Tiranga- PART 1

THE SETTING AND PLOT IS AUTHOR’S CREATIVITY AND PURELY FICTIONAL. KINDLY ENJOY IT AS A DELIGHTFUL READ! 

… 

“Vikrant a little help here, beta,” his grandmother asks as she struggled to get her specs from the top slab of the Pooja room.

“Here, dadi,” Vikrant handed her specs as she pinched his cheeks cajolingly.

“Such a grown tall man! Your dad would have been proud of what you have become today,” she smiled as he chuckled.

“Sure dadi,” 

“Vikrant start thinking about finding yourself a good match, you are 25 now!” His mother steps in dusting the walls.

“Ma, not now! I am still serving my nation. Besides, who would want to marry an army officer?” Vikrant complains.

“You better tie the mangalsutra to Bharat mata then!” Her mother chortles “Just like your dad thinking about your country instead of your life first!”

“Ah, Leela, he’s already in love with Bharat Mata, so good point!” His grandmother joins the laugh.

“Hey, stop both of you!” Vikrant laughs as well “I’m just doing my duty as a patriot. It’s my job isn’t it?”

“Pfft like you don’t have a life!” Leela scoffs “Find yourself a woman to share your joy, beta. You cannot always live alone!”

“I’ll try I guess,” Vikrant sighs “Where’s Vikram?”

“Vikki just went out to buy tomatoes from Bazaar street. They are at a cheap deal today he said!” Leela informed.

“Yeah, tomatoes,” Vikrant laughed to himself as he thought “Didn’t he get a better excuse?”

“I’ll go look for him there. I got something to talk about,” Vikrant takes his bike keys and rushed out of the house as his mom yelled 

“Have some coffee before you leave!” Leela rushed holding the davara in her hands.

“No thanks ma!” Vikrant leaves as Leela wonders what to do with the coffee.

… 

BAZAAR STREET 

Vikrant wandered about the street searching for Vikram. He knew why he came there. Finally at the corner aisle of the street he spotted Vikram shyly staring at a lovely young fair woman draped in a red saree, matching the colour of the tomatoes they were selling. Vikrant smiles. He knew that his young brother was in love.

“Not doing any talking again?” Vikrant pats behind his back, giving Vikram a slight startle.

“Didn’t expect you, bro!” Vikram says slightly shocked “Yes, I believe love isn’t blind but dumb too. Makes you fluster…” he confessed dreamily, staring at his lady love.

“Try to start a conversation,” Vikrant advices smiling.

“She’d think of me as an idiot. Besides, I’m always silent. I don’t talk much you know that!” Vikram reminded him.

“At least for the sake of the tomatoes, mate!” Vikrant chuckled.

“Are you sure?” Vikram asked nervous to him as Vikram smiled assuringly.

“How much for a kilo of tomatoes?” Vikram shyly asked, blushing dark red.

“You don’t need any tomatoes, sir, you have them on your cheeks!” The lady chuckled as Vikram stood confused and eventually joined the laugh.

“₹50, sir,” she declared with a smile as arranged a kilo. Vikram handed the money and got the bag.

“Uh your name, ma’am?” Vikram asks.

“Radha” She smiled as Vikram blushed again.

Vikram left the spot towards his brother who was waiting by his bike.

“Not bad right? A good starter!” Vikrant chuckled.

“Yup. And don’t tell ma the tomatoes actually costed the usual 50. I had convinced her that it would be cheap today,” Vikram informed hastily as Vikrant tried to collect the words in a shock.

… 

Vikrant stared at the window. Tomorrow he would be leaving for his troupe posting at Kashmir. Spending his last night at his home, his thoughts were wandering until he heard the door creak.

“Can’t sleep?” Leela asks with a smile, bringing some buttermilk in her hand.

“Yes, ma. Trying to.”

Leela brings herself closer to him by the window. Hugging his shoulder, she stared at the full moon.

“Your dad would be proud of you, you know that right?” Leela smiles “You have grown so much…ever since he passed away we all have a strange void in our hearts. But when we look at you, you fill that void, beta,” 

“Ma but dad did something for his nation before he died. He fought off the Pakistani soldiers from their sudden war. He was lucky to be alive that time. Only after he received the Bravery Medal from the President he felt his life fulfilled. I want to do something like that. That’s why I joined the army.” Vikrant sighed.

“But you know what really kept him happy?” Leela smiled “Us. We were his strength.”

“Yes ma.” Vikrant smiled.

“Have your buttermilk. Helps you put to sleep like a lullaby.” Leela hands over the glass.

“Ma and the tomatoes costed the usual today.” Vikrant blurted.

“But Vikram told me they were just 20 today?!” Leela fumed.

“You know how I am with secrets,” Vikrant chuckled.

“VIKRAM!!” Leela yelled across the room.

… 

Vikrant had been packing his luggage to catch his 10 am flight to Kashmir. His mother began the early morning Pooja chantings while his grandmother had been praying over beads. Vikram was helping his brother.

“Why did you tell ma? I should have been reminded about your poor talent with secrets! She gave me an earful, bro!” Vikram silently scorned him.

