DIED AS A HERO
A soldier from the Rajasthan Regiment has left his home and family behind to dedicate his entire life to serving Mother India. He lies on the sands of Rajasthan, remembering his home. Many of his fellow soldiers have already been martyred in terrorist attacks. With sadness on his face, Samar looks up at the sky, thinking of his family. He takes out his wallet and gazes at their picture. Just then, he hears another soldier calling from a distance.
Voice: “Samar… Samar… Samar!”
But Samar doesn’t respond. The soldier walks up to him and says:
Soldier 2: Samar, our food has run out. Everyone’s been hungry and thirsty since morning. Samar: When did this happen? And you’re telling me just now? Soldier 2: You’ve been sitting here on an empty stomach since morning. Samar: Yeah… Soldier 2: Come quickly, everyone is suffering from stomach pain. Samar: Why stomach pain? Soldier 2: Everyone was extremely hungry, so they killed a goat and ate it. After that, they started having stomach pain. Samar: Come on, let’s go!
Both of them run toward the camp. They see everyone groaning in pain. Before they can figure anything out, a loud sound erupts—“BOOM!”—a grenade explodes near the camp. Samar rushes outside but stays calm to avoid panic. He returns inside and says to the other soldier:
Samar: The terrorists have attacked.
But the other soldier panics and becomes fearful because they had no food left and very few soldiers remained.
Soldier 2: The terrorists have attacked, and we have no resources. Samar: Calm down. Soldier 2: But what do we do? We are so few, and everyone’s health is worsening. Samar: Calm down and gather everyone in one place.
Everyone gathers together, but panic begins to spread. Samar speaks to calm them.
Samar: “Soldiers, We didn’t come here to cry or sit silently in fear. Why are we here? To cry? Or to serve Mother India by sacrificing our lives? It doesn’t matter how bad the situation is. The day we became soldiers, we tied our shrouds (death cloths) on our heads. Today, by that very shroud, I swear — look into the eyes of these terrorists and fight them! Even if a thousand jackals gather, they cannot defeat a lion. Whether they are 100 or 10,000, and we are just 100 or even 50 — the victory will be ours. WHO WILL WIN — THEM OR US?”
All Soldiers Shout in Unity: “US!” Samar (Again): WHO WILL WIN — THEM OR US? All Together: US!
Samar: “Then let’s go! Fight, kill, or die — this isn’t just about us, this is about our country. And — “There is nothing above the nation, not even us!”**
Samar knows the chances of winning are slim — the terrorists have surrounded them from all sides and even infiltrated their camp. Still, he motivates everyone to fight.
Everyone takes their positions. Gunfire echoes from all sides. The number of terrorists is truly overwhelming and keeps increasing. Samar watches his comrades fall one by one. Many terrorists are killed too, but more keep coming. Suddenly, a grenade falls in the center of the camp where the soldiers are staying. A loud explosion shakes the area. Samar is thrown against a wall. He’s been shot twice in the leg, and the explosion leaves him in critical condition. His eyes begin to close.
Flashback
Samar gets lost in his memories. He’s playing with friends. His father grabs him by the ear, scolding him. His mother tries to protect him. His brother laughs. Then he sees himself with his wife and 5-year-old daughter — all eating ice cream together.
Daughter: “Papa, next time when you come home, we’ll eat more ice cream, okay?”
Back in reality, terrorists reach the site, checking to make sure no one has survived. They approach Samar, pouring gunpowder on his wounds. He screams in pain.
One Terrorist Asks: “Any last wish?”
Samar: “My wife and daughter’s photo is in my wallet. I just want to see it once. Can I?”
The terrorists hand him the wallet, but just as he’s about to open it, they shoot him in the hand and throw the wallet away. Still, Samar crawls toward it. But before reaching the wallet, his hand finds a grenade trigger. He looks at the terrorists, smiles, and says:
Samar: “I couldn’t see my family… But you won’t survive either.” “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!” (Victory to Mother India)
With that, he presses the trigger. The entire camp is reduced to dust.
Samar’s lifeless body lies among many others, but there are still tears in his eyes. That day, Samar left behind his wife, daughter, and mother — forever. There will be no more ice cream. No more laughter. Only silence — a silence no one will like.
“JAI HIND”
By Saurav Kumar
