As John's annual leave drew to a close, a wave of bittersweet emotion washed over him. Four weeks of precious time with his wife had come to an end, and the thought of leaving her behind tugged at his heart. He was headed into the northern part of the country to lead a security operation, a mission shrouded in danger and uncertainty. Yet, duty called, and John knew he had no choice but to answer.
With a heavy sigh, he gathered his insurance papers, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. Each document held promises of protection for his family and security for their child's education. As he scanned the covers, a nagging thought crossed his mind—he needed to keep the family's wealth a secret from Soraya. If she knew about the real estate, the cash reserves, and the bonds he had invested in, would she demand more than what he was willing to share? Deep down, he was grateful for the will he had carefully prepared and secured at a renowned bank, ensuring his loved ones would be taken care of should the unthinkable happen.
Before departing, he dialed Soraya's number, his heart racing. Handing her the insurance papers, he felt a weight lift, but the gravity of his words hung in the air. "I'm going into war, and I don't know if I'll come back alive." The words echoed in his mind, and he could see the terror flicker in Soraya's eyes. A wave of panic washed over her as she pleaded, "Please, John, if there's any chance, just don't go." But to John, this was more than a duty; it was a calling that he couldn't ignore.
Knowing how deeply this burden affected her, Soraya asked him to kneel for a prayer. With a heart full of love, she poured out her hopes and fears to the heavens, seeking protection and provision while offering gratitude for the time they had spent together. After the prayer, she held him in a warm embrace, her love wrapping around him like a soft blanket. "Promise me you'll come back," she whispered, her voice trembling.
As John stepped out of their home, he felt a mix of hope and dread. His young wife remained optimistic, believing fervently that he would return safe and sound. Each morning, she would send her love into the universe with a prayer, steadfast in her belief that love could conquer even the toughest of odds.
John traveled through the hilly part of the country, struggling to catch up with time. He was supposed to arrive at his office before eight o'clock. Despite all those struggles, he finally arrived at the office five minutes late. He met Mike at the entrance of his office. Mike was one of his colleagues and a friend too.
Mike maintained a smiling face that prompted John to think twice. Why would he put on such a smile at this particular time of the day? Or he might just be having his happy moments. But John knew that the smile had a hidden meaning. It was not usual for him to put on a smile at that very time of the day. The morning hours were normally busy, and the officers were normally engaged.
John knew very well that he had gone viral the previous day after being caught with a lady somewhere. He knew very well that Mike was having that thought at that particular time. That is why he was smiling. He was very lucky to say that, because if Mike could open his mouth to talk, obviously, he would have to make fun of him. John ignored everything and pretended to be engaged in other office duties. He did not want a conversation of any kind.
Mike started a conversation that did not go well with John. He was determined to make fun of his friend. But John refrained from such a conversation. He had undergone psychological torture and was trying to heal. But Mike's consistent remarks made his fury grow to the brim. John was determined now to end the conversation, whether it would end their relationship or not.
"Congratulations, my dear friend, you are a hero indeed. What you defined as a good person, and it would be unfair if I did not acknowledge your accomplishments. I was just watching my television after a very tiresome day, only to find you being covered live. That alone means a lot. A good person tied with sisal ropes with a beautiful lady beside you! You made my day for sure. I remained laughing the whole day in disbelief. Congratulations again to my longtime friend (This time laughing).
John felt upset. He could not entertain his friend anymore. He stood up (now roaring like a lion), ready to fight his friend. His eyes, now turning as red as blood, had no more but to fight. That is when Mike realized that the friend was not comfortable with his joke and must have been really hurt.
The fight between the two friends began. None of them were willing to lose the battle. John, being a skilled military personnel member with recommendable experience, was able to handle his friend cruelly. Mike could not endure it anymore. He had to run for his safety as the fight was escalating to a higher undesirable level. That is how Mike escaped from the friend who was determined to finish him completely.
Although Mike had saved himself from the jaws that seemed to crave his blood, he was left seriously injured. His face was full of blood oozing at an alarming rate. He had to sneak to a nearby dispensary to receive first aid attention. He had to spend quite some time before he could return to work. He thought about how he could best handle the situation.
Mike thought of reporting John to the disciplinary committee, but had to refrain from such action. He feared that he could also be found on the wrong side after a thorough investigation. Also, he knew that John had a young family and reporting him to the disciplinary committee would attract negative consequences that could see him lose his job. So, he just had to cover the matter, but had to be careful when dealing with him again.
The military had strict guidelines, and anyone who broke any had to face the consequences. John, realizing the mistake he had made, tried to reach Mike in an attempt to reconcile. Mike did not give him a chance to reconcile. The moment John got to where Mike was, he would just wake up and walk away. They had to be like secret enemies.