Ivan and Anna

 

“Stay close to me Anna, I’ll look after you,” said Ivan. Ivan was just 10 years old, little Anna was just 5. 

“Excuse me sir,” said Ivan to a soldier.

“What is it?” He asked.

“We heard there’s food being distributed, where might that be?”

“Just go straight and take the second right,” guided the soldier.

“Thank you, sir,” replied Ivan. “Come Anna, I know you are hungry, so am I. We haven’t eaten anything in a couple of days.”

“Where are mom and dad Ivan?” Asked Anna.

“I don’t know Anna. But I know we will see them again soon!”

“You promise?”

“I do Anna. I do.”

Though Ivan was scared, he tried not to let Anna know that. His brave little heart was full of doubt. He had no clue what was in store for them. He had no clue if his parents were still alive. But hope was still alive and he kept a happy face so that Anna would not break down. They had stepped out of their shelter after 3 days when they got a couple of hours of respite from the bombings to get some food and water.

The children had been separated from their parents three nights ago. A huge bang startled them out of sleep that night. The curtains glowed orange. They rushed to the window to see a nearby building reduced to rubble and another up in flames. The deafening screeches of fighter jets scared the children. They had no clue what was happening. Then the siren went off and so did the power supply to the city. The city and its people were plunged into darkness. The family sat in a huddle, holding each other, listening to the sound of the jets, of explosions and of buildings coming down. They wept, because at any point it could be their building that was bombed. All they could do was hold each other and pray. But alas the next bomb blew off a part of their building.

“Run all of you!” Yelled Ivan’s dad. “Our building might collapse any moment!”

The family made a dash for it using the staircase. There was mayhem outside the building. Bodies lying around, people running frantically and tripping over dead bodies, children crying, all engulfed by clouds of smoke. Clouds of grey smoke glowing orange due to the flames from buildings and cars that were set ablaze.

“Let’s stick together. We can make it!” Said their father. He then took Ivan aside.

“Ivan, promise me you will look after Anna should anything happen to us.”

“Why do you say that dad?” Ivan burst into tears.

“I wish nothing happens but if it does, you have to look after Anna. Tell me now, will you do that?”

“Yes, I will dad,” said Ivan, still crying.

His father’s worst fears came true when they were separated in a sea of people. The local forces were directing civilians to shelters and in chaos, Ivan and Anna got separated from their parents. Ivan and Anna were taken to a shelter and had no idea regarding the whereabouts of their parents. The kids cried profusely till late in the night before finally going off to sleep, exhausted, mentally and physically. At dawn, word spread that the nearby shelter had been bombed last night and no one there survived. Ivan recalled his father’s words, “you have to look after Anna.” In that instant, the boy became a man. He wiped his tears, washed his face and put on a smile for Anna. They spent 3 days inside the shelter like this, rationing the supplies they had to last the 3 days.

 

Ivan and Anna reached the location where food and water was being distributed. They stood in line, holding hands. Two kids, separated from their parents in a difficult hour. Ivan looked around and saw only gloom and despair. What was once his home, was now just a pile of rubble. What was once his school building was now just a ruin, waiting to collapse. People in pain with bandaged heads and hands in slings. He felt like screaming and crying but couldn’t. He just quietly wished his parents were there with them. As they waited, they suddenly heard some gunshots in the distance.

There was panic and people were confused. The local forces were confused too, these 2 hours were supposed to be ceasefire hours for civilians. They saw a soldier running towards them.

“Do not fear, he’s one of ours,” said the General out loud. “What happened?” He asked the soldier.

“Bastards! All of them!”

“Get a hold of yourself and tell me what happened.”

“Sir, the enemy has turned on its word. They have attacked in ceasefire hours. Infantry with heavy artillery and tanks are closing in on us from the north and from the east. We are not prepared sir, we are doomed!”

“Listen to me now. We have to defend our city at any cost! Gather all the men you can and barricade the northern entry.” Before the General could finish there was a thud and the soldier fell down. He was shot from behind. The enemy was already there.

“To your post men, quick, ready with your guns! Civilians run for cover, run to your shelters!” The General yelled.

“Run Anna!” Said Ivan and grabbed her hand. They started running towards their shelter but the panic had caused a stampede in that direction. They would be sitting ducks for the enemy. So, Ivan and Anna took a turn and ran off on another street.

They ran for a few minutes when Ivan noticed a grocery store that hadn’t been looted yet. Amongst a desert of rubble this seemed like an oasis to the thirsty and hungry children. They could not resist the temptation of an easy meal.

“Some luck at last Anna! Let’s go get something to eat.”

The children could not believe their eyes. There was plenty of food and water in the store. Ivan grabbed a bottle of water and opened it quickly without hesitation.

