Nobody is indispensable?

 Last few weeks have been particularly painful for the likes of me - where 'we' the nuclear family become an extended family of the place where our spouses work. The fraternity of any service becomes a close knit one - with all the baggage's of any typical family. We celebrate together, we cheer together, we gossip together (separately) and yes we also we mourn together. 

The man at the helm of affairs of the Indian Coast Guard Director General, had an unexpected call from the heavens and he went away just at the snap of a finger. Imagine someone leaving the house in a perfect condition and coming back in a casket? 

Hardly had we gotten over this loss that, we heard that an ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) who was on the way to save someone from a merchant ship had to ditch it's course mid way and land in to the vast sea. Precious lives lost again. Incidentally the same ALH had saved close to 67 lives in a flood situation, just few days back. Unfortunately there was no saviour to save the heroic saviours.

In a few days all of us will get back to our regular rigmarole. Of course we do feel deeply and can associate with the fears, - it could be any one of us. Life is fragile - Handle it with care. After the feeling less and meaningless RIP's and Om Shanti's are over, Whatsapp will be soon flooded with forwards. birthday wishes, congratulations messages and the likes of them. After all everybody is dispensable, life goes on. 

Stop. Think of the immediate family. What do they undergo? After 13 days when the house is empty and the walls are screaming out silently what do the parent / spouse tell themselves? " My partner is dispensable?" "It does not matter, be strong for your kids sake", "Gather your wits", "This is life", what do they say to themselves? These words that they hear over and over again from close family and well wishers, do they tell themselves and draw solace from them? I strongly doubt.

Did they ever imagine that the bye they told their spouse when they left home was the last one? Did they hug well? Did they say " I love you" or just slammed the door once they left. All these thoughts may be crowding their mind. What will the mother who has just gone to give birth to a baby tell their child as they grow up.." Your father passed away in a pursuit to save others?" or "Your father went away serving the nation?"  Will these facts be enough for the child to fathom as they grow up? Every time they return home can they digest the fact that there is no one waiting for them? These and many many more small things will keep them always glued to the thought " If only we knew our time together was limited." 

Life goes on, the sun will rise and also set everyday but can we say "No one is indispensable". I strongly doubt.