War and Love - Part 2

Veer the general's horse was rushing towards the medical camp with all his might. As the soldiers saw Veer approaching, they moved in two crisp lines, making way for Veer and his beloved general to move forward. Time was not on their side. The general had already lost a lot of blood, and it was just a matter of time before he bid adieu to the world.

Veer reached the medical camp and roared as high as possible. The doctors and nurses came running to see what had happened. They saw the blood-bathed general lying on his best friend taking breath very faintly.

They moved him to a stretcher and started attending to his wounds. The doctors looked at each other who were treating the General with a heavy eye as somewhere they knew in the back of their mind whatever we do the chances of the general surviving these wounds seem to be near to impossible. Even if they stitch up the wounds he really needs a blood transfusion which cannot be done at the camp and for which he will have to be transferred to the main hospital which is 3 hrs away and his survival till then seems to be questionable.

As the general was breathing slowly he could see through the tent that his friend was staying in front of the camp not moving an inch. General could see his entire life flashing through in front of his eyes, each core memory having a long array of short glimpses of what happened in that decade attached to it. While seeing all this suddenly his mind got struck at the memory of the love his life. The Princess of the nation, the woman he had loved so deeply that he loved her more than anything in this world.

They had met as kids and grew up together completing each other’s sentences. Sprouted to become fine a Man and Woman stepping into adulthood together. He had joined the army fighting for the nation rising through the ranks while she was getting trained to be a fine diplomat. Whenever he had to go for war, they would meet before he leaves in a secret garden and hold each other hands for some time. He would keep his head on her shoulder or just keep his head on her lap attempting to get a small nap. He found peace with her, he felt at home when she was around, for him being with her meant everything in this world, being with her felt like heaven for him.

The royal family knew about them and had approved of their relationship. They knew how committed the General was to the nation and to the daughter of the nation. On a holy day in the presence of the Gods and elders they got engaged it was a marvelous and stunning day. The whole nation celebrated the day thinking it was just the beginning of the celebrations as they had announced the marriage to occur one month from now.

Even though being engaged it really became very difficult for the general and princess to meet as they had to be more cautious now as their relationship was in the open. They used to get a slight glance at each other once in a while but their love for each other was so strong that they never complained to each about not spending time with each other knowing exactly what the other person was doing, as it was something greater and it was for the nation. In between the general would make something up to visit the princess just be in her vicinity. She understood it was a way in which her partner was trying to show love for her.

As per the protocol, a wedding invitation was sent to all the neighboring kingdoms. They received a letter through a special messenger which is unusual for a thank you or confirmation note sent as a reply to a wedding invitation. The message was read in the Darbar and after reading the message there was a wave of shock floating through the faces of the people except that of the general. It felt like he had anticipated that something like this was to happen sooner or later. The message read “Hearty congratulations on the marriage, but we would like to inform you that we will be arriving a little bit early for the party with few lakh of our army. Let's do a meet and greet at the battleground for old time’s sake. See you at the war.”

The king was shocked by hearing this message from the neighboring nation, they had always been an irritating neighbor. Always looking for a chance to invade but they have never been successful, it seems like they never learn their lesson nor do they stop their futile try to take over the neighboring country.

The king was confident in the military prowess they had and about the general who was a battle-hardened soldier who did whatever it took to protect the nation. While all this was there a worry surrounded his thoughts as now the general was going to become his son-in-law the heir to the throne and was unsure of sending him to the war and what would happen to him if he took the decision to lead the troops in the war. He knew that the general would not agree to not go to the war or just sit at the palace while his fellow men fight the war.

Knowing this after the meeting he called in his daughter requesting her to convince the general not to go for the war rather than strategize and coordinate from the war room. With a half heart, she agreed to try but she already let her father know that he would never agree to such a thing and how he would react to such a request knowing him in and out.

The princess requested the presence of the general in her private chamber rather a informal setting to make a formal request out of personal aspect. The general walked in with his normal glowing aura, one hand on his sword and the other left loose to acknowledge the soldiers while he pass infront of them. The princess kept her request in front of the general with a stern demeanor after hearing the request the general was silent for a while, and then he spoke this is what you think of me, do you really think I will sit here sipping juices in comfort while my men are gambling between life and death on the ground.

The princess said "I didn’t mean to offend you but you are to be the next king and what would be the future of this nation if it loses its king, what about me how will I live if I lose you, have you ever thought about it. Do you know what I go through each time the war gongs are blown and you go out to play with death? I die each and every moment till you come back. Don’t I deserve a peaceful life with you, to have a family with you. Don’t you want this or am I nothing to you? Only nation and your pride in protecting the nation matters to you?"

Hearing the outburst from the princess coming out of her normal calm and poised manner truly just being a woman who is in love with a person who is going to go to war, the general mellowed down and responded. "My dear sweetheart, I love you with all my life and that’s what keeps me going on the ground among the swinging swords and flying arrows. It is the hope to come back to you, but you very well know the promise I made to this motherland when I took on the position as the general of the army, to protect this nation from the enemies and I can’t go back on it." He leaned in to hug the princess, giving a kiss on her forehead he said “Hereby by I make a promise to you that I will come back alive from this war to you and you very well know that I keep my promises.”

Doctors were frantically making all their attempts to stabilize the general so that they could transfer him to the hospital so that they could save his life. Seeing their innocent and genuine efforts the general spoke take me to the palace and let the princess know. The chief doctor spoke Sir it's very dangerous for you to travel in this state we can’t transfer you to any place unless you are stable. The subtle requesting tone suddenly changed I am not requesting you it is an order and do as I say. I know that I have very little time left and I have got a promise to keep.

He knew that he was going to die and he would rather die in the lap of his sweetheart rather on a stretcher.

Arrangements were made on the ground floor of the palace, equipment’s was brought in for all the procedures from the main hospital. The general was shifted to the palace hearing the news the princess came running to see her love. Seeing her he felt peace he felt that everything was now going to be okay. She hurried to reach him before she could enter the room the chief doctor informed her that he had barely some time left in this mortal plane. While she was speaking to the doctor, he waved at her with his hand trying to call her to come near him as he knew he had very limited time. Veer was standing outside the palace in front of the window to see his best friend.

The princess came near the general he struggled to get up she slowly lifted his head and kept it on her lap. A bright smile came on his face, and the general spoke “We won the war, and see I told you that I would come alive from the war to you and I have kept my promise. Now you can't scold me nor be angry at me” Tears started rolling down the eyes of the princess, she didn’t want the love of her life to have the last memory of her crying so suddenly she snapped out of it trying hard to smile, she spoke “You better did as you promised otherwise I would have killed you” both smiled at the comment made by the princess.

She gave a kiss on his forehead saying you truly kept all the promises you made dear to me and to the motherland. The general smiled at hearing this knowing his last moments had come he looked at Princess one last time to engulf all he could to his memory then looked out to see his bud he was already looking at him. He wrapped his right hand wrist tightly and raised it saying “Har Har Mahadev” To this Veer responded by raising both his legs and roaring with all his might for his friend one last time.

The general slid into immortality, there was a silence in the room. There lay on the bed a man who kept his word till the last breath, who Fought for his nation, who lived for his love. The folklore storytellers will tell the story of this great man the myth the legend. For the coming generation, his life will surely become an inspiration.