The morning sun cast a stark light over the military base, illuminating the faces of soldiers and their families, all caught in the bittersweet tension of duty and love. Misthi stood by the gates, her hands clasped tightly around Abir’s, unwilling to let go. The sounds of the base filled the air—commands shouted, engines roaring, and the rustle of uniforms, all blending into a backdrop of uncertainty.

“Promise me, Abir…” she said, her voice trembling as she searched his eyes for assurance. “Promise me you’ll come back.”

Abir’s heart ached at the thought of leaving her. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “I will,” he whispered, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. “I’ll come back to you, Misthi. I swear it.”

“Don’t just promise me. Promise our child,” Misthi pressed, her grip tightening as if she could physically hold him back from leaving. “We need you. I need you.”

He looked deep into her eyes, willing her to understand the weight of his promise. “I’ll carry your love with me, always. And that will bring me home.” His voice held a quiet strength, but inside, he felt the heavy mantle of duty settling on his shoulders.

Misthi nodded, trying to find solace in his words. “You’ll be careful, won’t you? You’ll keep your head down?” Her voice broke, fear seeping through her determination.

Abir took a deep breath, trying to anchor them both. “I will do everything I can. But you know how this is,” he said softly. “I have to fight for our country, for our future. For our child.”

Her heart swelled with pride and fear at the same time. “I know, Abir. But the thought of you out there…” Her voice trailed off as the reality of the situation crashed over her like a wave. She gripped his hands tighter, as if that connection could keep him safe.

He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. “You have to believe in me, Misthi. I will come back. Just keep that faith, and I’ll find my way home.”

As he spoke, a distant horn blared, signaling the impending departure. The moment felt surreal, a terrible clash of love and duty. Abir took a step back, the warmth of her embrace lingering like a sweet ache in his chest.

“Just one more kiss, please,” Misthi pleaded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Abir obliged, leaning in to capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. Time seemed to freeze as their lips met, the world around them fading into nothingness. The kiss held the promise of their love, a shared vow that transcended the distance that would soon separate them.

When they finally broke apart, Misthi looked up at him, her heart breaking. “I love you, Abir. Always.”

“I love you too, Misthi,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion. “More than words can say. Remember that.”

With one last squeeze of her hand, he turned away, each step feeling heavier than the last. Misthi stood frozen, watching as he walked toward the trucks lined up and ready for deployment. The sight of him in uniform, so brave yet so heartbreakingly vulnerable, was a vision she would carry with her into the darkest nights.

“Stay strong,” she whispered to herself, the words echoing in the silence that followed his departure. “He will come back.”

But as she turned to leave the gates of the base, uncertainty gnawed at her heart. Would their love be strong enough to withstand the trials that lay ahead? The questions swirled in her mind, battling against the hope she clung to.

That night, as she lay in their empty bed, the silence was deafening. Abir's absence filled the space around her, and she reached for his pillow, inhaling the faint scent of him that lingered. It brought a bittersweet comfort, but it wasn’t enough.

Her heart raced with each sound—the rustle of the wind, the creak of the old house—every little noise amplified her loneliness. She closed her eyes, focusing on their last moments together, replaying the warmth of his hands, the strength in his voice. “I’ll come back,” he had promised. “I swear it.”

Those words became her mantra as she drifted into a restless sleep, the uncertainty of the future shadowing her dreams but never extinguishing the flicker of hope that glowed within her heart. Abir was out there, fighting not just for his country but for the love they had vowed to protect, and she would hold onto that hope with all her might.

But fate had other plans. The very next day, news reached the base that Abir’s unit would be deployed to Kargil immediately. The conflict had intensified, and every soldier was needed on the front lines. Abir and Misthi barely had time to say goodbye; their wedding garlands had not even begun to wither, and yet he was called away.

As they stood by the gates of the base, her hands clasped tightly around his, Misthi fought back tears, her voice breaking. “Promise me, Abir… promise me you’ll come back.”

Abir held her close, his heart aching at the thought of leaving her. “I will,” he whispered, his voice filled with determination. “I’ll come back to you, Misthi. I swear it.”

And with that, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, before turning and walking away, each step taking him farther from her, but closer to the duty he had sworn to uphold.

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