What is the use of all these people here when I have lost the one person who means the most?” asks an inconsolable 29-year-old Akansha Ajit Gaonkar. Her family had received a call from the Army at 10.30 am on Tuesday, informing them that her husband, 32-year-old Army Naik Ajit Shivaji Gaonkar, had died.

While they still do not know the exact cause of his death, the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Public Relations Officer (PRO) informed them he was “a battle casualty at Rajouri”, Jammu and Kashmir. Ajit had been serving as a Naik with the 25 Rashtriya Rifles.

The mood on the second floor of Spring Mills Building Number 2 was sombre today, with everyone remembering their favourite ‘boy’, Ajit. Seventy-four-year-old Shivaji Namdeo Gaonkar struggles to fight back tears as he recalls his son’s life.

Amidst the gloom pops up a tiny face with hope written on it. Six-year-old Omkar doesn’t want to cry in front of his mother. The pain is there but he puts up a brave face.

“I know what’s happened to dad, but I am worried about my mom. She has not eaten since she heard the news,” he says, sitting next to his younger brother who is asleep. Ask him what he will do now, and comes a sheepish reply, “I will do my best to take care of my family.”

“Ajit had always wanted to serve in the Military. While everyone opposed his career choice, keeping in mind the obvious struggles involved, I supported him wholeheartedly. Patriotism runs in our blood and I wanted at least one my seven sons to join the Armed forces,” said Shivaji, a former Shiv Sainik who had also worked under Bal Thackeray. He left the party long back and is now content being at home with his grandchildren.

Ajit had served with the military for the past 14 years. During this period, he was transferred several times and had postings from Kashmir to Buldhana to Nagaland. He was again transferred to Kashmir just 25 days ago.

For younger brother Jayesh Gaonkar, the reality is yet to sink in. “I just cannot believe that my brother is no more. He had just visited us before the posting in Kashmir. Of all my brothers, I was closest to him. I was the one who always picked and dropped him whenever he visited the city,” recalls Jayesh.