Once upon a time

When I first cried

A lady embraced me to her chest,

took me to her room and obliged.

Her man blessed me with his love,  

I then realized that

they were my parents for the rest of my life.

First couple of years passed by

I saw big hands cuddling my cheeks,

I was trying to identify who they were.

Then I heard a voice,

Call me Paa, call me Maa

And you know for real they were my world.

I was close to my mother as an Army kid because

my dad was always busy guarding the borders,  

Showing his love and strength to the motherland.   

Walking on his footsteps and the values he had instilled in me,

I promised to look after her till the end.  

It was the night of my big day,

All the party, gifts, laughter and giggles were done.

But there was someone I was missing the most.

I was constantly gazing at the door

Waiting for the most special one,

All of a sudden my door-bell rang.  

Mom ran in haste and opened with a bang,

Something was mysterious I could suspect.  

She was stunned when saw,

men in uniform carrying coffin

covered with the national flag in full respect.  

That was the first time when I saw her crying while guests had arrived.

They looked like my father’s colleagues but

Everyone looked shocked and loudly cried.

I was locked in a room by my relatives,  

and was asked forcefully to sleep.

I thought I am a guard to my mom,  

How could I let her weep?

She was not alone because I cried along with her in my room

I do not know why was she crying?

May be because someone really close to us was missing,

That night I wanted to be with her

But I couldn’t as I was locked,

While I wished dad to be here for both of us

Surprisingly, he came from the light and sat next to me,

I hugged him tightly and started interrogating,

I questioned him, “What happened to Mom?

Why she is crying and screaming your name?

and who are those men who bought you in a coffin?”

On these questions he just smiled placidly

And with peace he replied,

“My wife is just jealous that I paid my loyalty towards the nation more,

I am martyred now and that she can’t adore.

She is crying because I loved the border more than her,

and we will not attend the army parties together anymore.”  

“And lastly my child these men in the uniform who bought me home

are my mates, friends, colleagues and my family

throughout my journey of intense situations till my journey to abode.”

In curiosity I asked him a final question

“Will you come to us back ever?”

On which he silently answered,

“I am always with you for forever,

and will guard you from the heaven.”  

Once upon a time,

I wish I could see him again.

Now I can feel him often,  

as I fulfilled his last wish to guard my mother and his life.  

He must be proud of me in heaven,  

and would be smiling at me across the seven seas.