Standing on the stage, in between the crowd, my heart is racing a thousand meters per second. My eyes are beaming with achievement whereas the people's eyes are filled with tears of sadness and pride. I lay in silence when the Ministry of Defence takes my name out loud in front of the world. I can hear my name stand out in front of everyone and every person is cheering and clapping for me. A tray is placed in front of the Minister and he picks out something shiny in it and holds it in his hands. He starts walking towards me with a big glamorous smile. I stand in a straight and taunt position and feel my heavy and ragged breathing. My chest is heaving up and down when he reaches the spot. I can feel my whole body doing a natural salute.
JAI HIND!
As I come back into standing position with my chest pumped up, the Minister sees me with a glint and enchantment in his eyes. He lifts his one hand and I can feel him patting my shoulder and whispering a silent prayer.
Good Job! Soldier. We are proud of you!
He then proceeds to badge me with the medal in his hand. The award is bronze in material and I can't take my eyes off it. The ribbon is a plain purple color and the medal has four replicas of Indra's Vajra with the state emblem embossed in the center. After the medal is put into its right place, it just feels perfect. The next thing I know, my field of vision is filled with a bouquet of pretty flowers and I can smell the freshness and pollen. I feel my body getting jittery as well as I am happy and honored for being given this opportunity. A sudden urge to sing the National Anthem fills my heart. To my surprise, a person declares the national anthem to be sung. Everyone falls silent and stands at attention with their feet attached and fists on their side. The music starts playing and I feel my lips singing the national anthem naturally. Every person sings in sync and I reminisce of the times in the battles…
The sun is blazing hot as I run on the ground and count laps. Just one more round and I will be done for the day. But before I can stop, I hear the commander blow the whistle and shout, ‘TEN MORE ROUNDS!’
I can feel my body spent and complaining to lay hold of a small break. I give up the thought of resting as I am evocated by the hard work I have to do, to become a soldier and join the army and protect our country from the enemies. As I am reminded of my duty, I automatically feel my body getting energized and I start running to complete my laps. There is a smile on my face when I run thinking of what the future has in it for me.
Today is the day we will practice Gun shooting and Archery. I am excited and nervous at the same time. What if I can't do it? What if I fail?
I shake my head and clear all of my doubts clouding my mind and walk towards the practicing arena. I see everyone gathered around and the commanders are giving the instructions. Everyone is given a gun and fake bullets. We all are asked to practice shooting the dummy in front of us. I lift the gun in my hand and can feel the heaviness of it and the smell of metal fills my senses. My whole body starts quivering and my hands are shaking. I put the gun to my eye level and zero in on the dummy in front of me and curl my fingers around the trigger. Sweat is dripping down my face. I then proceed and press the trigger. The next thing I know, I miss the target and it goes somewhere behind the dummy. I keep reloading and firing the bullets yet they hit everywhere but the actual goal! After some time I think of giving up but then the commander comes to me and speaks, 'Imagine that the dummy is not fake but the enemy.' Now go forward and try.
I proceed to hit the target and my mind runs the images of me at the borders protecting my country from the enemies. I press the trigger and it hits the target at the center.
I finally did it. I am happy that I finally hit the aim!
‘Good job!’ The commander says and he saunters away.
I practice every day with every bit of concentration I have and finally, the day comes when I will be sent to complete a mission.
I am promoted to a higher position and today we all are going to the borders to fight the battle.
When we reach the destination, all we see is RED. There's blood everywhere and soldiers are trying their best to fight the enemies. I see a person coming closer to us and quickly get into action and take out my gun and fire at the person.
In a second the battle roars and everyone is battling for our country. I see a lot of injured and dead soldiers but I can't give up. I have to save our country. When I am busy hitting the enemies in front of me, I didn't notice a person coming from behind me. I turn as quickly as possible and hit the person behind me but he first hits me with a bullet. But I am not willing to give up. I drop down on the ground, gun still in my hand, and aim at the enemy. I press the trigger with all the power I have and hit him. He drops dead on the ground.
YEH DIL MAANGE MORE!
I, a citizen of India, love my country and will protect it until my last breath.
I will come raising the flag or come home wrapped in it.
My body goes limp and I finally rest in peace.
‘Medals are not really gold. They are made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.’
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