Author - Jui Purohit.

 I watched "Gunjan Saxena-The Kargil girl" on OTT, a few months ago. I was saddened to realize that I didn't know much about such patriotic heroes of our country. I was always interested in the heroes (that are projected so, in our minds) of the film world, tracking their lavish lives, the grandeur, which was absolutely a waste of time, I concluded. I decided to educate myself, some more, about these unsung heroes, who are the real celebrities of India. I dedicate this blog to one such Tiger - Tiger of Drass(Kargil), Captain Anuj Nayyar. Captain Anuj, born on 28th August 1975, grew up in Delhi. He studied in Army Public School. He was an avid volleyball player and a long distance runner too. Also, good in academics, he was a deep patriot since young age. He always wanted to join the Army.   I always think, these people who are so keen on serving our country, are molded from a different type of clay! Captain Anuj joined National Defence Academy (Echo Squadron, there are 1...

  " Ghar mei pani ki bond nai hai, kaise gujara hoga? Barish kab hogi?", were the words on everyone's parched lips. This year, Nandanpur was facing a drought. The lands were barren, cracked and people were nearly shrivelled. The Sarpanch called a Panchayat urgently and all the Mukhiyas debated and discussed what's to be done. Someone suggested to go to higher authorities for water supply through tankers, atleast once a week. But that won't be sufficient, said the other. They agreed with a tanker per week to start with. But the fights and chaos at the sight was unthinkable. The local politicians were making excuses, to not visit the village, as it wasn't an easy job for them. They would've to shell out money, ment for the village, which they had already digested and burped too! Every house was praying. Doing whatever they could for the Varun Devata (Rain God), to bless them! The village was once a verdant and now converted to desert! Farmers were depressed....

 " Please pick up the phone ammi, mei aaunga agli baar, pakka, InshAllah!", Noor kept reading the last message on her phone. Her eyes had swollen from crying for days now! Any amount of consolation was of no use. Allah's plan was discrete. She had missed the chance of talking to her son, one last time. Sana, her daughter-in-law and Kainaat her granddaughter, left behind, after her only son Kabir's sudden demise, were also in deep shock. (To know more about Kabir, Sana and Kainaat, do read my previous blog Tum bin jiya jaye kaise? Some memories are for keepsake! the link is here - Noor was a single mother. After her husband's early demise, she had raised Kabir alone. She was an independent woman. Kabir was an engineer and decided to shift to USA for better prospects, after his Nikaah to Sana. Noor didn't want to leave her country and her home. " Yeh ghar meine aur tere Abbu ne milke kharida aur sajaya tha. Mei ise chhor kar nahi jaungi", Noor had ...

  " Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai, yeh pyaar to tumse karta hai, par samane jab tum aate ho, kuch bhi kehne se darta hai!",   I was singing the song in karaoke but the words were expressing my exact emotions. Sheena smirked, as she knew, my every little secret. It was a karaoke birthday party, of one of my school friends, Aksh. He had this beautiful mansion with a home theatre and karaoke. His birthdays were always lavish and he invited the whole class. Sheena had a huge crush on Aksh and never missed his birthday parties. And I had to tag along. " Har pal mujhko tadpata hai, mujhe saari raat jagata hai, iss baat ki tumko khabar nahi, yeh sirf tumhi pe marta hai",     I was singing this line and he entered the room. All the girls' heads turned towards him. Rahul,   Naam to suna hi hoga,  was a popular boy at school. He was late for the party. He glanced at me, our eyes met.... and the "  Sirf tumhi pe marta hai"..  part....I goofed up. He turned h...