Ties beyond blood: Soldiers stand by family of martyr on sister’s wedding day

The air in Bharli village of Anji-Bhoj in Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district, carried a rare blend of festivity and grief yesterday. The courtyard was glowing with marigold decorations, the music of shehnai filled the air and laughter rang out among relatives. Yet amid the joy, there was an unspoken void, a chair that remained forever empty. It belonged to Ashish Kumar, the valiant Grenadier of the 19 Grenadiers Battalion, who laid down his life on August 27, 2024, in Arunachal Pradesh during ‘Operation Alert’.

For his sister Aradhana, fondly called Pooja, her wedding day was destined to be bittersweet. She had always imagined her brother by her side, but fate had denied her that joy. What she could not imagine, however, was the extraordinary gesture awaiting her on this special day.

Yesterday in the early hours of the wedding, soldiers of Ashish’s regiment, clad in crisp uniforms, arrived at the courtyard alongside proud veterans from Paonta Sahib and Shillai. Their presence was more than symbolic, it was a living message from the Army that the family of a martyr is never left alone. The scene silenced the wedding crowd. Villagers stood with folded hands as emotions welled up, the sounds of celebration blending seamlessly with an atmosphere of patriotic reverence.

The soldiers brought blessings from their regiment, but they carried something greater than gifts, they carried Ashish’s spirit. They presented Aradhana with a Rs 3 lakh fixed deposit in his memory, a gesture not measured in money but in love and assurance. The ex-servicemen’s association too offered ‘shagun’ and a memento, tokens steeped in meaning and respect. Together, they reassured the bride that her brother’s legacy lived on through them.

Holding back tears, Aradhana said, “I felt my brother was standing beside me today. These soldiers are not just his comrades; they are now my brothers too.” Her words stirred deep emotion across the gathering, capturing the essence of bonds that transcend blood.

Havildar Rakesh Kumar, who had once served with Ashish, voiced the sentiment of many. “Ashish may have left us in body, but his spirit lives in each of us. Today, we fulfilled his duty as a brother. Tomorrow, and always, we will remain part of this family.”

As the rituals reached the bride’s farewell, the moment became unforgettable. Soldiers and ex-servicemen walked with her in solemn steps, accompanying her doli to her new home. Each stride carried the weight of promise, as if Ashish himself had entrusted them with his sister’s care.

An elderly villager, watching with tearful eyes, murmured, “I have seen many weddings in my life, but today I saw the true meaning of family and sacrifice. This is why we call soldiers the real sons of the soil.”

Among those who stood as her guardians were Havildar Rakesh Kumar, Naik Rampal Singh, Naik Manish Kumar, Grenadier Abhishek, Grenadier Ayush Kumar, along with Major Anup Tomar, Paratrooper Nadish Kumar and veterans from the association.

The wedding became more than a family celebration, it transformed into a national tale of love, duty and eternal brotherhood. As the doli disappeared down the village road, the village wept not just for the absence of a brother, but for the beauty of a bond that soldiers had renewed. In every blessing, every step and every tear, one truth shone bright, soldiers may fall, but their love never dies.