We wait; silently. We nod at each
other at times. We know we do not have anything against each other but we also
do know that at a moment’s notice we would be our fiercest adversaries. We are
soldiers, following orders, ready to plunge into the chaos at the slightest nod
from the overlords but we respect each other as we all have been there.
We know the young eager ones from
the old time tested ones. We know the ones like me who have been bloodied in
the battles and have laboured on. We relish the moments when we see someone
mess it up so badly that there will be hell for the poor lad when he reaches
the trenches at night. It’s a complex manoeuvre that takes years to hone skills
in and the young ferrets never seem to get that. We respectfully step aside
when the generals march in; their eyes full of contempt at the mere sight of
enemy soldiers standing near the common grounds.
The gadgets in our hands give us
some respite. It tells us about the world outside. A world full of red bulls,
footballs and cricket bats. A world where one day we will return after the call
of duty has been answered. But the gadgets often fail when raw muscle power is
required to snatch another soldier’s hopes before his own eyes; my downcast
gaze silently apologizing before returning with the trophy.
Handing it over to the general; I
wait slowly taking in the silent admirations of the enemy soldiers around who
have failed to find their exact shades of pink, purple or lilac.
We all wait praying for each other
so that this visit to the trial room is the last in this outlet.
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