A memorable evening with the parents of a Kargil War Hero...

[Ramesh Kakar]

A YOUNG ARMY OFFICER’S WIFE TALKS OF A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE•••

Last week my  hubby and I went to visit  one of my dad's old friends in Delhi, a retired army officer & his wife ... a very fine couple ... very eloquent, well read and widely travelled. They had lost their only son during the Kargil war ... but one saw no trace of pain on their faces ... everything in their garden seemed perfect ... just the wrinkles and brooding on the old lady's face vaguely hinted that it wasn't exactly paradise.

The endless stream of jokes from the old boy, their humorous conversation, everything ... was a brilliant camouflage of whatever was going on inside their heads. We had a wonderful time since they are old associates of my dad (a retired army officer). My husband had a great time reliving old memories of his school days ... they swapped funny incidents and I kept laughing and giggling like a teenager. How the hours flew!

Soon their maid served tea ... and with each blissful sip came more sparklers from Uncle’s well preserved memory vault. I was wondering how they could talk endlessly... without a pause ... But soon I was rudely shaken up from my pleasant thoughts!

 It so happened that after we were done with tea, I got up to clear the table. I had hardly started collecting the cups when I was stopped by a gruff voice that was more of a shout, ”NO! DON'T YOU MOVE THOSE CUPS!!

I was shocked by his reaction ...and looked at Aunty, searching her face.
But then she looked at Uncle and said softly.....
”tussi bhi na....bacche nu dara ditta ... thora araam naal bhi keh sakde si ....”

Suddenly Uncle read the situation and slowly came over and sat next to me .... gently holding my hand. He looked into my eyes and said something so softly it was no more than a whisper.

"Beta ji ... in cuppon ko aise hee rehne do ... subah tak nahin uthayenge ... kuch toh ehsaas hoga ki zindagi bhi yahan aayi thi...the house always looks so spic n span, so lifeless ... par hum taras jaate hain ... ki koi toh ghar ko ganda karne wala hota ... so let the cups stay that way ... we will cherish the sight of it long after you've left." And he continued softly ...

”And promise me that you will visit us again  -- with your kids ..."

"It was so simple and yet so profound. All I could do, and all I did, was ... to hug him and sob quietly.”