To our very dear Major Mukund Varadarajan,
It has been exactly 6 months today that you
have attained supreme sacrifice. And it is time for me to write to you an open
letter Major Mukund Varadarajan. An open letter as I know you are there in all
of us, for whom you have laid down your life, protecting us, ensuring our
safety and happiness, not thinking about your own and family interest. I know
through those millions of people’s eyes, you will surely ready my letter and
your reply will also reach me through them.
In our teenage, we used to have fantasy with
cricketers and film actors. They were elder to us in age. Then we grew old and
a time came when the cricketers and actors are younger to us. And here you are,
our real hero, younger to me or may be of same age. It feels so strange. There
is a habit in me of thinking me young, not grown up. And here I see you, of my
age or younger to me with so much of bravery, confidence, courage and such
immense contribution to the nation. In the age when we think of personal
comfort and luxury, what you did I just can’t imagine. You have become my real
life hero, someone very special in my life!
You know Major Mukund, one of the main reasons
behind my Chennai visit was visiting your home and meeting your family. When
the very first time I called up your father, the way uncle talked to me, I felt
I was talking to my own father! And when I reached your home, uncle was waiting
on the road to receive us.
And the bonding happened before I entered your
home! It was Kolkata bonding as you know the city is very close to uncle’s
heart since he was posted there from 1977 to 1981! We talked so much about
Kolkata, my place, my love, their people, market, vegetables, bus and so many
things!
As soon as I entered your home, I saw your
little Arsheya! I was waiting so eagerly to see her. As I owe all my happiness
and life to her. My daughter can hold her father’s finger today as your
daughter sacrificed her’s. And I will ever remain indebted to her! I knew me
and my daughter was lucky when my daughter went inside your home holding your
daughter’s hand. She is now often talking about her “Arsheya Didi”!
We heard from uncle how truthful you were from
your childhood. You have never lied, even to please others. Sir, tears rolled
down uncle’s cheeks while talking about you, though he tried hard to be strong.
He whispered “My son was a very good human being”! He also told that once you
were absent from school due to illness. When uncle took you in his scooter to
your friend’s house for collecting notes, you told uncle not to take out the helmet
to hide uncle’s bald head J ! Uncle was proudly telling us how you wanted
him to be perfect, just like an Army personnel’s father. You took him to
Bangalore Fab India and made him try 30 shirts before buying 3 for him! Uncle
told after a long time he opened his heart out.
Do you know Major, there were twinkle in
aunty’s eyes when she was telling about your leadership skills! How your
friends used to come to her to ask for water and other stuffs for you. You
never used to come but send friends as you knew if you came, your mother will
lock you inside. She also enacted how dramatically you convinced her about
Indhu!
And now, Major, the most painful story rather
phase of uncle’s life that he shared with us. As you listen to this, be his
strength, hold his hand and please help him deal with this. In bank, they asked
for your life certificate from uncle. Uncle called you up on 21.04.2014 for
this and immediately you mailed him the document. But next day when uncle went
to bank, they again asked for your photograph without which the life
certificate is incomplete. On 26th early morning around 1:30pm
Indhu’s father called up uncle and told he got to know from Facebook something
happened to you. Uncle immediately searched in Facebook but couldn’t find
anything in his own profile. Then he checked your profile and saw condolence
messages pouring in. Still uncle didn’t believe. Early morning at 6:30am uncle
went to buy newspaper and standing in front of the shop only, he read 4 pages
and couldn’t any news about you. So he didn’t believe. Then after returning
home while having morning tea, he found your news in the 9th page of
the newspaper and was shattered. After that whatever happened didn’t register
him as his feeling and thoughts became numb! Still today he is not able to
accept the truth.
But what is the truth Major? That you are not
there? Are you really not there Major? You are so very much there in all of us
whom you have saved. With every beating of our heart, your heart beats. With
every brave step that we take in our life, your support and happiness is
reflected. I found you in the tears of uncle, in the twinkle of aunty’s eyes,
in the playfulness of Arsheya and in the dignified silence and strength of
Indhu.
And as I left your home to enter mine, I took
back with me three sentences of uncle that he told us, which will be my
greatest asset of life. “After a long time I have opened my heart”, “We are
close now” and “I am feeling my lighter now”. Thank you Major Mukund. Thank you
for everything!
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