Gratitude

My journey, right from my school days to NDA, IMA and then to this prestigious institution, has never been a pre-planned one. One fine morning I decided to opt for the exam and with god's grace and my mom's complete faith, here I am... walking amidst the densest forest, climbing the rigid rocks, crossing the mighty rivers and holding my head high; serving the nation.

Now, as I pass by the unknown faces in some unknown land I realize what life has gifted to me in these years. Arunachal Pradesh is a beauty in disguise. The rocky mountains behold the pristine views underneath. Away from the city, the remoteness will haunt you long after you visit the place. Such is the extent of its charm. Being a travelling soul, I thrive on wanderlust. My profession offers me a plethora of excitement, thrill, adventure and a pinch of risk at every step. Cool, ain't that?

Imagine a day when you suddenly wake up to a blast and find the front view blurred with smoke and all you could utter is, "It would be fun!" That's what my work is. Playing with death and defeating the evils before it can take a step ahead to harm my motherland's peace.

While we stayed awake for days without sleep, my countrymen enjoyed the peace. Being a civilian, perhaps I could have never understood what it actually takes to be free. But now as I walk in my boots, at every step I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulder.

People gets suffocated at their cozy beds while they breathe the air without knowing that someone choked at the frontier as the enemy's grenade didn't miss the bunker. Roaming around the city turns out to be tough during summer, without having an idea of how cold can be poisonous at the highest battlefield. Standing up for the anthem raises question at one side, while few came home after months, wrapped in the tricolour.

It saddens us at times and then we know that nothing can make us weak as it's the endless love for the motherland which keeps us going through the toughest ways in the hardest of situations.

While thoughts remain buried, the responsibilities never go unattended. As the news keep affecting our minds at times, few unusual things keep us going. During our regular patrolling I come across few smiling faces which at times follow us even after we leave them far behind, keeping our morale high and our determination higher.

Posting occurs, places change, people fade away but the sight of a little guy saluting with pride in eyes, faith in mind and blessings from within, they don't leave us. Even after years of the incident, it remains fresh as a dew drop, nourishing the wounds from time to time.

Neither money, nor power can buy it. The uniform has its aura with which you earn it. While you earn a wealthy package per month, I earn a number of salutes per day. You dream for comfort, we pay for freedom.

Dear Countrymen, gratitude keeps us going. Faith keeps us alive!