March 20 had begun like any other day for the Nairs in Thiruvananthapuram. His father, a lawyer, was about to leave for work and there was a sense of happiness because Harshan was about to arrive home in a few days.
Just the night before, he had spoken to his friend Manu and discussed the World Cup match, asking him to book a ticket for him from Delhi to Chennai. The last two times he was home, his holiday was cut short and he had to report back for duty -- the famly had hoped this time it would be different.
"I was to get back to him later that night about the flight timings etc and when I called, Harshan did not answer the phone. He was already on the mission. The next morning I was on the way to work when a friend's wife called to say that it was on television that Harshan was no more. I just couldn't believe it," says Manu.
The army informed Harshan's elder brother Vyasan, an IAS officer who was ranked 6th in the all India merit list last year, about the tragedy.
Vyasan, who is currently on a tour of India as part of his training programme as an IAS officer, called his father, but could not muster the courage to break the news to him.
Mr Nair would finally hear the news from his nephew.
The devastated family received the body of their son amid a hero's welcome in the city he was born. People lined the streets and thronged to pay respects in an auditorium en route where his flag-draped coffin was kept.
"We kept the coffin for a very short time at home and did not open it. We did not have the emotional strength to see his face. We wanted to remember a happy Harshan. Since he also carried some undercover operations, he had a long beard when he was in J&K," says his younger brother, Manu.
Image: Manu goes through his brother Harshan's pictures. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera in Thiruvanathapuram
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