Thirty minutes before the alarm Kunal woke up with a start and he was sweating badly. When he looked at the clock it was just 5:00 am. He knew the one who was about to be home would reach on time. He is a man of perfection and punctuality. He is the older brother of Kunal and the eldest of the cousins just like how Karan is to Dev and Disha. Kunal's brother is well respected and loved by everyone who knows him. His job is the dream he's living. He is Major Kabir Dikshit of the Indian Army. The man like any other soldier who serves the country. Kunal always looks up to his brother. He's way older than Kunal, and as he's in the army, he requires perfection and cleanliness where ever he is. Especially at home. He visited home for a few days every year and little did Kunal know that this time there was a change. Kunal thought about his brother and dragged himself out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Soon after he made breakfast and coffee for him and Kabir. "Ding Dong" the doorbell rang at sharp 6 am. Kunal ran to the door, before opening it, he took a deep breath. His hand was on the knob, then he slowly turned it, opening the door. There before him stood his brother, Major Kabir Dikshit. A happy tear rolled down Kunal's eyes. "Bhaiyya..." he embraced him right away and so did his brother in return. "Good morning bhaiyya" "Morning" "Let me take those for you", said Kunal and went for the bags. "No. I'll take it to my room", Kabir said and walked in observing the house. "Hmm...the house is clean and tidy. I assume you did it yesterday", he asked. Kunal knew his brother was smart and that nothing could be hidden from him. "Yes", he replied with his head hanging low. "From today, you know how the routines should be". "Yes Sir". "Good", said Kabir and walked to his room and shut the door from inside. Kunal waited for two seconds and exhaled a deep breath out. He wondered how Kabir had come home with many bags and a large suitcase.
A while later, Kabir walked out to the table where Kunal was. Kunal got up. "Sit", said Kabir and they were ready to eat breakfast. Kunal wanted to talk to him but he also knew that his brother never spoke while eating, so he waited until it was done. Kabir washed his plate and mug like he did and sat on the couch. Kunal watched him, this meant he was ready to have a conversation. Kunal quickly cleaned up everything and stood before him. Kabir pointed his arm to the couch opposite to his and Kunal sat down. "Have you not stayed in this house when I went back?" asked Kabir. Kunal was trembling inside "how did he find that out?" he thought. "So its a no. Where were you then with Dia?" "Can he read my mind? How does he know what happened with me when he wasn't around?", Kunal's mind was filled with questions. "Answer me!" said Kabir in a loud voice. "Yes Sir. I was not here. I was staying with Dia like I used to because she's alone". "That's enough. She's a woman and not a girl. She can look after herself and you will not leave this house without my permission. Understand?" "Yes Sir", replied Kunal. "Is her health okay?" "No, she had a seizure attack last week. Now she's staying in Arjun's house". "How's his wife?" "She's nice, a family girl and so is her family. I wanted to talk to you about them". "Go on", Kabir replied as he was ready to listen to what happened when he was away. Kunal wanted to talk about Karan, Dev and about his love for Disha which he didn't know how to let him know. He was aware that if it was revealed, anything could happen, even world war III.
"What is it?" "Bhaiyya...Kiara has an older brother Karan. You might be few years younger to him. She also has a cousin brother Dev, like how Arjun is to me and Dev's got a younger sister, the smallest of them all, her name's Disha. She met with an accident while she was a child and ever since she's unable to walk". "Accidents can happen to anyone at anytime Kunal. Once its happened you should be used to the after effect of that if there's any. Be it us or anyone else". "Yes Sir. We also have a friend called Rahul, he works at the same coffee shop where Arjun used to go". "Okay. I want to meet all of them tomorrow. Let them know", said Kabir. "I will. They're all at Dev's house. I can ask Dia to be there too". "Good. Kunal" "Bhaiyya?" "Is there something more you have to tell me? I hate incomplete talks and you know it. Spit it out". Kabir was an army Major. He could look in the eye and tell what was going on in the mind of the other. Here the relationship was even stronger as he was a father, brother and mother to his little brother. Kunal was now terrified than usual and thought it was better to tell him everything that to make his brother hear it from another person. "Bhaiyya I...I wanna tell you...an imp...impor...important th..th..thing". Kabir knew Kunal would stammer if he feared someone or something. "Seems like its something I will not want to hear but say it", ordered the Major. "Yes Sir. I lo...lo...love Di...Dis...Disha. Everyone kno...know..s that exc...exc...exc...except her. I di...di...didn't tell her th...that because sh...she lo...lo...loves Ra...Rah...Rahul". Kunal somehow said what he wanted to but didn't look at Kabir's face. "Did you fall in love with her before or after she was in a relatonship?" "Before" "Can't forget her huh. I will not stand against you for your love. We'll bring her home". "Tha...nks bhaiyya". "Welcome Kunal". Kunal looked at Kabir with a smile as the opposite of what he expected had happened. To his surprise he saw Kabir smile too after a long time.
"Now there's something you should now and I think its better not to tell the others about it. Understand?" "Yes Sir". "I will not be going back to the army". "What?!!!" Kunal was shocked to hear that from Kabir as he knew how much his brother had loved his country. "Yes Kunal. I wish I could. Like I said when accidents happen you should be used to the after effect of it". "What happened to you?" Kunal was worried. "I am partially blind in the right eye". Kabir was proud to say that. Now Kunal realized he was sitting on the left side of the couch opposite to his brother. Tears began falling down his eyes. "No...wipe those away. I'm proud as I've fought for my country all these years and you should be too". "I am and will always be proud of you Sir. You're my inspiration and the one I look up to every single second of my life". "That's my boy". "With your permission Sir, let me" said Kunal and saluted him. Kabir got up being proud of his own blood. He put down Kunal's hand and embraced him tightly. "I missed you" "I missed you too bhaiyya". They stood there for sometime as Kabir was thinking about the horrific moment that caused him to have a visual impairment and he thought he would never see his younger brother again.
