Hi guys...the concluding part updated
PART3 (CONCLUDING PART)
2 years had passed...since the proposal...Lakshya would keep coming for short intervals and they would meet up. They would be short, sweet meetings...with so much to say to the other person...Lakshya was a hardcore romantic...and Ragini was surprised to discover that. She secretly enjoyed the attention that Lakshya would bestow on her.
In one such meetings...Lakshya had taken her for a movie...she didn't like the movie much...but enjoyed Lakshya's company...and the way he held her hand throughout the movie...Ragini and Lakshya never spoke much...but the feelings were professed merely in each other's presence. It was quite evident to Lakshya that Ragini was becoming even more gorgeous day by day...and he was finding it difficult to stay away from her...
"Ragini...can I request you something?" ...Lakshya asked in a desperate done
She looked straight into his eyes...waiting for him to go on...
"I am going to be Squadron Leader very soon...and you have landed a very good job with a finance firm...I guess it's high time we get married..."
Lakshya never wasted words..."Next I would be coming back after 6-8 months...I think that would be an ideal time...what do you say?"
"If you are oaky about it...so am I"...Ragini smiled...she too never wasted words
In the moment of excitement Lakshya embraced her...which was their first in 2 years...it felt like heaven to them...they didn't know how long it lasted...but they lived their entire love story...from their childhood to the present day...In those moments
The feeling was eternal happiness
Lakshya left for the base in a few days...promising to be back to wed her...and make her his wife
...
6 months passed...
The situation at the border was tense. An assault from the neighbouring country was being anticipated soon.
The Udhampur base was an important air force base for all these attacks. Flight Lieutenant Lakshya Sareen was a crucial Air-force officer, who would be playing a vital role in launching the counter attack. He was a dynamic young officer...wih very sharp brains...and he would keep his cool during any crisis...which was very important in the military. Lakshya was expecting a promotion as a Squadron Leader very soon...he was a deserving candidate. He was an extremely happy man...very soon he would be uniting with dream girl of his life...Ragini...and also on the professional front there were so many accolades. He had assisted a counter attack a month back...and it was extremely successful...the enemy had to retreat.
That day was Ragini's birthday. He called her up from the base camp. There was a palpable excitement in her voice to receive his call. The calls from the base camp would be very infrequent, because of a multitude of reasons from bad weather to sudden attacks...but Ragini never complained. In fact she was very proud of the fact that her would-be husband was such an efficient Air-force officer.
"Happy birthday...dear...it's been ages since I have talked to you..."...Lakshya said apologetically..."How have you been? How's everything at home?"
"Thanks for wishing...everything is fine at home...we all miss you...I miss you"...Ragini replied meekly
Lashya really wanted to see Ragini's face when he heard these words from her...he wanted to jump in joy...she was as much in love with him...as he was with her.
"Really...you miss me?...so what do you do when you miss me?"...Lakshya asked in a mischievous voice
He could feel the awkwardness of Ragini at this question...
"Nothing Lakshya...I just remind myself that my would be hubby is an Air-force officer...who has tremendous heights to achieve..."...Ragini replied in an excited voice
Lakshya was delighted at this. For any army or air-force officer it was a matter of great happiness...if their wives are proud of their husband's avhievements.
"Ragini...I promise you...that when we get married...I shall take a month off...and take you to Kashmir for honeymoon..."...he paused when he said this...he felt Ragini blushed...but unfortunately it wasn't visible to him..."I shall make up for the all the time that I am away from you"
Ragini felt the guilt in his voice..."It is absolutely fine Lakshya...whether my honeymoon is for 1 day or for 1 month...it really doesn't matter...even a moment spent with you is equivalent to a year for me..."
Lakshya got a summon from his senior..."Ragini...have to hang up..see you soon...when I come back during my recess...for our wedding...Love you...aajkal sach mein neend nahin aati hain...badi lambi raat hain"...saying this he hung up
...
"Flight Lieutenant Sareen...the army base at Pathankot has been attacked...we are expecting an assault tonight...we must be ready...this is our strategy..."...Squadron Leader Abhay Nayyar explained. He was a strict yet light-hearted army officer...and he trusted Lakshya a lot...since he was a brilliant officer.
"So...Sareen...you and I will be leading the counter tonight"..."I have explained everybody's job and or strategy very well...any questions..." Nayyar asked in a firm tone
Lakshya was extremely proud...he was leading a counter...he wanted to share this with Ragini...but couldn't
...
That night Ragini was strangely uncomfortable...she had never felt this sort of a restlessness before...was it because their wedding date was nearer...but she had know about this before...
In her strange, inexplicable restlessness...she started humming her favourite song
"Jaane kya baat hain...jaane kya baat hain
Neend nahin aati...badi lambi raat hain..."
Why did this night look longer and darker?
...
...Lakshya put on the radio of his phone...his cellphone...did the work of a radio there...since receptions were very poor
"Jaane kya baat hain...jaane kya baat hain
Neend nahin aati...badi lambi raat hain..."
He felt her standing beside him...holding his hands...her looks...made his heart skip a beat...similar to the school days...
"Sareen...put off the radio...get ready"
Lakshya came back to is senses...he had a great job to do...he kept the phone...and went
"Everything okay Sareen?"...Nayyar asked
"Yes sir"...'..Lakshya replied
"Sareen...I have a good news to give you...since you are the only person with me right now...I am going to be a father soon"...Nayyar announced proudly
"Congratulations sir..." Lakshya said happily
"Come Sareen...we have an important job to do"...Nayyar said in firm but excited tone.
"Then...Let's do it sir"...Lakshya replied authoritatively
...
The MIG was hit badly...but before that...Nayyar and Sareen managed to destroy the major part of the opponents base
The plane was losing height...they had nothing to do
She was standing just in front of him...with open arms...smiling...looking ethereal in her red wedding lehenga...she looked like a Goddess...with the sindoor and mangalsutra...
Suddenly everything blurred out...everything was retreating...what remained was a sweet voice singing...
"Jaane kya baat hain...jaane kya baat hain
Neend nahin aati...badi lambi raat hain..."
A very long night...he passed into oblivion...forever
...
5 years passed
Ragini Sharma, the VP of a leading finance firm...was giving an interview
She had achieved a lot in the five years...she had won a young achievers's award recently.
But she never kept a penny for herself...she would donate the entire amount to the War Widows association.
"So Ms Ragini Sharma...I guess...you are the dream woman of very man...so when can we expect wedding bells"...the interviewer questioned excitedly
"But I am already engaged...the fianc had a gone for an assignment 5 years back...and is yet to come back...he is pilot with the Air-Force...when he comes back we shall get married"...she replied calmly
The interview was over with people congratulating her
...
She entered her room
That day still haunted her...she saw the body of her brother who was killed in the Pathankot base attack...and she got the news of the MIG crash...where the bodies were not recovered...two families lost everything in the war.
Everything changed after that
Her friend Swara...joined the army medical services...and deliberately opted for border postings
Ragini immersed herself in her job...she had to live for the sake of both the Sharma and Sareen family...and most importantly...hope against hope for Lakshya to return.
Though she knew this would never happen...never...but Annapurna auntie always gave her hope...if she was still waiting for her husband to return even after 20 years he went missing...it was just 5 years in her case.
But the wait was too long...it was her heart and brain in constant argument...the darkness was never ending
The song remained the same
"Jaane kya baat hain...jaane kya baat hain
Neend nahin aati...badi lambi raat hain..."
...yet the situation was different
The recess that Lakshya had taken was too long...it was an eternal recess...but she would wait till eternity
Concluded
Mangal Lakshmi
