!"
Aarohi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Maybe they should try bumping into him and being told to get their eyes checked like they're five."
Neha laughed. "Honestly? I can't decide if I'm proud of you or worried for your future."
Aarohi flopped onto the bed. "Same."
Neha joined her, then suddenly got up. "Baith! I brought spray from the medical room. I know that leg still hurts."
"You didn't have to, yaar," Aarohi said, touched.
Neha glared playfully. "Bakwas band kar. Baith warna dekh liyo."
Aarohi pretended to shiver. "Aye aye, boss."
They both chuckled as Neha carefully sprayed the cramp-ridden area.
Then they got ready for work-one tired, one protective-and both slightly more ready for the day ahead.
Veer's Quarter - 7:00 AM
Veer busted into the room, the door hitting the wall with a dull thud. His jaw was locked tight, frustration radiating from every step.
Neil, who was in the middle of fixing his uniform, looked up with confusion etched across his face.
"Oye, kya hua? Tu aise kyun ghoos raha hai jaise border pe goliyan chal gayi ho?"
Veer exhaled sharply through his nose, replying curtly, "Ms. Aarohi Sharma-"
Neil didn't let him finish.
"OHHHHHH." Neil's eyes lit up with mischief. "Pasand aa gayi tujhe! Kal bhi kuch vibe toh thi. Hayee... mubarak ho, mubarak ho!" He dramatically joined his hands, fake crying in joy.
Veer shot him a lethal glare. Neil shut up instantly.
"Chup reh. Bakwas mat kar," Veer snapped. "Wo ladki... usko sirf bolne do. Har waqt, har jagah-bas irritate kar diya usne mujhe."
Neil raised an eyebrow. "Par tu irritate ho raha hai? Aaj tak kisi ke liye tujhe itna react karte nahi dekha."
Veer rubbed his face in frustration and muttered under his breath, "She answered me back."
Neil froze.
Mouth open. Eyes wide.
"WHATTTTTT?!" he shouted. "She answered YOU back? Veer Rathore ko?! Bhai... kya himmat hai us ladki mein! Pura scene bata, abhi ke abhi! Aadha aadha mat suna."
Veer didn't speak right away. His jaw tightened. Then finally, he said with a cold stare, "Himmat nahi thi... ladaku hai wo."
He narrated the brief yet heated corridor exchange, voice clipped and unreadable.
Neil listened with full attention, lips twitching at parts, but he wisely didn't laugh. Well-he tried.
The moment Veer finished, Neil burst into amused laughter. Veer gave him a pointed look. The laughter died a sudden death.
Neil, clearing his throat quickly, changed the subject before he was sentenced to death-by-glare.
"Accha, yeh sab chhod. Bhool ja usko. Fatafat ready ho ja. City round pe jana hai na tujhe."
Veer gave a short nod and left to get changed.
As the door closed, Neil muttered to himself with a grin, "Veer Rathore... irritated by Aarohi Sharma. Boss, situation serious hai. Ek pathar, dusri aag. Ab dekhte hain hota hai kya... baaki toh Rab hi Malik hai."
Outside Base - Later That Morning
Captain Veer Rathore departed for the scheduled city round-a routine inspection and logistics meeting with local officers. In his absence, Lt. Neil was left in charge of the base.
Cyber Wing - 8:00 AM
Aarohi walked briskly into the cyber wing, her shoulder still a little stiff, her leg wrapped under her uniform trousers. But she held her head high.
"Good morning, Sir," she greeted politely.
Lt. Aryan, seated at the main desk, looked up briefly and gave a curt nod in reply.
She moved to her usual desk when his voice stopped her. "Cadet Sharma-corner table."
She paused. "Sir?"
"You're assigned study-only work for now. No system access. Sit at the side desk."
Aarohi's gaze flicked to the far corner of the room. A small desk with no computer. No screen. Just a chair and a stack of files.
Her pride bristled for a second.
But she masked it.
"Yes, Sir," she replied quietly and walked to the corner.
A few officers looked up, exchanged glances. She ignored them.
Lt. Aryan placed a few files on her desk. "Go through all of this. Basic protocol, defense encryption levels, and network breach patterns. I want you familiar with everything by end of week."
"Yes, Sir."
She sat down, back straight, eyes calm-but inside, her chest simmered. But she didn't complain.
Because she knew this was temporary. And she had a point to prove. To everyone.
