The Soldier

Rocket and Major Veer Pratap Singh were on a mission to find a bomb planted in the Srinagar valley with their bomb squad. The rocket was an Alsatian breed army dog in the bomb squad with Major Veer. He had been with Major Veer since he was a puppy and was serving in the bomb squad for four years.

Rocket sniffed something and everyone followed him. The bomb squad found a bomb and diffused it successfully. There was an ambush by the terrorists who had planted the bomb. The firing started from both sides. A bullet hit Rocket in his forelimb while saving Major Veer. Outnumbered by the terrorists, the bomb squad team had to run back to their safe zone leaving injured Rocket. Major Veer ran back with tears in his eyes watching Rocket in such pain. Rocket cried aloud for help. As everyone left, the terrorist group leader - Rafa came to Rocket. The rocket was frightened and in pain. Rafa took his mask off and started moving his hand over Rocket’s head with a smile on his scary face. Rafa took him to his base camp and treated his wounds. It was night and Rafa and his group members were laying off in their tents. Rocket walked out from the tent and sat looking at the sky remembering Veer.

On a morning a few years later, Rocket started barking and ran in the white snow. Everyone came out and were shocked as there were soldiers firing at them. Rocket and Veer reunited and hugged each other. Rafa tried to run but was shot in the leg. Rocket ran towards him as once he had saved him. Rocket turned to the soldiers and barked at them indicating to stop firing at Rafa. But, Rafa took advantage and captured Rocket on gunpoint. He started running with him. The soldier turned back to Major Veer for orders to fire as Rafa had Rocket with him. With a heavyhearted voice and tears, Major Veer ordered to fire. The soldier started firing and both Rafa and Rocket were dead.

        

The soldiers gathered the bodies of martyrs and Rocket. Major Veer covered Rocket with the National Flag and saw a little version of Rocket peeping out from the cover. He remembered the day as a kid when he and Rocket became best friends. Major Veer bid farewell to Rocket and said, “Goodbye, Soldier Boy Rocket.”