The 2 Parachute Regiment called Vyasan, who was eagerly waiting to see his brother, and conveyed the news of Harshan's death. Vyasan didn't know how to break the news to his parents, who were waiting for their soldier son to come home.
At home, his parents and aunt Vijayambika were counting the minutes to Harshan's arrival. A day before his death, Harshan had called his aunt in her office and told her: 'Kunjamma, I am starting tomorrow. I will see Vyasan first and then come there.'
"The next day, Vyasan called me to break the sad news," said Vijayambika. "Before he could say anything, I told him about Harshan's call the earlier day. Harshan was unable to contact him and had asked me to call him. Vyasan disconnected the phone, unwilling to break the news to me. He then called my husband. Harshan was like my own son..."
Instead of a young man full of life, what came home was Harshan's dead body.
Image: Harshan's mother Chitra and aunt Vijayambika
Also read: This soldier died for us