A mother waits: He told me he would be home for Holi

His mother Dalbir Kaur says she is happy to have given a son for the nation as father Bhupender Singh Jass,a former general manager of Dabur India,takes consolation from the fact that he served the nation well. His sister Harpreet is an assistant lecturer at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Captain Jass attended Guru Harkishan Public School and went on to study computer engineering from Mathura. “He later took admission in IIIT,Allahabad,” said uncle Kulwant Singh. However,Jass had other plans and joined the Indian Military Academy,from where he graduated in 2007. He later underwent commando training.

Jass was planning to be back home for Holi. “Two days ago I talked to him and he said he would see me on Holi,” mother Dalbeer Kaur said,tears rolling down her face. On Saturday,Jass had also called one of his friends and promised to come and dance at his wedding.

The family got the news about their son’s death in the Sopore encounter on Tuesday. “I got a call from Srinagar telling me what had happened,” said the father. “We have lost everything. We had only one son…”