THE REVOLUTIONARY

Among falling dusk and heavy snow
Which clearly bore the marks of past
Of lost blood and hasty exodus
I walked back to my forlorn reside

A sudden rustle caught my ears
And my eyes stopped over the autumnal bush
For there was a terrified face
Which stared at me with solemn cries

He rose himself in hesitation
With long hair and shaggy mane
Tattered clothes and plastered arm
And a gun hung by his side

Memories and tears flooded over in me
And a once smiling, pleasant face
Showed out of the sullen figure
I cried out "brother, at last!"

I ran over and embraced him
"Brother" I said, "why did u leave us all?
Your family is in despair...
Your father has died in your grief"

His body numbed and eyes moistened
"Come back" I said, "come back"
Pleading him with folded hands
"What is it that holds you fast?"

He spoke in a changed, hoarse voice
"I have a mission to fulfill...
The freedom of my people is at stake
And I cannot sit still..."

"Brother" I pleaded, "you are mislead
You are on a dead-ending path
Where innocent blood and helpless screams
Pay unheeded for a lost cause..."



"I can’t brother" he spoke with heavy words-
"I can’t leave my chosen path
I am but a revolutionary
By the will of God........."

"Have they turned your heart to lead?
Your ailing mother lies in your wake
Your maiden sister can toil no more
You are their only hope"

A hint of realization crossed his face
Suddenly a strong wind blew
And swept it away in time.
He looked at me and spoke-

"Promise to look after them, will you?"
He stood and hung his gun over his arm
Turned away and said at last-
"And don’t tell them if I die"