It was mid of April 1999. Advanced India was still celebrating the listing of Infosys as the first Indian company in NASDAQ.. Kosovo war was in full form...The current Maharaja of Jaipur was not yet born....and the BJP led 13 months old NDA government had fallen after losing a confidence motion by one vote in the parliament...
Akhil was on a routine shift in his section of a front-line Air Force squadron when the telephone rang.
He accompanied with another colleague doubled up to the briefing room. The message on the phone was crisp and clear. "Fall in. Immediately!" Both of them were running across the tarmac and were surprised to see most of the shift already there.
The briefing was about to begin by a young and efficient Flight Lieutenant. " Gentleman, there is an operation assigned to our squadron. We need the entire shift and some others whose name is on this list to move immediately to an undisclosed location." Said the young officer waving a paper. "There will be an IL and an AN to pick every one up exactly 2 hours from now. Go to your barracks/ homes. Have lunch, pack your bags and report exactly at 1600 hrs."
Everyone was listening to the young officer with rapt attention. A range of thoughts were criss-crossing through everyone's mind. Akhil glanced in anticipation by letting his pupils sideways to his seniors who were present there. A need to understand this briefing and its implications was overwhelming. However, every one present there was looking straight. A pang of guilt.... 'Look straight soldier' he said to himself. Almost like an afterthought, the Flight Lieutenant said, "Bachelors, leave a message for your loved ones inside your cupboards and lock it . Disperse".
The Desk I/C presented a crisp salute to the officer as he returned the same and moved away towards the crew room.
The Desk I/C, an MWO with 35 years of service behind him didn't have much to add. "You heard the officer gentlemen. Disperse, check for your names on the list at the notice board in 2 minutes, and be here on time".
It was in the bike-stand that they started discussing.... 'What's this all about? ', 'I have my PG exams!. Guess I have to reschedule them'; 'How long is it going to take, this operation?.. You see, My marriage is fixed early next month...' 'My parents were supposed to visit me ...'
The mess was noisier than usual. Looked like more than usual jokes were making rounds. The air warriors were having their lunch like usual but with an extra gleam in the eyes. "Is this sudden operation covert?" Akhil overheard a colleague asking another. "Sir, overt or covert, I'm already a part of the operation. I am only thinking of what to write to my parents?.." ;Hmmm.. So people are thinking alike...' Akhil said to himself as he began his lunch and making mental notes of what to write, whom all to write and what to pack.
After a quick lunch and placing a well thought-out and carefully worded letter locked in the cupboard, he was all set for the journey...
...to be continued
Akhil was on a routine shift in his section of a front-line Air Force squadron when the telephone rang.
He accompanied with another colleague doubled up to the briefing room. The message on the phone was crisp and clear. "Fall in. Immediately!" Both of them were running across the tarmac and were surprised to see most of the shift already there.
The briefing was about to begin by a young and efficient Flight Lieutenant. " Gentleman, there is an operation assigned to our squadron. We need the entire shift and some others whose name is on this list to move immediately to an undisclosed location." Said the young officer waving a paper. "There will be an IL and an AN to pick every one up exactly 2 hours from now. Go to your barracks/ homes. Have lunch, pack your bags and report exactly at 1600 hrs."
Everyone was listening to the young officer with rapt attention. A range of thoughts were criss-crossing through everyone's mind. Akhil glanced in anticipation by letting his pupils sideways to his seniors who were present there. A need to understand this briefing and its implications was overwhelming. However, every one present there was looking straight. A pang of guilt.... 'Look straight soldier' he said to himself. Almost like an afterthought, the Flight Lieutenant said, "Bachelors, leave a message for your loved ones inside your cupboards and lock it . Disperse".
The Desk I/C presented a crisp salute to the officer as he returned the same and moved away towards the crew room.
The Desk I/C, an MWO with 35 years of service behind him didn't have much to add. "You heard the officer gentlemen. Disperse, check for your names on the list at the notice board in 2 minutes, and be here on time".
It was in the bike-stand that they started discussing.... 'What's this all about? ', 'I have my PG exams!. Guess I have to reschedule them'; 'How long is it going to take, this operation?.. You see, My marriage is fixed early next month...' 'My parents were supposed to visit me ...'
The mess was noisier than usual. Looked like more than usual jokes were making rounds. The air warriors were having their lunch like usual but with an extra gleam in the eyes. "Is this sudden operation covert?" Akhil overheard a colleague asking another. "Sir, overt or covert, I'm already a part of the operation. I am only thinking of what to write to my parents?.." ;Hmmm.. So people are thinking alike...' Akhil said to himself as he began his lunch and making mental notes of what to write, whom all to write and what to pack.
After a quick lunch and placing a well thought-out and carefully worded letter locked in the cupboard, he was all set for the journey...
...to be continued
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