Combat Training

While making the last phone call at our basic training reception battalion, I tried my best to make my mother convinced that the soldiers would be in safe hands and hence she does not have to be worried about me within these 10 weeks of training. These 10 weeks were very tough on me. There were times when I used to think of giving up but then, I recall all the pain that I felt on my graduation day, my father's ultimate departure and the after-effects that our family had been through. All that pain caused aggression in me about all the bad people, the snatchers and the most wanted, bank robbers and I used to train myself with more dedication. Those were the days of challenges. Physical and mental challenges. And I bore them all. But the hard work was worth it and there I was; at the end of those 10 weeks; standing in front of the mirror; and looking at the stronger, better me.