Motherland!

Motherland!

The man watched incredulously. They were coming! The distant rumble and the dust clouds heralding their arrival indicated quite a few… He ran back to his company commander, as fast as his legs could carry, heart filled with the urgency, pumping the ‘josh’ all through his body, mind calm as he tried to decipher what lay ahead!

She too was watching! Such dramas she had watched from time immemorial!

On reaching the camp site, straight away the young Major was informed of the oncoming attack. “Well done my Braveheart!” said he. Saluting smartly the strapping youth, all of 19 or maybe 20, turned around to go and drink some water, but the heart now relieved relaxed a bit and the mind too relieved with the task being handed over to the Company commander, felt at ease, the legs too felt it deserved a rest after running for 42kilometres over this  terrain of, hills and rocks, dirt, and dust, most precious to these men. And Hoshiyar Singh’s legs just decided to buckle under him! All he remembered as he swooned to the earth, was his land, his Motherland was in the hands of his regiment. Safe for the time being!

The Major swung into action…. He summoned his men and laid out the cards. Either they retreat to safety, with no loss to their lives, joining forces with the main regiment or they stay put and defend their Motherland to the best of their abilities. ‘We stay here till the last breath in our body! Is Mitti ki kasam!’ said they in unison.

A flurry of activities then began…. Communications with the Regimental headquarters, the Airforce squadron, the BSF platoon and the higher echelons being briefed.

Meanwhile the Juggernaut rolled on, in the darkness, they intended to baffle their enemies and catch them unawares. The long line of tanks, thundering over the ground, billowing gusts of sand in their wake, it was a sight to drive fear in the bosoms of all who beheld, or respect and admiration, depending on where one stood.

She sighed as she watched helplessly! Why did no one listen to her?

Propping up their meagre resources, a couple of LMGs on the heights around the camp site, each man quickly reported to their duty. The Company Commander mobilized every hand and every round. Hoshiyar Singh recovered, volunteered to go back to scout, along with his buddies.

Timing was key. Who had not heard of the Battle of Rezang La and the Battle of Longewala?

As the rumbles turned to approaching thunder, the scouts counted the approaching tanks…1, 2, 3…. 45! A full Armoured regiment. This time the enemy had thought the darkness of the night would cover their nefarious plans…. but the white stripe on the side glimmered in the dark and the alert soldiers could track them!

The tanks rumbled majestically, cocky in their confidence, their intelligence said just a company at the post! Ha ha! They would move on after taking care of this minor distraction. Suddenly the night sky was set ablaze with flares… 1, 2, 3, ….. 45! It turned into Diwali! Each and every hillock was lit up! Every boulder shone to claim its place! And the men who came to attack were blinded! Stunned!

A fierce battle took place! The Earth was seeped with red, blood of men mingled, cause it was the same on either side. But 120  pitted against 2000!

As the eastern sky peeped to see what was happening, the sun popped its sleepy head, as darkness was quickly packed off by the assault of the bright golden rays, the pink sky witnessed the 120 brave who gathered tired, but jubilant at having saved their Motherland!

But She?

She had tears running down her cheeks, as she gathered the blood seeping her bosom, gently cradling  the fallen, for her all men were her children. As she quietly buried them in her expansive Shawl! It was difficult being a Mother…. But arduous being Mother Earth!