Arohan - The Ascent

Change Vs Stagnation

Life = Change.

Think about it. Nothing in life remains the same. It is not the nature of life to stay the same. The process of constant change is otherwise called life. Otherwise, we, who are formed somewhere in the womb of our mothers, would still be inside her womb. But no, we came out, we grew, became students, then got married, had children, will see our kids grow right in front of our eyes, and then they will get married, they will get old and we will grow older and this body will obsolete. never the same, always changing.

But we humans like stagnation. Because stagnation is comfortable. There is a routine, there are no unknowns. We don't have to deal with unknown situations. So we like stagnation. But if do not accept, change will drag us along, whether we like it or not.

Two things can happen. Embrace the change or the change will drag you along. The first situation will help you cope with the change smoothly. The second situation will drain you emotionally, you will resent the change, it will embitter you, and you will hate everything about the world, that you had to deal with the change. But nothing can be done.

it had been a week since Urvashi visited Rachel. That afternoon had a profound impact on Urvashi. And since that day, everything seemed to indicate the change Urvashi needed to embrace in her life.

She had arranged to meet a few friends, who knew her & Tim. Most of her friends had moved on in life and were busy in the hustle and bustle of making it big. The day they were due to meet, there had been a hail storm predicted and the plan had to be canceled. She wanted to visit her University dorms, but new related stipulated only students could access the dorms. 

Every time she turned the TV on, some news on Afghanistan would appear. Or something about India would go on. It was almost as if the universe was indicating to her that there was nothing left for her in the US and that she needed to go back. 

The feeling was beginning to take hold inside of Urvashi, that perhaps she had only come to the US, to attain closure. And meeting Rachel was that closure.

It was a Sunday afternoon when after a nice long shower, Urvashi stepped into her small room. She had decided that the next day she call her airline and change the ticket as early as possible. There was nothing left to do, no one to meet in the US. The world had moved on.

She sat down, out of boredom on the bed and turned the TV. CNN was doing a news report on Afghanistan. It involved a group of young women being freed from the captivity of the Taliban. As the camera panned across the arid landscape, in the middle of nothing but rugged mountainous terrain, Urvashi sat up with a jolt. Just for a brief moment, it felt like she had seen him.

Lashkar-Gah-Southern Afghanistan- Taliban Stronghold

The Taliban had been steadily challenging the democratically elected government in Afghanistan. But a few pockets were always sympathetic to the Taliban. One of those places where the Taliban held fort is Lashkar-Gah a city in the south of Afghanistan. Here, the atrocities imposed by the Taliban on the local people were fast getting noticed across other areas.

The Taliban spared no methods to terrorize the local population into submission as well as stopping them from collaborating with the Afghan army. They carried out summary executions in public, attacked current of former Military officials, and bombed schools and hospitals. But the worst and the most heinous crime they carried out, was the public auction of young girls, for Taliban men to buy and raise kids from.

Kabul-UNAMA HQ

"We are being sent down south," said Gautam, looking at Vikram. The two men had been lodged in the same room since they arrived in Kabul a week ago. So far it had been very quiet. They were just practising some exercises in the training area that the US army had built.

They were constantly working with US Army as they were the staple peacekeeper in Afghanistan. Vikram had to admit, the US soldiers were highly disciplined and very well trained. And they seemed to hold the Indian side in very high regard. 

"Deep South?" asked Vikram. "Umm, Lashkar-Gah," said Gautam, looking at Vikram, with eyes that glittered like diamonds.

Since they had arrived, except for training they had not had any action. Now finally they would be in an active war zone. Vikram adjusted his headgear and checked his weapons systems. His fingers were itching to start the action.

They quietly got into the waiting trailers and left on their long journey. It was 12.5 hour journey through some of the most treacherous regions in Afghanistan. the minute they approached Kandahar, they would literally be sitting ducks. The Taliban could ambush them at any time.

Vikram did not wish to die, sitting in a truck. But he definitely did wish that if the opportunity presented itself, he would take down a few of the Taliban, even it meant making the Supreme Sacrifice. He did not allow his mind to wander or ponder the reasons. he needed to focus a hundred percent and nothing could waver his focus.

It was only late at night or in the early hours of the next day when they almost hit the road to Kandahar. As the convoy of vehicles passed through the narrow winding roads, the sound of gun fire tore through the silent night. The vehicles immediately stopped.

The gunfire continued unabated. But it was not directed at the caravan of peacekeeping vehicles. No one from inside the trucks moved. Stepping out at this point could mean death. If someone was watching the caravn, they would have lobbed some bombs at them for sure by now.

Another 5 minutes ticked by. The sound of sporadic gunfire still echoed all around. But there was no attack on the convoy. Vikram began to grow impatient. There was no point waiting for something to happen. Someone had to step out and take look. He got up from his seat and immediately Gautam caught his hand.

"What are you doing, do you want to die?" he asked bluntly.

"Better than just waiting here," replied Vikram tersely and jerked his hand away. No one spoke a word. They knew it had to be done. Someone needed to step out and check where the gunfire was coming from.

Very carefully, with as little sound as he could, Vikram managed to unlock the door of the convoy. He created a small gap, just enough to take a peek around what was in front of him. He could see nothing but darkness. If he drew the door fully open, he could end up hurting one or all of his colleagues.

So he created a small gap in the door and immediately put his body in between the gap so as to shield those sitting inside the truck. At this point, he was very vulnerable. If there was someone hiding in the dark, he presented a clear shot. He could get severely injured or even die. He slowly eased his body out from the gap and jumped down from the truck. One of his colleagues, immediately closed the door, leaving him down below all by himself.

A fresh round of gunfire was heard and Vikram ducked under the truck for cover. he realized that the gunfire was not coming from anywhere close but was some distance away, not behind them but in front of them. He began to crawl to the front of the vehicles from under the trucks. There were in total 12 trucks and he had been in the last one. Which meant the sound was coming from at least a distance of 20 meters from the 1st truck, he calculated.

As he crawled all the way to the first truck, he strained his eyes hard to see if there was a vehicle or people in front. This wouldn't do. he would have to walk into the darkness a bit to see what lay ahead. Vikram closed his eyes. The image never left him. The first time he had seen her at Padrauna bus stop, the way she had fallen back into him. He could still feel the tingling sensation as he held her hand for the very first and last time in his life.

"If there is another life, I would only love you," he thought to himself and moved out from under the truck. His weapon held firmly in his hand, he pushed forward, even as the driver of the first vehicle watched him being enveloped by darkness.