It happened in Bombay

MISHTI

War..... It truly takes away everything from us. Being an army man's daughter Papa always told me it's glory to fight for your country. Mummy on the other hand was always scared for Papa's life.

FLASHBACK

"Mishti... I will have to be there for my country. You know I would do anything to be with you right now but as a soldier I am needed there." He told me when I was waiting for him on the night after kaal raatri. It was some Bengali ritual, bride and groom had to stay away from each other after their wedding for one night before suhaag raat. Little did I know I was going to face the longest Kaal raatri, which would be as long as my life.

They say if the foundation of your love story is made on someone's broken heart it will fall. But I never wanted to break anyone's heart when I fell on love.

But maybe the curse from his broken heart became the reason for my condition. 15 days after he left the news of his demise shook me to the core. "Mishti beta.. mein yaha tumhare uncle ko haisiyat se aya hu. Uski puri battalion Shahid ho gayi hai koi nahi bacha."
"Uncle, pata to kijiye shayad wo bacha ho. Please...."

"Mishti... Kuch jawano ko to bas rakh ho bachi hai, kaha se dhundhu batao"

My mother was angry with me for getting married to someone she never approved and breaking my engagement with her friends son, I guess her anger vanished away when she saw my empty eyes and empty forehead just after marriage. No mother would ever wish to her child like that. So my Papa retired Colonel Khanna and my mummy took me with them to their home again.

I sat on the floor holding my head, numb. I did not cry for 15 days, even his last letter could not make me cry. My eyes were all swelled because of the sleepless nights, I had dark circles and puffy face. I was a mess. I decided to keep myself busy with work so 25 days later I volunteered as a doctor at a military camp. The only reason to volunteer at a military hospital was the sole hope to see if was alive. What if he lived and come back. So I requested to be posted in the same war zone where he was posted last.

But even after the war ended he didn't come back. My heart still refused to believe that he was no more, but for my own sanity I had to accept the fact that he was no more.

The Mishti he loved was gone with him. What was left behind was just a body, I wished for it to finish soon.

FLASHBACK END

Two years later of that dreadful experience it was getting hard for me to live in Pune.
I decided to shift to Mumbai, in search of better opportunities and hope.
I decided to persuade my specialization so that I can keep myself busy. So now I was surgeon Mishti Khanna.

Pari my little sister who has been my strength came with me for their studies. But I know mummy asked Papa to send Pari  with me as I have asked
Her and papa not to come with me to Mumbai.
"Mein kar lungi Papa, surgeon hai aapki beti ab itna manage nahi kar sakti kya? Aur me jar hafte landline par phone karungi I promise!"

"Thik hai beta! Lekin hum soch rahe the Pari ka bhi graduation pura ho gaya hai. Aur humara bada man tha ke humari dono betiya masters kare. Mumbai me art's ke kitne acche colleges hai ise bhi le ja wahi addmission Kara Dena" Papa said.

"Aur Anshul ka to ro ro ke bira haal hai ke dono didi jaengi to main bhi jaunga use bhi le jao chota bhai hai tumhara!"
Added mummy.

"Mummy army school nahi hai waha use to yahi rehne do!" I argued and they had to agree.

Mummy and Papa want me to get married again. But I will never be able to love the way I did to him and I cannot let any man touch me, I only belonged to him.

Tomorrow is my first day in new hospital let's just see what happens in Mumbai?