“Good bye, darling”, said Sukhbir.
“Please, don’t say goodbye. Promise me, you will return.”, said Simrit. Tears popped from her pale cheeks.
“Promise”, said Sukhbir with a smile.
Simrit hugged him tightly, took a deep breath and loosed her hands. Sukhbir put his bag on his shoulder and got out of the room. He went to his father and mother and touched their feet.
“Rabba, bless you puttar”, they said.
Sukhbir smiled and got into his jeep. He started his jeep and rolled out for Kashmir. Those days heavy terrorist movement was spotted there so the Defence Minister ordered them to stay alert.
Sukhbir was on vacation for three months. So his parents decided to complete his marriage ceremony. Simrit was a very good girl for him, she was pretty and well educated as well as kind hearted. Sukhbir tried to think the first night with Simrit. It was a heavenly feeling. Then he tried to think about his parents, his friends, and suddenly he remembered the tear drops of Simrit. He became sad.
“Promise, my love I will return to you.”, he said.
It was oneday long journey. He reached the base camp at about 9 o’clock.
“Good morning Karan paji”, Skhbir said.
“O paji, long time no see, how are you man?”, said Karan Singh.
“Hey how was your journey sukkha?”, asked Paramvir.
“I’m fine and the journey was comfortable too”, Sukhbir said.
One soldier came to them and said,”Cornel is waiting for you. Please join the meeting.” They started to walk to the cabin of the cornel.
“What do you think? Is the case very serious?”, asked Sukhbir.
“Yeah, I think it's serious. Otherwise the defence ministry didn’t recruit the best commandos in this case.”, said Paramvir.
“Well let’s see”, said Karan.
They entered the cabin. There was already 9 more commandos in the me
“Take your seats”, the cornel ordered.
They sat, Cornell continued, “ The situation is too serious to us. You’re the best commandos, so you had been recruited in this operation. Our intelligence has spotted a group of terrorists in Kashmir. We have already identified their base camp in the forest. You have to go there and attack them. Before that I prefer you to know each other. Our journey will start tonight, I will be in a distance with a technical team to guide you. Are you ready?”
“Yes Sir”, all said.
“Fine, Jai Hind”.
“JAI HIND”
All of them got out of the cabin.
Karan said, “Sukkha, we heard that you married a girl named Simrit?”
“Yes she is pretty”
It was 8 o’clock at night and 4 hours to start the mission. All of them gathered at the base camp gun storeroom. Each of them picked up their special guns, grenades, and other equipment. They wore bullet proof jackets, helmets and night visions. They got in the black Hummers which would take them to that spot. Everyone was ready. Cornel and technical team would be at about 500 metres from the spot. And a medical team would be there too for any emergency.
“They reached the point at about 11:50 pm. Those Hummers stopped about 150 metres away from the operation spot. They exited the vehicles and started to walk.
“Now split into 4 groups and enclose the area," Cornel ordered.
“Copy that”
“Group 1, use thermal vision and recognise the number of enemies.”
“Group 1 reporting there are 17 enemies.”
“Engage”
“Roger that”
4 Groups got close and started bombing in the centre of the camp. All terrorists came out and scattered commandos started to fire. All enemies were killed.
“Team, This is Sukhbir, heading to the point for a check.”
“Proceed”
Sukhbir entered the camp and started to search for alive enemies. Suddenly a bullet directly hit his lung. He fell on the ground. it might be one of the half dead enemies.
“Team, there are enemies ahead, be careful.” He reported.
Before he could think of anything else, a grenade rolled in and blasted him. He was suffering with pain. He was not able to see anything.
“Promise me! You’ll return” he remembered those last words of his wife, her pale face, her wishes and those tear drops.
Sukhbir’s blood was mixed with his tears. “Sorry, I couldn't.” He muttered.
“Goodbye!”, he said.
