Sarala pens a soulful poem about the agony and resolve of a soldier’s wife, exclusively for Different Truths.

Does anyone know their pain? 
That widow, young and beautiful 
Lost her husband in the war, 
A bullet pierced his patriotic heart, 
Does anyone know her pain?
With two kids to be brought up 
And old in-laws crying, weeping, 
She has to stand strong, 
As she is all in all now 
No one to help her in anything. 
The news reached, 
When she was wearing colourful sarees
And glass bangles to match 
To welcome him with ardent love!
She was like a mad woman, 
When she got the news 
She changed her saree to a white one, 
And broke the bangles with
Tears rolling down her cheeks.
She and kids witnessed the funeral, 
With gun salutes 
She wiped her tears and took her kids, 
In her lap and held them with all her love!
Does anyone know her pain?
As the night falls, she sees a shadow,
Walking in the room and she is sure,
It’s him. 
She lights a lamp and sits and chants
For hours before she could get an hour’s sleep
She tucks her kids under the quilt, 
And quietly leaves the room in silence, 
Holding his photo to her chest 
But stopped weeping, 
As she told herself 
I am proud today,
He gave his life to save the motherland. 
And am sure I am going to teach my children
To be brave once they grow up
And take up their father’s job…
A proud moment is waiting for them.

Visual by Different Truths

Sarala Balachandran

Sarala Balachandran was working with an import-export organisation in the administrative department for 38 years. She retired eleven years back. Married, with two sons aged 43 and 36, she took interest in writing recently. She writes free verses.