Author's pov

Two of them get on the jeep and begin their journey. One with a heavy heart and other with excitement

Ram: Abhi, are you excited to go to NDA today?

Abhi: Yes, Dad! Is it really as big as you said? With, like, lots of soldiers?

Ram: It is big, Abhi. And yes, lots of soldiers. You’ll see them marching and training. Maybe even some cool drills you haven't seen before.

Abhi: Wow! Will there be any… any… tanks? Boom boom! (Abhi makes explosion noises)

Ram: Yup, don't worry. Be a good boy there ok

Abhi: Okay, Dad. I will. I promise. Can we go faster? I want to see your students now.

Ram: We're almost there, Abhi. Just a little bit further.

Now Ram wants to tell his son he will not be around he didn't want to crash his sons excitement but it is now or never. He didn't want him to feel dejected. Or anything else like that.

Ram: Abhi i want to tell you. You have to be there without me . Ok i may or may not return. So I want you to promise me that you will be your self even if I am not around (he said in a sad tone)

Abhi:Ok dad drive faster please

he said without understanding what his father just said he is going to be there forever. Ram smiled at his sons innocence and continues his journey with a heavy heart.

They reach entrance gate which was guarded by a few soldiers. Abhi gets excited seeing the academy for the first time . It was a big building with an Indian flag flying at its enterence. Abhi looked at it with admirity. Ram looked at it with pride.

Soon a soldier appeared seeing the jeep with army sticker on. Ram waved at his friend and handed the soldier his id to check. After checking he salutes them and they enter the huge building. Abhi was exaggerating every single thing. Ram' s admirity soon turned into irritation since his ears were starting to ache from his sons admirity.

Abhi saw the soldiers, the guns, etc made him forget about his dad. Ram was getting late so he somehow dragged Abhi to the colonel's cabin. He introduced Abhi to col. jaiveer. They have met once in his house. Jaiveer liked kids so he always has a chocolate in his pocket. He took the chocolate from his pocket and gave it to abhi. Ram just admired his friend admiring his son.

Ram saluted Jai do to his superior rank.

Jai:" Hi. Buddy, welcome to IMA how are you. Do you remember me? "(He questioned the little boy completely ignoring his friend.

Abhi remembered him as the chocolate man who came to their house with a bag full of chocolate.

Abhi:" Chocolate man, I remember you. "

He answered looking at him with pure joy. Jai was happy but thought of him being the chief being called the chocolate man. Then he kneeled down to abhi's level.

Jai:"dont ever call me chocolate man ever again if anyone knows I am doomed. Will you do this for your lovely chocolate man. "

Abhi nodded without understanding the fact. Jai was the only person in the academy he had previously met.

Jai:"ok, then could you please wait outside while me and your dad speak for a bit"

Abhi:"sure"

Ram brought him outside and made him sit in the waiting chair outside.

Ram, "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere ok "

Abhi nodded. Ram went back inside. A couple of cadets came there as to see colonel. They saw Abhi and they thought he was some lost kid rescued from somewhere. They waited near the enterence for the colonel's call.

Ram came out in a brief moment with a set of keys in his hand. Abhi ran towards him calling him dad. The two cadets were shocked at this news that one of them froze in the middle of his salute. Ram was very much angry seeing someone doind an incomplete salute. Ram cleared his throat to gain the attention of the cadets from his son. The cadet understud that he had dig his own grave. The other cadet tryed hard to not laugh so as just not to dig his grave near his beloved friend

Ram:"cadet why is your salute incomplete "

He asked in a harsh tone that made abhi stnich.he had never seen his father this strict. He only knew the fun going father he is. Little did he know this is just the teaser of a large horrific movie.

Cadet-1:"sir, uh.. Um...apologies sir i got distracted sir"

Ram:"sure, distracted, I want a full explanation report by today 2100.then we will discuss about your punishment. Be on time"

Cadet-1:"Yes , sir"he said without any options left.

Ram looked at the second cadet and said "you are responsibile for his arrival"

Cadet-2" Yes sir ", with mingled confusion. (He is going to be staying awake today. )

Ram:" You may take your leave. Jai hind"

Then he looked at abhi and took him to his room.