She woke up feeling pukish and rushed to washroom. It wasn't the first time, it happened like from past one week. She took the pregnancy kit and tested to know if her doubt was true or not. That day was the day where happiness is filled in everyone's life.

Everyone was playing with colours outside. Whereas Raksha was so happy that she got conceived.

Few months ago

She got married to Arjit a year ago. He is working in Indian Army. Though he asked her to think about her decision, she said yes to him.

She knew that his life is always at risk and she was not scared of it. She was ready to get married to him, she was proud to be a wife of an army man who worked for the country throughout his life.

He got a leave for two months when they got married and those two months were totally bliss for them. They loved each other and got addicted so much that they couldn't live without each other. Every relative had an eye on the most adorable couple.

Soon the two months passed in a blur. The day has come when Arjit had to go back to serve the nation. All the family members went to the railway station to bid him bye.

He was packing his bags while Raksha just stood in a corner trying to control her sobs.

"Raksha, I know what you are feeling right now! But I can't help it dear! I have to go and protect the country from all the evil forces. Just remember I love you! But duty comes first, I can't keep on extending my leave too! There might be someone who has more emergency than me", he said trying to make her understand.

" I know Arjit! I can understand! The nation needs you more than me right now. I love you. I will always do. Please take care of yourself ", she said and smiled faintly with moistened eyes .

He kissed her forehead and pulled her into one last hug before he left.

Present

She noticed an army jeep coming in the direction of their home. She felt a weird sensation in her stomach. She didn't get good vibes. All negative thoughts roamed in her brain. She wasn't ready to face this yet!

She just sat in her place rooted. Her mother in law rushed outside seeing the jeep coming. She waited there to see two of them carrying his dead body which was covered with a national flag.

Raksha felt the world around her spinning and she ran without thinking a second.

One of them gave her his belongings along with the national flag and saluted her. She broke down on his body and cried her heart out. She had to be ready for this, she mentally prepared herself too but never expected God would take him away even before he saw his child's face.

The last rites were done and she sat in a corner beside his photo. On the day when everyone was happy playing with colours and hoping that their life will also be filled with colours, her life lost its colours. She grew strong to live with her unborn child. It wasn't easy to live in this society as a single mother. She thought she would do anything but give her child everything he/she needs.

From that day, there wasn't a day left when she was lonely and when she craved for Arjit's love more than anything. She was happy, but now she is a widow blessed with a bundle of joy. The irony, she had to be happy and sad at the same time.

The day has come when she had to give birth. She gave birth to a baby girl but the thing was she was having some health issues. This left her more heart broken but didn't give up on her girl. She decided she would make her girl strong so that she would be able to live in this society without any fear or something.

"Raksha, will you go and live with your mom for some days? You must be missing them right! ", her mother in law advised.

" No aunty! I am good here! I have memories with Arjit here. I don't want to leave this home", she said.

"Okay dear! As you wish. We will have to name the baby dear", she reminded Raksha.

" Yes aunty! I am still thinking for a name", she replied.

She searched for many names but she couldn't find any perfect name which could be perfect for her baby. After searching many things she found a perfect name and that made her heart feel content. The name was "Valli".

Few years later

" Valli dear, Are you ready? The school bus must be here anytime", Raksha shouted from the kitchen while packing her tiffin box.

"Yes mom! I am ready", she said and sat on the dining table reading something in her book.

"Enough of studying  Valli! Eat first! ", she kept her book aside.

" Mom, please feed me! I will study", she wailed like a kid.

" Okay! You study then. What exam do you have today? ", she asked.

" Physics mom! I am ready for it just cross checking", she said and quickly completed her breakfast and rushed to school.

Just like every evening she came back and sat with her mother.

"Mother! I also want to join the army. I also want to fight for the country just like father did", she said awkwardly.

" Really Valli? But why do you join the Army? Is it because of your father or your love for the country? ", she asked.

" Amma, I love our country ! I also want to stand at the border and fight for the nation. I want to protect our nation", she said with great determination.

" I am happy with what you said dear! Have you thought about all the things which you have to go through for army training? Are you sure you want to do that? ", she asked.

