Page 107 - Love Story of a Commando

15. When the Stars Speak

We moved out of the ruins, only to find an area of thick undergrowth sloping
steeply into dense forests of rhododendron, chinar, spruce, birch and juniper.
The forest was buzzing with sounds and the drowsy hum of insects. I was
trotting along with him, trying to keep up with his fast pace. He picked his
way carefully through the forest and we soon encountered the higher rocky
reaches of the mountain which told me that we were no longer in the plains.
I could see some caves in the distance and massive boulders.
‘Do you hear that?’ he said. ‘I guess there is a stream around here.’
I nodded. Frankly, I did not hear anything except jungle sounds.
‘There it is! We can go back much sooner than I anticipated,’ he said
happily, and produced a very tiny torch from his belt and lit it.
Suddenly a burst of gunfire came our way.
Virat jumped to a cover position taking me along with him behind a
boulder, which provided excellent cover. He immediately returned fire,
following the direction of gunfire. There was a return of gunfire from the
other side, bullets ricocheted off the boulders with deadly unpredictability.
Then a couple of grenades flew in, bursting dangerously close, sending
splinters flying. The militants were hiding in a cave up in the mountains,
using it as a complex cover, surrounded by rocks and trees and at a tricky
elevation. The forest sounds were replaced by the sounds of gunfire which
continued for several minutes.
I crouched down and cowered behind him, with my hands over my
ears, which were ringing because of the firing. The burst of gunfire died
down after some time. Virat settled down near me and started reloading his
gun with lightning speed. Meanwhile, the firing from the other side resumed.
He said, ‘Riya! Don’t worry! I think it is just two of them. I will take
care of it. You are safe, don’t worry.’
‘I know I will be safe. That is not what I am worried about,’ I replied
meekly.
‘Then?’ All the while counting his grenades.
‘I am worried about our fate together. Are we destined to meet in
such circumstances? Last time it happened, you abandoned me just like that,
are you going to repeat that?’
Tears were rolling down my cheeks.