The Anklet

The Train had started moving . She was holding on to my hand while running along the slowly moving train. Members of her family and my family were waving out to me from the platform. Train was catching up speed. She was not able to keep pace with the train. Then she slipped something into my palm and let go my hand, tears rolling down her cheeks.  Tears welled up in my eyes too. Prema was still standing there on the platform still gazing at the train till it went out of  sight.

Regaining my presence of mind I opened my palm. There was one silver anklet of Prema. I smelled it. It still carried her body odour which by now I was very familiar with. We were married and together for forty days. For the first time after marriage on 12 June 1985 we were getting separated. I was going back to my Unit 10 Sikh in Meerut which was moving shortly for a tenure in Tangste, beyond Leh and further to Siachen Glacier.

I always carried the Anklet with me, close to my body. I never washed it, lest I lose the fragrance of my beloved. It helped me feel her presence always with me.

I wanted to give it back to her whenever I met her and make her wear it personally. Unfortunately I lost it while on my train journey to Belgaum for my Young Officers course. (I loved the jinglng sound of her anklet, while she moved around, wearing it). It took me quiet some time and explaining to convince Prema how I lost it. I don’t know if she has forgiven me for that.

To day is 12 June 2020. 35 years have passed since our marriage. We are a Happy and Blessed couple . May God continue to shower his blessings on us, our son Kartik, daughter Tarunya, Daughter-in-law Pratibha, Son-in-law Ganesh and Our Grandson Reuben and none the less our pets Bucky & Zizu as well as our lovely Love birds.

Col Ramesh R

12 June 2020