Why should I go back home? Part -2

You read it in my first chapter...

I had to return to Maria, and Major Atan was to accompany me from Maria by rail as he had to go to Calca via Gota and from there to his home a few kilometers from Calca.

While driving the station wagon, he asked, "Major, how do you feel on your way home?"

A man's mind changes profoundly after six weeks in the hospital. I suddenly realized when Major Atan asked, so I said, "Sure, the house is a house after all."

There was silence for a long time, and the car kept on traveling on that rough road. After a while, I slowly said, "Look, major, once recruited in the army, we don't know what to think, but most of us do not want to return.

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I stopped for a while and then said, "All right, some unfortunate ones return, but with despair and still do not want to return. But those who think of returning—and almost no one thinks of returning home, but not in my condition. I don't think anyone would want to return like I am returning.

He probably knew I was hurt by what he said. So he tried to change the topic: "No, Major, I know you're a courageous man, and I know you will come back soon."

"Let me say it, major!" but then I stopped. "My thigh and hip were hurt, and now I was no longer in military service, and I will walk lame on crutches for the rest of my life. I had heard this in the hospital. There are many professions in civil life that I could pursue. I kept telling myself, there was no need for me to get nervous.

But I was nervous for sure for more than one reason.

"Is it okay? He wanted to say something but Major Atan stopped again, and I knew he was finding it difficult to speak further.

So I said, "But there are injuries which are permanent."

I stayed quiet for a while and then said, "I got married a year before I joined the army, and now it's been three years. We almost didn't live together; there were no leave facilities due to the war. We don't have any children."

There was a silence again. Was anything expected from my side? But if he wanted to say something but kept silent, I smiled and thought that even silence can be helpful in such a situation.

To be continued...