Dedicated to the ones who sacrifice their lives, so that we can survive. OS - Soldier
"Arnav mubarak ho! Beti huyi hai!" his father's voice shook him.
"Haan beta. Bahut sundar gudiya hai. Aankhein bilkul tumhaari jaisi!" his mother's voice gave a weird kind of bliss to him. A word. Not even a single word came out from his mouth. A gush of tears rolled down his cheeks, an expression of extreme joy forming on his hard face.
He handed over the phone to a friend standing beside him, and moved away, maybe not wanting his family to hear him cry. "Aapko hum sab ki taraf se dher saari mubarak, Maaji" his friend spoke into the phone, looking at Arnav who knelt beside his tent, crying.
"Arnav--?" "Woh apni khushi sambhal nahi paa raha" his friend told his mother. "Bas ab yeh teen mahine jaldi se nikal jaaye aur tum log jaldi se aa jao" his mother cried, hanging the call after having a word with some more of his friends. ~ The whole platform of the Bandra Railway Station was crowded by thousands of people, waiting for their soldiers to come home after ten months of fight. A kind of expected feeling filled each one of their hearts, ranging from children in arms of their mothers to shriveled old people on wheelchairs. Their lips moved in prayers, to be able to see their soldiers all-good. Just as the train arrived at the station, another wave of excitement proliferated amongst the people. More than their family members, the soldiers themselves had a roused feeling, being able to see their family after ten months of tiring struggle.
"Arnav" a lady in her late 50's screamed, as she saw his son descending down the train. "Maa" a similar scream came from Arnav's side, the soldier of the Raizada Family.
He hugged each one of his family members who came to receive him at the station. And somewhere behind his father, stood his queen, carrying his little princess in her arms. His daughter held a super-cute smile on her three-month old face, a similar kind of smile reflected on his wife's face. "Khushi" he whispered, stepping closer to the person he loved more than anyone. "Arnav" she extended a hand to touch him, the other hand resting underneath her daughter's shoulders. "Thank you" he said, looking warmly in her eyes, shifting his gaze between Khushi and his daughter. "Lijiye" she carefully placed the little one in his arms, sternly admiring the change of expressions on his face on seeing his daughter enjoying in his presence. "Meri gudiya" he proudly stated, kissing her little nose. "Ghar chalein Arnav?" his father tapped on his shoulder, making him nod his head. ~ "Aye mela baccha.. Hass raha hai.. Dekho dekho.. Meli gudiya hass rahi hai" a childish voice made her laugh more, as Arnav pinched her rosy cheeks. It had been an hour since they had reached home and the little princess was in her father's arms all the time. "Arnav. Gudiya ko bhookh lagi hogi.. Aur tum bhi kuch khaa lo ab.." his mother laughed, seeing the father-daughter enjoying each other's company. "Theek hai maa" he gave his princess to Khushi to feed her, while he moved to the dining table to have all his fav dishes prepared by his mother. ~ The month of his holiday passed like a minute, with him naming his daughter 'Pari' and spending as much time as he could with his family. No matter how strong a soldier is in his physical being, his heart is as mellow as of a child. "Ab aap kal chale jaenge.. Aur hum fir se akele ho jaenge" Khushi said in a gloom filled voice, cuddling more into him as they sat on the wet sand of the Juhu beach. "Tum aisa kyu sochti ho? Pari hai na tumhare paas.. Aur fir main toh aa hi jaunga 10 mahine baad" he said, faking a smile. "Aapko darr nahi lagta jab aap ladte ho?" she asked innocently, her eyes becoming moist. "Darr kaisa Khushi.. Poore desh ki zimmedaari humare kandhon par hoti hai.. Darr kar kaise jeet sakte hai hum?" he smiled proudly, the incidents of war shining in his eyes. "Hum salute karte hai aapko" she raised her hand to her forehead, smiling as wide as she could. "I love you" he mumbled, taking her lips in a soft kiss. "I love you too" she replied, clutching his shoulders for support. ~ The Bandra Station was once again crowded. Once again, people had tears in their eyes. Once again, their lips moved in prayers, seeing-off their soldiers. "Khyaal rakhna apna" his father hugged him. "Bhagwan raksha kare tumhari" his mother cried. "Haan maa" Arnav hugged his mother, touching her feet to seek her blessings. "Na mela baccha. Rote nahi hai.. Papa jaldi se aa jaenge.. Theek hai?" he patted his four-month old daughter's chest, rocking her in his arms to shush her cries. "Pari ka khyaal rakhna.. Aur apna bhi" he whispered in Khushi's ear, kissing her forehead.
"I'll miss you" she said, sadness clearly visible on her face.
"I'll miss you too" he again kissed her on her temples before moving away from his family and stepping into the train, along with his other army men. Everyone's hand raised to wave a goodbye to their soldiers, with a kind of insecurity spreading over their hearts.
The emotional bond would never let the bodies of those brave men weaken. Before their families, came the population of several billions who have to be secured, by their persistent fights. And once again, the soldiers departed to the place where they belonged to be.. Land of Battle. A father wishes his soldier to be strong. A mother wishes for her soldier's welfare. A wife wishes her soldier's return to her all safe and sound. And a daughter.. a daughter wishes to be able to sit in her soldier's lap and listen to the stories of war..
That's the family of a soldier...
~
Thank you to all the brave men on the borders of our country for fighting for our safety :) #Respect
-A random shot. I was feeling kinda patriotic :p
Please like and comment.
Love, Sanjana.
Edited by -SanjanaSobti- - 10 years ago