" Yes mother! I am ready. Had father been here with us. He would have been happy with my decision, right mother? ", she asked and Raksha nodded.

"Mother! I know you are scared and worried. But trust me there isn't a better job than this for me. Remember mom you always said to me 'We should not think what country gave to us, we should always think what we gave to the country'. I want to protect my country and it's people, mom. I don't care if I lose my life because of that. I will be happy I gave my life for the country and maybe my one life could save many people's lives ", she said and Raksha couldn't believe what her daughter was saying. She wondered when her daughter became so grown up.

" You know Valli! These words made me forget all my worries and the struggles I take to reach till here today. I am sure you will make me proud", she said and patted her.

For a few minutes she hallucinated Arjit in her and her eyes moistened. She quickly wiped her tears.

Valli turned 18

"Mother! It's time for my training time! I need to hurry up or else sir will scold me", she said and rushed out of the home.

She has been working hard to get selected in Indian Army. The first time she applied was the year before and she was rejected.

Though she was sad and broken that she didn't get it, Raksha motivated her to give it one more time. This time she worked even harder to match all the standards of the Physical, Medical and Written examinations. She attempted all the exams this time and she was so happy she got selected.

It was Holi again!

Raksha was watering the plants in the balcony and she looked towards the gate to find her daughter Valli coming into the home in her Army uniform.

She couldn't believe her eyes! She felt happy, the same day a few years back she lost her husband and all the memories from then till today came in front of her eyes.

While Valli back hugged her mother and jumped like a kid.

"Mother! Here you go! You are the mother of an army woman", she said smiling.

The colours which faded on the same day came back into her life seeing her daughter like this happy in the army dress.

" Mother! What happened? Where are you lost? ", she nudged her.

" Nothing Valli! I have lost your father on the same Holi day! You were in my womb back then. I was so sad and broken. I thought I lost everything! You came as a colour into my life. You painted me once again. Now I can die happily", she said.

"Mother what are you speaking? Please don't talk like that", Valli said feeling a pang in her heart hearing her mom.

" Where is your posting? ", she asked, diverting the topic.

" Right now in Delhi for temporary training basis, mother. Later on it will change", she said.

"When should you leave? "

" In 15 days mother! Lets spend more time till I go. I don't know when will I get this chance again", she chirped and Raksha nodded.

They spent time all the 15 days doing things which they loved to do.

The day has come when Valli has to leave.

"Mother, take your asthma medicines on time. Don't skip meals. I love you", she said and smiled.

" As you say captain ", Raksha imitated like a subordinate which made Valli smile.

" I told Ani brother to check on you often. If you ever feel lonely or something don't forget to call me. I will call you back when I am back from regiment ", she said.

She noticed her mother being silent. She made her mother sit on the bed closing her suitcase.

" Mother, I have been seeing you since the time I have learnt to know the world.  I know how hard you worked for me. Every day you learnt new things and made your own job and never made me feel that I don't have a father to do this or that. You alone  have become my mom and dad. Is there a thing left which we didn't do like every child out there did. You faced humiliations, you faced obstacles, sometimes I made you sad but you never gave up. You never gave up on me. You thought about me from the time before I was born. I never felt guilty or sad writing my mother's name as my identity, trust me I never did. Though you lost your father in the army you still agreed when I asked you that I want to go to the army. I can't thank you enough for what all you did for me mother. I love you so much mother. I don't know, I really don't know what I would have been without you", she gave a long speech and hugged her mom. 

Surprisingly she didn't hug her back, Valli felt it was weird. She pulled back to find that her mom, her everything passed away in her arms.

"Mother! Please mother wake up! Mother!", she tried to wake her up without knowing she went away into a deep peaceful sleep from which she would never wake up.

"Mother you can't leave me like this! Come back", she said and fell on her body crying.

Sometimes some people are with us all the time in our journey of life. Sometimes they are with us all throughout our journey but leave us to success alone.

Raksha, being a widow mother was successful in raising up her daughter into a good human and gave her all good values. Only her daughter was able to fill her heart with happiness by making her proud.

The End.