Outside the Base - Veer's City Round - Late Morning
The army jeep roared down the narrow road that led into the city, slicing through the cold morning air. Wind howled past, dust trailing behind the tires as the vehicle sped ahead. In the front seat, Captain Veer Rathore sat tall-uniform crisp, jaw set, eyes scanning the horizon with unwavering focus.
There was no unnecessary conversation. Only silence, discipline, and the steady rhythm of duty.
It had been eight months since Veer was posted in Kashmir. Two months ago, he had been promoted to Captain-after leading a high-risk operation with exceptional bravery, earning the trust of his seniors and the admiration of his unit.
As the vehicle rolled to a halt near the school crossing, the silence of the street broke into delighted chaos.
"Captain sahab aa gaye!"
"Dekho dekho, Captain sahab!"
A rare smile touched Veer's otherwise stoic face.
A group of small schoolchildren came running toward him, their laughter echoing in the cold. Their woollen caps bounced with every step, and their cheeks were red from the biting air-but their eyes sparkled.
Veer stepped down and knelt to their level, brushing aside protocol for a moment.
"Kaise ho sab? School ja rahe ho roz?" he asked, his voice warm.
"Haan sahab! Aapne bola tha na roz jaana chahiye-ab toh hum daily jaate hain!" one girl beamed.
"Par woh teacher madam bahut homework deti hain..." a boy whined, drawing giggles from the group.
Veer let out a soft laugh. "Achhe se padho. Fir jaake khelo. Par homework chhodna mat."
The children grinned and ran off, their joy spilling into the morning air.
Behind Veer, a newly posted soldier watched the scene unfold with wide eyes.
"Captain Rathore... smiles?" he whispered to the older soldier beside him.
The senior jawan smirked. "Tujhe zyada din hue nahi yahan. Dheere dheere samjhega tu..."
"Samjhun kya, sir?"
"Captain Rathore sirf uniform nahi pehente-woh ek misaal hain. Sirf 22 ke hain, aur dekh unka discipline, unki leadership... waisa toh senior officers mein bhi kam hi milta hai."
"Par itni chhoti umar mein promotion kaise...?" the young soldier asked, still in disbelief.
The senior lowered his voice, reverence coating every word.
"Kupwara operation suna hai na? Do mahine pehle, ek pura civil colony atak gayi thi crossfire mein. Us mission mein Veer sir ne apni team ke saath ghus ke sabko nikaala... bina ek bhi jaan gawaaye. Orders clear nahi the, par unhone decision liya. Risk uthaya. Aur complete kiya. High command ne khud unka naam recommend kiya."
He paused, eyes following Veer as he exchanged a respectful nod with a shopkeeper.
"Bahar se pathar hain woh-lekin dil se ekdum saaf. Apne logon ke liye khudko aakhri rakhenge. Unse behtar leader... maine nahi dekha."
The young soldier stood straighter, his posture shifting from disbelief... to deep respect.
Captain Veer Rathore turned back to the jeep, the moment with the children now behind him, the mask of command slipping back over his face like second skin.
The engine rumbled to life, and the vehicle moved forward.
But that quiet warmth he'd left behind-whether in the smiles of school kids or the awe in a young soldier's eyes-lingered long after he was gone.
The vehicle moved forward-slowly now-as they began the scheduled inspection of checkpoints spread across the city perimeter. The first stop was a narrow alley checkpoint, manned by two jawans. The moment they spotted the jeep, both stood at immediate attention, backs straight, rifles in position.
Captain Rathore stepped out without a word. His gaze swept across the setup-rifles stacked, sandbags slightly off alignment, boots muddied, one helmet resting a little too casually on a bench.
He didn't shout. He didn't need to.
"Helmet," he said, his voice low but firm.
The soldier jolted, grabbing the gear and snapping into regulation.
Captain Rathore simply gave a sharp nod, then moved on to inspect the logbook.
"Patrolling schedule?" he asked the post in-charge.
"Sir, last round was at 0400 hours. Next one scheduled in ten minutes."
He checked the entries, flipped a few pages, and returned the book without comment. But the soldier looked visibly relieved at the silent approval.
They moved to the next checkpoint. There, a young jawan-clearly new-fumbled while adjusting his rifle sling.
Captain Rathore's eyes didn't miss a beat.
"Fix your grip," he said coolly. "If your weapon slips in action, it'll be the last thing you ever drop."
The words weren't cruel. Just a cold, carved truth. The kind that stuck.
