I thought back at the moment I was called here.
I was in Oli’s house, studying. Even though our subjects are different, we still study together. The way she studies with so much seriousness, it makes me motivated to study too.
Just when I nearly understood a super complicated concept, my cell phone buzzed in my pocket and everything I made to enter my brain seeped out all at once.
I groaned. “ Just when I finally understood!”
I picked up the phone only to be surprized again. Kunalda was calling me.
-“ Hello!?” I said to the phone.
-“ Come to the police station. Now.” He stated seriously. Though I felt something else behind the serious tone.
-“ But why?” I asked. But he had already cut the line.
-“ Who?” Oli asked.
-“ Kunalda. Wants me in the police station.”
Oli made her Now what mess have you caused face. “ why?” She asked.
-“ Heaven knows. “ I sighed. “ Jokhon e kichu bujhte jabo, tokhon e jotosob utko jhamela eshe uposthit hoy. Dhat!” I complained. [ Whenever I try to understand something, all the weird problems appear!]
I gathered my books and copies, bade goodbye to Oli and Damini aunty, who had come home from work, then came straight here, at the police station.
But surprise! I can’t go into Kunalda’s chamber until I’m am called.
So I sat outside, on the benches with only a sleepy looking constable for company. I asked him if he knew anything about the reason of my summon here. But a bored shake of his head killed my hopes.
I tried to figure out why I could be called here. Nothing came into my mind.
Then finally, I was called inside.
I was expecting to see Kunalda discussing various problems with his other officers. He indeed was, but not with other officers but with a military personnel in full uniform.
As I entered the room, the military personnel looked me up and down and said to Kunalda,” You were right, I really didn’t expect this.”
Kunalda snorted, “ No one does sir, no one does.”
I was kind of sure they were talking about me, but what the military personnel expected, I had no idea. I wanted to ask about it, but the presence of a person in full military uniform had totally caught me off guard, and my voice wasn’t working.
The man shrugged, and then walked up to me. My body stiffened. He was way taller than me, and bigger, and brawnier. He looked like he was in his mid 40s. He wore a Panjabi turban, pagri, on his head, an Indian Army batch attached to it. The air about him forced me to stay disciplined, and quite.
-“ Tanisha Saha, am I right?” He asked.
I nodded stiffly.
-“ Lieutenant Colonel Gulmohan Singh.” He held out a hand.
My heard pounded, and I gulped silently, but after a few moments of hesitation, I worked up my courage and took it.
His hands were rough and hard like iron, but way he shook my hand, held appreciation and a father-like care.
-“ Hey, no need to be so stiff. “ He chuckled. A friendly sound which instantly made my nervousness vanish. I looked up into his eyes, friendly and welcoming.
-“ The way they wrote about you in the newspapers, I expected you to look more. . . .”
-“ Buff? Boyish?” The words escaped my mouth before I knew, and I instantly regretted it, because they came out in an irritated tone. I get that lot, and I don’t like it.
Lt. Col. Singh just raised an eyebrow and smiled. He went back towards Kunalda’s table and chair, motioning me forward,” Let’s sit and talk, shall we?”
I nodded and went towards Kunalda’s table. A chair similar to Kunalda’s has been installed beside his own, for Lt. Col. Singh to sit.
I sat on the opposite side of the table.
Kunalda’s chamber was in a medium sized room. At the right side from the room was Kunalda’s table and chair. The wall behind it held a shelf laden with files and trophies. There was a dart board on the left wall, and some pictures of Freedom Fighters like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose on the other walls.
On His table were files, a paper weight and a penstand. On one side, was a framed picture of Kunalda’s family. Kunalda with his mother, wife and three year old son.
After settled on the chair, Lt. Col. Singh smiled warmly and said, “ You have been a subject of discuss among all the ranks, you know.”
I sighed, “ Better to be a matter of discuss in the military department than among groups of mafias.”
Stolen novel; please report.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at me amused. “ Yes, much better, really.”
-“ But one thing for sure, if not for her, I doubt it would have been easy to see Oberoi behind the bars.” Kunalda said.
I felt my cheeks heat up slightly. I looked at my feet, “ Couldn’t have just said yes, right? And I had to save myself.” I said, then looked at Kunalda, “ But I still have got no idea about those two guards.”
PS: they died shorly after the encounter, one with heart trouble, another of brain hammerage.
Kunalda snorted, “ You are fortunate that the judge believed you and your recording, or you could have been in serious trouble.”
I made a face at this. He keeps telling me that a lot. But Lt. Col. Singh just smiled, “ Dharti se do bojh to utar gaye.” [ At least, two burdens were removed from the earth.]
