And He Left The Strongest Woman Behind | Post by Yashasvi Sharma |

We were driving back from school to our home. Ms. Shweta and I usually skip our van after school, just to go along with Ms.Heena, those 40 minutes are still not enough for ladies.

Ms.Heena is a very simple lady among our teachers' staff. She has a good collection of cosmetics she used to say I spent mostly on perfumes, lipsticks, and nail paints. Although she never put makeup on regular days.

I still remember it was a Red Day celebration in the Montessori wing of our school. All the teachers supposed to wear something red. "Heena used to come slightly late if the principal saw her coming late today she'll burst on her," said Ms.Shweta in panic voice, suddenly I got Ms.Heena's call, "Yashuu!! what would I do yaar there's a lot of traffic on the road I don't know why all the folks have come on my way today. Please do one thing my dear open up the back door I am parking my car and reaching at the door come and pick me up." I laughed out louder and immediately rushed at the back door.

Our lady in red was wearing fine silk kurta with white plazoo she was saying something to me with ruby red lips but I was stunned, lost in her beauty. Oh! my god really bindi haan. She was looking like a goddess. Everyone was happy to see her in this get-up. Our nanny suggested to her "Madam aise hi aya karo roz" she felt shy and said, " I'll try if I get up early in the morning."

Being an army officer's wife is not an easy nut to crack Ms.Heena often tells us stories about army life. Although she usually complains about it, yet her love for Lt. Col. Rajneesh Parmar is above everything.

Col. Parmar was posted to Missamari (above Assam) during those days. From being a part of 75 Armed Regiments to a successful flying officer in aviation he followed his passion to serve the nation very dedicatedly.

"You know what Yashu, we army wives are very strong, actually we have to be, Rajneesh and I went to a lot of separation. He can't carry me along with him all the time, as I am the one who sucks his blood and irritates him the most. To put me off from his neck he plays very smartly with me and my son Abhiraj".

She laughed and continued, Abhiraj is attached to Rajneesh more than me, both of them gossip every evening on phone and Rajneesh loves listening to meaningless chatter of Abhi. When we three are together, I feel so left out they threw me off from their fun.

"Aah!! Diwali is coming I want to buy same to same kurta pajama for Abhiraaj and Rajneesh both papa-beta like orange color, suggest something, from where can I buy good stuff in Bikaner", she inquired. "I hope my army officer Pati will get a holiday this time as he bluffed many occasions, I don't think his fauj would leave him. I used to tease Rajneesh by saying your fauj is not going to spare you a holiday so easily. She mentioned both of them were planning to surprise her Diwali day it was her birthday though she partially knew that it'll be a big surprise for her as Col. Parmar was planning to take leave.

Suddenly! She pressed the breaks harshly we were an inch away right behind a roadways bus. Our hot-headed lady shouted at the bus driver. She looked irritated. She got cautious and said "Aaamm!! I mean these drivers nowadays are very careless.

Actually, It's Rajneesh's birthday today and I haven't heard from him since morning, its weird he always manages to call me before and after his flight. Today he was supposed to fly at 1'o clock and it's 3.30 now". Early morning Abhiraj had called him to wish happy b'day. He could speak to him and wish his than he asked where is mamma so he said mamma is getting ready for the school and she'll call you back in sometime. On my way to school, I kept trying his number but he was out for his sortie so his phone was switched off. He had dropped in a message with Abhiraj that he'll call me whenever next he finds the signal, never thinking that it was his last call for his wife and son.

She sounds tensed maybe there is a weather problem, fog is very common these days in Assam but he didn't give me a chance to wish a happy birthday. I think I should approach any of his coursemates and confirm what is happening, what they have planned for the party. They won't get settled in less than 2 cartons of liquor which they call "Amrit". I need to know what they are up to". Heena Ms. kept trying his number through thinking that somewhere it could be connected and she could wish him. She left a message in the morning which is still unread.

How 40 minutes had passed we didn't realize, Shweta Ms. and I reached our destination. I opened the door by saying "next time we'll listen to all the army stories from Col. Parmar on the dinner table", she nodded her head gently and smiled. Sure he has a lot to tell. Three of us reached home safely.

Same evening Ms. Shweta and I had plans. I was getting ready to meet her. Unexpectedly I got a call from one of my colleagues I was in a hurry I ignored her call, just after Shweta Ms. called I felt something unusual.

The moment I picked up her call, she couldn't hold the phone properly her hands were shivering and ended up by saying " Yashu I have something to tell you Heena's husband passed away in a helicopter crash we need to be with her".

I couldn't felt my feet my heart stopped beating for a moment her smiling face came to my mind. The moment I open TV every news channel was covering the headlines " Lt. Col. Rajneesh Parmar lost his life in a Cheetah helicopter crash today" he Martyred on his birthday 27 Sept 2019.

We rushed to her house immediately. The moment we reached we could feel the weird silence and saw two army vehicles outside at the main gate, few men were standing nearby those vehicles they seemed like Col. Parmar's coursemates. With shaking hands, I pushed the door and entered into the main hall we saw Abhiraj was roaming around, he gave us unusual smile and said Mumma is here please come.

Heena Ms. was sitting quietly on the couch she was discussing the route plan with an officer how they can get the martyred body to his native place (Palampur, Himachal). The moment she felt we entered the room, everyone left us for a few minutes we hold her hand, she burst out yet controlled herself and said: "In the afternoon you were asking about army stories this is what happens in the army".

Abhiraj doesn't know about the accident yet. I need to react normally in front of him. I'll tell him in isolation. She was looking forward to arranging further things and handling all the things single-handedly.

That day I realized how strong a woman can be.

We always hear about such news often in the news and forget. Trust me we civilians wouldn't bear this pain.