Kshama Priya had barely learnt to apply vermilion and wear bangles, the two signs of a Hindu woman's marital status. But the charm of being married faded quicker than the mehendi on her hands, for now she's widow.

jagran.com

The wife of slain CRPF jawan Diwakar Kumar, who was one of 10 jawans killed during the operation against Maoist on Monday night is yet to fathom how destiny can be so cruel.

“It was my husband’s first job after marriage. It became his last,” said a broken Priya in Bihar's Khagaria. Diwakar walked down the aisle with Priya on June 27 and was yet to complete the first month of his marriage.

Diwakar's mother, Sunita Devi who was recovering from a kidney surgery and one of his four sisters passed out after hearing of his passing away. A house which was celebrating its scion's marriage barely three weeks ago now lies engulfed in never ending sorrow.

Express Photo: Manish Bhandari

Not quite far from Khargara in Bihar lies Parmeshwara village in Buxar district, home of Anil Kumar Singh, another jawan who was martyred on Monday night. Anil's wife Meera lost consciousness when she was told about her husband’s death this morning.

“His father passed away when Anil was a kid. The responsibility of bringing up his four siblings was thrust on him. When he got the CRPF job, we were all happy that the family’s bad days were over,” said a villager who hailed his sacrifice for country and said that they are proud of Anil who refused to retreat.

Anil married Meera in 2011 and is survived by his wife and two kids who are too young to understand the loss.