From War Hero to a Life in Limbo
The frenzied dance of leaves under the goji tree outside his window held Suri's gaze. He had once danced too, not like a leaf, but to the fanciful tune of becoming a hero. That dream was his sole reason for joining the military through an emergency short-service commission. After a brief, rapturous two-week marriage, he left for duty, buoyed by the patriotic farewells of his impoverished family and village.
In the army, Suri excelled in physical stamina, mental agility, gun-craft, and hand-to-hand combat. The ritual of wearing his uniform, buckling up, and loading his rifle filled his blood with excitement. His mates idolized him, and his seniors commended him. The certainty of future victory felt like a constant ally.
His real ally was Upen, a seemingly reckless and simple-minded soldier who enjoyed the camaraderie more than the cause. When their battalion was tasked with leading a sortie into enemy trenches, Upen's innocent question—"Why are we fighting this war?"—was met with aggressive bravado from others. Suri, however, understood the grim realities common to both sides: inhospitable terrain, minefields, and the ever-present threat of death or horrific mutilation.
The Hollow Victory and a New Dependency
The war ended quickly. Suri returned home to a hero's welcome—tears from his young wife, Anu, who fed him with her own hands, fruits and salaams from visitors, some even attempting to touch his feet. Yet, this adoration was short-lived.
Soon, his elder brothers arranged for him to stay with Mukund Mama, a feted soldier who lived four villages away and had promised to find Suri a job. Mama, who had lost a leg in service, now lived comfortably on an award and a pension, fitted with the best prosthetic leg. Villagers sought his help, scenting his wealth, but he often demurred.
Suri and Anu were given a single room in Mama's house. While Mama idled, spending days gossiping at the village centre, Suri was seized by melancholy. His wife worked in three homes and did odd jobs for Mama to reduce their rent. Suri's own purpose—to travel to Ambala to secure his pending dues and clear his name from a wrongful discharge—felt increasingly hopeless. The army hospital had branded him a soldier who turned his back, ignoring that he was shot while helping a fallen comrade.
A Desperate Borrowing and a Bitter Discovery
Months passed with no reply to his letters to the army redressal office. Suri's desperation peaked. He observed Mama meticulously. When Anu went away for a week due to a death in her family, Suri saw his chance.
Early one morning, he crawled into Mama's room, took his prosthetic leg, and put it on. It was a near-perfect fit. In the bottom portion, hidden inside a long woollen sock, Mama had secreted his money. Suri took the leg and the money, insisting to himself it was a borrowing, not theft. He left two letters: one for Mama on the windowsill and one posted to Anu. He promised to return with his own leg, reclaim his wife, and repay everything.
After a difficult journey taking months, Suri succeeded. He secured his dues and was fitted with a beautiful new leg. He returned to Mama's house without delay, eager to groom himself and fetch Anu. As he approached, Anu's blue sari, hung out to dry, caressed his face.
He stepped inside and heard voices and soft sounds from Mama's room. The realization hit him like the bullet that once struck his knee. In the gathering darkness, he acted fast. He placed Mama's leg-piece and some milk pedas on the table. The silver jhumkas he bought for Anu stayed in his pocket. He walked out, deciding to keep Mama's money as a fair exchange for what he had lost.
The story, 'Kukri' by Vikram Shah from the Lounge Fiction Special 2025, is a powerful excerpt from Kavery Nambisan's latest novel, Rising Sons, published in 2025.
