Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 18

Smriti Sharma (name changed) is married to an army officer for the past 12 years but could only celebrate Karwa Chauth twice with him.Wedded to olive green, many women living inside the cantonment area will silently pray for the well-being of their husbands posted in the border areas, especially during the escalated tension between India and Pakistan.“Very rarely we get a chance to celebrate festivals with our husbands, but when they are at home, the festival becomes a gala one. Though now we are used to celebrate festivals alone with our fellow army wives here, we actually miss them on Karwa Chauth,” said Sharma.While remembering her first Karwa Chauth, a wife of an Army personnel said that her husband was posted in Bikaner and two days before the festival, he was sent to Churu to conduct a recruitment rally. “I requested my husband to stay for the festival, but he refused and went ahead. I was very annoyed and kept on crying the whole day. However on the day of the event, the commanding officer’s wife came along with two more ladies to meet me and said that I would soon get habitual to such circumstances,” said the woman.However, she said her joy knew no bounds when her husband knocked at the door in the evening to celebrate her first Karwa Chauth with her. “Even though the incident happened around 15 years ago, the happiness I felt on seeing my husband standing at the door is still fresh today,” said the woman whose husband was especially called back by his CO for a day to spend the day with her newly wedded wife.Is she expecting such surprise this time also? “This kind of surprise makes you feel good when you are a youngster. Now, he is having a lot more responsibilities than before and his presence is required more in the field than at home,” said the braveheart.With advances in technology, distances though have lost meaning in today’s world, but time seems to have stood still for many women whose husbands, posted in forward areas, do not have access to the Internet.“Even though my husband has access to the Internet facility at his location, the speed is very slow and so he is not able to communicate with me through various social media sites. However, we do talk often on phone in a day,” said another army wife working in a private firm here.What are her plans this year? “Since I have recently shifted to separate family quarters, I have made some new friends and have tied up with some of them to celebrate the festival together. Also, we have planned a party in the evening to pep up the mood of our children as well,” said the woman.Do the army authorities organise special events on festivals, especially for women living in separate family accommodations? “Not only festivals, we have many other social events whereby senior ladies come and meet us. For Karwa Chauth Pooja, special arrangements are being made in various unit-run temples and we can go there for the pooja,” said another wife. She also said that many wives have even planned events at home and will offer silent prayers for the well-being of their husbands.“Now the time is very critical as we do not know whether we are able to speak to our husbands next time. During such time, faith in God plays a very important role and provides us strength to overcome momentary fears and apprehensions,” said another braveheart.Amidst the rising tension and their concern for their husbands guarding the borders, these women, well-guarded by the Army authorities, are all set to celebrate the festival of love and faith with full pomp and show. The rush at the menhdi stalls and sweet shops at the Sadar Bazar area can be taken as a proof to the undying spirit, their courage and their never-ending belief in the almighty.