Happy B-Day Deepak!!!

Operation Purge Protocol 2.0 went on for about 20 continuous days, and all the internal threats (both men and women) inside Durgapattinam have been eliminated. And the confidence in the EFS is restored.

A day later

It’s midday and the time is 12 pm. And this is an exceptional day when all the members of EFS are in civilian clothes in the day time even though they are usually in uniform during the day and civilian clothes at night. Because this day is Deepak’s birthday.

Deepak, along with Nivi, enters the canteen inside the EFS headquarters.

Deepak turns 8 on this day. And he’s in a matte black t-shirt and gray jeans just like in the pic given below.

Nivi is in a lemon green transparent saree with a matching blouse of same color just like in the pic given below.

Inside the canteen

NIVI (with a warm smile): Happy birthday, my dear Deepukutty!!!!!

DEEPAK (smiling back warmly): Thank you, Amma.

Nivi and Deepak hug each other.

A few seconds later

The hug breaks. Deepak then caresses Nivi’s tummy via the fabric of her saree.

DEEPAK (chirping with his eyes wide): Amma….Your tummy!!!! It’s rock-hard.

Nivi chuckles mildly and covers his small hand with hers, pressing it firmer against her abs while the palm is right on the navel.

NIVI (in a gentle tone): It has to be, Deepukutty. A soft wall cannot stop a storm. While our hearts are soft, I made my body rock-hard so that it can be a shield for you. So that no Blizzard can ever freeze the warmth inside us.

DEEPAK (grinning): It’s cool!!! Like armor!!!!

Then a voice is heard saying “Better than armor!!“. As Nivi and Deepak have a look, it’s Dheena who said those words as he has just walked into the canteen.

Dheena is in a blue denim shirt and white jeans just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please assume that the tactical combat boots are being worn.)

Dheena looks relaxed in his current outfit, a far cry from the blood-soaked fatigues of the last twenty days.

DHEENA: Armor breaks. But your Amma doesn’t. And happy birthday, little tiger.

Nivi frees Deepak’s hand from her grip.

DEEPAK (rushing to hug Dheena): I’m glad to hear, Appa. And thank you for your lovely wishes.

DHEENA (hugging Deepak back): You are most welcome, my dear Deepu.

The hug breaks after a few seconds.

Then come the other members of the EFS in their civilian clothes.

Harish is in a dark plaid shirt and olive green cargo pants just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please ignore the facial hair completely. And also please assume that the hair is cut short. And that the tactical combat boots are worn.)

Lux, who is revealed to be 21 days pregnant with twins, looks stunning in a red and black patterned top with a front slit that leaves her navel bare, paired with wide-leg white trousers, just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please assume that tactical combat boots are worn instead of being barefooted.)

Vikram is in a maroon long-sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans just like in the pic given below.

(Note:-  Please ignore the facial hair completely. Also please ignore the sunglasses. And also please assume that the hair is cut short and tactical combat boots are worn.)

Ponnila is in a white crop top under an unbuttoned white shirt, paired with dark blue trousers, just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please assume that the tactical combat boots are being worn.)

Roy is in a dark blue t-shirt just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please assume that he wears pitch black jeans even if you don’t know what pants he wears in the pic. And also please assume that he wears tactical combat boots.)

Divya is in a peach-colored lehenga skirt and crop top, layered with a green shrug just like in the pic given below.

Ajay is in a casual blue and white checkered shirt with light blue jeans just like in the pic given below.

Varsha is in a white saree and a golden blouse just like in the pic given below.

Puneeth, now fully recovered and looking sharp, wears a brown button-down shirt and blue jeans just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please assume that the boots are purely vegan.)

2 mins later

A 5 kg lemon blueberry cake, that looks exactly like in the pic given below, is placed on the table.

(Note:- Please assume that the cake is 100 percent vegan, and it’s made using multi-millet flour instead of maida. Also please assume that raw sugar is used instead of refined sugar.)

Dheena grabs a serving knife and hands it to Deepak.

DHEENA (in a cheering tone): Here you go, Deepu. Cut the cake.

DEEPAK (smiling with controlled excitement as he takes the kitchen knife): Thank you, Appa.

The whole EFS squad then sings the “Happy Birthday” song as Deepak proceeds to cut the cake into slices. Deepak feeds the first slice to Dheena and the second slice to Nivi. In return, both Dheena and Nivi feed smaller slices of the cake to Deepak.

Then a plate full of coconut cookies, looking just like in the pic given below, are placed on the table along with the slices of the cake.

(Note:- Please assume that multi-millet flour is used instead of maida, and raw sugar in place of refined sugar, for making of coconut cookies too. And please ignore the caption in the left bottom of the pic.)

