Last Wish

-by Brig Paramjit

(Brig Paramjit is from my unit. One of the finest officers of the Indian Army. His humanism is legion. He has also written a book called, 'Living on the Edge'. 'Last Wish', a true story, has been posted after getting his permission.)

"Military Police has reported that your unit has sneaked out special army rations as part of the luggage of your officer evacuated to Chandigarh by aircraft. And you abetted this," said the Brigade Commander of Siachen Brigade in a very stiff tone.
"Yes, sir I have committed the offence and I will be proud to face the punishment," replied the Commanding Officer.
"Proud? What was the item taken?"
"Five chocolates, sir."
"That is too small a thing to put your career at stake."
"Sir, you remember last week Pakistanis launched an attack on our Bana Post?"
"Yes, I do, but don’t try to divert my attention."
"In that attack one of my officers Lieutenant Sandeep got injured. He got caught in an air burst of the enemy artillery.  The flesh from his waist, hand and above left ankle had got blown off. He was bleeding badly but he fought hard."
"Yes, they successfully repelled the attack."
"After the attack my soldiers dragged him into the shelter. He was in pain. We couldn’t evacuate him as the firing was still on. Next day we brought him near the helipad. But the helicopter couldn’t come as the weather was all packed up."
"Your nursing assistant on the post must have given him medical aid."
"Yes, he was giving the medical aid but a faux pas happened."
"What?"
"Sandeep has grown up in the unit as his father was also in this unit. His buddy couldn’t see him in pain. The Gorkha knew that Ibrufen tablets relieve pain so seeing and feeling the magnitude of the pain he gave him seven pills of that medicine. Sandeep's parameters started getting erratic."
"So, you evacuated him on foot."
"No, we were told that at daybreak we will get the helicopter. But in the morning weather again got nasty. It was already fourth day. So, in the night I decided to evacuate him on foot. But while bringing him down my boys slipped. Fortunately, they could anchor themselves on the edge of a crevasse. Sandeep was dangling in the crevasse. Soldiers had a choice to cut the chord and let him go down. When one of them suggested this option, others said it will be difficult to answer his father. Boys struggled for an hour to get him out. In the bargain the avalanche chord cut into their hands through the gloves. By four in the morning they reached the outskirts of the post. An officer was there to receive them. Seeing the condition of the evacuation party he picked up Sandeep and walked to the surgical centre only to collapse at its door."
"You still have not told me about the chocolates?"
"Sir, while Sandeep was being prepared for air evacuation to Chandigarh, I went there to meet him. Before meeting him I asked the senior doctor as to what are the chances of Sandeep's survival. He said about twenty percent. I walked up to Sandeep. He was delirious. I told him that he will be alright and does he want anything? His reply was 'chocolate'. I remembered that when I was a young officer in the unit and he was a child and I used to get chocolates for him. Seeing his condition, I felt it was his last wish. So how could I deny it?"
"How is he now?"
"Critical, as per the report I got in the morning."
"You can go. I can’t even say don't do it again," said the Brigade Commander.
After the Commanding Officer moved out the Staff Officer walked in and asked, "Sir, should I sign the convening order for the court of inquiry."
"No," said the Brigade Commander. He picked up the report by the military police and put it in the shredder.

Note:-   Lieutenant Sandeep survived and is a serving Brigadier now. Sandeep confided that he was able to hear and understand the conversation among his soldiers when he was dangling in the crevasse.