Sacrifice

I was left with a bouquet of flowers that night,

"Perhaps he has forgotten my birthday", I thought to myself.

My husband Aman you see,

Was the captain of the Indian Army.

He has worked hard day and night to protect his country and countrymen,

He was a true patriot and served his motherland with all his heart and mind.

The last time I saw him,

Was around six months back.

A strange thing happened that night,

Previously, when he went to fight wars, he'd always kiss me goodbye;

That night he didn't.

Instead, he said that the war was going to last long,

His return was not guaranteed.

I didn't lose hope though,

I knew we would not have to part ways so soon.

Afterall, we promised to stand by one another for a lifetime,

I believed he wouldn't break his promise.

It was 17th December,

My birthday.

He wasn't there with me,

I was all alone and missed his warm presence.

Thoughts about him, consumed my mind completely,

Now, I was worried.

Suddenly, the door bell rang,

I rushed to open the door and embrace my husband in a warm hug.

I was all smiles by then,

The fact that he wasn't there when I opened the door, disheartened me.

"I'm sorry bhabhi, Aman is no more",

My world came to a standstill.

I couldn't believe rather didn't want to believe what I just heard,

My Aman, the most precious person of my life had left me.

"He fought courageously and didn't give up even after being shot,"

"He fought till his last breath and gave it his all."

Everything just went blank for me,

I, was emotionally paralyzed.

Five years have passed since Aman left me,

Every single memory with my man is too precious to be forgotten.

I remember him calling me his "courageous queen",

I would often make fun of that.

I couldn't have been more proud of my husband that night,

He fought for his country,

I know he might've felt helpless but he didn't give up.

Aman was never a coward,

He didn't even have the fear of losing his life,

He fought bravely against his enemies.

Lives were lost on the battlefield,

Some lost their husbands,

Some their brothers,

And some lost their fathers that day.

I may have lost Aman too,

But mind you,

He "gave up his today",

For protecting and securing "our tomorrow"....