I nodded. This army personnel was nice and very friendly! But one thing I couldn’t understand, why was I a subject of discuss among army officers?
But before I could investigate on this matter, Kunalda asked, “ So, Where were you, when I called?”
-“Oli’s house. Last minute studies.” I said grumpily, remembering about the concept. Then I turned to Lt. Col. Singh, “ So, why am I a subject of discuss?” I asked and added hastily, “Just curiosity, you know.”
Now his friendly, cheerful expression turned serious.
-“ See Tanisha” he said, then added, “ I am going to address you by name.”
I nodded. I had no idea where was he going with this. I looked at Kunalda. He just gave me a reassuring smile. But what he was reassuring me for, you guessed it, I had no idea.
Lt. Col. Singh continued, “ You are one of the strong women of our nation. And you know very well that women in our nation are now very advanced, they are progressing in every field.
“ women are proving themselves equal to men in every aspects except one. Combat roles. Me and my colleagues had agreed on one thing, that women are now needed to be included in front line combat roles. Around 48% of India’s population are females. If females start working in the front lines, can you imagine how much that whould increase our military strength?”
Lt. Col. Singh’s voice was rising in excitement. And his excitement seemed to effect me greatly. Really, if women were allowed to join infantry and combat roles, India’s military strength would increase thoroughly. And I personally believe that many women of India are strong enough to serve in the front lines.
Lt. Col. Singh. Seemed to choose his next words carefully, “ But standing in the twenty-first century, our society still doesn’t support of women working in combat roles. So it is quite hard to involve women in infantry.
“ We have agreed to take a chance and have women in infantry. But if this chance is lost, women might not get another chance in combat roles for another couple of decades.
“ So in our first chance to have women in infantry and combat roles, we want someone as a candidate who truly has shown the potential to work shoulder to shoulder with men. Someone, like you.”
-“ Me?” I blinked hard.
-“ Yes you.”
I was so stunned, that even my reaction didn’t come out the right way. I laughed, I coughed, then stared at him in shock and horror.
-“ Tanisha, you have proved to have a great presence of mind. Before you came here, I was hearing the recording of your encounter with Oberoi.
“ In a situation like that, many of our fully trained soldiers and officers would have charged without thinking, or fled in terror. But you stayed put. And handled the situation with both of your brains and brawns. It’s a rare talent to have a calm mind in time of danger. But that very talent is needed to work in Indian army. “
I finally closed my gaping mouth. Another couple of minutes passed before my brain could again function. Then, doubts surfaced in my mind. The questions were weird. But since Lt. Col. Singh seemed pretty nice, I voiced them out loud, “Sir, I want to ask you a question, just don’t take it the wrong way. I mean. . . I. . “
-“ Stop mumbling amd say what you want.” Lt. Col. Singh said with a smile.
-“ I mean. . . You are expecting me to try joining the forces those are tasked to keep the country safe. Me?. . . A girl who had been offered to join groups of mafias?”
Lt. Col. Singh raised an eyebrow “ Yes, what’s wrong with that? You are not actually a mafia or criminal person, or are you?”
-“ No I am not. But how do you know it’s true? I mean, maybe I didn’t accept Oberoi’s offer because I got some bigger offer? You don’t know for sure. How are you trusting me? If I were in your place, I would have been my last choice.” I Finished in a breath.
Really, am I even trustable? I thought to myself. All these questions were circling in my head for past four months. I never had doubted myself before. But now, every now and then, thoughts of uncertainly circle my mind. Am I trustworthy? Are people going to trust me? I try not to show my self doubt outside. I have kept it hidden for long. But, after voicing all those questions, my chest did feel a little lighter.
Lt. Col. Singh regarded me for a second before answering, “ Won’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, in fact, it was the first thing that came into my mind when I was told about you. And it is really hard to put your trust into someone you barely know.”
-“ Then why believe me sir?”
-“ Because I guess, you are worth the risk.”
A smile tugged at my face when he added, “ But I got to say, you have a strange way of thinking.”
Kunalda had been silent all this time.So silent,that I almost forgot he was there.
When no one was talking anymore,he finally asked Lt.Col. Singh, “ Soooo tea or coffee?”
- * *
-“How do I, you know, join?Which exams should I prepare for? Is there any coaching centre out there?” I asked.
Lt.Col.Singh took time sipping his coffee,”Actually, to recruit soldiers into infantry, an Army Bharti Rally is conducted.
“I am coming to that, but before, there is another important thing I need to address.
“Since this is the first time we are making efforts to include women in infantry, we need to sort out a lot of things. India’s military system is quite huge. And making the smallest change in its functions takes a lot of work. Indian army is divided into several regiments, and not all regiments have agreed to take women solders in them.
