~2 years 6 months ago~

Cool summer breeze blows against my face as I peek out through the windows. A few of the loose tendrils from my bun breaks free floating in the direction of the wind. No matter how many times I try to tuck it behind my ears they come back hindering my vision.

Summers here are warm, long and beautiful. The merciless scorching rays of summer doesn't reach here. Winters are cold accompanied by snowfall, but no one can deny the beauty it beholds. I close my eyes inhaling the fresh musky smell of the forest lining the road on either side, the smell of decaying leaves and pine making its way to my olfactory bulbs.

Heaven of India, Jammu and Kashmir.

Currently a bunch of us, that includes 20 military doctors including me are heading for a tour in a Military Camp based in Uri before we receive our first posting. We like to call ourselves 'Cadets' as we are no way less than them. After getting our MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Science) degree, we have undergone a training of six months where we are trained with guns, bullets and military life. We are the soldiers behind the curtains. Twenty of us have been together since our training, having got a name - Team Dove. This tour is more of a farewell before we move onto our postings.

A small smile takes over my face as I see my batch mates discussing our next get together. We haven't yet parted, and they are all planning for a get together.

"Nehali, why are you so quiet, just sitting idly? Or perhaps, you are revising another topic?" Anushree asks, placing herself on the seat beside me before tapping her index finger on her chin thoughtfully.

Once, twice, and then she speaks up, "We don't have a test as far as I remember."

"Oh hush, Anu or should I say Anus?" I smirk taking in her shocked expression. She never liked that abbreviation of her name.

"Fine, I won't say anything. But join us for a game of Antakshari?" She huffs rolling her eyes before directing her hopeful eyes at me.

"No way. Let them sing. I am not going to make fun of myself by ever attempting to sing." I say.

"Fine, then sulk." She huffs one final time before trotting away balancing herself on the iron bars as the bus takes a turn.

I revert back to look at the scenario outside. Passing out from AFMC ( Armed Forces Medical College) felt the biggest achievement ever. I have always been proud of myself for getting into this college, given the tough competition. The greatest achievement was the notion of pride in my parent's eyes when I graduated.

Chest out.

Shoulders back.

Stomach in.

Eyes front.

I used to say every time, I stood in front of the mirror admiring myself.  It is one thing being a doctor and another being a military army. I always wanted to get into the army, but knew my family would never allow it. So being a military doctor was the only way out, I could at least convince them that I didn't have to fight on the forefront. 

The bus comes to a halt putting a halt to my thoughts. I peek out once more to find the large entrance supported by stone pillars on each side. A man in army green clothes pulls open the large wired gate allowing the bus to pass through the broad driveway. It stops near a check post where a man waves his hand signaling the bus to stop.

The bus comes to a stop near the post as we all get down in a line with our backpacks. We are all dressed in army green cargo pants and olive green fatigues. A man calls out our names to make sure all of us are here. After that, he leads us to the barracks where are supposed to stay for the night.

"Cadets! Attention!" The soldier in front directs us turning to look at us. 

We immediately snap to attention, striking the pose.

"At ease." He hollers.

We immediately move to take that position.

"I am Major Aditya Rathore. I will be in charge of your tour here. Your tour will official start tomorrow at 6 A.M. Anyone who fails to come up will miss the tour and will be punished. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir!" An unanimous shouts rings through the base.

He nods once before turning to the barracks.

" All boys will share a common dorm and the girls will share another dorm. The left half of the building is meant for boys and the right half for girls." He says pointing at each half.

"Dismissed." He hollers.

We all divide into two groups one moving to the left half and another to the right half. We are led by a female officer into our dorm. There are seven beds strewn across the room, that leaves one empty since there are six of us only.

Anu takes the bed beside me, plopping down on her ass.

"Poop pops from anus." I mutter but she catches my words.

I smirk at her while she only glares down at me but says nothing. I unstrap my backpack putting it on my bed. I unzip my bag pulling out the map. I sweep my eyes around the room looking for anybody who can accompany me as I look around the base. But most of them are lying on their stomachs obviously tired from the six hour long journey.

I carefully unfold the map, locating the point where I am standing currently. The barracks. I use the map to locate other points in the camp as I come out.

It's almost evening. The setting sun casts the sky yellow and orange. There must be a point somewhere here to watch the sunrise or sunset. I will keep that for tomorrow. I walk along the path, following the map. I look up to see the metal barricades, beyond which lies a wide expanse of land.

I peer into the map again to the find the printed words 'LOC', 'POK', 'Kashmir'. I am standing before the vast expanse of land that denotes the Line of Control (LOC), beyond which lies POK ( Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and further behind lies Pakistan.

Pakistan, which once was a part of India, now one of it's greatest enemies. A sigh escapes my lips as I think if the partition hadn't happened, it would have been another part of India.

Tomorrow on the official tour we will get to interact with the soldiers and go through the temporary hospital.

