The Wait is Over..

NARRATION:
Every Indian knows the role and importance of a soldier in the country. A soldier is one who fights as part of an army. He/she is that volunteer who serves the country selflessly. They are supposed to fulfill challenging duties and possess exceptional qualities to become a great soldier. Our country sleeps peacefully as a soldier performs his/her duties without any hesitation.
Talking about the facilities we all complain of the little things that we don’t have, like we cry for the things that others have and want it to be fulfilled. We all become self-centred about our life and become careless about others. We cannot be without mobile phones, gadgets etc. for an hour or a day but there are thousands of soldiers near the border fighting and guarding our country without any proper facility, away from their families for months or years, not being in contact of them on daily basis but still protecting the country with pride and fulfilling their biggest responsibility. They are least paid by the government. No soldier is for the salary they get neither they need to show the patriotism by fighting with their enemies, but they are there to guard the nation because they want the citizens to be safe and sound.
I’m not telling we are wrong but we need to learn the biggest lesson that we need to be happy and satisfied with the things and facilities we have got. So this story is about an incident that took place near Siachen glacier.

Siachen glacier is located near eastern Karakoram Range, Ladakh in the Himalayas. Controlled by India, disputed by Pakistan. The average winter snowfall is more than 1000 cm (35 ft.) and temperature can dip to -50 degree Celsius. The glacier’s region is the highest battle ground on earth, where Pakistan and India have fought many wars. Both countries maintain a permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6000m (20,000ft).

  During Kargil war 1999, there were wars going on near this region. A big troop of army was pre-arranged near glacier to confront the enemies. The troop consisted of 25 soldiers led by a remarkable Colonel Advik Muralikrishnan.
Colonel Advik Muralikrishnan, was born in Bengaluru Karnataka. He was from Raichur district and was from an army background .His father Major General Muralikrishnan served the country during Indo-china war and was martyred during this war.
After his father’s death, at certain age Advik was lay hold of into armed forces .He got his training done in 16-20 months and got the post of captain. He had only his mother Sunita Muralikrishnan who was his family and a homemaker.
After his success of serving the post from captain to major and from major to colonel, he got married to his childhood friend Chaya .It was a very happy moment for his mother to see his son get settled in life peacefully.
      After 4months of his marriage in 1999, he was called back to fight and serve his country near Siachen glacier. Advik wanted to be at his best like his father on the battle ground. He set himself up and gave a cheerful goodbye to his wife telling “You know right, it’s time for me to serve and fulfil my biggest responsibility towards the country. You are my strength and you shall be within me during the war and support me “.hugged her so that the hug could keep her warm until he returned.
Chaya’s eyes were filled with tears but she had to let go of him because he belonged to the country before her, she said “Yes I’m there with you till my last breathe “.Then he took the blessings of his mother and said “I shall make my father and you proud and give my best, for that I need your blessings amma”.His mother gave him blessings and said to be careful during the circumstances. After giving a farewell to them he had left for the glacier.
       The battlefield had cold air, fog was rolling in, throwing them all into despair. The bullets were coming through them in a never ending horrific manner. They couldn’t fight because they were unable to see. The fog was dense, as thick as they needed a knife to cut through it. They managed themselves and started moving forward and started firing the bullets to the opposite direction. The war was in control, they had killed all their enemies. One of the Indian soldier was injured with a bullet shot in his left leg. After sometime the sunshine made the snow melt and they heard a terrific sound. It sounded like something was coming towards them. That portion of snow melted and now they all had to run to save their lives. Advik had the rope and the necessary things which he gave to his fellow soldiers and shifted them to the other side of the glacier. When he was about to move, the quick melt of snow swiftly made him vanish. The walkie-talkie kept repeating, “Colonel Advik we lost the signal, repeat after me, Colonel are you there? Are you there?” One of the soldiers replied, “Sorry, we have lost Colonel in the snowmelt. Soon everyone got to know about the incident that took place and rest of the soldiers were rescued.
Advik’s family members were informed that he was found missing near the glacier. This was a heartbreaking moment for his family. His mother and wife reached the nearby camps and requested to send search troops. But during then, it was difficult to take any step. They sent choppers for a week continuously and still were unable to find any clue about him.  Sunita, his mother, prayed for him every single day and believed he would return home again. Chaya was so heartbroken, she was just seeing all his photos and shedding tears, she remembered him every single moment.

(AFTER THREE MONTHS)

      Soon days passed by, but still there was no clue about him. Chaya and Sunita were strong and believed that he would still return just like he promised. Soon they received a phone call from the headquarters that they have found a dead body. They both were supposed to go and identify it. They went and when Chaya saw the body she started sobbing. But Sunita still believed that it was not her son. The face of the body was not clear and had blood all over. She said, “My son has told that he would come back like a warrior. It’s definitely not him.”  They both went back home. Chaya was so shattered from inside and used to always remember him, telling that it’s just been four months of our marriage and that he can’t leave her alone like this. Sunita was very strong but beneath, she was scared and worried thinking what if her son doesn’t return.
Few days later, they received a call from Turtuk, a nearby village of Siachen glacier. After hearing this, they both rushed to the village with the Chief General of Armed Forces. They were astonished to see Advik sleeping at the corner bed wrapped with bandages all around his body.
The person who saved Advik from the snowmelt bought him home and cured him until he regained his consciousness. After so long months, he woke up and told Chaya’s number to which that person called and  ensured that Advik was safe here. Chaya and Sunita were filled with happiness and had tears seeing him alive. Advik woke up and hugged them and said “Hope I have made you both proud. I fought with enemies’ up-to my level best.” Then the Chief General says, “Yes, you have not only made your family proud but the entire nation by fighting with the enemies and saving your fellow comrades. You have done a great work, soldier. We all are proud of you.”
At last, the wait was over…as the soldier returned back home safely.
After months, he recovered. He was again able to serve the country in many ways. Advik Muralikrishnan said, “Being a soldier is a pride moment for anyone who serves the country. I will serve my country till my last breath.”

Written by,
Sriya Kanekal