Finally feeling Christmassy!

Heading home.

I have no words to describe the excitement I am in. Heading home - to her, to my pets, to love, to MY place after nearly 03 months. So so SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

Xmas Blues.

Our first Christmas tree. 12.12.2010

Last year this day, this is what my home looked like. Babi had decorated our first Christmas tree and we couldn't have been happier and proud at our own achievement. Fast forward to today and here I am stuck in this tent - freezing temperatures outside and cold in the inside. From the hints I have collected, I know Babi is upto some surprise. I know that she has added some more stuff onto our tree and that she's re-arranged the furniture so as it doesn't look cluttered and she also had some ideas of new furniture. 

As much as my situation sucks, I am also excited beyond measure planning what all to do once I get home.

So I have flushed away the blues and am trying my best to be happy. Why shouldn't I? I am going home in exactly 4 days and more importantly, the Savior has risen. Hallelujah and Merry Xmas to all of you! 

Lest you forget! (II)

The last letter of Capt.Vijayant Thapar (Robin) which he wrote just before he laid down his life for

 OUR BETTER TOMORROW at the age of only 22. During the Kargil War.

Proud to be an INDIAN.

Lest you forget!

Every time I look at that picture below, my eyes go moist. I wonder how much courage this officer must have gathered to go out there where lies the mortal remains of her martyr husband and salute. How much pain she should have camouflaged to march towards the body and stand there. Still. Strong. And Salute. A thousand eyes fixed on to her. A hundred cameras focusing her every breath and another thousand odd, zoomed onto her eyes, in an air that filled with whispers and wonder and sympathy and adulation. Yes, she walked through it all and did something that we can't even possibly imagine. Then Capt. Dr. Rajshree Gupta, from then to now - you're always in our prayers and we cant stop admiring your courage. Respect.

Captain (Dr.) Rajshree Gupta, Army Medical Corps (AMC), salutes the tricolour-draped coffin of her husband, Major Vivek Gupta of the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, who died fighting the enemies. 

Well, I wonder how many of us take time to remember all these heroes. How many of us are even concerned about their families, about their dear ones? How much does the social networking and the media project this/them? An actor gets a tattoo and we have a page that is dedicated to rant about that, but a soldier lays down his life for our country, for you and me - he'll live for barely a week or so in the media, two more days maybe in someones status, another one day maybe in a magazine and then he becomes a page in history book that we seldom open.

This is not what we want. This is not we should be doing.

These valiant men could walk bravely ahead, knowing that death awaits them only because they thought that even without them, their families would be taken care of, looked after, given respect and love by us. By each one of us. Take that assurance away from a soldier and you cripple his determination forever. Never to return.

So take a moment off and think about how lucky we all are to be born in a land that is so full of such courageous and brave men, who wouldn't think twice to lay down their lives for you and me. Yes, Aee Mere Watan Ke Logon, Zara Aankh Mein Bhar Lo Paani.. Joh Shaheed Hue hai Unki, Zara Yaad karo Kahani.

Missing the season!

Among the things I miss being so far away from home and a proper civilisation for that matter, is shopping for Xmas and New Year greeting cards. Its such a release to browse through the cards while simultaneously thinking about the person whom you're getting it for. That connection we feel while we do something thoughtful for someone else, to make them happy..is so worth the effort. So fulfilling it is. That's what I miss right now. That's what I want to do right now.

My Bestest Friend - Tonu.

Sometimes in life there really are bonds that are formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really CAN find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. There is a good chance that many might find it in their spouse, but there is also a chance that that one person who knows you probably more than how much you know yourself, is the same person who has been standing by you all along!

A few pictures from the many we have collected in the past 10 years.

Delhi 2007 

Tonu's Day before the Wedding.

Near Taj Mahal

Military Training 08 

AFMC 2006

Farewell @ AFMC

IIIrd Term AFMC 03

And that one person for me is definitely my bestest friend - Dr. Sharad K Sahai, whom I call Tonu. 

Even when we chilled out together as a group, I knew for sure that I saw a friend in him. A real friend. And that feeling is still fresh, just that now I know FOR SURE that for me, my best buddy is none other than this moron. My bud Tonu. :)

Happily Armed!

Though being in uniform was a co-incidence, so happy that destiny landed me here. Now, this is what I love most!