An Officer's Duty...
DISCLAIMER: The following story is completely fictional. Any similarity to any person, living or dead, is just a coincidence.
It was around 1400 hrs when I reached home. I was in the final year of my graduation, and desperately trying to figure what to do after I pass out of college. My mother served lunch for me and I hurriedly finished it off and went to get some rest.
1500 hrs, one of my friends called up and told my mother that I had got a call from the SSB (Services Selection Board). I knew it around evening when I confronted everyone in the house. My father was very upset. They all tried to dissuade me from taking it up. I would have been persuaded by them to leave it, but suddenly this thought leapt through my mind. What if every person signing up for the services was persuaded not to do so. Who would safeguard the MotherLand.
Reluctantly, everyone agreed to my words after a whole week of arguments. However, my mother was still not fully agreeable. Somehow she felt she would not see me again. Her fears were aggravated 3 weeks later when I gave them the news that I had been selected in the interview and medicals.
I left for the IMA (Indian Military Academy) some weeks later. The training was tough, but the job wasn't easy either. At the end of terms, I passed the Chetwode building steps (Antim Pag - The Final Step) and had been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. The feeling of being an Officer of the Indian Army was great. I was given a forward posting.
Shortly after joining my regiment, my leave got approved. Just as I was about to leave the base, my Officer Commanding asked for me. Confusion was in my mind, as he decorated me with an extra star, meaning I was made Captain. He said, I was made acting-Captain since I was to be a part of a mission. The enemy had occupied forward posts at many places near the border. And there were clear orders from the HQ, to drive them out of my MotherLand. I saw the day had arrived when I had to perform my duty for the MotherLand. The War was On.
1930 hrs, the Decisive Day. Eight companies from my regiment were waiting to strike, as the artillery pounded the enemy bunkers.
2000 hrs, the OC gave commands to strike, seek and destroy the enemy. My company started moving towards the front while the other companies covered the flanks. Two companies moved to the rear. The LMG group concentrated fire on the first bunker to give us time to clear it out. After clearing the first bunker, the enemy in the other bunkers directed their fire at us. I saw 3 men fall down to their bullets. As I looked at them, my JCO pulled me into the bunker, which we used as temporary shield. Meanwhile, the left flank started moving towards the bunkers inflicting heavy damage in the process. My company provided cover fire for the moving party. An officer fell to the enemy bullets about 10 yards from us. I saw he was moving, meant he was alive but unable to take cover.
The motto at of the Indian Army flashed before me: "The safety, honour and welfare of your country, come first, always and everytime. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command comes next. Your own ease, comfort and safety comes last, always and every time."
I rushed at him, my JCO seeing my determination asked troops to cover me. I dragged him back to the bunker. Just then, I felt a pain in my chest. I felt like I could not control myself, an enemy bullet had hit me. The flanks had almost cleared out the bunkers. My JCO and a few soldiers dragged us both into the bunker. All the time, I remembered my mother, and her fear.
Suddenly I felt something hit me in the head, I saw my helmet fall and roll down the ground. It grew even darker, till I could not see anything... I could not feel anything...
It was around 1400 hrs when I reached home. I was in the final year of my graduation, and desperately trying to figure what to do after I pass out of college. My mother served lunch for me and I hurriedly finished it off and went to get some rest.
1500 hrs, one of my friends called up and told my mother that I had got a call from the SSB (Services Selection Board). I knew it around evening when I confronted everyone in the house. My father was very upset. They all tried to dissuade me from taking it up. I would have been persuaded by them to leave it, but suddenly this thought leapt through my mind. What if every person signing up for the services was persuaded not to do so. Who would safeguard the MotherLand.
Reluctantly, everyone agreed to my words after a whole week of arguments. However, my mother was still not fully agreeable. Somehow she felt she would not see me again. Her fears were aggravated 3 weeks later when I gave them the news that I had been selected in the interview and medicals.
I left for the IMA (Indian Military Academy) some weeks later. The training was tough, but the job wasn't easy either. At the end of terms, I passed the Chetwode building steps (Antim Pag - The Final Step) and had been commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. The feeling of being an Officer of the Indian Army was great. I was given a forward posting.
Shortly after joining my regiment, my leave got approved. Just as I was about to leave the base, my Officer Commanding asked for me. Confusion was in my mind, as he decorated me with an extra star, meaning I was made Captain. He said, I was made acting-Captain since I was to be a part of a mission. The enemy had occupied forward posts at many places near the border. And there were clear orders from the HQ, to drive them out of my MotherLand. I saw the day had arrived when I had to perform my duty for the MotherLand. The War was On.
1930 hrs, the Decisive Day. Eight companies from my regiment were waiting to strike, as the artillery pounded the enemy bunkers.
2000 hrs, the OC gave commands to strike, seek and destroy the enemy. My company started moving towards the front while the other companies covered the flanks. Two companies moved to the rear. The LMG group concentrated fire on the first bunker to give us time to clear it out. After clearing the first bunker, the enemy in the other bunkers directed their fire at us. I saw 3 men fall down to their bullets. As I looked at them, my JCO pulled me into the bunker, which we used as temporary shield. Meanwhile, the left flank started moving towards the bunkers inflicting heavy damage in the process. My company provided cover fire for the moving party. An officer fell to the enemy bullets about 10 yards from us. I saw he was moving, meant he was alive but unable to take cover.
The motto at of the Indian Army flashed before me: "The safety, honour and welfare of your country, come first, always and everytime. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command comes next. Your own ease, comfort and safety comes last, always and every time."
I rushed at him, my JCO seeing my determination asked troops to cover me. I dragged him back to the bunker. Just then, I felt a pain in my chest. I felt like I could not control myself, an enemy bullet had hit me. The flanks had almost cleared out the bunkers. My JCO and a few soldiers dragged us both into the bunker. All the time, I remembered my mother, and her fear.
Suddenly I felt something hit me in the head, I saw my helmet fall and roll down the ground. It grew even darker, till I could not see anything... I could not feel anything...
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