Friends: The Journey Of Love

(SPIN-OFF FOR SHATABDI: THE JOURNEY OF LOVE)

After serving for two years in the Indian Army, General Akhil Ram decides to go to his hometown Kalapatti near Coimbatore district in order to meet his parents and family.

While returning to the Duronto Express from Kashmir, Akhil notices two lovers besides him, who are fighting each other due to career conflicts. He smiles and recalls how he too had faced a similar situation a few years back when he was in college…

Akhil is the son of a retired brigadier Gokul Krishna Naidu. When Akhil was fourteen years old in 2008, his father was on duty in Mumbai, rescuing people from terrorists, who held them all captive. While rescuing a girl child, a terrorist attacked him and brutally finished him off, including the girl child mercilessly.

Akhil's entire family was killed in the bomb blasts in Mumbai and the only one, who escaped the blasts was Akhil and he flees to Bangalore, where the same situation has occurred. While he was left with no one supportive of him, one particular guy named Sakthi came to him, who too was a victim of 2008 Bangalore bomb blasts, that took away his entire family.

The duo introduced themselves to each other and shared their tragic pasts. After hearing Akhil's drastic past, Sakthi used to him, "Akhil. Will you come with me?"

"Where to come da?" asked Akhil.

"To the orphanage of Bangalore," said Sakthi.

"Why?" asked Akhil.

"Because our life is going to be there. Now only, we should be bold and hot-blooded, having lost our family" said Sakthi.

The duo joined in the orphanage trust of Bangalore. From there, they studied and worked hard from 10th-12th standard, shelving all the enjoyments and other plans. Later on, Akhil and Sakthi joined PSG College of Arts and Science, enrolling themselves in National Cadet Corps as well as for B.Sc.(Atomic science).

In the course of their 3 years career, Akhil also came across a girl named, Ishika. She was his childhood sweetheart and classmate in 5th standard(when he was studying in Coimbatore). Ishika comes from a simple middle-class family, where she is the celebrity and favorite of all. She aims to become a doctor and achieve big in life.

However, Akhil hates love and doesn't want to have anyone close or beloved to him. Since, as Sakthi told, the main thing that they should concentrate on is Patriotism. Other than that, the duo should never concentrate on other things.

Ishika however, is attracted a lot to Akhil and his good nature makes her fall over charms to him. But, he(Akhil) warns her to stay away from him since his and her career path is different under different circumstances.

Sakthi also warns her to stay away from Akhil's path of career. Ishika agrees and leaves the place heartbroken. Some days later, Sakthi notices Ishika crying with Akhil's photo and also telling to his photo on how madly was she in love with him and how he has hurt her a lot.

In the furious mode of anger, Sakthi goes to Ishika and asks her, "Yes Ishika. He indeed told like such. Do you know why?"

All including teachers and students gather around the places.

Ishika looked in surprise and Sakthi told, "I and Akhil are close friends for six years. We the duo were living happily with our families in Mumbai and Bangalore for 5 years. But, in 2008, which I mean as my black year, our entire family was killed by the terrorists. From that time onwards, we don't want anyone either to die or live a life for our life's sake. Till our deaths, we will be taking Patriotism as our importance"

A tearful Ishika goes towards Akhil and asked him, "Akhil. How come you duo were able to smile or live a happy life having suffered this much drastic pasts?"

"Life is a boomerang, Ishika. Today we may live and tomorrow we may die. Life is not in our hands. Hence, we are happy and smiling, besides suffering these drastic pasts. The one who has impacted on such a tragedy knows this very well. Indeed, if Sakthi was not with me, I too might have planned to commit suicide. But, it was he who motivated me and gave me a second life" said Akhil.

Akhil and Sakthi's friends apologize to the duo, who all teased and were harsh with the duo, because Akhil didn't accept Ishika's love and also, Sakthi has warned her. They all realize the impact of tragedy now.

Sakthi now asks Akhil to accept Ishika's love because, to his point of view, she is ready to do anything for his happiness and indeed, Sakthi tells her that, let the bachelor life go by himself and because of him, Akhil doesn't want to suffer.

