Amidst the chaos of everyone’s daily chores, he sat back in the bed, running his fingers across the photograph. The only photograph of his entire team, which was clicked the last time they were all together. ‘Major Vijay Rajput’-he read the scriptures in the badge with pride, silently, which he had worn that day. He was a lot weaker now-feeble, pale faced, wrinkled yet still a major at heart. He believed he had an early call, and wanted to serve his nation more. But maybe ‘his final act’ had already set an example for his colleagues to follow.
44 years ago
26 June 1971
‘Baby, I’ll come back soon.’ He said.
‘I know you will.You have to.But we need you now-Ansh,me.We both do.’ She whispered.
‘You see this khakhi I’m wearing? It’s not just a piece of cloth. It’s my pride,respect.guard of honour.I can not betray my country.I’m sorry.Don’t cry now.You know I’ll have to go.Moreover,your mascara’s way too expensive.Would you want a drop of tear to ruin it?’ He hugged her tightly.
She smiled and cried even more.His khakhi had the imprints of her tears,just below the tricolour.
He picked his trunk and left the house.He broke down too.But he couldn’t show it.Afterall.he was a man and moreover a soldier.They were taught not to have emotions.He had already submitted to her weapon of love though,bound by which,his heart would cry everytime he had to leave her alone.Being an orphan,she gave him the love he thought only existed in movies and bestsellers.In a way,she had made a man out of a robot-a robot which felt nothing.Hiding his emotions,he bid her goodbye.As he did so,he did what he always did when he went to a war.He got on his knees and whispered ‘I love you’ as he had done 4 years ago, in front of the Delhi crowd.Tears still rolled down her cheeks-expressive of the fact how badly she’s going to miss him.She whispered ‘I love you too’ and blowed a kiss to him.Ansh was busy with his toys.The rituals were over.He knew his duty did not allow him to delay more.
3 July 1971,Kashmir
He was deeply wounded.He had a bullet stuck in his spinal cord which made it difficult for him to do anything.His team prayed for his well-being as he fought for his life in the ICU.The doctors were busy with the procedures.The blood circulation had suddenly reduced drastically.Unfortunately,it was his anniversary that day.
Same day,Delhi
Ananya was depressed.She had not expected,even in her wildest fantasies that he would forget their anniversary.She started thinking about the dreams that they had seen together-about Ansh,their families,their house and how none of it even mattered to him now since he was on duty.The phone suddenly started ringing.She ran to catch hold of it.
‘Hello,Could I speak to Ananya ma’am?’ Rajat said,Vijay’s colleague.
‘Yes,speaking?’ Ananya said.
‘Ma’am.Vijay sir…’ Ananya interrupted him before he could finish speaking.
‘Where the hell is he?Is his duty as a Major so important that he forgets his duty as a husband.Can I please talk to him right away?’ She said.
‘Ma’am,I’m afraid you won’t be able to do that..’ Rajat said,depressed.
‘Oh,so he’s out.With his mates,cracking jokes and having coffee around a bonfire.maybe?’ She said,angrily.
‘Ma’am,he’s in the ICU,with a bullet in his spinal cord.He hasn’t really responded since this morning.The doctors have put his case on top priority since they believe he needs major attention.Last night befor the war,he told me how lucky he is to have you and how if he dies anyday,he would ask god for a retry,as we do in video-games.He’s funny,even in the most serious moments.I had to inform you,though I’m not allowed to.I cannot talk further.We aren’t allowed to disclose our location due to national security related issues.Ma’am,I’m sorry.He still has a chance though.Pray and don’t lose hope.
She was heartbroken,completely.Her windpipe was choking.She had a complete blackout.Her eyes felt heavy.Her soul was crying.She had the intuitions that she will have to pay a price but she hadn’t expected it so soon.She prayed and asked god for that last chance.A chance to show him what he meant to her and how much she loved him.
Life is a bitch,totally.And being a soldier,you never really know when your last day is.You either come back with a lot of memories or only your memories do.In any case,something does.And nothing,for a lady,could be more disheartening,than to see her man wrapped in a tricolor,inside the coffin,to be given tribute with gunshots and leaving just the memories behind-the weight of those memories which tears many hearts apart.