Mann Bharrya

Family

"Papa, Nani ne gulab-jamun banaye hein mere liye." 5-year old Atharva said to his father while jumping around.
"Are waah. Fir to hum bhi khayenge. Ek kaam karenge, jaise hi hum pahunchenge to aap nani se lekar gulab-jamun kha lenge. Maa ko nahi batana." Neeraj played along.
"Kya baatein ho rahi hein dono mein. Maa ko bhi to batao." Atharva giggled and ran to his room.
"Are.... achha Atharva apne card banaya tha na bhaiya ke liye? Use rakhna mat bhoolna." Meera called for her son.
Then she went in her room and started to fix her hairs. Neeraj went in and hugged her from behind. He hid his face in the crook of her neck.
"Ohho Neeraj, late ho jayenge. Jaldi se mujhe sab rakh lene do saaman. Tumhari adat hai, kuchh na kuchh last mein bhoologe hi."
"Are yar Meera, thoda late nikal chalenge na." And he tightened his grip.
Meera turned around in his embrace.
"Kya hua Neeraj? You look somewhat troubled. Bolo." Meera stared at his pale face.
He leaned in his forehead on hers and whispered,
"Kal nahi chal sakte kya? We'll leave tomorrow early morning."
Meera was slightly saddened but after seeing his face she immediately agreed.
She went to call her mother while Neeraj just sat with his head on her shoulder.
"Han Maa. Kal subah hi aa jayenge hum log. Pakka."
"Hum log aaj nahi jaa rahe?" Atharva asked innocently, from the doorway.
"Beta, hum kal subah pakka chalenge. Abhi Papa ki tabiyat thik nahi hai na." Meera said while looking at Neeraj.
"Par maine to angel ke 1st birthday ke liye flowers laaye the. Wo to ab kharab ho jayenge." He replied sadly.
Something happened and Neeraj got up and took his car keys.
He sat down on his knees in front of Atharva and said, "Hmm, agar aisi baat hai, to let's go kiddo. Hum abhi hi angel ki birthday party attend karenge."
Atharva ran back to his room,gleefully.
"Par Neeraj, we can..." Neeraj silenced Meera by kissing her.
"Maa-Papa ab main ankhein khol lu?" Atharva said, with his hands still covering his eyes.
Both Neeraj and Meera chuckled and took each of his hands went towards the car.
"Atharva apne seat-belt lagaya?"
"Han Maa. I am a good boy na." He showed his pearl whites.
"Major Sahab, apko alag se kahenge kya hum?" Meera chided Neeraj. To which he replied,
"Dekho, ye seatbelt lag nahi raha hai. Yaha paas mein aa kar seatbelt fix kar do." He smirked at her.
"Chup. Peechhe hi baitha hai Atharva. Jab dekho masti soojhti hai. Jaldi se seatbelt lagao aur chalo." Saying this, Meera turned her red face towards the window.
"Yes Ma'am" Neeraj teased her and started to drive. He stopped at the check post where the other soldiers saluted him.
He saluted them back and said, "Aur sab thik hai yaha? Any issue?"
The soldier immediately replied, "Sir, intel hai ki kuchh terrorists ambush ki taiyari mein hain. It's not safe for......" but before he could continue, shots were fired from all directions.
Atharva and Meera yelled, while for the first time in life, Neeraj felt pure terror.
"Meera take Atharva and get down. Jaise hi mauka mile to bhag Jaana use le kar."
"No Neeraj. Main tumhe chhod kar nahi jaa sakti hu. I want to tell you something." But Neeraj cut him off. He, and other soldiers were firing continuously while one of them was trying to ask for backup.
"Meera, abhi kuchh nahi. Take Atharva and go." But before he or Meera can open the door, one bullet went through the window and hit Atharva on the head. He immediately left the world. Neeraj stopped breathing while Meera was shattered. Neeraj yelled and got out of the door and started firing in every direction. But he too, got wounded by multiple bullets. He tried to turn his head only to see Meera's bloody hand trying to reach him. He dragged himself towards her and held her hand.
"I...am sorry....Neeraj..... main... humare bachcho... ko... nahi bacha saki...." She then turned to look Atharva.
Neeraj caught how she referred to the word 'bachche'. He looked at her to see her one hand on the bullet wound in her stomach.
He cried and struggled to breathe. The firing stopped a long time back.
Neeraj tried to speak with great difficulty, "I am... sorry Meera... I failed... to... protect my... family.... I..." He was getting breathless now.
Meera whispered "I am... proud of... you... mere Major.... I love you... till infinity.... see you.. on the other side... mera Atharva... akela hai..." and closed her eyes forever.
Neeraj's eyes closed on their own accord with his last words being... "I am... joining.. you guys..." and he left the world.

Hey guys. So this story was based on the original ambush attack in the north east. This news shook me so much that for three days I was just consumed by what they would have felt. An entire family, killed mercilessly and excuse being "We were not aware that the CO was with his family." My deepest condolences and respect to the martyrs and their families. Jai Hind 🇮🇳

The Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, had gone to a forward camp on Saturday and was returning when his convoy was ambushed.

"Five soldiers including Colonel Viplav Tripathi, Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The family of the Commanding Officer - wife and child - also lost their lives. DG and all ranks of Assam Rifles offer condolences to the brave soldiers and families," the Assam Rifles said in a statement.