“Here Anna, drink up. Drink to your heart’s content!”

He then picked up another bottle and drank out of it. The only sound heard for the next few minutes was that of the children gulping water. Once they had quenched their thirst, they picked up a couple of bags and started collecting ration for the next few days. Anna paused in the middle of the process.

“What’s the matter Anna?”

“I hope mom and dad would have found enough food and water too.”

Both of them were silent for a couple of minutes as their minds wandered.

“I’m sure they must have!” Replied Ivan. “Come now, let’s not waste time!”

As they reached the back of the store, they heard the store door open. Ivan peeped from behind a column and saw an armed soldier. The soldier looked around and called the others in a foreign language.

“Quick Anna, hide behind the counter. These are enemy soldiers!” Warned Ivan.

The children jumped behind the counter and stayed low and quiet. The soldier examined the store before the other soldiers could come in. He walked around and in the silent store, the sound of his footsteps seemed menacing to the children. Anna was scared and was about to cry when Ivan closed her mouth with his hand and pleaded with her to not cry. But the soldier heard the soft sobbing and approached the counter. Suddenly it turned gloomy as the towering figure of the soldier, over the counter, blocked the natural light. The soldier said something in his language which the children did not understand. He switched on the lights of the store and said, “so who do we have here?”

The kids froze in fear.

The soldier stared at the children. Their clothes were shabby and tattered and their hands and faces were dirty. Anna’s eyes were swollen and cheeks had dark marks of tears. 

“What are your names?” Asked the soldier.

“I’m Ivan and she’s Anna.”

“My name is Luca,” said the soldier. “It means the bringer of light.”

“Ironic,” said Ivan looking at the gun in his hand.

He pulled up his gun and pointed it at the kids. He unlocked it and placed his finger on the trigger. Anna was sobbing but suddenly started looking for something in their bag. The soldier was curious. She took a bar of chocolate from the bag and without saying anything offered it to the soldier. The innocent soul thought that would be a good enough bribe for him to spare their lives. Amused by Anna’s offer the soldier put his gun down and took the chocolate. The moment he took it, his mind wandered to his homeland. For a few minutes he was lost in thought while the kids hugged each other and waited. There was suspense as they did not know what the soldier would do next. 

“I have a daughter your age,” said the soldier after his brief silence. “When I meet her, if I ever get to see her again, I will give this chocolate to her and tell her Anna sent it for you.” For the first time he smiled, the children were relieved. Probably their lives had been spared, even if it was for that moment only.

“We are merciless mercenaries, but,” before he could finish 3 rounds of heavy gunshots were heard. The children held each other tightly as the counter and their faces were full of blood spatter. Blood of Luca, who was shot straight in the head by friendly forces who were there to regain control. Luca fell down and the chocolate fell beside him, soon engulfed in a pool of Luca’s blood. Turns out he wasn’t going to see his daughter again, neither would she be seeing her father.

 

“Two children here. Store secured,” said one of the friendly soldiers over the radio transmitter. 

“Come on kids, come out. Let’s get you two out of here.”

Ivan and Anna climbed up from behind the counter. They stared at Luca in a pool of blood for a brief moment before being taken away by the soldier.

“Take them to the nearest shelter,” said the soldier to another.

Ivan and Anna were escorted to the nearest shelter. They carried with them two bags, one full of water bottles and another full of food stuff. They reached the shelter and the soldiers there opened the doors. There was only sadness and gloom in the shelters too. Though they knew they were safe, these were people who had lost family members and friends, lost property, lost hope and maybe even the will to live. But, as soon as Ivan and Anna stepped in, there was a rare sound of happiness. Someone from the room sprang up and yelled their names, “Ivan, Anna!” It was their mother. Their father could not believe his eyes. 

“Mom, dad!” Yelled the kids.

The parents rushed to their children and the four cried in a huddle, tears of joy at being reunited. In that moment, hope was restored for many in that room. Everyone in the room felt a little better seeing the reunion. The family was relieved, though they had lost their material possessions, at least they had each other.

“We thought we lost you,” said their father. “What is all this?” He asked looking at the bags.

“It’s a long story, dad!” said Ivan. “See Anna, in a way, our parents also found the store after all!”

By then some kids had gathered around them.

“Let’s share our goodies with them,” Ivan said to Anna.

She stared at the other kids reluctantly, at first not wanting to share her hard-earned rewards. But when she saw the sadness in their eyes, she decided to part ways with some of the goodies. As she handed a chocolate or a pack of biscuits to a child, she instantly saw a twinkle in their eyes. This made her happy. This was just the beginning of a long and gruelling battle that tore the country apart. But their hope was restored that maybe, just maybe, they were going to make it through this, the most difficult time of their lives.