Page 87 - Love Story of a Commando

12. The Prime Minister’s Visit

Loving someone with all your heart and losing them can have apocalyptic
effects on one’s soul which can never be fixed by anyone else but by the
ones whom you have lost. You are never the same person again. The soul
dies a bit or maybe goes away with the lost love. You see the world a little
differently and you end up finding mostly dark grey shades in your once
colourful life. It hurts when someone you love remains in your heart and you
cannot take them into your arms. You cry, you sob, you shatter things, but
nothing can bring them back. Perhaps, they were never meant to be yours.
They were there for a silly moment to teach you the lessons of love,
life and pain all at once. It felt like even the Bermuda Triangle could not
hide me away from my miseries, memories and pain, and Kashmir was not
even that alien. Where could I have run away from my inner turmoil?
I sobbed into my pillow till daybreak, and the next day, I woke up
with a fog of fever. I was burning like I had been in a sauna for hours.
Susan visited me and brought some paracetamol and antibiotics with
her. Rafeeq had told her about my condition and she duly informed Mr
Ahmed Khan about my fever. He asked Susan to tell me to rest till I
recovered, and not bother about classes. I felt so relieved. Susan was turning
out to be one very special person in my life. She was nothing like me; we
both belonged to different creeds, nations and ethnicities. But our common
situation and loneliness bonded us in those snowy lands which were alien yet
beloved to both of us.
I smiled.
She asked, ‘What is so wrong with you? What happened to your
immunity? You looked fine just yesterday.’
I replied, casually suppressing my agony, ‘Nothing! Maybe just a
viral due to the weather change! You tell me what happened today?’
‘Nothing much! But yes, the kids were asking about you and they
played solitaire in your absence. I’d say you’re creating some genius
solitaire players here.’ She giggled.
‘Ha ha! Actually my idea of education is synonymous with having
fun. I mean, what would you learn if you didn’t enjoy it,’ I explained.
‘I know that, and the kids love you,’ she said.