VOILA! ITS NINE ELEVEN. OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY COL IPS KOHLI 18 years before disaster struck America on 9/11/2001, I suffered a fate similar to the Americans on 9/11/1983. While America rose from the ashes and dared the World to try it again, I am risk averse and cannot afford further annihilation and hence have no intention of trying it again. We plan to holiday in America this year. On 9/11, I and my wife will visit the memorial at ‘The World Trade Center’ and, observe a much needed and long overdue two minutes silence. Our marriage was a typical big fat Punjabi wedding with dhol, dhamaka, sharaab and kebab. A memorable event. After honeymooning at a few popular places, I took my bride to my place of posting in high altitude where wives were allowed for just two months in a year. There are some things which the army does with much style and élan. Literally in the middle of nowhere, a reception for a newly wedded couple is laid out which can make the glitz and chrome of a similar reception in a city look pale. My wife new to the ways of the army, till today remembers the day we arrived in our unit. Two ladies, in my ‘bukhari’ heated billet helped her drape her sari. I stood fuming nearby. Being late by so much as a minute was considered sacrilegious even if it was your own ‘wedding reception.’ You would be feted, wined and dined and the next day taken to task for having been late. My wife was to stay for four days in my unit before she went back to Chandigarh. As per my mother’s instructions, ten almonds were to be soaked in water before we went to bed. In the morning these were to be blanched and we were to eat five each. Her instructions were followed dutifully. When we woke up the first morning after arriving in the unit, we found that the almonds had been eaten and the peel lying nearby. Quite puzzling since neither of us had eaten them. It happened again the second day. Part of the welcome given to a newly married couple is a few pranks which junior officers indulge in. It must be that rascal Bindra I told my wife. She was horrified at the prospect of somebody sneaking into our room while we slept. I cornered Captain Bindra in the Mess and told him what I thought of him and his cheap pranks. He pleaded innocence. When it happened yet again, I reported the matter to the ‘Officer Commanding’ the unit. Somebody was invading the privacy of a newly married couple. While he agreed that it was completely unacceptable, he advised me to stay awake in the night and nab the person who was doing this. We were rather still for newlyweds. At about 3 in the morning, two big rats soundlessly crept up to the bowl containing the almonds. They enjoyed the treat after blanching the almonds neatly. May be, they too were following their moms advise.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:32:32 +0000
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