Reportage: Archana Masih. Photograph: Seema Pant. Design: Dominic Xavier, Rajesh Karkera

G L Batra and his wife Kamal saw glimpses of their son on television. He looked different with his beard and camouflaged jacket.

Like always, he was brimming with confidence and his spirit was soaring.

Like always, that smile never left his face.

Mrs Batra's heart had lurched when Vikram called to tell her that his unit was being sent to the Kargil front.

The last war India had fought was in 1971, three years before Vikram and his twin, Vishal, were born. He was just 24, had served in the Indian Army for only 18 months -- what if…

She quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. If all mothers were to think that their children shouldn't join the army, who would protect this vast nation?

When she heard that he had captured his first peak it was as if she had won.

She had lived most of her life in the lap of the Dhauladhar mountains in Palampur. She saw the mountains each day and knew them as invincible. Now her son was telling her that he had captured a perilous peak like the Dhauladhar, maybe even higher.

She felt proud like only a mother could be.