Simple words convey a complex message

My last summer vacation was one that was memorable and one that drove an inspiration in me. My name is Dev Sharma and I am 10 years old. Last year my family and I visited Gangtok. As most of you would be knowing it is the capital city of Sikkim. As we had planned we boarded our taxi to Nathula pass at 12 noon. As we went uphill, the temperature dipped to 0 degrees and the surrounding air turned chill and ice-like. One of the famous things about this place is that the India - China border lies here. When we reached the border area we asked the driver to wait at the parking area and proceeded to the border. To view China one must climb a small slope made of snow and walk to the left. As I made my way there with my family, I rushed ahead of them with a sense of excitement. While doing this I ended up tripping onto the cold and fluffy snow but it wasn't painful at all. I reached the border before my family and when they arrived they told me that we had to leave immediately because there was a case of high snowfall and that we could sink into the snow. I was adamant because it felt like coming this far was for nothing and also I really wanted to play with snowballs and build a snowman.

My dad was quite frustrated at the situation but to make me feel contented he told me that I was allowed to make one single snowball and then we would make our way back down. I didn't feel that was enough but I felt that the situation could only offer me that much of a chance so each of us made one and flung it at one another forgetting the situation. In the joy of playing, I felt a sudden stiffness as if something or someone was pulling me down and when I looked down, I saw my feet sinking, the same happening to my parents and sister as well. The surroundings began turning foggy but there was a faint image of a man running towards us but at a slow speed. After a few seconds, a man appeared, neatly shaven with an army haircut and a bodyguard built. He was an Indian army officer which was significant from his uniform and badge. His eyes glittered with a sense of courage.

 Each step he made he had to lift his feet up with all his strength because the snow was pulling everyone down like a bog but even then he made it seem effortless. Slowly the snow began covering our knees and the same was the plight of the army officer but he somehow reached us. He knew that taking us one by one was time taking and dangerous so he lifted my sister and me on his shoulders and led the way for my parents. He left us at the slope but by then the snow had reached his hip. He was being pulled down but he didn't seem to give up. He placed his hands on the stone step and with all his energy pulled himself up. When he too joined us down the slope we thanked him almost a hundred times but I really had a question to ask him. I asked him why he risked his life to save just the four of us from the dangerous people pulling snow. He answered without a single thought that there wouldn't have been a value in his life if he didn't give it to his nation. That single line made me decide that I too would serve the nation as an army officer and fight for the safety of my nation.