Suchismita revisits the tragedy of Pulwama, in this short story. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Tick, tick, tick! Everything got shattered in 3 seconds…

Delighted faces turned into ashes in the blink of an eye. Happiness was shredded to smithereens and the entire ambience turned black!

Delighted faces turned into ashes in the blink of an eye. Happiness was shred to smithereens and the entire ambience turned black!

Exactly 78 vehicles, carrying a total of 2500 personnel faced the most horrifying bomb attack in the history of the Indian Army. The country witnessed its 40 brave men dead. A terrible terror attack left us feeling vulnerable. Valentine’s Day was miserably transformed into a “Black Day”.

Taruna, a very skinny wife of Anand Singh, one of the CRPF Jawans, who mercilessly was done to death was doing her regular household work. Grasping her mangalsutra firmly in her fist, she felt a gush of the macabre, suddenly. She didn’t pay much attention to the negative thoughts, and let herself busy making food for her old mother-in-law, Mrs Geeta Singh, and her son. Mrs Geeta had difficulty in walking because of her stiff arthritic knees. She was in her late seventies and had lost her husband a few years back, in an accident.

“Tarunaaaa, Tarunaaaa, come fast beti (child). Hey Bhagwan, kya anaarth ho gayaa (Oh God! What misfortune has befallen us!)” Mrs Geeta collapsed on the floor with her extremely stiff hands and a numb face. The TV remote was smashed into pieces with its batteries scattered here and there.

“Tarunaaaa, Tarunaaaa, come fast beti (child). Hey Bhagwan, kya anaarth ho gayaa (Oh God! What misfortune has befallen us!)” Mrs Geeta collapsed on the floor with her extremely stiff hands and a numb face. The TV remote was smashed into pieces with its batteries scattered here and there. Taruna rushed into her room, was in awe to watch her mother-in-law in such a condition and screeched out in fear. She wasn’t aware of her husband’s martyrdom till then.

A leading news channel still had the breaking news beaming with the headlines, “Pulwama main aatankwadi hamle k doraan shahid hue desh ke 40 CRPF Jawan (40 CRPF Jawans martyred in Pulwama during a terrorist attack)” Taruna’s eyes were glued on the TV screen and soon her heart missed a beat, while they released the list of the martyrs. Mrs Geeta was in a daze and her eyes transfixed nowhere. Taruna turned into a stone, after leaving a loud screech, “NOOOOO!!” Neither she cried, nor she moved from there.

Rahul, their only son, was growing older. He studying in a nearby government school in the remote village of Rupnagar. He came running back from school and shouting out aloud, “Maa, I am very hungry, please give me some food… Maaa, Maaa!”

Rahul, their only son, was growing older. He studying in a nearby government school in the remote village of Rupnagar. He came running back from school and shouting out aloud, “Maa, I am very hungry, please give me some food… Maaa, Maaa!” After a loud three to four rounds of calling, his voice bounced back to him.

He went inside. He saw his mother and grandmother encircled with a few neighbour aunties and their eyes were swollen in tears. Soon he found out that his father was martyred in Pulwama though he didn’t realise the gravity of the situation — the scornful loss of his father at the tender age of ten.

Taruna didn’t even receive a body or its parts to perform the last rites of her deceased husband. It was a dark, very dark, a tragic phase of their lives. Years passed by. Jolly Taruna turned into a responsible mother. Her mirth and happiness had almost vanished from the day of the untimely death of her husband, Lt. Anand Singh.

Taruna didn’t even receive a body or its parts to perform the last rites of her deceased husband. It was a dark, very dark, a tragic phase of their lives. Years passed by. Jolly Taruna turned into a responsible mother. Her mirth and happiness had almost vanished from the day of the untimely death of her husband, Lt. Anand Singh. She still managed to laugh a little, only for the sake of her son. Mrs Geeta had away after three years of her son’s demise, leaving the two of them alone.

Eleven years had passed by in a flicker of eyes. Today, Taruna’s heart was bouncing with joy. She noted the date in the calendar circling on 14th February 2030. She prepared the thali for performing rituals. She called out, “Rahul, come here beta. I’m done with the preparation.” Her face had a glow of happiness. Her eyes had the sparkle of immense faith.

Rahul came out taller, an inch over 6 feet. His sharp features made him resemble his father — ‘clone’ was the perfect word. He was enraptured with glory and pride.

He touched the feet of her mother. She blessed him after the completion of his tilak ritual. She left a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted from her heart.

He touched the feet of her mother. She blessed him after the completion of his tilak ritual. She left a sigh of relief as if a burden had been lifted from her heart.

She kissed his forehead and he did the same.

Then Rahul took out the laminated photo of his father kissing him too. He said, “Hope I do justice to all your wounds, to all the blemishes of my Motherland, to all the blasphemies and vices our Tricolour has gone through.” And he kept it back in his huge backpack. He kissed his neat and clean uniform too. The uniform that he had dreamt of wearing one day. It was now his official attire.

Taruna’s heart never swelled with much pride like that day. She succeeded to send her only child to serve their nation, Bharatmata (Mother India).

He then left his home to serve his country and left the beckonings of the home.

Taruna’s heart never swelled with much pride like that day. She succeeded to send her only child to serve their nation, Bharatmata (Mother India).

Rahul travelled to serve his love, on the new Valentine’s Day, with new hope, in a mission. His brave father had gallantly laid down his life for the nation!

Photo from the Internet