Hari went to change his drenched dress without locking the door; while he was slipping into his pyjamas, the door slowly moved; instantly alerting Hari's sharp senses.

He abruptly wore his shirt and turned around; in fact, both happened in the same instant. Such quick actions were impossible for normal humans.

*phew*

'That's a close call. Just false alarm; it's the breeze, luckily no one's around.'

Hari was determined to keep his army life hidden, if anyone happened to see those scars of his, then hiding his past would be nothing but a pipedream.

Only after seeing Shreya in the kitchen did he relax; after all his encounter with her a few minutes ago proved her uncommon background.

A few minutes later, they started their first post-marriage dining. Needless to say, the atmosphere was awkward and very uncomfortable for either of them.

*Cough*

Hari broke the silence with a mild cough.

"Everyone has their secrets, the only reason I agreed to this marriage was to safeguard mine. Like you guessed, I have a disturbing history and the past filled with mysteries.

I believe the contract reserves my right over my privacy as much as it safeguards yours. So don't go nosing around my past, it isn't a pleasant story, and you wouldn't have a pleasant ending either."

Hari finished his piece in a single breath and waited for an agreement from the other party. Hari was threatening her indifferent cold voice; though she didn't seem intimidated.

Shreya nodded in response after a small hesitation; after all, she wasn't silly enough to break the contract herself. Seconds later, the tension and awkwardness slowly vanished.

Both of them started having a normal conversation just about everything while having dinner; they carefully avoiding sensitive topics involving their real background or occupation.

"So, what happened? Shemo's familiar around you, awfully accustomed to someone he just met?"

Shreya casually enquired.

"Ahh... Shemo is it this fella's name?" Hari asked with hesitation.

"Yes, it's this fella. I found it by a remote shed in the city; he was nearly flooded. Someone has been treating his wounds, but the unexpected downpour nearly ruined him."

Shreya exaggerated the facts a little bit to probe him. Hari was utterly lost.

'I've been treating the little guy for a week now, but I never gave him a name, but this woman just found him this evening and has already named him, that too Shemo..

What is 'Shemo'? Why 'Shemo'?'

Hari could only mentally cry in bewilderment, and then he patiently narrated the accident one week ago. Through which that stupid driver earned a round of rebuke from Shreya.

Slowly both of them started having a lot more casual conversation before they retired to their rooms.

As for as the new member of the house, Shemo; he went to his cosy new bedding with Shreya completely ignoring Hari.

'Dogs are supposed to be loyal.'

Again Hari could only mentally complain of injustice.

*****

11:00 am, 25th July 2018, Wednesday, Chennai.

Hari slowly awoke, yesterday was simply a roller-costar ride, he was thoroughly beaten. Thus he slept 12 hours straight to revitalize the energy he expended.

In the Hall, he found a small note on the refrigerator.

"Hari, I've got a meeting this morning. I'll be taking Shemo with me, so don't worry."

He just shook his head seeing the clock, he was a bit too late for breakfast. Hari tried calling Anil a couple of times, but the opposite party's line was engaged.

Since he was too bored, he sat before the television and picked a Zombie horror movie. Actually, Hari would rarely spend time on the tv but today the time seemed to have slowed down, each minute seemed like an hour; maybe, he was just too excited to meet his brother after two years.

When the clock struck 8:00 pm8:00 pm Hari left the house in his trusty motorbike. He reached the park half-an-hour later thanks to the traffic.

The Velox Banyan Park, Chennai.

Humongous Banyan trees blanketing the entire park, hiding the park from the moon; creating beautiful scenery in the middle of the city.

Hari was rushing through the crowded park without admiring the breathtaking scenery before his eyes, while his eagle eyes scanned the crowd for his friends.

The phone was dead, he could only curse his carelessness and grit his teeth look around for them.

After ten minutes, he finally found his brothers. They were sitting under the tree and happily chatting; from a distance, Hari noticed this group of misfits.

A giant fatty, towering over six-and-half feet and slightly wider than the banyan's trunk. A sickly thin transwoman stood shoulder to shoulder with the fatty.

Behind them, three women, each of them had seductress hourglass figure igniting the belly fire even to the smallest man out there.

He swiftly ran to the group of five under the giant Banyan tree. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the two guys jumped up and dashed to Hari.

Hari spread his arms for a huge bear hug; unfortunately, all be received was a good round of thrashing.

The six and a half foot monstrous fatty rammed into him, sending him flying. Then build man overtook Hari and cruelly pulled down.

Hari was ruthlessly crushed on to grass fields, even a couple of grass went through his mouth nearly choking him; three more joined trashing. Hari turned to a human punching until everyone vented all their frustration.

Resistance's futile, fighting them is akin to crushing rock with an egg or even worse. They were elite soldiers, while Hari's a retired military man and crippled one nonetheless.

Hari was expecting a drama but not a one-sided thrashing, though it didn't leave any permanent injuries his mobility would be severely dampened for a couple of days.

Actually, he was to blame, after all, they were left them hanging for a good 2 years.

Hari just laid on the ground like dead meat, blankly staring into the starry sky; his teammates stood around in complete silence.

"So What happened during these two years.?" Hari casually asked without turning his head.

"Nothing much, once you left, we all were reallocated to different squads. Then we all got…."

