The Quest
She stood by the window, staring out at the traffic below. With millions of indefinite emotions running through her, she felt disturbed.
She felt her husband’s arms around her as he hugged her from behind. She leaned into his touch and let herself be controlled by his warmth and love. Those disturbing feeling vanished and she felt safe in his arms again.
“I love you.” He whispered into her ears, his voice sending shivers down her spine. He turned her around and kneeled down. He put his hands on her swollen belly. “And I love you too princess. Your dad will be back soon. Don’t trouble your mom too much. ” He said with a kiss on her belly.
She laughed. “It’s a prince.”
“Whatever you say my queen.” He placed kisses all over her face.
She giggled. And stopped. Caught his face between her hands. Tears welled up and she stared at him, taking in every inch of his face. And he stared back, his smile unwavering.
“Please come back. ” Her voice broke as she said the words.
He put his hands over hers and leaned into her touch. He closed his eyes. “I will. I promise.” He gave a small kiss into her palm and pulled her closer.
She gasped.
“What? What happened? Was I being too strong? Are you hurt?” A series of neverending questions came from him.
“No silly.” She laughed. “Hope you are not this scared on the line of control too.”
“I am scared only when it comes to you and your health darling.” He pushed hair strands out of her face and nudged his nose against hers, making her smile again. “So why did you gasp?”
“The baby kicked! ” She exclaimed. Her eyes wide with happiness, her smile reaching the ends of her eyes, a smile so wide and bright that he just kept staring, taking her in, until the words she said registered in his head. When he realised what she said, he mirrored her smile.
He kneeled down again. Hugged her belly and said, “I will come back. I will come back to see you kicking again. I promise.”
She felt the baby kick again.
“Looks like he’s kicking you out. ” She laughed.
“Haha very funny. ” He sulked. “You wouldn’t do that would you. ”
A kick again.
“See, he just loves my voice. ” He decided.
The room was filled with the sounds of her giggles again.
“Wait, I will sing to him. ” He decided yet again.
The baby kept kicking throughout the song. And she cried throughout the song.
Tears of happiness, or sadness she did not know.
“It’s time. ” He declared after an hour of cuddling with his wife. He donned on his uniform. She watched him get ready. The same sense of dread she is overwhelmed by whenever he leaves, magnified by the pregnancy hormones.
They shared a one last kiss.
“I love you. ” She said. “Come back.”
“I love you too. ” He kissed her forehead. ” I will come back. For you. For us. For India.”
He picked up his duffel and left.
He turned back every few seconds to smile and wave at her and she waved back. She watched from the balcony as he got into the car. He looked at her one last time and waved yet again. She waved back, already missing him. Tears streaming down her face as it did always as he left. He blew a kiss. A she let out a laugh admist the tears.
And indeed, he did come back. Wrapped up in tricolour.
His sacrifice will not be forgotten.