I return to the barracks not long after having my dinner to find them dozing off. It's eight in the evening anyway. I wouldn't want to miss the sunrise tomorrow. I had inquired previously while having my dinner to find that there's a sunset point one kilometres away from here.

Tomorrow if I get to see the sunrise, everything will go smoothly.

_____________________________

However, the next day I wake up to the sound of bullets and bombings followed by piercing screams. Beside my bed, Anu is wide awake too, the ghostly pale look on her face sends my nerves to a frenzy.

"What is going on?" I ask her taking a look at the alarm clock.

5:30.

"It's an ambush, Cadets!" Before she can answer, a burly man who's sporting an army green color turban and french-cut beard hurries in holding his ammunition, ready to shoot whoever comes in his way.

"Don't get out of here. We have been attacked from the Western side. Get your guns ready in case you need it." He shouts amidst the ear rattling noise.

He hurries out immediately as we all scamper to our feet, hurriedly slipping on our cargo pants and boots before taking hold of our guns.

Amidst the chaos that soon follows with commanders issuing orders, combatants running to take their positions, our team is immediately escorted to the other side of the camp, where we have weapons ready in case we need to fight. Six months of training in the army after Medical School is going to pay off now.

I walk to the doorstep not before taking my walkie-talkie. I look back to find them all busy with something. They don't notice as I slip away walking through the corridors then running outside towards the West where they have attacked. I am not sure what leads my legs forwards into a death trap, but it's my mind that whispers,

Be brave.

Don't cower away! Don't hide.

I make a decision amongst the sounds of firing and exploding bombs. I have to help them. Many must have been injured. The sooner they get the aid, the better.

I am not going to hide here while they lay their lives for mine.

I am no coward!

The fight has now moved to the south with the soldiers pursuing the infiltrators. There might be soldiers who are still alive. I need to help them.

On my way, I see the burning remnants of the temporary camp, courtesy of the bombings. Dead bodies lay scattered as if they are mere leaves of a tree blown away by the wind. Their half-burnt faces contorted with agony do nothing but enrage my heart. The pungent smell of sulfur and flesh make its way into my olfactory senses further enraging my already bruised heart.

Blood pools around tents. I hurry over only to find them lying on their makeshift beds with multiple bullets forming pits in their chest and blood oozing out of them. My fingers lightly graze the blood to find it still warm. It wasn't long ago, they were here.

Bastards! Killed them in sleep.

Death is so close to me. This is Death himself personified in its worst form ever. I sure had seen patients dying during my year in the internship. There have been so many cases where we could not revive the patients. Initially, those deaths did affect me but later on, I got immune to them. Here, I thought death didn't scare me but apparently, it does now.

A flash of a woman's face contorted in sheer agony for their lost family passes before my eyes as I take in the destruction before me. Rage boils my blood but my sense return as I cower down looking for their pulses. Even if its only one I can help live, I must try. All the while praying to the heavens above, I check their carotid pulse hoping to get one.

Mercy, my lord show mercy upon these souls that serve their country with blood and sweat.

Checking for pulse here inside the tent is hopeless. With the amount of blood loss and the number of bullets embedded in their bodies, I can do nothing. I am not a surgeon yet.

I don't get any for the first one I check but can't find it on the second one too. My eyes grow moist as I wonder if I am of no use at all.

But I continue checking their pulses all the while crouched down to avoid someone from seeing me. Tears of desperation and rage cloud my vision making it hard to see. This was supposed to be a happy day, I was supposed to see the sunrise, not this bloodshed.

I can at least save a father, a son, a husband if I go on.

Don't give up.

Save a life, save a family.

I can't leave. My search finally finds one, his carotid pulse is feeble, his breath is coming out in spurts. Half of his face is burnt.

"Can you hear me, Sir?" I ask, taking my mouth nearer to his ears so that he can hear me.

He mumbles something inaudible.

"Don't worry Sir, I will save you, " I say, as I take out my walkie-talkie to contact others.

"Cheshire cat hello? Can anybody hear me? I want stretchers. . ."

But a sudden loud explosion followed by an earthquake has me holding onto the ground for balance. A shot of heat and pain slash through my back as if I have been burnt. Something hard and probably metallic hits me on the back before clanking back on the ground. My hands come up bloody from my head. Am I shot? I am momentarily confused about the source of blood.

But, then I peer up to the sky to see the sunlight fading into darkness as pain slashes through my body. I give in to the welcome darkness as the pain fades from my body, numbness settling in.

I can't die. . .

All I see is a face looming above me.

Our driver?

Authors Note:

Here I am with my part 2. Do tell how you feel. What do think is now going to happen? Enjoy and stay safe!

Facts:

MBBS in India is equivalent to MD in foreign counties like USA.

Fatigues- Casual uniform worn by military people.

What do you think is now going to happen ?

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