The Tears

She held the postcard tight and re-read it for the fiftieth time that day.

"Dear Manisha,

Thank you for being YOU. I am finally coming home. 

Yours Devendra"

All these years she had not let her weakness get the better of her. "An army wife's life is tough. think again. Are you absolutely sure? His words from thirty five years ago reverberated in her years. Her answer would remain the same even now "Never been surer". 

 Those memories came flashing before her. She did not weep when he had to leave on duty, just a week after their wedding. Nor through the sleepless nights during the Kargil War of 1999. His absence during the growing up years of their children or, the gradual death of their parents, one after the another, did not dishearten her.

 

The seven long years when he served as a spy in some country, they had absolutely no contact with each other. She still held herself strong with the mere belief that he would return some day, indeed he would.

At last, with his retirement, they would be together, just like they had envisaged some long years ago.

She had seen longer nights, but tonight, she could not hold herself back.

  The stars finally shone brighter... and, the Tears ran down her cheeks.