A Hero's Return

The White flag flutters gloriously;
Foe becomes friend;tamed
Again


There is someone waiting miles away,
waiting inside the hut.
Embers burning in a corner.
She sits with her knees folded.

The Garland;
and he was gone.
She thought;
they needed him.
There were thousands like him.

Bullets had finished.
The cartridge was empty.
He fought on,
the knife he still had.

They were returning.
(Burnt bunkers,torn fences,bulleted sand-bags;
leaving behind.)
With relieved faces.

The radio did speak:
'TROOPS GIVEN BREAK'.
Oh! how ecstatic it mader her;
Her.

The eyes did not know;
how he was.
Her ears had heard.
"Wait for me"

Gorakhpur was a bride now.
Jewlled.
It was ready,
Welcome home,
Hero

Days passes by.
Eager faces waited.
One face,
wept.

The dust rose,
the last time it had done was an year ago.
A truck made its way;
into the chowk.

A pair of salutes;
followed the knocks on the door.
She stood agonised.

The crowd behind,
murmured;
loudly.

The matyr came,
Home