Muffins won, Love lost.

The telephone was ringing. Suzette rushed into the room to pick up the call at the last ring.

Michael- Hey, Suz.

Suzette- (catching her breath) Finally you got some time for me!

M-  Stop kidding, we talked the previous night, when you were half asleep, and were blabbering rubbish, remember?

S-  Yeah, yeah, was just toying with you, Hon. Each time we talk, I can’t control my laugh. You voice sounds so funny.

M-  These trunk calls are always like this. Laugh, go on, laugh at me!

S-  (giggling) The last line you said was even more funnier!

M-  Anyway, how was your day today?

S-  This morning I went to the side-street for laundry, and it rained from nowhere! I got drenched. And also our backyard is flooded and your favorite carrots have sunk.

M-  My poor carrots, save them. I will cook it up nicely, next time when I go home, also you need them for our little one, who is yet to come. Wait, did u just say you got drenched? Damn, I missed that scene!

S-  It’s good you missed. Since last 5 months I am missing you here. What about that?

M-  Madame, even I am missing you. But, nothing is in my hand. Just a month more, then I will back at Paris. And when I reach, only good times are bound.

S-  You and your good times are no different. Both of them don’t ever come.

M-  Hon...

S-  Don’t “honey” me! Until you come back here, don’t call me honey!.....

(There were some footsteps in the background. Then Suzette heard a heavy voice calling out, “Commander Michael Fitz, are you there? We have got a situation here.”)

.... Work at this hour? Sometimes, I doubt you married me or your work.

M-  Ok, Madame Fitz, I need to go now. Next time I call, we will continue from where we left.

S-  I am going to sleep. Bye!

M-  You and Your sulking! It’s been 5 years of courtship, 6 months to our marriage and, still you have that same habit.

S-  Don’t forget, in that 6 months of marriage, 5 months of our living separately! Now go.

Suzette hung up the phone went back to bed. With only the moon light coming through the window panes, her face illuminated radiance and her mind was tossed back into the “good old days”. She could see the flashes of the day, when Michael confessed his love, the day of her marriage and also the day when Michael left for Alsace Border Security Camp. She remembered every single detail about that day. The night before, with heavy heart, she had packed his bags. Each time their eyes met, there was only tears, after all it was for 6 months Michael would stay away from her. Separation is the last thing newly weds want.

That day, that time, that moment, which she never wanted to come, had arrived. She went to the station to bid goodbye to Michael. The train reached the station. It stayed for 15 minutes. Suz felt those 15 minutes were the shortest fifteen minutes of her life. Their eyes could speak to each other. The tears were never ending. The train blew a sharp siren, and both of them hugged each other, She didn’t want to leave him, but she knew she can’t stop the time. Michael picked his bags and walked to his bogie. For a last time, both of their eyes met. She gave a smile, the brightest she could. Michael waved at her. Then suddenly there was silence all around, resembling the silence in her moonlit bedroom. Suz pushed her head into the pillow.

The telephone rang. Once, twice, thrice...

S-  (softly) hello, who is this?

M-  Stop acting. I know you aren't sleeping. Must be munching something.

S-  Oh, it’s you. You know me so well.

M-  muffins again?

S-  Yes. I just love them.

M-  More than me?

S-  Yes. But you are my favorite muffin, but only after my strawberry muffin, which is my first love.

M-  Once I get to Paris. We will see who wins, your muffins or my love!

S-  Still a month left for that.

M- Actually Suz, the reason I called you is that there are three bad news. Due to some border intrusion alert, I will have to stay here for 2 more months. They promised a 4 months leave, after the alert is down, and a promotion.

S-  What? That means....

M-  Wait,  let me tell everything first. The second bad news is that I won't be able to be in touch with you as the new wireless systems will be set up, so they need time. And, third I will have to leave tomorrow.

S-  I should never have picked up this damned call. Don't talk with me. Bye.

BANG. The poor telephone couldn't sustain her anger. It cracked. But for her, it was more of a tremor. The strawberry muffin was thrown into the dustbin. She wept again, but this time it was endless.

A faint ray of light fell on her temple, as the sharp cry of cuckoo broke her sleep and her wish of seeing Michael back. She had to accept it. But, can she? However, one thing which she realized was that, time is like a fine water current, which carries everything with it and passes swiftly, but at constant pace. You keep up with the pace, you get to meet the sea, otherwise end up lost in the sand. She learnt to live it that way, letting herself loose in the tide of time, but not for long.

☆☆

2 weeks went by, but for Suz, it wasn’t less than 2 years. All by herself, she confined her emotions inside and waited eagerly.

☆☆

“Is this the house of Commander General Michael Fitzgerald?”. Suz could immediately recognize this heavy bold voice outside her house, which she recalled hearing during her call with Michael.

May be he has got some news about Michael's return. With all avidity, she ran to the front door and threw it open.

A black clad, mid-aged man with a Chaplin-ish mustache stood with his head drooped down.

“Yes, this is his house.” exclaimed the curious lady.

“I presume you must be Monsieur's wife. I am deeply sorry, madame, Commander Fitz....”

“What happened to him? Is he a’right? What's the matter”.

The next thing she heard broke her down. She felt like falling from the stars and hitting the earth, head on. She couldn’t believe what she heard. The man left hurriedly. Perhaps, he wasn’t trained for such situations.

She immediately set out for Alsace Army Camp, as was mentioned by the officer that three days later the Commander will be buried with honor. Suz reached on the day of burial. All the proceedings were being conducted. She couldn’t control her tears, when Fitz’s coffin was being lowered. She couldn’t see this, she turned down her eyes, just as the sun set down on happiness in her life.

Someone from behind tapped her shoulder, “Madame Suzette, I am Richard, Michael’s friend. He had said me to give you this note, just before he died. I could never believe he lost to a lunatic. He was shot from behind, completely off guard. His bravery and sacrifice won't be worthless. May his soul rest in peace.”

Suz held the note in her hand. She opened the seals, the essence of strawberries diffused everywhere.

Meanwhile, Suz overheard an elderly lady, whining through her tears, “How can God be so harsh to such an earnest man. He saved my family. Had he not saved us that night during the intrusion, my family wouldn’t have been alive. Blessed and proud must be his mother, his wife and his children to have him. May God place his soul in heaven. Amen.”

She opened the note which read,.

It was a complete amalgamation of emotions. The lady’s and the notes’ words echoed in her head. And suddenly, her tears stopped, and they made way for a bright smile, with a tinge of pride in it. She smiled at the lady.

Yes, I am his wife, and I am proud of him.

☆☆☆

Her pride radiated from her eyes, amidst the frozen crystals of tears.

I was a proud wife then, now I will be a proud mother.

She waved at her son, who was boarding the National Army Train. “Commander Fitz Junior, be like your father.” she shouted as the train gave a sharp siren and made it’s way, once again, to fight for the nation, to die for the nation.

---

The national cause is of paramount importance. It is a matter of pride that the soldiers have devoted their entire life to it. But stronger are those people, who are the parents, wife/husband, brothers, sisters, friends, etc of the soldiers. they have that heart to voluntarily to accept the pain and the pride. 

Long live the soldiers, long live patriotism!