It was a pleasant morning in late winters of Kashmir valley and as usual our soldiers, all dressed up in their olive green uniforms ( which is enough to swell your heart with pride and boil your blood to do something for your country) and well equipped with ammunition and their guns, were walking in streets patrolling and ensuring that no one dares to spread any hatred or do something vengeful. Today was really special day for Hindus specifically siblings as they celebrate Rakshabandhan, the beautiful festival in which sisters tie thread ( Rakhi ) on their brother's hand and putting Tilak ( mark on forehead with Roli or kumkum) they feed sweet and perform arti, while praying to God to bless their brothers with long lives. It's such a sweet and memorable occasion for which they wait for the whole year and today, when it was the day they were on duty. Large number of Hindu brothers are serving country as soldier, so it was almost impossible to get an holiday that too in kashmir where no one knows when will the situation get out of hands. So just reminiscing the sweet memories from childhood, soldier Abhay Dhaliwal was taking rounds, watching kids giggling outside their homes, elders sitting on tea shops, sipping Kahwa ( hot tea like liquid), and women busy in their households. After sometime, everyone started returning to their homes as it was curfew declared in valley due to the almost heated conversations and stone throwing on soldiers last week; they weren't allowed to sit together for long time. He kept watching them going and remembered how his sister asked that he's coming to rakshabandhan that year or not? His voice cracked up while denying his little kiddo's hopeful voice. But again, what could he even do? It's like it wasn't in his hand to take decisions, or he'd have never let his sister end up crying like this. His heart broke while sharing this. And now he was missing his home n little sister uncontrollably. After a few moments, he felt something tugging up his lower uniform, and he thought it to be any stray kitten or puppy but was shocked to see a little girl of about 4 years calling him silently. He slowly bent on his knees to ask the girl while she explained her motive in some broken words.
" Mamma boli, jao yeh lakhi bandho" and pointed towards her mother standing at the corner of the road. He smiled, accepting the proposal, and held his hand forward to help the girl tying a little cute rakhi on his wrist. She asked for her name, to which she replied Kanishka, helped her in tying the knot perfectly, he thanked his newly made little sister and asked for a gift. She just smiled n gave kiss on his cheek, indicating it was enough. But he knew as a brother, there should be a gift with a promise that he'd protect her FOREVER. He slowly pulled out a chocolate from his pocket to offer her, which he had kept this morning, reminiscing the memories of his sister at home. She accepted it cheerfully while he bent to touch her feet as for seeking blessings. And holding her up in arms, he approached her mother waiting for her. Giving her daughter back, he exchanged a few words of well-being with kiddo's mother, and knowing that they were a little weak financially, he helped her with whatever was in his hand and promised to be back soon after getting free from duty.

After a few minutes, his sweet smile was back on his face with the new lovely memory he got, smiling fondly he came back on the  place he was assigned to duty. Now, his wrist was no more empty. There was a little rakhi tied with love like EVERY YEAR promising his health n well-being.

This is the love of brother-sister.
It doesn't matter whether by blood or made.
Just what matters are EMOTIONS.
And a new lovely pure bond was made...
For eternity.

Happy Rakshabandhan to all bro-sis out there!❣️

Your Author,
~Visha

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Thanks for the beautiful cover you provided _Aasthaaa_