Captain Janmej Singh held back his tears as he climbed the podium to receive the nation's highest gallantry award from the President in honour of his dead son.
Lieutenant Triveni Singh walked into India's military folklore through a daring operation at Jammu railway station on January 2. He killed two terrorists, saved numerous lives and gave up his own.
"He gave his life for the nation, but left us lonely," says his mother.
Triveni's fiancée is inconsolable, his sister in the United States had to rush back home, and the township of Pathankot and Triveni's comrades are devastated.
-- Josy Joseph
