Chapter 1

Abhigya OS -Beyond the Passing

Abhi listened intently and breathless as the explosives continued around him, he heard his fellow men scream as they were hit with shell fire. He watched his friend fall in pain as a bullet hit his back. He knew that one rule was to not go back to help but this was his best friend. He ran back to help him.

"No Abhi" He uttered coughing. "Go-"

Abhi ignored his words and tried to drag him across when a bomb dropped and he was hit with a bullet straight in his chest. Abhi fell back clutching himself in pain however still he smiled as he whispered his last words.

"I - I love you f-fuggy" His eyes closed.

~

Pragya awoke sweating and found that she had been crying in her sleep. She calmed her breathing down slowly but the restlessness was not gone. Why did he have to leave her? Why? She hated it when he was away, she felt scared and unprotected. She gently patted her stomach; it was only a week since she had found out that she was pregnant. Abhi was coming the next day and she couldn't wait to give him the good news. She would have written a letter but preferred to wait for him to arrive. She checked the clock to see it was five in the morning. She sat there for a few moments, why did she feel as if something bad had happened?

Pushing such thoughts away she freshened up to find the candle out. Pragya lit it up again and completed her morning prayers. She then continued with her little work in the kitchen waiting for his phone call. He always phoned her when he had arrived at the station. She had always told him to quit the dangerous job but he had said that fighting for his country was an honour and he wanted to continue. Pragya gnawed at her nails as the hours passed.

It was the afternoon and she was sitting on the sofa when the phone rang. She hurriedly picked it up and spoke.

"What took you so long? Where are you? When are you coming? Don't you know how long I have been waiting?"

But instead of the usual heart-warming reply she heard another. "I'm sorry, are you Abhishek Mehra's wife?"

"Yes?" Pragya asked in confusion.

"I am speaking from the hospital, I am sorry, he passed away in the early hours of this morning after a he was hit by a bullet, you may-"

Pragya dropped the phone in shock unable to react for a long time. She didn't know how she managed to get to the hospital in a numb state. When she arrived she saw his friend was there waiting for her and he comforted her. Even after the incarnation of his body Pragya didn't say anything, she didn't shed a tear.

It was only that night when she went to her room alone that she realised the bitter truth of having lost him forever. She walked to the balcony, it was night and he was gone. She fell to the floor as the awaited tears flew down her cheeks. Before she knew it she was wailing on the floor shivering, yearning for comfort but there was no one, he wasn't there to tell her it would all be okay. He was gone, he had left her alone and she was alive left with a heart that had no beat...

~

"Mumma" Aditi looked at her mum who was caressing her hair patting her to sleep.

"Hmm?" Pragya asked.

"Today at school the teacher was getting us to introduce our self to our class mates"

"Yes, and?"

"We had to say four things, our name, likes, dislikes and what our parents did" She looked up into Pragya's eyes that flinched.

Pragya didn't answer and Aditi continued. "I said that my papa fought for our country and that he was my brave hero, my superstar. The whole class clapped and I'm proud of him mumma, I wish I could meet him. Can I take one of his medals to show the teacher, she asked that everyone would be interested?"

"Of course" Pragya told her.

Aditi spoke after a pause. "Mumma, why did papa go?"

"Your papa was a hero and God decided to take him with him as a friend." Pragya told her.

"Dear God" Aditi closed her eyes as she did her nights prayer. "Tell my papa who is you're friend that we miss him a lot but we are very proud of him. But God you should let me meet him some day? When will I meet him? Please pass on my message to him that I and mumma love him all the way to the moon and back and that I never upset mumma. Good night" She closed her eyes. Pragya kissed her not saying anything as she could already feel the heaviness in her throat. Pragya looked at their innocent girl, she was so much stronger than her yet she was so young, just like him. She was the one that had made her heard beat again, smile again.

Aditi fell asleep shortly after and Pragya gently walked out and sat by the window opening it as she watched the night's sky with the stars twinkling. The moon shone brightly and Pragya breathed in deeply as a tear trailed down her cheek.

"I wish you were here, I wish you could see our Aditi, I love you and I miss you" She whispered out into the darkness.

There was no reply but the gentle breeze and the twinkling stars made her feel as if somewhere he had heard her and was still with them, looking over them always.