<Name> was standing upright and still, his eyes were swollen and red due to lack of

sleep. The temperature had gone so low that he could feel the chills along his spine as wind
blew. Each breath he exhaled gave him warm sensation of being alive. Among the few people in
his squad he was the one who took over the night watch of the guard post near Siachen glacier
at freezing temperatures.
Standing at 6ft 2in he had deep brown eyes, black hair and an athletic build that every
girl would dream of. He was very charismatic, intelligent and always had a way with the words.
People around him adored him, but <> was the only person whom he had greatest regard and a
very special place in his heart, because he could always be the person he is and never choose
his words to be impressive around her and yet be loved for being himself. Though he had a
great academic record it was always his childhood dream to serve the country by joining the
Indian Army. <> always feared this, she wouldnt want the only person in her life staying
hundreds of kilometers away. After all, how on earth can she be happy when the person she
loved is involved in the risk of warfare.
He still remembered the day when he boarded the train from his little town being happy
and terrified at the same time, anxious to reach his goal and finally do what he wanted from his
childhood. The only thing that bothered him was the fact that he wont be seeing her every day,
being unable to hear her soothing voice for a long time. Even though she was not happy with
him leaving, she never uttered a word to him regarding this and always said Whatever makes
you happy. That day her heart was beating so loudly that she could hear them as she watched
the train moving slowly and him waving at her. She kept on watching as the train disappeared
at a distance while she sunk down to her knees.
His troop was stationed 2 miles north of a small village Warshi, i.e. 8 miles downstream
of Siachen Glacier. That night was like every other, just pitch darkness and the buzzing cold
wind. Sipping the rum now and then from the metal flask really did help him to beat the cold;
however that wouldnt help to keep him awake. In weather conditions like that one cant take
the risk of falling asleep let hypothermia set in. Amidst the haunting silence there was a loud
explosion. He could see a pillar of smoke rising to south of his post, he was sure that it was from
Warshi.
He started running towards the village while gasping for breath as its really hard for
anyone to run while their legs are covered in 2ft of snow and the cold air never helps. Few
more explosions followed, after running for 15mins the village was visible at distance. All of the
sudden he saw a shell hit just 10-11ft in front of him, before he could react the damn shell
exploded, sweeping him of his feet. Though landing was soft due to the snow, A huge chunk of
hot shrapnel from the shell hit his face scaring and scorching. The pain was unbearable; another
piece of shrapnel had pierced his right thigh and left him immobilized.
<Name> wanted to scream like he had never done before but he couldnt even make a
small sound. He was just lying there in agonizing pain just like a dead animal, unable to move,
unable to scream. His heart started to slow down and his brain started to shut off due to the
pain. He could see a bright light and from the sky <> running towards him. She sat beside him
and placed his head on her lap running her hands through his hair. Tears rolled through his
eyes, for what is a better way to die than in the arms of the loved ones. He slowly closed his
eyes while watching her smile before waking up screaming form the pain, shivering
uncontrollably. He felt people restraining him and a cold needle pierce his arm before he
blacked out.
A week later he woke up with a heavy head unable to feel his body, dazed and no sense
of his own whereabouts. He could make out the small room being covered in white sheets and
smelt anesthetics, he was in hospital for god sake. He felt his bandage covered face but he was
unable to move his right leg. Once the bandages were removed he went to check his face in the
mirror and it was a horror. Most of his face burnt due to the hot metal which clung on to his
face. He couldnt recognize the person in the mirror, he was in disbelief and horrified at the
image that formed in it; his mind just went blank.
He looked at the letters which he had got when he was unconscious for a week. What
would she <> say? <> knew she would cry her eyes out looking at him. What if she wont be
able to even identify the same old person behind this horrific face? What would he do and
where would he go without her? With all these questions haunting him, he wrote a letter
saying He would be returning home after a week.
He boarded the first train he could find once the military relived him so that he can
recover faster. After a long journey, he reached his hometown. He got down onto the platform
with his languages in his left hand and a clutches under his right arm searching for her, hoping
that she would have come to receive him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder right shoulder, letting go of his baggage he put his hand
on it. He was sure it was hands of the same woman of whom he was searching for past three
minutes. Turning slowly a tear rolled down on to his cheek running up and down the ridges
formed from the burns. Upon seeing her it was like people around him paused for a moment,
he was waiting for her to speak something. <> hugged him tightly and <Name> could her in her
soft voice I love you, Son.