The sun rose over the horizon,Randhir got up. He was leaning over a pillar to sleep.

He stretched his arms lazily, ruffled his hair. The monastery was filled with people. Some monks were cleaning the place, some other were arranging other things.

A monk gave food to Randhir. At evening, the monastery got lit by earthen lamps. Randhir looked at those glittering lamps. It dawned upon Randhir that it is Diwali's eve.

Buddhists celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps and celebrating Gautam Swami Buddha.

Diwali is the auspicious day on which Emperor Ashoka - after what is known as his killing spree in the Battle of Kalinga around 265 BC - decided to follow the path of Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate both Buddha as well as Emperor Ashoka on Diwali.

Emperor Ashoka started the Digvijay campaign on this day, thus the public had greeted them by burning lamps.

Also in Buddhism, after 18 years, Gautam Buddha returned to Kapilavastu with followers. Then Diwali was celebrated by burning millions of lamps in their reception by the citizens. During his first discourse, Buddha gave a new dimension to Deepawali (Diwali) by preaching: "Atha Deepa Bhava".

Randhir looked at the gleaming lantern and lamps, his heartfelt empty again. Loneliness hits you differently when it's a festive season, specially Diwali symbolizes togetherness and happiness.

People were celebrating the festival cheerfully. Randhir sat in one corner. His eyes watered, this time he let his withheld tears flow freely.

"It's not a day to cry, pray to the lord. He will help you" A monk spoke out to Randhir.

Randhir got up, he looked at Lord Buddha's statue peacefully.

"Randhir, I have prayed to Lord Buddha to keep us together always" Sanyukta spoke out to Randhir in a monastery of Ladakh.

"I prayed for our happiness" Randhir smiled.

"Life is like a coin. Pleasure and Pain are the two sides. Only one side is visible at a time. But remember the other side is waiting for its turn" An old wise monk spoke out to Randhir.

"Just waiting for the coin to turn" Randhir smiled.

He looked at the stars and the ever beautiful moon in the Tibet skies.

"Sanyukta one day you will come back in my life" Randhir whispered to himself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Randhir!" Sanyukta exclaimed.

She looked here and there. "Ugh...now Randhir is not only in my thoughts but dreams too" Sanyukta murmured.

Sanyukta looked it was 3 in midnight, the moon was shining and houses were also lightening up with Diyas and LEDs.

Sanyukta then remember she had forgotten to put some diyas in her own house.

She lit the diyas and put them on all the window sills of her apartment.

The stray cat meowed when Sanyukta placed earthen lamps at the Kitchen's window.

"Hmm...still here?" Sanyukta spoke out to the cat. The cat meowed cutely.

Sanyukta poured some milk and bread in a bowl.

The cat ate satisfactorily." Kitty you can stay with me" Sanyukta spoke out.

The cat meowed and wiggled her tail in confirmation.

The cat ran happily in the house, then it hid itself in the cupboard which Sanyukta had forgotten to close properly.

"Hey,kitten come out" Sanyukta spoke out carefully opening the panels of wardrobe properly.

The cat sprung on Sanyukta's lap, making some old documents fall off from the shelf.

"Kitty play with me tomorrow. Look you scattered some papers" Sanyukta spoke out sweetly.

A photograph fell off the papers,Sanyukta's eyes saw the picture of her and Randhir posing happily for the camera. A string of her heart got pulled.

She looked at the snap, with her thumb she cleaned the portion of the picture where Randhir stood. A few tears tainted the picture.

The cat meowed at Sanyukta." I am Alright Kitty" Sanyukta spoke out, wiping her tears.

Sanyukta placed the cat in a warm, comfortable blanket. She then placed the photograph under her pillow for reasons unknown to herself.

"I wish we were together" Sanyukta spoke out to herself when sleep finally made her restless heart shut.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"An army lives for the country, his priority is to protect everyone. Billions of people celebrate festivities because we are there to keep them safe and sound" A senior Army Colonel spoke with pride.

"Cheetah, you are selected for a great mission ahead. Now security of our country is in your hands" The Colonel spoke further to Randhir.

"I will either unfurl the flag or I will come back in tricolor, but I will come back to make everyone proud who believed in me" Randhir spoke out emotionally.

Next the sun rose up,Randhir said to Lord Buddha," May I return with victory".

He then thanked all the monks. Tibet has a strange climate of hot dry days and chilling cold winter nights.

Randhir made his way towards the hills. He kept walking towards his destination, taking breaks in between.

"Randhir, you are still sleeping, get up!" Sanyukta exclaimed, waking up Randhir .

Randhir looked at her face frantically, touching her nose and eyes," Are you for real Sanyukta! How did you arrive here? Were you following me?" Randhir shouted.

"I am always with you" Sanyukta replied, hugging Randhir.

Then she splashed water on Randhir's face playfully.

Randhir spokeout,"Wait, I will drench you in water".

He got up and looked for water resource nearby. There was a well with a bucket full of water kept at the edge.

Randhir took the water to splash on Sanyukta but when he turned Sanyukta was nowhere.

"Sanyukta!" Randhir exclaimed with moistened eyes.

"Hehe...." Randhir got up from his sleep, a few kids were splashing water on Randhir. Realizing it was just a dream, Randhir gave a sad smile to the giggling kids.

He then got up to walk again, still miles were left to reach his destination and his beloved Sanyukta as well.

Randhir sighed, but with determination and grit, he started his journey again to reach the place where the legs of several brave men trembled.