I was intrigued and yet by now I had an idea who the army gentleman in the letter was. So I read on...

page 2 of the letter...

I am sure you have recognised the army gentleman, you know him as your Chhota mama. He talked to his family, and luckily our marriage was agreed and arranged. My father was a government teacher and our marriage was held in Darjeeling. This was June, 1999 and soon after marriage we returned by train. We had a personal coupe to ourselves. We reached New Delhi and was well received by my in-laws.

Unfortunately the very next day he received a call and his leave was cut short and had to report to duty urgently. So very next day he left for Kashmir where he was posted. Meanwhile I started searching for admission to my master's course and adjusting to the married life.

Rains started in Delhi and I missed my darling and Darjeeling both. I lost appetite and everything seemed too overwhelming for a 20 year old me. Soon another shocking news came that a war had started and my husband's battalion was into it. My days were spent praying that no news came, as each piece of news gave me a panic attack. The war was over and we had won. My husband was returning home by second week of August. I was so excited. You see the loss of appetite, weakness and nausea were due to a very happy reason that I was expecting a bundle of joy. I shared the news with him and he told me he loved me and that we would soon meet and live happily ever after.

Alas... his Jeep was bombed and all of the 6 soldiers on the jeep were martyred.

...to be continued




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