BY ANIL SWAMY 

 

IT’S almost next to impossible to explain the logic of some strange events or happenings in life. My sister Joe’s husband was Commanding a unit on a peace station posting, in a town near LOC. All the families were living in a ‘Tension Filled Peace’ in the cantonment. Lt Ajay, the youngest officer, was the baby of the unit. A very Happy go lucky chap, very naughty, playful, mischievous, noisy prankster, fearless, brave and a powerfully built six footer, having a presence none could miss. He was extremely popular amongst the families and especially with the children as he would always mix, play and help them with their school home work. Vibrant and jovial and ever willing to accept any challenge or task with a grin, was the first choice of his superiors. Once while returning from an exercise he suddenly collapsed. It was unusual as even the most rigorous exercises or tasks hadn’t ever tired him. He recovered within soon to continue but Unit Medical Officer wasn’t amused, he wanted some investigations on priority and referred him to the Command Hospital, from where he was even allowed a short furlough to meet his fiancée. By the time he returned the bad news had already reached the station. He was suffering from a Metastatic, Malignant Brain Tumor requiring surgery on top priority. The atmosphere in the station and the mess had turned somber and painfully quiet. Lt Ajay jubilant and jovial as usual kept on chatting, promising to each and every one, “I am not going anywhere” assuring all that even God can’t take him away from his Unit. Entire station, families and children came to see him off while leaving for the surgery.

 

He smilingly reassured and hugged all the kids advising them to study well and wait for his return for a big celebration. Before hospital visit, his tickets were booked for Hyderabad to meet parents, where exhausted, he fainted on the door steps in front of his parents. Medical emergency prevented him to even reach R&R hospital and compelled surgical procedures at Hyderabad. Fearless Lt Ajay was operated at Hyderabad and continued his fight with a smile for nearly three months. He had deliberately severed his relations with his fiancée and her family and allowed only his parents and sisters near him. Off course, his Fauji friends were always welcome. His sisters would often cry requesting him to fight the disease but one night he called them near and told them to understand the unbearable pain he was in, requesting all to let him to go. He told his mother ‘I am too tired to fight anymore but I have a PROMISE to fulfill. With an effort he murmured, ‘I have told unit folks, I’ll be back very soon’. His strong mother cried for the first time, tears rolling down her cheeks, knowing he doesn’t have time for it now. Three days later he didn’t wake up. Entire fauji station drowned deep in grief, finding it difficult to come to terms. It took weeks to normalise but the entire station including children kept talking about his ‘Promise’ he couldn’t fulfill, missing him all along.

 

One evening Joe, while walking with three ladies inside the cantonment area, saw a small a stray dog puppy following them. Joe, very fond of dogs, stopped and bent down to pat it and wanted it to turn back but it won’t. Suddenly, in left corner of her eyes, she glimpsed a man in uniform walking briskly beside them. She straightened up to have a better look and saw Lt Ajay walking and with a grin just stepping ahead of them. Stunned, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Other three ladies too saw him and had frozen with shock. By the time they faced each other and could react, he had turned the corner and gone. The small puppy had run back and was barking without a break. Unable to respond, numbed and speechless, the ladies quietly walked up to the ‘Mess’ to have ‘Nimboo pani’ kept ready in the lawn. Seeing them come, two mess boys ran out breathless with excitement to tell ‘just saw Lt Ajay sitting at the bar counter, grinning’. By evening, many people in the station had seen Lt Ajay moving around with a pleasant grin. Even children, playing football saw him standing under the tree, waving at them with a smile. Whether it was hallucination, imagination or dreaming a loved one? Till date none of them have an answer or explanation.