That evening, after being ordered to assemble in the anteroom, the LCs raced down the corridor, wondering if they were likely to face another round of punishments.
They were surprised to find not only the CSM and JUO, but the two Platoon Commanders (paltus) present in the anteroom.
‘This looks serious,’ Nutty declared. ‘I hope they are not planning another offensive against the first-termers.’
Alerted by the deep thrum of a motorcycle engine, the CSM and the paltus rushed towards the door. Minutes later, they reappeared with a dreamboat of a man. Although he was a little less than six feet, his looks made up for the lack of inches in height. In short, he had all the traits of a heart-throb.
It was none other than the officer who had persuaded Billi’s father to change his mind. ‘Oh my God!’ groaned Nutty, her eyes widened. She was staring at the smart hunk striding into the anteroom. She gasped.
There was a sharp intake of breath as the LCs stared at the vision. Billi sighed. A pair of dark dancing eyes met widened ones with much amusement. Under a thick mop of cropped hair was an angular face with prominent cheekbones, that ended in a chin with a deep cleft. The pair of faded blue jeans topped by a fitted T-shirt promised a toned body.
‘Good evening!’ His rich baritone rang across the hushed hall. Pausing to smile, he continued, ‘Welcome to the academy. I am your Company Commander Major Samar Rathore.’
‘It’s not fair,’ whispered Nutty. ‘No one has the right to look so good.’
‘You are some of the best. I am sure you know that already. Each year thousands of young men and women appear for the selection exams, and only some manage to clear them. To be selected for the academy is an honour. At first your training may appear tough, but you will find it easier to cope with the demands of the profession after the first month. It is all about tuning your body and mind to the task at hand.’ He went on to motivate and advise the LCs in a friendly manner.
‘Anything which is short is sweet, and therefore I shall not take too long.’ He paused meaningfully, before asking, ‘I hope you girls are having a wonderful time?’
There was slight hesitation as the LCs wondered if they could complain about the harsh punishments, but they wilted under the CSM’s stern look.
‘I can assure you that everything that is happening now is meant for your good,’ he continued, as if he had read their minds. ‘You may not realize it today, but the exercises are meant to toughen you. Having said that, let me inform you that you are going through the “honeymoon period” right now, and things will get tougher as days pass.’
Confused by the term ‘honeymoon period’, the LCs looked at him for an explanation.
‘I can see that you are wondering about this so called “honeymoon period”. Well, the academy is generous enough to allow a month’s time to the first-termers, before their nose is put to the grindstone.’ The killer smile back on his face, he continued, ‘The period allows you to acquaint yourself with rules and regulations, learn the basics of using the correct rigs and get used to a disciplined life and routine. You learn how to move around in squads while walking or cycling. It’s also meant to reduce the number of cadets fleeing the academy just after joining it. Yes, don’t look so shocked. Many cadets find it difficult to adjust to the demands of the training and take the easy way out by quitting. Isn’t that right, Sasha?’ The CoCo cast a mischievous smile in the LC’s direction. He had heard rumours about her wanting to leave the academy.
She blushed and lowered her head.
‘My advice is that you do your best to adjust. In life, there are many situations that don’t please us. Running away is never the solution. Complaining about hardships is also not a solution. One has to face up to them.’
At his words, the complaints rearing in their heads shrivelled and dried up. The CoCo wasn’t on their side, the LCs realized. His lenient words and killer smiles were a trick to win them over. Like deflated balloons, their determination to complain sagged after the handsome officer’s lecture.
They wanted to complain about the CSM and the paltus, who excelled in nitpicking and punishing them for the smallest of errors. The first-termers were convinced that the CSM was a lunatic. There were times when she made them execute front rolls without assigning any reason.
Despite the sermon, Sadhna aka Saddie, couldn’t resist the urge to squeal. She was determined to point out the high-handed behaviour of the senior. No better time than now.
A defiant look on her face, she raised her hand. All heads turned to her in surprise. Snitching was a blasphemy, for which all the first-termers of Zojila would have to pay.
‘Yes, LC Sadhna, what is it that you wish to say?’ CoCo prodded the LC.
Having realized that the impulsive action could lead to trouble, Saddie hesitated for a couple of minutes while the CoCo waited patiently for her to make up her mind.
Drawing a deep breath, she blurted, ‘Sir, we hardly get any time to rest, we are doing bends, stretches and front rolls all the time.’
‘Is that so? It’s really unfair.’
The LCs looked pleased.
‘Well, we will have to change that,’ he smiled. Turning to Major Sherawat, he said, ‘Please give them cream rolls. It will be a change for them.’
What they missed was the wink he gave Major Sherawat.
Minutes later, he drove off on his bike. As pleased as punch, the LCs waited for the promised cream rolls. Only Ishita continued to wear an anxious look.
‘Now, for the cream rolls,’ said Major Sherawat after seeing the CoCo off. ‘You shall all have cream rolls for the next 15 minutes. I hope you like it.’
The LCs had assembled at the ground in front of the building. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, the CSM explained what a cream roll was.
‘A cream roll is a front roll followed by a back roll,’ she said. ‘You can have as many of them as you want.’
Saddie felt the heat of anger directed against her. The entire lot of LCs were bearing the brunt of her complaint.
The next 15 minutes saw the LCs executing cream rolls on the ground. While they excelled in the art of frontrolling, the back rolls proved to be more difficult to execute, and the combination of the two rolls was nothing short of torture. There were loud grunts and sighs.
If this was the honeymoon period, they couldn’t imagine what awaited them after.
‘You need more practice doing back rolls,’ the CSM declared after watching them struggle with the exercise.
No sooner had the CSM left, than the LCs gathered around Saddie.
‘When will you learn?’ demanded Sasha. ‘There is no one to whom we can address our complaints.’ The bitterness in her tone surprised no one. The girl was a pain in the arse.
‘We don’t need to draw more punishments. We have enough and more without complaining,’ said Cockroach. ‘Henceforth, please zip your lips.’
‘Yes, it is best to bear the punishments than to complain,’ agreed Chyawanprash.
In a unanimous vote, the first-termers of Zojila vowed not to snitch again.