A letter to a brother

[arunansu]

[ The following is a letter written by my late father to one of my Uncles.]

My dear Santu,
Wouldn't it be wonderful to see you put on the coveted stars on your shoulders! Those sinewy flesh of yours which helped you to go through days of struggle is at last going to honour you. It is my fervent wish to meet you on that memorable day. But as you know, man proposes, God disposes. I'm unable to see you at Dehra Dun. Yet that does doesn't hinder my mental ambit to see you in front of me. In the august presence of great personalities gracing the occasion, I behold you in your uniform, standing smartly. I can watch the star on your shoulder. Brother, these are days when one should stand up to his honest disposition and clear mind to make himself befitting.
I don't know what life means to you, but I've had lots of experience in this young age of mine, and I can say that very few memorable days come into our life. Such a memorable day for an army officer is the day of passing out. When everything disappears from your mind, when you are in a dejected mood, when you brood on things you have lost - just remember this day... smile will appear on your lips. You will tacitly gaze over the scene. When you are old, sitting in your drawing room by the side of your loving wife and children, you can narrate to them the details of this day with pride.
The moment I think of you on your passing day, I see you as a Grecian soldier whose body appears to be made of bronze, strong and broad, standing with attention. With the drums beating around you, your sturdy steps helping you to march towards the dais, you walk through the dawn of your life into the morning. In the light of that day throw away all the worries.
The scribbling of mine may fall on your hand when you may be busy humming "Let me stay.... five minutes more in your arm..", but keep this as a souvenir for your passing out day from a brother who had nothing better to send you than these lines.

Smiles.
- Ashis.

[wildmountainthyme]

arunansu,
this is a beautiful letter, your dad is very proud of your brother's imminent passing out, another step in his life as a man.there are a lot of stories on these pages of wild, fantastic tales, some good, some bad? but this little slice from your family history is by far one of the most touching and joyful reads in its simple message of pride and genuine love.
your dad was a cool guy.
dan