SALUTE
I have always been quite proud of
myself, especially for being able to find happiness in whatever little I have,
and also for having the authority to say with pride that I have earned every
bit of what I have,be it respect, love or friends, but only until I saw a fire
that lit those beautiful eyes, fire of pride that could beat any other emotion
on earth, and that is when I knew what keeps our soldiers safe and sound in the
borders.
Aditi was 20 when Mayur first
left to the border. Like every other pampered daddy’s girl, who just got out of
a lavish and happening college life, she did not even guess what her bestie was
walking into and neither did he try to explain. As we stood on the railway
station, munching on potato chips and passing the cold bottle of cold drink
around, I noticed Mayur pulling Aditi’s perfectly braided hair and vanishing
into the railway coach. They have always been naughtiest of the lot,and also
the ones with the biggest hearts. Their friendship dates back to 9thstandard,
when every boy considered every girl a potential enemy, no matter how sweet she
may be. They had set a different standard all together in the world of high
school friendships, by hanging out with each other without giving a damn to
what people did to break their bond. They stood by each other in thick and thin.
Thus inviting the ‘obvious’ criticism, judgment and lot of jealousy.
Mayur was tall, well built ,fair
and daring just the way all the high school girls liked boys, and hence the
obvious fan following and a hundred girls drooling on him. Aditi was everyone’s
favorite, with big dark eyes, wide smile that formed dimples and pin straight
silky hair. I am sure she was a regular visitor of most of those high school dudes.
They were just perfect. Though they never quite accepted it, everyone who knew
them very conveniently accepted and sank into the concept of them being there
for each other no matter what for a lifetime. No one proposed, no one accepted,
nobody made promises and nobody demanded anything other than ‘belief’.As years
passed by,I only saw their ‘belief’ grow stronger and their heart grow bigger.
Now,8 years later, when we have all found our ways and settled into our lives.
I see much more than just ambition or dreams for a better future in her eyes. I
see fire that shouts out love, passion and more than anything else, respect.
The kind of respect that only an army man’s girl can have for her man. The kind
of fire that can fight any dark force to protect her man.The kind of fire that
only glows prettier and stronger with each passing day,while she prays for her
man who is playing with his life to save thousand others and she waits to see him come back into her arms safe. The only kind
of fire that can stand any test of time and ignite your souls.