“Then there are the caste and region based regiments. So, your options are very few. You have to choose between 5-6 regiments. And not all of them have vacancies.
“Your best option would be Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry(JAKLI) or the Bihar regiment.
“I personally would recommend JAKLI. There are many reasons, but the main reason is that JAKLI currently has a lot of vacancies for Soldier GD.”
-“ Ok, understood. And what were you saying something about a rally or something?”
-“ Oh, yes. The Recruitment Rally or Army Bharti Rally. Usually you go to Army Recruitment Office or Zonal Recruitment Office. If you pass properly, you can go train into the regiment you will go to.
“ But since your case can’t be called usual, there’s another way to join. I can make arrangements for that.
“ You have to directly go to the regimental training centre, a rally is also conducted there.
“ Your health criteria would be similar to male candidates. And about height and weight, 152cm and 45-50kgs respectively. You will get other details on internet. Except the height and weight, everything would be similar to male candidates. Your height seems right, make sure you also have proper weight.” He explained
-“ Ok, when is the next rally?” I asked.
-“ Ah. . . . . . JAKLI is conducting rally in next five months, and Bihar regi-“
-“ Wait, what?” I didn’t let him finish, without caring about being rude, “ Five months! That’s very less time.”
-“ But I think five months are enough.” Lt. Col. Singh said with a frown.
-“ Yeah, well they are.” I admitted, “ But if only I can give my full focus on it. But I have my college second semester starting in two weeks. Then I will be busy with it for a month. Then I have my 3rd dan black belt exam of Karate the next month. Leaves only three months for me to prepare.”
-“ 3rd dan?” Lt. Col. Singh seemed to have no sympathy on me. He was more interested in my 3rd dan black belt. “Does that mean you are already double black belt in karate!”
-“ 2nd dan, yes.” I said with a smile, “ got it a few years back.”
-“ I suppose that’s not the lone martial art you know?”
-“ No.” I admitted, “ Though Karate is my favourite style and the one I have the highest degree in, there are few other forms too which I have learnt.”
-“ Like?”
-“ I’m 3rd kyu, or blue belt in Judo. I know some Taekwondo and kick boxing and. . . Oh, I know Mue- Thai too” I counted off one by one, “ But, I don’t have any official degree in the last three, because my karate mentor taught Taekwondo and kick boxing specially to me, his institution didn’t have approval to teach that officially or conduct exams, and the person who taught me Mue-Thai was not part of any institution, he just taught me and two other boys because we wanted to learn it.”
-“ Still, that’s. . . . . a lot of styles. “
I nodded, “ Sir, do you think I can do it such a small time’s preparation?”
-“ It completely depends on you. I don’t think the course of the written exam is very hard, just current affairs, Some questions on science, logical reasoning and problem solving, General Knowledge and some maths. And in Infantry, field tests and medical tests are main. Since you are going to prepare for your Karate exam, you can prepare for the field tests alongside.” Lt. Col. Singh stopped for some time, then said, “ Tanisha, if you can’t do it in this year’s rally, our all affords to introduce women in combat roles might go in vain, because we might not find another worthy female candidate. So, for the sake of you women, Tanisha, try.”
Lt. Col. Singh’s words stirred something inside me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, determination ran through my body, “I will try, I will try for JAKLI.”
Lt. Col. Singh’s face broke out in a smile, “ I am looking forward to see you in the regiment. “
-“ So, shall I leave?” I asked after a few more words with him and Kunalda.
-“ Yes, ofcourse. “
I was nearly out of the room when Lt. Col. Singh called, “ And, I would rather, that you tell as few people as possible about this. I don’t want any publicity before there is a valid reason for it.”
I walked out of the Howrah Police Station with a lot of things spinning in my head. I boarded a rickshaw, and gave the addresses to my home.
The rickshaw started to move, and gusts of wind lapped at my face. I looked up at the evening sky, So many colours, blue, orange, pink, yellow and many more. My life is also going to have a lot of colours from now on. I thought.
I closed my eyes. And one by one the incidents flashed before my eyes from where all of this started- Bear-man blocking mine and Oli’s way, Spit-face trying to seduce Oli, then Oberoi opening the suitcase full of drugs, offering me to join his mafia gang, all. And lastly, Lt. Col. Singh’s words, his hope that I can work shoulder to shoulder with men, that I can make women proud.
And I will.
I opened my eyes with newfound determination, even though I was not sure if I can get any decent job after completing my B. Sc. In psychology, but I was quite sure that if I try, I can get myself a job in the defence sector of India, because that sounded like a job I would do.
But first I had to defeat the beast called college second semesters.