“One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I’d be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you.”
Grief comes in our lives in myriad forms and so does come bravery. Amidst the same, experiencing diversified emotions can be overwhelming. Maybe someone you loved deeply just took the last breath leaving you questioning how your future would look like without the absence of your loved one. While a few go on to grieve till their last breath, a few brave hearts like Nikita chose to be stronger than grief by overcoming it.
After the most horrendous terror attacks of all time, Pulwama Attack on 14th February, so many lives changed forever. Out of those lives, one was of Nikita Dhoundiyal, wife of Major Vibhuti Dhoundiyal who was barely 35 years old when he lost his life during the gun battle that lasted for 20-hours. Wrapped in tricolour, when his coffin arrived at his home in Dehradun, people from all walks of life gathered to pay homage to this braveheart soldier. Nikita was inconsolable and shattered but she mustered up courage in no time and accepted the reality. She was so devoted to the dream of making the soul of her immortal husband feel proud that she filled the SSC exam form merely after the six months of Major Vibhuti’s immortalization. For her, preparing for the exam was no less than embarking on a healing journey. When she wrote the exam, she felt a unique sense of connection with him while resonating with his anxiety and enthusiasm at the same time to join the Indian Army. Despite her full-time MNC job, she cleared the exam with the encouragement and support of her family.
Image Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/BuiZpUSAn6S/
An epitome of sheer courageousness, she passes on an extremely strong message to the wives of the immortals by persuading them to lead a purposeful life. It feels as if she is striving to remind them of this maxim “Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” as the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives, never die as the entire nation keep them alive in its memory. Joining the army evokes a mesmerizing nostalgia for Nikita as she will be pursuing training at the same academy where Major Vibhuti completed his training. Nikita’s grit and persistence are truly at par. As she chooses to walk on a road less travelled, we wish her all the success in all her future endeavours.
“I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.”
Very poignant story. But the brave lady has definitely set a standard. Prays and best wishes for her.
You are a very intelligent individual!