Akhil accepts Ishika's love and continues his NCC practices in the Air Force. However, during a vigorous training with Sakthi, Akhil gets injured in his hands and legs, which is noticed by Ishika. She sees the vigorous ambition of Akhil to join the Indian Army and fears that, she might lose him.

At that time, she gets admission for her post-graduation course in Dental course in Ernakulum and at the same time, Akhil too gets selected for Indian Army as the general, based on his NCC reports.

However, Ishika being so sensitive asks Akhil that, he should either Indian Army or by herself. A dejected Akhil chooses to go for the Indian Army with a heavy heart, and thus they bid a tearful farewell.

"Sir. Coimbatore junction is about to arrive. Please wake up" said Sakthi, who has come inside the train to wake up the slept Akhil. Presently, Sakthi is the ASP of Coimbatore district under the Crime Branch.

3 years have passed and now it's 2013 March, still, Akhil thinks about Ishika, who is now serving as the Dentist in KMCH hospitals of Coimbatore. Sakthi and Akhil enjoy their holidays and Sakthi notices Akhil, not able to reveal from Ishika's memories and hence, confronts him and asks to reconcile with Ishika.

At the same time, Indian Mujahideen, a Pakistani-linked Muslim terrorist group operating out of India, plans to orchestrate bomb blasts in various parts of India particularly the Coimbatore, Patna, Delhi, and Hyderabad, rallying against the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

While this plan goes on parallel by Abdul Hussain and Afsar Ali, Akhil hatches a plan of reconciling with Ishika on her birth date, 27th October 2013, the date at when, the bomb blasts has been planned to orchestrated in Coimbatore and Patna.

Akhil goes to Ishika's house in Kuniamuthur and wishes for her birthday. They are all having a happy life and Akhil has managed to reconcile with her finally. However, at that time, Sakthi is calling Akhil frequently, in order to inform him of something important news, but no replies come from Akhil…

Henceforth, Sakthi messages Akhil that, "they all have to be safer because, terrorists from Pakistani union has planned to orchestrate bomb blasts in various places of Coimbatore and Patna and at any time, anything might happen. As a henceforth, 144 act and total lockdown has been passed in Tamil Nadu and Bihar."

However, it's too late. Because, Ishika's entire family is killed by the terrorists, who have entered into the house and after having a brutal attack with them, Akhil escapes with Ishika from that place and goes to meet Sakthi in Coimbatore Airport, who too are fighting with the terrorists in SITRA Airports…

After seeing him, Sakthi gets relieved but, the terrorist, with whom Sakthi has fought, stabs him in his back.

"Hey…Sakthi…" shouted an angry Akhil and in a rage, he brutally beheads the terrorist and indeed, stabs his headless body ten times. Later on, he goes near to Sakthi with Ishika.

"Sakthi. Come da. Let's go to the hospital. Nothing will happen to you. Without you, I cannot live a life da" said a crying Akhil.

"I know that I will not survive, da. But, I am happy that I at least had saved you and Ishika with some more people also, da. I have told you before itself, right. We should live life happily because life is short. The same thing has occurred now. I am feeling sleepy da. Shall I lie on your arms?" asked Sakthi.

A tearful Akhil agrees and the duo shares their memorable moments of life from college to now, while Sakthi dies in his arms. Thus, leaving Akhil shattered.

Sakthi is hailed as a national hero for his sacrifice in the Coimbatore bomb blasts while the terrorists Afsar Ali and Abdul were arrested by the Coimbatore Commissioner and were asked to give death punishments.

Tamil Nadu Government announces the compensations for the losses suffered in the bomb blasts while, the Indian Government tells 27.10.2013, as the National Mourning day for all.

After two years, Akhil now, the Major General of the Indian Army, comes back to Coimbatore on 27.10.2015 and meets Ishika, now his wife. She is now running an orphanage trust in Coimbatore and they have

planned to have a prayer for Sakthi's photo by lighting candles…

The marks in the hands and body of some children, still more remember the brutal bomb blasts that occurred in Coimbatore. But, besides that, the journey of love between Akhil and Ishika is a success…