The Battlefield looked no less ghastly as before as it does now! The 7th Regiment of the Indian Army was ducking into a field of tar pits waiting for the right moment to strike and keep the Taliban at bay. Waiting and waiting as if there’s no tomorrow, their big guns might rust and may become one with the sand. Their platoon commander, Rajesh Seth was ducking down near the barricade which both metaphorically and literally divided the good from the evil. With dead silence all over the place, like a snake peeping out of its hole to lay sight on its prey, came a loud bang!
With guns blazing and war cries heard all over, Rajesh ordered his troops to fire and move. Before long, they were ambushed very badly and had to retreat. Citing their enemy’s withdrawal, the blood-thirsty Taliban gave pursuit. Having lost some of his best men, the retaliation which Rajesh offered was never even expected by the pursuing Taliban.
With the Area captured and with the surrender of the newly anointed Prisoners of War, Rajesh Seth and his troops returned to their roots. With Prisoners sent to the capital city for trial and justice, the 7th Regiment can take rest….. For Now!
His mother welcomed her heroic son, not with open arms, but with a brass plate in her hand with Saffron Water to wade off any bad spirits. A few weeks later, his Commander in Chief called him with both good and bad news. The good news was that he was nominated for the Param Veer Chakra Award for the year and the bad news was that the 32nd Regiment was ambushed in a mission and Seth’s troops were to go as relief. Duty comes first for an army man.
With tears in her eyes, and a crystal Buddha which reached the hands of the man who will always be a small boy to his mother, a kiss to the forehead, she bid farewell to her brave son, who in turn said goodbye to one mother to offer his life and soul to another one, his country!
With the helicopters whirling and his regiment sharing a one last smile before they land to their mission, a missile from the enemy territory opened fire! Before eyes could even blink, the Helicopter started losing altitude. Rajesh ordered his troops to open his troops to evacuate immediately and open their parachutes. Without thinking, all the members shoved their leader out of the door as they knew not all of them will survive. Rajesh opened his parachute within the knick of the moment. Only to have the helicopter to blast into smithereens.
Finally, landing safely, but into enemy territory! As he takes the map from his pocket, he gets surrounded with Men aiming guns to this temple. As the Taliban Leader smiles sickly at the captured tiger, not trying to be heroic and stupid, Rajesh gives in. The Taliban are known for their torturing skills.
For the first few weeks, Rajesh’s face was shoved in to a tub of ice filled water with the breezy October cold filling the atmosphere with chilly moments. But that did not freeze his devotion towards his motherland.
He was force fed meat, as consumption of meat is against his culture and views. Even as the dry meat touched his dry and weathered lips, he never gave in! Even for a moment. At last they had to change their strategy and refused him food on the whole. The 6 foot well-built Rajesh Seth was not very recognizable at that very moment. At last, he gave in and cried for some water. One of the enemy, denied him some and even humiliated him by peeing in front of him and ordering him to drink for that. Even in that thirst, Rajesh maintained his valor and dignity and turned his face the other side.
But there was a silver lining amongst those dark clouds, a kind helper sneaked some food and water to the helpless prisoner. Though he didn’t reveal his name and always had a scarf to hide his face, Rajesh looked at him with the same love and affection towards his mother.
A few weeks later, the Indian army surrounded the areas near the neighborhood where Rajesh was held captive. Sensing attack, the Taliban started moving their base immediately. The Generals discussed what to do with their captive, and finally agreed to execute him and send it as a threat! They ordered Ali, the helpful boy to clean him and bring him to them.
The boy swiftly cleaned him, tied a cloth to his eyes, and led him outside. Rajesh asked him whether they were going to execute him, or going to shift him. But the reply didn’t come from Ali. When the cloth was removed, Rajesh experienced daylight after a very long time. He asked Ali, what was going on, Ali replied that there is an Indian Army base not far from here, he gave a package and advised him to open it only if he’s safe. He then drew a pistol and shot himself!
After days of heat exhaustion and hunger, Rajesh finally reached the base and shouting ‘Don’t Shoot’ before collapsing at the gate. A few days later, he opened his eyes at the Army Hospital. Revealing his identity, the General gave the package.
On opening it, he found some currency, his broken watch, a map, some bandages and a certain artifact which moved him to tears. He found his crystal Buddha which his father gave it to him, who died in battle. He remembered the story of his crystal Buddha. It was in his early days in the army and was on a field assignment of capturing a few troops. While checking the perimeter, he found a young boy trembling with fear. His clothes gave the impression that he was a simple helper. If he was captured by the Army, his life would be over. Thinking all that, Rajesh made him run by the back door, giving him the Buddha citing that he needed the courage that it gave rather than him.
With the sun setting in the horizon and tears drowning the Crystal Buddha, Rajesh Seth mourned the
Death of the boy, a new found, yet lost brother.