The Last Day

"It was a Sunday and I was the OOD there in my ship. As such there's no holiday in armed forces, Navy was no different and we love it that way. The ongoing works were as per the schedule and plans and I thought of sitting down a bit for few moments. One sip from the cup of bliss (tea) and the phone started ringing. 

"Some guests are here."

The call was to ensure their entry and the visitors were a senior officer and his family;  wife and daughter. In no way my answer could have been no. I positively asked him to let them come. 

I had no idea about the additional things that were about to be added in my heart for the rest of my life. I took a round of the ship and after ensuring few things I went on to see the guests on board. I was the gunnery officer of that ship then. As soon as I went there to have a look on that beauty my eyes were set on the shining face of the senior officer. I saluted him with my introduction and asked them to come inside to have some juice and light snacks. 

My gesture was more of a surprise to him that he narrated later on. 

"You didn't need to come officer, we're just on a normal visit," his warm words came. 

It was not the need but the ethics that we carry with us. I addressed it as my duty and asked them to come inside. 

His eyes were still on the gun and mine on that shine which he had in his glance. The gun was under me that time and I could easily sense that nostalgic retreat that he was going through. 

"In my service this was the first gun I had after I got commissioned," the smile got brighter that time as he narrated. 

"It's been 28 long years and this beauty was quite young back then," he continued. 

It was a normal day until my newness met an experience. 28 long years! Not just a number but a major part of whole life.

"You always remember it's not a job, it's service that you're doing," he paused and continued, "and this is not just a uniform; it's a part of body now."

I was engrossed in his narration and he, in his 28 years of service. His face never lost that spark and shining smile for a single moment but the moist could be heard in his voice. 

"It's the last day when I am wearing this white," the silence continued, "and from tomorrow I won't be wearing it." 

28 years of companionship with the uniform and then just one more day made it tougher to accept the coming days without it. It was not much about 'he won't be wearing it' as much as about 'he cannot wear it'. The pain of detachment could be felt through the words that day. 

It was the last day of his most cherished 'service' and he was living the best out of it; showcasing his journey for his dear ones and reliving his tenure all over again to continue the rest of his life without the uniform. It's rightly said, once a soldier always a soldier. The toughness of training, the roughness of tides, the turmoil of ocean and the obstacles throughout could never overpower the pride that one carries till the end. Once you get in, you can never take this world out of you. It always stays with you. That's what I believed and that's exactly what he asked me to remember again. 

Tiresome work, every day challenges, bits of blues often make us a bit tired and broken at the end of the day. But when the sun rises and the white adorns your body all the energy is rejuvenated within you and you understand that it's a part of your body. 

An evening filled with nostalgia and moments with lessons were all set to adorn my service life to a new level. 

"It's time we should leave as there's just few more hours to go and I have lot more to cherish through," with bucket full of stories he enriched my day and went away with never fading pride and ever sparkling courage. 

The next day as I wore the white I caressed it more dearly. Somewhere I could also feel the upcoming pain of retirement that was awaiting. Everybody had to go through the same. The service will end but the Soldier within will never retire till the last breathe.

The Last Day won't be easy."

His voice shook a bit as he narrated me the whole story that night in an odd hour. His words were stern and his love for the service was pure. I realised what is it like to be in such a prestigious forum, a level up. The more you know them the more you get reasons to feel proud. Which seems just another job to you is the way of life for them.