Olive Green

Despite all odds, I finally completed my schooling from a public school. Ambitious was I as I look ahead towards my future. Good as a student, I too aspired to be fighting at the front but all shattered as the forces only recruit boys for this purpose.

Life suddenly seemed meaningless as I see my dream melting in the heat of gender-role. Aspiration is one and reality another. You can aspire to anything but only those things materialize that are real.

That was the time when I saw my sister commissioned in olive green. Elegant she looked as she valiantly walked in her passing out parade. The scintillating stars on the shoulders and the glazing golden emblem on the peaked cap stole the show. The straight shoulders, the suave about-turn, and those firm marching just got imprinted in my brain and refused to go into the unconscious. It became my dream which stole my sleep.

I tried my best to be there and I succeeded but that was not his will and rules changed and uniform was changed from olive green to beige. Yes no doubt olive green has its own elegance but beige speaks out loud when the care of a nurse heals the wailing soul and sees the sinking world arise once again.

I still remember a young soldier whose one limb was amputated because of a mine blast. I never saw him brood but a big smile was always there to receive us. Those soldiers are the real heroes who fight so valiantly not even thinking what might be good or best for them but had only one thought, 'To serve the nation.' It's not easy to become such selfless but they are. There can be no match to such soldiers who serve the nation even though they don't know even one soul whom they are protecting. A big salute all the services they render. It's not the stars and the olive green that matters, it's the hard earned glory they deserve for the unbearable courage they have which we as a citizen never have.