What do you mean Netra?
Have you given it much thought my dear ?
I am sitting with my knees bend towards my chest on my bedroom as I listen to my Pa reacting to my response to my career plans. I passed my 12th grade with 97% and I want to join the army academy 'DHARMA' in north India. This has been my dream since that night at the attic where I found my mother's old belongings. As a single parent, my Pa has never made me feel the emptiness of growing up without a mother. He is my only family and I live to make him feel proud of me. Whether it is academics, classical dance or painting, I've always given my best to see the light of pride bring tears to his eyes. But this choice, it is mine. Because there is something that I must reveal to this world and that olive-green uniform is the only shield that can give me the power to do it.
I get up and go over to my pa, his hair is getting more grey day by day but his eyes are just the way I remember since my childhood.
Netra : "Pa, this is what I want to pursue, I don't want to waste my time in college when I already know what I want."
Nambiar : "I will not stop you from pursuing your dreams, my child but I want you to be sure of what you're want. And why didn't you tell me about this acceptance letter before?
I started preparing for the entrance exam to DHARMA academy since 10th grade through practicing the previous sample papers and guides. I didn't tell anyone about this and solely used my pocket money for buying the guides, mainly because I didn't want to disappoint Pa if I did not make it. And this morning, I got my acceptance letter to join the academy in 2 weeks, it doesn't feel real that I'm going to be a step closer to my achieving my dream.
PRESENT
But little did I know that it isn't my dream but my legs that would stop feeling real to me from the frequent punishments at DHARMA.
I wonder what he is doing here now. I try to keep doing the squad despite having lost the count;
"Stop."
I heard a small yet in a commanding tone and froze in the middle of doing the squad. What does he want from me?
"Turn around."
Wow, now he is really commanding me. He really has a way with his single syllable words as sharp as the end of a sword pointed at your neck. I slowly got up from that awkward posture and turned around. Ah! the sun! why is it so bright, it almost blinded me before I laid my eyed before the Greek-god standing before me. Rudhr (ruh-dre) Varma. The Brigadier. Son of the army commander. The nation's most sharpshooter, fighter, and soldier. The army surgeon who knows how to give and take life without mercy. Wah! who build this guy?
He looks at me in silence then says, "You may rest now. Netra"
Was that my name? I never know it would feel so good to hear my own name pronounced so well or is it just the way he said it? Goodness, here we go, my mind has taken over my thoughts about him already.
Netra : "But I haven't finished it yet, Raavan said....
Rudhr : "But I'm your senior, am I not? He is just an officer here at the academy. How far are you with your shooting lessons?"
Netra: "Uh? I have finished two lessons... I think I have one this evening as well."
Rudhr : "Perfect. Come to my chamber in the evening. I will inform your Professor."
Netra: "Huh? but why......"
Before I could finish that sentence, he turned around and walked away. Wow he really has his way to have the last word to every conversation. I watched as his shadow slipped away from the sunlight towards the academy. What do I do now?