They boarded the train with all
their loads
Down the seats they pushed them all
As their dear ones waved them good
bye
Both returned to their seats in a sigh
Hairstyle proved their identity
Nation's keepers, country's servants
Destined to leave their kith and kin,
To forgo home for their home country
Bravery, loyalty, their brains
filled with
Devotion to Bharat Matha and her
children too
With their uniform as a mask to their lives
To kill or be killed, all for the
nation's cause
I was coming home after a visit to
my parents
Returning to my family that waits
in love
Drenched in sweet memories of love
and care
I never thought of these simple people around
One of them spread the white
jamakkaalam
He stretched himself, without a word
His eyes were swollen, maybe he
cried all night
No smile, a blank brave face he
wore as a look
A phone call came, from his beloved
wife
A chat which broke in sad silence
His last words were too sharp and
firm
"This is the life of a soldier..Don't cry"
He gazed at the phone as it ended
with a beep
He left her to tears and tried to
swallow his pain
There ended the tearful chat of two
broken hearts
Silence couldn’t bring an end to
their thoughts
She would've wiped her eyes with
the edge of her sari
And must’ve taken a breath, to face
her life alone
Or would've hugged her kids so close
To draw some solace and hope to
move on
He didn't talk a word to his friend
With the white sheet he covered from head to toe
He looked like a corpse clad to be
buried
I wondered if he was covering his
tears
Late was his lunch, from a big pack
he gulped
May be his mom packed it with a
heart full of love
When will he taste another homemade
food?
When will he eat with his family
again?
Never in my day or night or sleep
or work
Have I ever thought about these
guardian angels!
Each moment they risk their life
for the country
While we kill each other in hatred
and vengeance
In my heart a war had already
started
Did I take all these people for
granted?
The Jawans and Kisans who protect
and feed me
Giving all the comforts which no
money can buy
There are very many Indians who
know not
That there are soldiers on borders
who guard
Ready to fight the enemy without a
choice
To save us from swords and gunshots
Brethren, I feel sorry for my
ignorance
I feel proud of you and your
service
With no one and nothing to protect
you
You provide us a place to live in
peace
For many, you may be lesser lives
made to doom
But you are the greatest, and deserve
our respect
"Jai Jawan!" "Jai Kisan!" I'll keep you
in my thoughts
My prayers and wishes for your
homecoming, safe
As I got down at dusk from the
train
He was hidden under the white sheet
again
As I entered home to join my family
cheers
I knew that I live in the charity of these selfless people
May your parents be blessed for
their sacrifice
May your wife be blessed with
courage to fight her pain
May your children look at you with
respect and love
May God bless you for making our
home, a heaven!