The fatso started to narrate the two years tale, but Hari interrupted.

"Got into fights and again reallocated again and again till you voluntarily retired."

Hari looked at fatty for confirmation.

"Yeah, we.."

All the five of them hung their heads down while the fatty admitted him heavy guilt.

Ch – 8 The mess he left behind…

Next day morning…

In a hotel near 'The Velox Banyan Park', a thin beam of sunlight penetrated the darkroom directly striking on Hari's face. Hari woke with great difficulty fighting to sober up, while his bros all rose with ease.

Hari wore a blissed-out smile despite the annoying headache, meeting his bros after years is one of the few correct decision he has made since his ending his service.

Last night Hari completely threw all the restraint and went all out downing the jugs booze till he passed out. He narrated the last two years of dull, uneventful life to his brothers, except the part about his marriage.

Hari shook his head and slowly got up; he took a few seconds to stretch his muscles and straighten his back before he looked at his brothers lazily lying on the bed.

"Guys, let start a business; it's too boring to work under someone."

Hari's words were like a bolt of light for the group of militants, they were never good with business and stuff.

Hari's encounter with the extra-terrestrial being had enlightened him. Though he still couldn't comprehend if it were real or otherwise, this encounter gave him a very different outlook of the world itself.

Instead of treating the accident as an end, he began seeing it as a new beginning. The last two years made him realize many things, see many problems he failed to perceive earlier.

"You've all retired from your service and just rotting away like an old rook, wasting yourself. The vacation is over, so fire up your asses and be ready for some hard work."

"For now clean up whatever mess you've left behind and return by next Wednesday."

All his brothers were still yet to recover from the shock, but Hari gave them another dose to keep them stunned. It took them a few minutes to gather their wits and sink in Hari's message.

The moment they recovered everyone pounced one Hari hug him in delight. Hari's orders meant they will once again work together; which they always regarded as a pipe dream.

Hari returned home after sending his brothers; it was already noon by then, so neither Shreya or Shemo was back. He had the silent walls to accompany through the day.

A couple of hours later…

While Hari was having his lunch, his mobile rang.

"Hello, Anil."

Hari casually answered the call.

"Brother can we meet."

Anil's voice had obvious hints of fatigue.

"Huh… the tea shop on Pungudi Street at 4 pm."

Hari immediately picked the meeting spot, without pestering him with any questions.

Exactly at 4:00 pm, Hari reached the shop. Tea shops are a popular destination for guys to meet up. Any tea shop will always have a couple of men chit-chatting just about everything.

Hari got a cigarette and leaned over a tree while smoking; inevitably overhearing the guys rambling something.

"There'll be a By-Election in a month or so, who's going to win?" one guy started.

"It's unpredictable as the weather, but with Yashini Devi around the YNK seems to have better chances."

One from the group spoke his mind while drinking his tea. But another guy refuted him.

"No, YNK's candidate a somewhat weak compared to UPC's Candidate. Moreover, there the new political currents are going against YNK. So…."

"An insider tipped off that, an independent candidate is favoured by the people…"

All of a sudden everyone was having a heated debate; Hari shook his head, he eventually lost interest. Luckily, Hari didn't wait too long; shortly after Hari Anil also came.

Hari offered him a cigarette, and both of them leaned over the same tree. After a few puffs, Anil looked at Hari's indifferent figure and sighed.

"Bro, can you at least act a bit worried? Will you? I even had a fall out with my father to clear up the mess you left behind. Didn't you know Lila had a troublesome background why did you all the offend the big lady…."

Anil complained till his breath ran out, then he took a deep puff; Hari silently stood beside him like a mischievous kid reprehended by the teacher. After a few rounds of cursing and compliant Anil fully vented his anger.

*Sigh*

"So What are you planning to do next?"

Anil casually asked though he seemed disinterested Anil was very curious about Hari's plans. Hari hardly seemed like an office material to him.

"My old brothers returned yesterday, so we plan to have a Start-up. Will you be joining?"

Hari offered, it might seem stupid to invite a multi-millionaire for start-up by a bunch of nobody's, but this is a heart-to-heart talk between to friends.

"huh…. Whatever I'll also join the fun. It's not like I have anything worthwhile to do; my old man kicked me out of the company for saving your asses."

Anil took the offer after a few seconds of hesitating.

"Brother, you won't regret it. We'll meet up next Wednesday, I'll introduce your new brother then."

Hari patted Anil's shoulders while solemnly reassuring Anil, though his friend carelessly runs his mouth Hari knew the hardships behind that carefree smile.

Though Hari didn't fear Lila's background, he knew it would be troublesome to deal with a cunning political veteran. He was waiting for her retaliation, but Anil had interfered and helped him out.

"Hari, whatever you do don't ever cross paths with Yashini Devi; the by-elections and some other unfavourable political situation, were very instrumental for suppressing her. If you provoke her once again, then confrontation is the only outcome."

Anil gravely warned Hari before leaving, with a weak smile. Hari sent a reassuring smile and nodded severe eyes. He knew the gravity of the situation, so repeatedly warned Hari to lay low-key for the time being.

Then he left for his house, if his father learned about this meeting with Hari, then he will undoubtedly burst in a fury.