Two

"Welcome back soldiers, well done and congratulations on your safe coming back", the soldiers heard Colonel Bakshi on reaching their base. Ekhlakh Khan was taken for the much needed talk.

The soldiers immediately took their positions, back straight, hands at the back with legs shoulder width apart, forming a grid.

"Sir, All of us here back, well and alive.", reported Karan coming foward. Colonel patted his shoulder and signalled all of them to be at ease.

"All of you have a day off. Go take rest but only after getting yourself checked at the Military Hospital.", he left after giving the needed orders.

All the soldiers moved towards the hospital.

"Aryan we need to talk.", said Karan dragging Aryan towards th hospital. He stopped listening him hiss in pain. He immediately removed Aryan's protective gear.

"I don't swing that way.", said Aryan shocked, looking around. Aryan might be a succesful and disciplined commander on field but was otherwise a very shy and calm person, who hates attention of the crowd.

"Ohh....Aryan I love you so much. Let's elope. We can convince Neha about our love. Don't worry she will understand, my dear.", replied Karan dramatically, trying to make his eyes look bigger, leaving Karan flabbergasted and speechless at the same time.

"I give up. I cant afford to be as shameless as you."

"Well it's an acquired art. Not everyone succeeds in acquiring it easily.",replied Karan flipping his imaginary hair over his shoulder resulting in their boisterous laugh, turning all the heads around.

"Sorry guys.", saying this Aryan pulled Karan to the hospital, reversing their position.

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"We need to remove the bullet immediately.", said doctor while observing his left arm which got shot God knows when during their mission.

"How come you didn't realise it till now?", asked Karan, angrily."Till we reached the base, you were helping out everyone. But what about you. Do you want to die? You could have lost your arm you fool."

"I am fine Karan. I knew the extent of my injury that's why. I know what you are worried about Karan but even you know it, I won't let anything happen to myself specially now that I have someone waiting for me at home"

"I believe you I guess but I don't want any complications with your health now that we are almost done with our work here in the army and we are about to be discharged. I already owe it to you for the last time when you saved my life.",Karans voice trailed into a whisper.

"You guess??", joked Aryan, at the same time his hold on Karan's shoulder tightened. Aryan's fame in the Army base was for one more reason - He never used anaesthesia after that incident. Karan looked towards doctor to see him putting the bullet on the surgical tray, bandaging the wound after cleaning the blood.

After this both of them left the hospital to get freshened up. They decided to celebrate their last night on the base in their favourite place, the cliff.

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After having dinner, Karan and Aryan went to the cliff, they sat at the edge with their leg hanging.

"I'll miss this place.", sighed Karan.

"Same here."

"Never thought that I will be missing the training field which used to give me nightmares in the beginning days, I will miss the canteen but the fun we had there and also Uncle Shyam who was responsible for the canteen.

"We cannot always stay at the same place due the fear of losing the familiar paces and people, due to the fear of coming out of the safe cocoon that we hav woven around ourselves. A time comes when a butterfly needs to come out of her cocoon and the bird need to leave it's nest. It's difficult to leave, to move on but as people say time ever waits for anyone or anything and we need to move, to survive. So why not collect all our memories, happy or otherwise and add it to our Book of Experience which we call life.", said Aryan in his husky voice.

Karan always knew that Aryan was a deep and mature person. He was a kind of man who even after losing his parents in an accident came back the very next day after their funeral to complete a mission, a person for whom duty lies above his feelings. From then on, Aryan knew he had to over the responsibilities of his family some day. Till now his Grandfather was holding the fort, their business empire and now he needs him. Thus, the reason he was leaving army and the same goes for him- parents and responsibilities but he also had another reason - the love of his life - Neha.

"Why are you talking in french, can't you speak in a language which I can understand ?", said Karan rolling his eyes. Aryan chuckled and opened the bottle and passed one to Karan.

They continue reminiscing of their days in the army, their first meeting as room-mates, the various pranks Karan played on everyone around and how everytime, every damn time Aryan had to save his hide. Like this they spent entire night talking, laying down near the cliff. They came back after watching sunrise. They came back to their dorm and packed the few extra things left around the room.

After everything was sorted, they went bid farewell to Colonel Bakshi. They left his cabin with warm eyes and their last Military Salute to him. He had been a father figure to them in the army, specially to Aryan after his parents death. Aftering a heartwarming farewell from their colleagues and juniors, they left for the nearest railway station in a jeep.

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"When are you reaching for my wedding?", asked Karan curiously to Aryan.

"I need to go home first, then I'll come to your place. Why are you talking as if we live in different cities, stupid?",Aryan chuckled smacking Karan's head.

"It feels thrilling to talk like that you know.", pouted Karan.

"But you need to stay at the farmhouse for the entire wedding, each and eery ritual. You are my best friend, you can't ditch me. I have already spoke to Grandma and Grandpa and they have given me permission for both of you. So you can't make stories to avoid it.",said Karan cheekily.

"Fine...",sulked Aryan making Karan burst into laughter. It's very difficult to get any reaction from Aryan. He shows his emotions only to people close to him and he was glad to be one of them. Another thing being his love for crowds, note the sarcasm. Thinking this he again broke it into laughter, as a result of which Aryan elbowed him and started moving towards their platform.

"Hey wait for me. Slow down. Hey I am also coming.", came Karan's shouts till both of them were lost in the throng of people on the station.

Soon their train came and off they went ...