Border And Other Stories

First encounter -------------------------- 

My first tryst with border has been a hindi flick Filled with a lot of patriotic fervor,  

It had the simple story line of a battalion of ill equipped Indian soldiers 

Fighting against all odds to protect the sovereignty of the country at the Indo - Park border, 

Next time I witnessed in person the real border Happened some years after the release of that hindi flick, 

Just out of college and not really knowing what exactly to do before going full fledged into job hunting, one of my friends, Dron, as he was fondly called by us at that time, suggested me to join him to a tour to Sikkim, 

So I went to Sikkim with him and while touring we reached Nathula pass and the Indo - China border, I remember shaking hands with Chinese soldiers, They looked like pocket dynamo, short, strong built, sturdy, 

Seeing some Indian women they grew visibly excited and giggled like little school kids, 

At that tremendous altitude, surrounded by snow capped mountains,

 Having breathing troubles, I wondered what a sheer waste was it to man posts at those places, What was the use of Border , anyway? 

Barbed wires ----------------

 Being born into a family of immigrants, 

Bore caustic remarks from friends and foes From boyhood days, ' you people got marks of barbed wires on your backs'

 This remark was the commonest of all,

 Despite being born here, on this side of the border, at a reputed private nursing home of South kolkata, 

To parents who had settled on this side of the border for years, 

Heard remarks and oblique comments, 

Luckily, many like us live in this country, 

Having similar experiences, 

With many rising to heights of glory, 

Luckily , many living here for years know by heart There is no difference in people across borders, All have same shares of agonies and ecstaties, Luckily, Countries thrive that way,

 Side by side, Like neighbours.

 Friend of that boy in striped pajamas -------------------------------- 

Always wished to become a friend of that boy in striped pajamas, Sharing with him my daily groceries, chocolate, cakes, chilli paneer, chicken butter Masala, egg devils, pakoras, Giving him my story books, my most favorite ones, Like that book by Richard Bach, Which had the story of a seagull conquering every possible threat, Always wished to be a friend of that simple boy in striped pajamas, Living a life with him beyond the borders of ghetto.