THE SOLEMN PROMISE

VIVAN and DEBINA

''Vivan, why can't you take a week long break?''
''I can't, Debina. I'll ''Vivan, why can't you take a week long break?''
''I can't, Debina. I'll try to come home in a few days. I want to see you, our baby, maa, baba...'', Vivan tried to convince his wife, without any conviction.
Debina made a deep thump on the table and replied as loud as siren ,''What do you think Vivan? You weren't there when Ayaan was born; that poor kid has perpetually grown without a father; and now you aren't there for his younger sibling too. Why don't you divorce me? We've learnt to live without you. Your job, your duty, your life; it seems like we don't have a right on it. ''
''Debina, please..'', Vivan felt weak.
Debina hung up the phone. This wasn't typical of her. She was supportive of her husband, his job, his priorities; but she wanted some space in his life too. Vivan never had time for her. She was bringing up their son all alone, taking care of his aged parents, and was now expecting their second child. This was not a life she had dreamt of when she got married to Vivan against her parents' wishes. Even four-year old Ayaan would complain that daddy rarely came home, hardly took him out to ice cream parlors, Water parks, hardly accompanied him for the parent-teaching meetings in his school, hardly took him out on Sundays to buy games and toys. Being a mother and father both to Ayaan wasn't easy for her.
Debina called Vivan again.
"Listen Vivan, if you can't home this Diwali, if you can't be the first one to see your baby, if you can't make Ayaan sit on your lap; I will leave your house forever. I am going back to my parents.'' , She said sternly reminding him that he could not back out.
"No Debina, listen honey. Don't do this to me. I am trying my best to be home this Diwali. Please don't go. I want to see you, Ayaan and our second kid when I come back." ,He answered like a mature man.
"No, Vivan, this time I won't relent. You are not the only one who works in this world. There is a difference between personal and professional life. I don't have a place in your life. It's better that we live separately. I know that it won't make a difference to you." , said determined Debina.
"Debina, don't go. I beg of you. Don't go. Just stay. I promise you that I'll try my best to be back by Diwali to see you, my kids, maa, baba...", he defended.
"Oh Really Vivan? Thank You so much. You can keep trying. I know you won't come. Anyway, I don't want to argue with you anymore. If you can, do come home on Diwali to see the kids." Debina hung up angrily this time too.
On Diwali eve, Debina got a phone call. It was from Lieutenant Singh.
"Mrs Basu, How are you? How are the kids? Basu dada was a great man... India will forever respect him for being Major General Vivan Basu. Our army needs people like him. Selfless and brave.."
Debina had just woken up. She had given birth to her second child only a day back and felt weak. "What are you saying Singh Sir? What happened?" "Sorry... Sorry Mrs Basu.. I think you were sleeping. Please go back to sleep. I'll call later."
Debina was now worried. "What happened to Vivan? What happened to him? Singh Sir.. just say what happened?" "Madam, Basu da.. sorry to say madam, but Basu da got shot in his chest thrice... he is no more... His body will be reaching Kolkata anytime soon."
Debina dropped her cellphone and ran outside the house, hot tears blinding her vision. At the door, a few jawans were standing with Vivan's coffin. When they opened the coffin, Debina noticed that Vivan's eyes were open and his mouth had a slight smile.
Vivan had kept his promise.
He had come back home for Diwali to see his wife and kids. Before his last walk to the graveyard, Vivan would savour the beautiful sight of his wife, his kids, maa and baba with his stark opened eyes... come home in a few days. I want to see you, our baby, mom, dad...'', Vivan tried to convince his wife, without any conviction.
Debina made a deep thump on the table and replied as loud as siren ,''What do you think Vivan? You weren't there when Ayaan was born; that poor kid has perpetually grown without a father; and now you aren't there for his younger sibling too. Why don't you divorce me? We've learnt to live without you. Your job, your duty, your life; it seems like we don't have a right on it. ''
''Debina, please..'', Vivan felt weak.
Debina hung up the phone. This wasn't typical of her. She was supportive of her husband, his job, his priorities; but she wanted some space in his life too. Vivan never had time for her. She was bringing up their son all alone, taking care of his aged parents, and was now expecting their second child. This was not a life she had dreamt of when she got married to Vivan against her parents' wishes. Even four-year old Ayaan would complain that daddy rarely came home, hardly took him out to ice cream parlors, Water parks, hardly accompanied him for the parent-teaching meetings in his school, hardly took him out on Sundays to buy games and toys. Being a mother and father both to Ayaan wasn't easy for her.
Debina called Vivan again.
"Listen Vivan, if you can't home this Diwali, if you can't be the first one to see your baby, if you can't make Ayaan sit on your lap; I will leave your house forever. I am going back to my parents.'' , She said sternly reminding him that he could not back out.
"No Debina, listen honey. Don't do this to me. I am trying my best to be home this Diwali. Please don't go. I want to see you, Ayaan and our second kid when I come back." ,He answered like a mature man.
"No, Vivan, this time I won't relent. You are not the only one who works in this world. There is a difference between personal and professional life. I don't have a place in your life. It's better that we live separately. I know that it won't make a difference to you." , said determined Debina.
"Debina, don't go. I beg of you. Don't go. Just stay. I promise you that I'll try my best to be back by Diwali to see you, my kids, maa, baba...", he defended.
"Oh Really Vivan? Thank You so much. You can keep trying. I know you won't come. Anyway, I don't want to argue with you anymore. If you can, do come home on Diwali to see the kids." Debina hung up angrily this time too.
On Diwali eve, Debina got a phone call. It was from Lieutenant Singh.
"Mrs Basu, How are you? How are the kids? Basu dada was a great man... India will forever respect him for being Major General Vivan Basu. Our army needs people like him. Selfless and brave.."
Debina had just woken up. She had given birth to her second child only a day back and felt weak. "What are you saying Singh Sir? What happened?" "Sorry... Sorry Mrs Basu.. I think you were sleeping. Please go back to sleep. I'll call later."
Debina was now worried. "What happened to Vivan? What happened to him? Singh Sir.. just say what happened?" "Madam, Basu da.. sorry to say madam, but Basu da got shot in his chest thrice... he is no more... His body will be reaching Kolkata anytime soon."
Debina dropped her cellphone and ran outside the house, hot tears blinding her vision. At the door, a few jawans were standing with Vivan's coffin. When they opened the coffin, Debina noticed that Vivan's eyes were open and his mouth had a slight smile.
Vivan had kept his promise.
He had come back home for Diwali to see his wife and kids. Before his last walk to the graveyard, Vivan would savour the beautiful sight of his wife, his kids, mom and dad with his stark opened eyes...