Reunion that was a revelation

It was obviously a memorable trip for many reasons. My vivid imagination playing havoc with my sense of balance during the two hour flight and as usual getting tense about not recognising my suitcase while checking out provide a lighter comical touch to the otherwise touching and profound experience of two and half days.

I had been to Pune about 30 years back for a short stint of 3 months when Nagesh was doing a course. A long time indeed to look for some familiar sights! With booming real estate and high rise apartments all around, the skyline has changed drastically. Still as we were nearing NDA, a faint recognition of sort presented itself.

Impressive pathways

I very eagerly looked forward to meeting Nagesh's course mates who have all been part of the stored memory of Nagesh. I was excited about giving a face and identity to many of them mentioned by Nagesh so frequently like Kulkani and Murthy.
It was worth watching all of them- course mates bonding and the sense of camaraderie engulfing one all around!Their characteristic style of having fun in style, a strange mix of impeachable manners and etiquette  with down to earth frank comments, have I missed them in all these years!
All of them in their late fifties just shed 40 years to become the boisterous and energetic teens when they stepped inside the Squadron!  They did not need much of prodding to share events, anecdotes of their cadet days- be it their fear of swimming and the sudden push into the swimming pool by the strict  instructor, or their rolls from Habibullah Hall almost after every show there or their tricks of escaping punishments.

Be it the squadron, or the cabin, or the mess or the swimming pool, or the numerous roads they had cycled/rolled back and forth - there was some interesting event in those three years that shaped them into fine officers, that brought out beautiful friendships, that strengthened their team spirit, the list goes on!

That was Murthy reliving the moment of carrying the cycle!

The nick names they had (some mentionable while the rest are exclusive and unmentionable, I guess!) The imagination and sense of humour creating the names and accepting them as well fascinated me! Some of the officers answer to those names even today happily!
All his friends and fellow squadron mates emphasised one aspect of their life together time and again and this Nagesh had also mentioned many times. It is the silent unspoken understanding they had about being there as mates complementing each other and never to undercut each other with aggressive academic ambitions. Don't get the idea that they just wanted to have fun. Getting into NDA itself shows their calibre and intelligence.  They toiled whenever needed and inculcated the values and discipline suitably, all in good time and doing it together. This is the way I understood the message.

A cool morning with overcast sky with slight drizzle saw all of us spending about half an hour in the Hut of Remembrance paying homage to fellow officers who were no more with us- many among them giving their lives for the Motherland. It was a deeply moving experience  with Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh priests saying the prayers and invoking the Almighty to bless all.

Waking up to a beautiful morning- view from the cabin window

I could go on like this -about the boat ride with icy rain drops falling on us or the lunch afterwards looking out on the beautiful lake with the historic Simhgad  rising from the black clouds, or the dinner hosted by the NDA Commandant at his place along side the lake with cold wind moving in from the lake or the beautiful rendition of old melodies by Mrs.Sinha, Gurung, srinivas and Mohan Singh Dogra,  ...... or the way I lapped up the cold wind, rain and the monsoon wetness of the Ghats, coming from the rain- starved warmer-ever Chennai!

But one thought tumbles on to the other, crowding and overlapping that I want to spend time alone with them and get refreshed by the memories of the younger, gregarious and fun loving Nagesh with his friends!