"Yes, sir!" the jawan straightened, now more alert than ever.
Captain Rathore scanned the area once more, then glanced at the officer beside him.
"Radio frequencies holding stable?"
"Yes, Captain. No unusual intercepts in the past 12 hours."
Captain Rathore nodded, his eyes briefly flicking to a nearby rooftop.
"Keep the snipers rotated every four hours. Visibility drops post noon."
"Yes, sir."
He stepped back into the jeep, gave a final sweeping glance at the street-civilians slowly opening shops, soldiers blending into the shadows-and signaled to move on.
For others, it was routine.
For Captain Rathore-it was responsibility.
Every corner secured, every pair of eyes alert, every mistake corrected.
The jeep moved ahead.
And Kashmir's cold morning once again belonged to silence, discipline, and the shadow of a Captain who missed nothing.
Base Camp - 1:00 PM
Aarohi was buried under a mountain of papers, books, and journals, her fingers turning pages... but her eyes kept flicking toward the clock.
Her stomach growled again.
Just then, the shrill ring of the telephone cut through the quiet hum of the room. The officer nearest to it picked it up, exchanged a few words, then turned toward her corner desk.
"Aarohi Sharma. Your call."
Aarohi jolted upright, surprised. Every eye in the room seemed to shift toward her. Awkwardly fumbling with her notes, she stood and made her way to the phone, trying to act casual.
It was Neha.
Calling from the medical wing.
"Lunch time. Come fast," she said.
Aarohi quickly whispered back a yes, cut the call, and returned to her desk, now even more aware of the curious looks around her. A few people smiled to themselves. Aarohi, pretending not to notice, organized her papers with newfound urgency and walked briskly toward the mess hall.
Neha was already waiting near the mess. The moment Aarohi spotted her, she sighed in relief, returning her friend's smile.
They quickly took their lunch trays and made their way to their usual corner table.
Aarohi's eyes lit up with joy as she saw her favorite-aaloo-on the plate. She looked like she might cry from happiness.
Neha chuckled. "Aaru, aaj plate bhi kha jaane ka iraada hai kya?"
Aarohi giggled and dramatically nodded. "Aaj ka din accha hai-nahi, nahi, best hai! Pehli baar mess mein aalu mil raha hai!"
Neha grinned. "Accha? Mujhe toh laga tha aaj ka din kharab hai. Kisika subah bura mood tha, yaad hai?"
Aarohi narrowed her eyes at her. "Yaad mat dilao subah ka. Mood aur bhi kharab ho jaayega."
She pointed her spoon for emphasis. "Aaj ke din mein ek hi chiz acchi hui hai-yeh aalu. Agar koi aur sabzi milti jo mujhe pasand nahi, toh mai toh depressed ho jaati!"
Neha laughed. "Pagal ladki."
Aarohi smirked. "Dost kiski hoon?"
Neha playfully hit her hand as both girls dug into their food, sharing giggles and bites.
As they ate, Aarohi's eyes scanned the mess hall almost instinctively. She didn't spot Captain Rathore. She mentally shrugged and turned her focus back to the food.
But as their laughter faded, Neha went quiet. She took a sip of water and looked down for a moment.
Aarohi noticed instantly. "Kya hua? Aalu khatam ho gaya toh duniya udaas lagne lagi?" she teased.
Neha smiled faintly but didn't laugh this time.
"Aaru... mujhe na kuch bolna hai tujhe."
Aarohi's smile faded a little. "Bol na. Soch kyun rahi itna?"
Neha let out a slow breath. "Tu mere liye bohot important hai, isiliye bol rahi hoon. Subah kuch nahi bola... kyunki tera mood already kharab tha."
She paused, gauging Aarohi's reaction.
"Subah jo bhi hua... Captain Rathore ke saath jo takraar hui... honestly, I'm stressed for you."
Aarohi quietly listened.
"Woh Captain Rathore hai, Aaru. Log yahan unhe sirf respect nahi karte-unka crew toh literally unhe worship karta hai. Woh alag hain. Main bas nahi chahti ki tu kisi situation mein pad jaaye jo tere liye kharab ho."
There was no judgment in her tone-just deep concern.
Aarohi leaned back, thoughtful, and then nodded.
"I get what you're saying, Neha. I really do."
She paused, her voice softer but firm.
"It's just... he irritates me. Mujhe gussa bhi aata hai, disliking bhi hai. But I do respect him. The position he holds, the uniform he wears-woh line main kabhi cross nahi karungi. Jab tak woh khud us line tak na le jaaye."
