He was bogged down by fear

"Prashanth, Tomorrow is 13th, July right .. It is my friends birthday.." it was Pradeep.. who is always looking for treats..

All of a sudden something struck my mind... when I heard 13th July..


How could I forget this day.. on that particular day everything was going.. the other way round for me..

I was working on something and I was disturbed.. this time.. the culprit was my nokia mobile..I attended it to here a a stern voice "Hello sir, please stay online... you have a call"

Before I could say something... there was a brief silence.....after a few seconds

There was a voice from another end.."Hey, chootu, how are you.."It was Ashok.. oh... no its Captain Ashok.. I recognized him in a split second
"I am fine.. how are you..."
It was a month since he called.. me all I know was he was posted in some troubled area..

"So, solider whats with you"I continued..
"You know yesterday was a great day.. .. " there was something strange in his voice..
"Come on say me what was it..".. I know he was trying to cover up something


"Its an Army thing.. I don't know whether you can understand.. or not.. there was an attack on my convoy.."on hearing this I was half dumb..I was not sure that, I heard the rest completely..but he was continuing..
"We chased them... and returned it back.. in short all those culprits were killed.."as far as I am concerned I was happy to know that he was safe..

He took a deep breath.. and continued..
"They did not go like that..instead gave us a good fight and... I got a gift too..two bullets in my arms.. " he started.. of without allowing me to speak..

"It is a great feeling to to be hit.. I still went after them... I was with my men.. until we cleared all"
taking a long break he started again..
"I feel that.. I am a soldier now.." I was clear now... something.. wasn't right with him

I interrupted, to know how he was feeling..

"What was the first thing that came to your mind, when you knew that you were hit?"
"I need to protect my men.. this was the only thing.. nothing more.."he stopped abruptly

"I am calling you with a request now.. "
On hearing this, my worst fears were out..
"If something happens to me please.. take care of my parents... I know you will..but I am just..I don't know.. what to say"..he was struggling for words.. still I never interrupted.. instead.. wanted him to pour out his feelings..

"Look I have take up this job.. Out of my interest and against my parents wishes..but I have an immerse pleasure in doing this.. and I believe you are the only one whom I can speak upto.. you are the only crazy guy whom I know.. "Some where some thing was hurting me..
"Come on man.."please do not say all these...trying to control my emotions..


He started it all again with much more vigor
"Listen to me..Please listen to me... let me complete it.. please allow me.. this time I survived.... I do not know what will happen next time..if something happens please say my dad.. I always looked upto him... and say my mom I love her the most.. inform Neethu that I love her.."


This not the way I am supposed to talk..and I changed...I started talking tough..(it was a lengthy conversation,let me summaries it for u all)
"You are a soldier.. and you are not supposed to speak like this..I know you have a joined there with a zeal.. and you were saying something about death right... listen to this properly... you are a soldier whom I look upto... whom the nation looks upto...


There is a saying.. and it goes like this..when some one dies do not cry at his grave instead be happy that you were lucky to live with these great men.
.
.

and I love to follow it.. "
there was a silence for long.. and he broke it again...

"Prashanth, I love you all.. shall call you tomorrow morning.."Till date I don't know what are the impact of my words.. but he did call me in the morining.. to say how good he felt..

And, I don't know.. what made me say all these.. but I did..


"Where are u lost.."it was these words..of Pradeep..
which again brought me back..