Tuesday

It was Tuesday, I guess

In a grocery store, where my mom took me

Near the billing counter

I saw an old man, with a stick

Dressed all in white with a beautiful kufi on his head

Yeah he was alone

And accidentally dropped his debit card in the shopping basket

With stick in one hand, he was trying to reach for card from another

I saw him doing all these

So I pulled the card and handed him

He looked at me with a smile, so earnest

It took my heart away

He came and sat next to me

“I survived two bullets on my right leg,

in Kargil

retired as a Captain,

I was that young!”

I had no words so, I became a listener

and he recited his story

“I took fourteen years out of my life

To teach my two sons and to make their career

One is Major in army

Another Manager in SBI.”

I couldn’t miss the satisfaction on his face

Nor the smile

Neither his words.

After some time,

He stood up

“take care, beta” he left

And I could only manage to say a thank you.