Apart from all the numerous patriotic movies I’ve seen, my familiarity with the Indian army was always confined to terms such as ‘colonel’ and ‘major’ and about as far as obviousness went. Enlightenment in this regard to me came without all that important meditating session under a tree, but in the form of very dear friend.
So it was a new session at school. Everything was exactly how I had anticipated. Not being too school-spirited I was again hoping to slur through my classes and just somehow bring another year at school to a peaceful end. Though one day I happened to notice something new, nothing extraordinary or revolutionary that could put a match to my doused and extinguished love for schooling, but something new, regardless. A new kid in class rouses about as much interest as a new flavor of ice cream- very little, almost unnoticeable. But when the flavor is chocolate truffle* with Peanut Butter Chunks loaded with oreo cookie pieces, the impression is more than noticeable. Similarly, this new student wasn’t just anybody or even if she was, she didn’t look like it. For her black shiny ambassador managed to turn more heads than the mercs at the school gate. And the red light on top was a cherry on the cake**. And if anybody was neglectful enough to not observe this, then the official army uniform clad driver did the needful. I still insist, that all this could pass off unnoticed, but there’s just something about her which was so appealing. The "you-can’t-fathom-the-immensity-of-the-damn-I-don’t-give" air she consistently emanated, whether in class or elsewhere, the great audacity with which she could go up to practically anybody and strike up a conversation so magical that the next time she was around the person would willingly greet her with a smile.
Slowly and steadily, from being the ‘new kid on the block’ she became as important as a whole block itself. From the gatekeeper to the gardener, from the little primary school children to our own seniors everybody came to give her a special kind of attention which her presence necessarily demanded. I however, refused to submit to her friendly-friendly aura at first which was as hard as defying gravity. But wasn’t it absolutely crazy for everyone to be so impressed with one single student and support her antics like it was Gandhi ji’s salt march?
So, I tried bringing in logic. And, my research began. And the most logical conclusion (after ignoring dementedness and extreme attention seeking syndrome) was her special army background which is peculiar, when compared to other normal ‘fauji’ kids. After six years of living in India, she went to south Africa which is let’s say, a very queer place for an Indian child to spend her childhood. So her, strong personality and individuality comes from there, where she says, she spent time chasing animals, climbing trees and other abnormal hobbies.
She returned to India, as a teenager and found a different world. The Indian education system, she still complains, doesn’t suit her too well. But her social life became very prosperous to which you could also attribute the fact that she hails from the land of five rivers i.e., truly, Punjab. Her Indian journey had many destinations. And it’s not easy to be changing cities every year, followed by schools. When we cribbed about shuffling of classes as we progressed to a higher grade each year, this girl had a complete transformation of her life. It is torturous for such young people to start over new every time. But she endured it and very agreeably at that. When she was standing in the class on her very first day being introduced, she looked confident but it was tormenting her from inside to have left her old friends behind.
Her expertise at horse riding and polo, her affable nature, her interest in everything new and challenging, her easy access to whisky and rum, the Friday night movie at the mess, the everyday parties and her hatred for them, are just corollaries of being born a fauji kid.
This post unconsciously got directed entirely towards my friend rather than the Indian army itself, but then truth of the matter is- to me, she is the Indian army for she represents undying courage, indomitable spirit, the acceptance of her duty to sacrifice and yet being so wonderfully positive about life that she brightens my day every time I speak to her.
truffles are fungi which is surprising enough to be told by interrupting the article.
*the red lights are almost as red as cherries and the black car could pass as a dark chocolate cake. Nothing much, I just like how much or or how little sense this makes.
