EX-NDA

It's over.. At last, three years, of blood, sweat, toil and tears. Three years of an adventure, three years of torture,three years of close friends, three years of subdued enemities. The culmination of three years of rigorous trainingin PT, drill, equitation, computers, humanities, weapons, field and basic engineering, battle-field tactics of the lowest echelons, day and night navigation, first aid and basic combat, the 10 metre jump..
It's all over. I've pushed my body to the edge of the envelope, my mind, even further, all for it to boil down to a slow march beside the mast of a now defunct ship to the haunting tunes of "Auld Lang Syne", having been granted the title of "Safal Cadet", in a number of disciplines.
I'm not saying that I'll miss it, then again, I'd be hard put to forget it in a hurry. The rush for the cold coffee, the last piece of pastry, the innovative ways of extracting some much needed sleep in classes, rushing of to change for PT right after an exhausting 40 minutes of drill..
Just that.. something feels wrong.. incomplete. A voice that says, it's far from over..
IT'S JUST BEGUN..

Being IT

So five things about Pune, huh? Tough one that.. It's just too small a number. Anyway, here goes..

1. Cycle rides through the city at 5am.. everything deserted.. no sound but the steady click-click of the cycle..
2. Sunrises at the top of FC tekdi.
3. Jogging at the track at the Univ in the rains.
4. Pani puri and Bhel at Sambhaji Baug with nani.
5. Playing in the old fountain at the University Circle.

Not really fair, Mals, there's simply more to go.. later then!

CRAWLING..

Anger, red hot, all consuming anger flows through me.. I can feel it.. seething, ready to burst.. I'm afraid.. I don't know what to do.. I haven't been so angry ever.. I'm afraid I might hurt somebody.. physically... or worse.. It grows with every minute.. every incompetency remembered.. every act of irresponsibility, of promises not kept.. It seeks an outlet.. to burst out.. overwhelm me, then all around me.. like a living thing winding it's way through my veins.. I'm trying hard to maintain a facade of normalcy.. it's not working.. I need a release.. something that can divert this .. this thing, inside me.. A Mr Hyde lurks.. waiting to pounce.. help.. I'm fraid of me...

Monday, August 7, 2006.

1020 hrs.
"How're we supposed to get accross that?"
"It isn't too deep, let's just link hands and get to the other side. It's hardly 5 metres across!"
"Hey! This isn't so bad. Hold it, you guys, I'm taking a picture.."

1220 hrs.
"This rain is a killer. Is it nevre going to stop?"
"Shut up, dude. It's hard enough trying to get to the Check Point. I seriously do not need the whining."
"That's it, people, I'm switching on the radio, perhaps ther're others near by.. we don't need to contact the CP."
"...we're near the red house.. how much further? over.."
"CP-3 for Delta Red. A kilometer upstream of the red house. stick to the banks.. over"
"That's it, just keep looking for the red house. We saw it from across the stream.."
"Shh! Guys, something's up.."
"..Foxtrot Blue for SP. Two cadets have flown off in the stream. We need help.."
"SP for Foxtrot Blue... give us your location.. which cadets?..."
"Foxtrot Blue... two Golfies.. we heard a scream.. the water's too fast..."

..Blasted nail!!

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost…
… a kingdom was lost,
All for the want of a nail!..

..For want of a spirit, the boy was lost,
For want of a boy, the trophy was lost.

This is a sad, sad day in my life.

Pune, 05 Aug 06.

Once Upon A Time In The Future..

... then the little boy asked, "Daddy, do tell me what love is." Daddy looked up at Mommy and said, "You know son, I don't quite know. You see, I keep discovering new meanings to the word just about every day!"
And Mommy smiled back at Daddy. A sweet smile. Remniscent of a thousand words, unsaid, yet heard.

Missing..

Ever worn a hat for a long hot day, all day long? Then when you get back home, change and settle down with a cool glass of lemonade. Reach up and take of the hat that you think is still perched on top of your head. You know, the pseudo-hat syndrome.
Then think of it the same way, except, instead of the hat you miss a body,a friend, a soulmate, nestled in your arms. Think about it.