Deepak distributes the first four cookies to Dheena and Nivi (two for each). He then grabs a bunch of small betel plates, places a slice of the cake and two coconut cookies on each of them, and distributes them to the EFS members one by one.

However, while distributing to Harish and Lux, the latter gets more fixated on the cookies than on the cake. Thus the latter, after having her share of the cookies, grabs those of the former after swatting his hand away when he wanted to have his share.

HARISH (groans mildly): OW!!! Violence on a birthday party? Isn’t that against the protocol?

LUX (in a commanding but slightly teasing tone): I’m sorry but the protocol is suspended. I have two unauthorized occupants in the barracks. (caressing her bare navel) They are demanding coconut.

HARISH (laughing): You’re barely three weeks along, Lux. They are the size of poppy seeds. They don’t need five cookies.

LUX (dead serious, eyes wide): They are Lux’s children. They are growing at tactical speed. If I don’t get the sugar, I start biting people instead of cookies. (turning her attention towards the rest of the EFS) Your choice, fellas.

Harish and the other male members slowly back away.

DEEPAK (watching this, looking confused): Are you okay, Lux Aunty?

LUX (instant sweet smile): I’m fantastic, kid. Want one? You’re the birthday boy, you have clearance.

LUX (turning her attention towards others in a commanding tone): The rest of you… keep your distance.

Deepak goes and comes back with another set of the coconut cookies which are now considered “exclusively for Lux“.

The other members of the EFS back off in a mock horror while Lux allows Deepak to have his share. Dheena and Nivi have no problem with this because they have already had their shares and they don’t want any more cookies. And the same can be said about Ajay and Varsha.

LUX (caressing her bare navel while munching on the cookies, and muttering in a calm but assertive tone): Let’s hope the tiny buds are getting enough nourishment.

The rest of the EFS wonders what is going on.

LUX (announcing in an assertive tone): Your attention is required at this very moment as I’m here to announce that since I am currently housing two little warriors in my tummy, I have a craving for coconuts which is why I’m consuming the coconut cookies in a larger quantity. And I would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused by me.

The rest of the EFS feigns fear and obedience. And almost 60 percent of all coconut cookies are eaten just by the pregnant Lux.

Harish then approaches Lux.

HARISH (in a teasing tone): Hey, you don’t want the main meals?

LUX (lifting eyebrows): Main meals?

HARISH (nodding his head): Yes. Palakaai (unripe jackfruit) biryani and vegan fish fry.

LUX (nodding her head and speaking in a teasing tone): I see!!!!! Palaakaai biryani!!!! That will be great. By the way, what is “vegan fish fry“?

HARISH (in a serious tone despite smiling): “Vegan fish fry” is made using potatoes, plantain, and soya chunks, mashed and blended into one. It looks like Vanjaram (Seer Fish) fry but it’s not. No animals were killed or exploited while making the dishes.

LUX (nodding her head with controlled excitement): Alright then. I’m ready for the main meals.

HARISH: Great.

All the members of the EFS are seated and they are served vegan jackfruit biryani and “vegan fish fry” which looks exactly like in the pics given below.

While having the food, Roy and Puneeth, who are seated next to each other, have a discussion.

PUNEETH: It looks and tastes like a Vanjaram fry.

ROY (chuckling softly): Yes. But it is not Vanjaram. It’s a combination of soya chunks, raw plantain, and potatoes. We prove that we can build bodies of steel without the blood of the innocent.

PUNEETH (pausing): But we kill, comrade Roy. Aren’t we killing the Blizzard extremists?

ROY (leaning in, tone serious): Yes. We are. But there is a difference between a lamb and a tumor. We don’t kill animals because they are part of the ecosystem we protect. We kill the Blizzard extremists because they are cancer cells that spread death at a rapid rate.

Roy pinches a chunk of the mock fish fry.

ROY (continuing): You don’t negotiate with cancer. You cut it out to save the body. That is not murder. That is surgery.

PUNEETH (nodding his head in realization): Surgery!!!!!! You have a valid point, comrade Roy.

ROY (smiling subtly): I’m glad you agreed. Let’s eat.

PUNEETH: Definitely.

And the EFS continues having the meal.

15 minutes later

All the members of the EFS has had their meal and they exit the canteen with satisfaction. Then they all return to their respective residencies but not before handing out birthday gifts to Deepak one by one.

A few minutes later

Now Deepak is at home with Dheena and Nivi. Deepak opens the gifts some of which are revealed to be books, some are notebooks, and some are other stationery items such as pencils, pens, erasers, and sharpeners.

Deepak hands some pens over to Dheena and some pens over to Nivi. The other gifts are just for Deepak.

Deepak gives both Dheena and Nivi a warm hug, and then they proceed to have a power nap.