“Vikram, do the dishes!” Leela commands angrily as he walks away glaring at her.

“Ma, I’m 23, I’m not a little kid to always be afraid of your small punishments!” Vikram chuckled.

“Haven’t you heard- Age is just a number? And don’t argue- I’m still your mother 23 or not!” Leela scorns him as he follows her order.

“Here, Vikrant, some sacred ash to give your path of life some guidance,” Leela spreads the ash over his forehead as Vikrant prostrates to her feet.

“Godspeed, beta,” she blesses him. His grandmother blessed him too. As he was about to leave, Vikram abandoned the dishes and rushed to hug his brother a final goodbye. He wept as if it was the last time he would see him. Well, he would only return after 2 years from this.

“Don’t give up on Radha, bro,” Vikrant chuckled 

“And you don’t give up on your Bharat Mata,” Vikram chuckled spilling a few tears.

“Who is this Radha?” Leela questions confused as Vikram flusters giving her a haste expression 

“Uh bhaiya must go now right?!” Vikram pushes Vikrant inside the waiting auto as he snickered. As the auto drove away he bid a goodbye gesture to his family.

… 

AIRPORT 

“Here, stop,” Vikrant makes him pull over and paid the travel fare. He makes his way through the crowded airport. Making all formalities, he took to his waiting seat at the lobby area. He still had 1 hour for the flight to takeoff.

Sighing to himself, he checked his luggages and army gear. He looked at his watch. He kept shifting his vision about the hall, sighting the different artefacts, stalls and offices.

“Is the seat taken, sir?” A young woman draped in a saree wearing a mask, asks him. Vikrant stares with his breath halted a bit.

“Sir?”

Vikrant blinks to realisation. He nods a no and takes his bag to his lap. The woman sits beside him.

Vikrant keeps staring at her. The woman seems to look through her files. He tries to shift his vision but he is unable to. He remembered how Vikram kept gawking at Radha, unable to speak a word. It was the same feeling.

“To Kashmir sir?” The woman asks him. Vikrant nods a yes.

“I believe we would be passengers for the next few hours on flight, sir!” She chuckles “What’s your name?”

“Vikrant Deva” he declared.

“Myself Rukmini Baskaran,” she introduces.

“Tamilian?” Vikrant asks as she nods a yes. 

“Pleasure,” Vikrant smiles shaking hands.

Both of them talk about. 

“Flight to Kashmir to takeoff in half an hour. Passengers are requested to move to their respective entry aisles for further registration” 

“Well, that’s our call. See you at the flight?” She asks, as he nods a yes.

… 

The airplane landed at Kashmir approximately 6 hours later. A tired Vikrant roused himself from the seat after hearing the announcement of departure.

Getting his luggage’s, he looked through his peripheral vision- Rukmini gracefully lifting her bags from the upper loft. Slender with an enchanted beauty, he kept falling for her. He couldn’t control himself.

“You need help to move your legs?” A frustrated passenger reminds him to move as he flustered hesitantly, trying to have a last look at her.

Vikrant sighed as he reached the end of the aisle. He moved fast to reach for his suitcase from the conveyor belt. He focused his vision on the upcoming suitcase. 

“Ah, Vikrant sir! Good to see you again!” His vision is interrupted by Rukmini’s voice from behind.

“Oh uh hi again,” Vikrant flustered as he saw his red suitcase go past him “Ah! My suitcase!”

“Oh shoot,” Rukmini muttered as she rushed towards the red luggage and lifted it instantly with a little struggle “Sorry about that,” 

“No problem, thanks,” he smiled a little.

“Off to where?” Rukmini asks.

“Srinagar- for my army troupe selection.” He confessed.

“You are an officer? An Army officer of the Indian Army?!” Rukmini asked excited.

“Not yet. I will be soon,” Vikrant smiled.

“Best of luck then! Thanks for the encounter, Mr. Vikrant!” Rukmini smiles and winks at him as she turned her back walking away. Vikrant feels himself bewitched by her beauty. He sighed at his vanishing luck and resumed his duties.

… 

ARMY TROUPE SELECTION 

“SOLDIERS!! This is one of the most important selection of all of Indian army history. There is a spy lurking here in India sending messages to Pakistan about our missions. It maybe one of your family members, a normal human, your best friend, or maybe even one among you. But we have verified your applications and got that checked. None of you are spies. This selection would be taken for the best officers with an iron heart to take it all with his strength, no matter the circumstances. Be ready! This is war!”

The soldiers tirelessly exercise backed up with a powerful song montage.

It’s a crisp morning and the soldiers have assembled at the arena for their results. Only 20 had been chosen, the news buzzed. Very few had hopes. Few others already packed to leave, sure they wouldn’t have made it.

The list was soon pinned on the common board. Vikrant hastily ran towards the gathering crowd. He put his finger against his code number and ran straight down. He went once. He went twice. His name was missing. He missed the chance to make his family proud. His eyes lowered as he left. He saw the other cheerful faces that found themselves in the selection list. 

What went wrong with him?

WELL. This was an Independence Day special. We will see in part 2, what happens? Curate your own story in the comments section as you keep awaiting further updates!