The Unsung Hero

He always wanted to be a soldier. Once when asked by the teacher in lower primary regarding the aim of his life, he replied that he wanted to be a soldier and die saving the frontiers. Instead of appreciating such wonderful words from such an young boy, everyone laughed at him. They saw the fat and stout boy and not the brave-heart within.

He grew up taming the same aim. He tried hard, but he couldn't shed weight. He was rejected by the defence forces because of his weight. He was left disheartened every time. He didn't let the grief stay long and he kept trying.

It took him sometime to understand that service to the countrymen meant service to the country ans that he didn't need an uniform to serve his motherland. He started doing odd jobs which none could imagine. He filled potholes, taught kids who couldn't afford tuition's, and spend most time working with farmers in the fields. His life went along by rendering service to the people. He gave all time for community service. 

He visited a nearby town for an event. There was a huge crowd. His source of recreation was  such small town mela's where he exchanged conversations with those few people whom  he knew. Not many people knew him. Whosoever he was acquainted to, knew him as the old teacher's  kid. His duties always remained unnoticed. He neither publicised nor ever he repented. As he was strolling across the stall's he noticed a miscreant pull out the grenade pin and throw it towards the crowd. He had no time to decide. His decision was to be taken in an impulse. He gave no other thoughts and jumped above the grenade covering the grenade with his chest. The grenade burst pushing splinters across the young boys chest and tearing apart his muscles from the bones. It took no time for the soul to leave his torn body. He died minimising the impact with least casualties. The crowd enquired to the panel of old and known men from the villages about the whereabouts of the brave boy and they found out that he was the old teacher's son. Soon as the old teacher arrived weeping to see his sons corpse, the old folk pointed towards the teacher and said, "There comes the  brave-heart's father."

The father wept at the young son's death. The crowd cheered the bravery. A hero left the world saving it. They mourned his death only to forget him just after a few months, precisely after weeks.