Only Losers Win Wars...

The biting snowfall was heavy and thick...
To stand guard to the base camp today, I was the pick!
And so with my pet rifle held in my right hand…
Enduring the ruthless wind and snow, I did stand...

Constantly and cautiously, I surveyed with my eyes…
The vast valley of trees, in front of me, that was carpeted with ice…
Just a month ago I had joined the Defence Force…
And they had sent me here, to make me tougher and coarse…

In the beginning it was a little difficult for me…
To be living away from my fond family…
But soon I learnt to get along with my life…
With just a small photo of my cute son and my wife…

The very thought of them, brought a smile on my face…
And I adjusted my cap, as my mind ran to my native place…
But just then, all my senses buzzed like honeybees…
Because I had spotted some movement amidst the pine trees…

I stared hard and soon gasped in shock…
Because approaching our camp, was an enemy soldier flock…
I swiftly counted their number to be ten…
And then fired a shot into the air to alert our men…

But it will take our men at least ten minutes to reach this spot…
So until then, the enemy’s approach I had to somehow halt…
Thus, with a thumping heart, I lay down behind a boulder…
And took aim, with my rifle’s butt resting on my shoulder…

I fired but missed my target due to the snow storm…
And the enemies approached the camp, in a huge swarm…
I turned around but saw none of our men coming this way…
Which meant I had to single-handedly keep the enemies at bay…

Bullets were now being fired by the enemy…
But luckily all of them were missing me…
But with my rifle in hand, I stood rooted to my spot…
Because I had made up my mind to confront the whole lot…

I took out my family photo and had one last look…
For it was from their faces that courage I took…
The wind howled as I took a deep breath…
And I clasped my rifle tightly, ready to face death…

In my mind’s eye, I saw our tricolor flutter in a gentle wind…
And all of my veins fervently roared "Jai Hind!"…
Instantly, an enormous sense of power surged through me…
And I charged at the enemies, who were heading towards me…

Even amidst the piercing wind and blinding snow…
How I shot them down, I just didn’t know…
Hit by my passionate shots, 5 out of 10 went to the ground…
But alas! Two of their bullets had their target found…

One hit me savagely on my chest and the other on my thigh…
And I stumbled onto the snow, preparing to die…
After that what happened, I don’t really know…
But definitely to heaven, my soul did go…

There I was admiring God, but just then…
He asked me, "And why did you kill those five men?"
I replied, "Because they were enemies of my motherland!"…
"So…? Who gave the license to kill, in your hand?"…

I just couldn’t answer and asked God back…
"If I can’t kill them then what do I do when they attack?"
But God smiled and replied, "Just make them your comrade"…
"And all the enmity will just like that fade!"…

"One is a pal or a foe, only in the way you look at him..."
"If he is your enemy, the problem is in you, and not in him!"
I nodded my head, as I understood the message…
And God continued speaking in the tone of a sage…

"In this sin-filled world of today, I need at least one noble soul"…
"Who will consider, spreading my message, as his life’s goal!"…
"So, my son, may you be reborn on Earth, to spread my fame…"
"And let the whole world know, that Ramchander is your name…"