Green Hopes

GREEN HOPES
V. Thanesh

“Get down” shouted Major Rathore in his astounding clamorous voice. I and the four soldiers accompanying me responded immediately to the brief order and rushed into the bunker. Before we could realise the situation we were in, a powerful explosion of a hand grenade almost deafened our ears.

“Thank God. We are still breathing in this concrete bunker” came the muttering words of Sepoy Yadav once the sound resided. “Nobody will move out. Wait for my orders. Enemies must be nearby. We have got a nice opportunity to wipe them out. Now...just listen” began the Major after a minute’s reflection. We gathered around him to know about our next move.

“Sir, the latest news from our reconnaissance party has ascertained the presence of few terrorists in the briers nearby. Why not just surround them and fire.” I initiated and waited for others’ reaction. “It is not easy Sahib. It is better we wait till the dawn. With our present strength, we may not be able to inflict more casualties on our enemy” intervened the circumspect Subedar Ramendra Singh. “No....no, from their indiscriminate fire, it appears that they would not be more than a handful. The firing is just to help some terrorists to sneak into our territory. Their attempt to infiltrate can easily be nullified” said the Major listening to which we understood the purpose of his briefing.

“We must plan for an ambush. To the best of my terrain knowledge, there is only one way behind these thick bushes through which they can get into the neighbouring village. To find a haven there the terrorists have to cross a river risking in darkness on a wooden bridge which is just three hundred yards from here. I am sure, they do not know our presence. So, Captain, you will lead two men to the left of the over bridge and take position in twenty minutes.” “Yes sir” I answered in appreciation of the detailed plan and asked Havildar Param Singh and Yadav to follow me.

We walked carefully and reached the designated area. Through our wireless, Yadav confirmed our ground status to the Major. We had nothing to do thereafter but just to wait for our kill. “Major’s judgement will never go wrong” thought I and positioned the men to our best advantage.

“Look….they have come. Get ready” I signalled to the eagerly waiting soldiers. Their eyes too lit up once they were shown their target. “Sir.....sixteen men with AK47 are on the bridge” whispered Havildar Param singh with his eyes still fixed on his binoculars.

“Now they are finally ours. Major with his team would be definitely following them” said I to myself and asked my men to open fire. After five minutes of rapid firing, we found ourselves totally engulfed by smoke. Advancing five feet closer to the over bridge, looking through my binoculars, I figured out sixteen terrorists lying dead. I could also see our Major leading his team approaching us.

“The entire group is killed. Our strategy has worked” said the Major pumping his fist in the air. “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” shouted the Subedar and others who emerged out from their positions. “Yes” I shouted enthusiastically and found myself blinking on my bed. “Where are the stars on my uniform? Oh God! Was it a dream then?” I wondered gasping for breath.

“Rajesh.....has your tiredness gone? Don’t keep on worrying. Next time you will definitely get into the Army” consoled my mother reminding me of my Services Selection Board interview. “Rajesh just come out and let us celebrate Diwali. See....Our father has bought more crackers this time” came the mellifluous voice of my sister. Finally, I got up and after sporting a new Diwali dress walked into the open ground to light a rocket with a sparkling hope of donning the olive green uniform before 2006 Diwali.