Neha smiled, visibly relieved.
"Bas tu theek rahe. Baaki sab sambhal lenge."
Aarohi gave a small, honest smile. Then, as usual, her sass returned in full force.
"Baki toh... woh ek rude, green-eyed, egoistic, irritating aur kya kya nahi insaan hai..."
She raised her spoon in the air, dramatic as ever.
"...but mai bhi Aarohi Sharma ho, huh."
Neha burst into laughter. "Tu kabhi nahi sudhregi!"
Aarohi winked. "Sudhar gayi toh mazza kaise aayega, Dr. Neha?"
Their laughter echoed through the mess, loud and light, pushing the weight of the morning just a little farther behind.
Neha stepped out of the mess towards the hospital area, adjusting her coat as the breeze picked up. Her lips still curved in a smile from Aarohi's antics.
And then-thud.
She walked straight into a very familiar smirk.
Lt. Neil Sharma.
"Doctor," he said smoothly, stepping back half an inch, though the grin didn't budge. "Either I'm invisible or you're just very eager to crash into me."
Neha rolled her eyes, stepping around him. "No, no. I'm just trying to diagnose if you're a chronic case of charming or a rare one-off anomaly."
"Oof," Neil clutched his chest in mock pain. "First she breaks my heart, now she's doing medical exams. You are dangerous."
"Only to people who can't mind their own business," she shot back, brushing past.
Neil followed, of course. "Well, that's unfortunate, because your business is my new favorite hobby."
She stopped, turned, and folded her arms. "Are you flirting with me, Lieutenant?"
"Trying," he said honestly, with zero shame.
Neha stared at him, momentarily thrown off by the sudden sincerity. It lingered for all of two seconds before she recovered.
"Well, I like peace and silence. So go like me from a distance."
Neil laughed. "Fine. For now. But you will warm up to me."
"I'm from Delhi. We don't warm up to distractions," she said with a smirk, and turned to walk away.
Neil watched her go, shaking his head.
"Distraction, huh?" he murmured under his breath, grinning. "Game on, Doctor."
Night time - base
The army jeep rolled back to the base camp, dust settling behind them as Captain Rathore sat rigid in the front seat. Lt. Neil glanced over, noting the tight line of Veer's jaw and the distant look in his eyes.
"City round went fine?" Lt. Neil asked, trying to break the silence.
Capt. Veer exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed ahead. "Things look fine for now. Hopefully nothing conspiring beneath it."
Lt. Neil nodded, and both went to their shared room. Veer got changed.
Veer sat beside Neil, both shoulders relaxing in the quiet moment after a handful of long days.
Neil broke the silence with a grin. "Yaar, miss those crazy nights with the gang. Feels like a lifetime ago we were all chilling by the lake, forgetting the world."
Veer's lips twitched into a rare, soft smile. "Yeah... those were simpler days. No uniforms, no orders. Just us and endless talks."
Neil nudged him playfully. "Remember how you used to challenge me to races? Thought you'd leave me in the dust."
Neil with a chuckle. "Yaar, it's been ages since we all were together. The old gang-some in Navy, some in Air Force, others posted in distant corners. Feels like the world's split us apart."
Veer nodded slowly. "Yeah... but you and I, we've been lucky. From childhood to now-always posted together. It's like fate or maybe just pure stubbornness."
Neil smirked. "Or maybe they can't handle us apart. Can't imagine base camp without the two of us causing trouble."
Veer let out a rare laugh. "Those days running around the neighborhood, dreaming about joining the forces... Who would've thought we'd make it? Different wings, different roles-but still the same fight."
Neil laughed loudly. "Yaad hai jab hum chhote the, aur tera wo army unifrom pehne ka sapna? Tujhe dekhte dekhte pata hi nhi chala kab wo mera bhi sapna ban gya aur dekh Ab toh sach ho gaya!"
Veer shook his head but couldn't hide the smile. "Who kaise bhool sakta hu , But sometimes your nonsense tests my patience."
"That's my job!" Neil grinned.
Veer finally laughed-a deep, genuine sound that echoed softly in the room.
Neil's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Aur yaad hai wo sab masti jo karte the? Woh thodi doori ki posting nahi mita sakti. Bas, agle chakkar mein fir se sab ko milenge, full-on jashn hoga."
Veer's eyes softened. "Bilkul, yaar."
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