AFVOA Newsletter May 2020

Section 3 - Memoirs Newsletter No. 1 / 2020 P a g e 47 | 101 6 My First Foray to the North – East Mrs. Lalitha Mohandas Genre: Life in the Forces ay back in the mid-70s, when my husband was posted to Chabua Air Force base in the Northeast, I accompanied him much to the chagrin of many, who kept dissuading me. I was more than willing to traverse the path he would tread on, in common parlance “Rough it out”. We were given a lovely farewell at Lucknow – of course we stayed in a magnificent Kothi in the heart of the city as, there were no family quarters then. All the senior officers’ wives cautioned me about the existing conditions in Chabua & how after “Ganjing”, Prakash kulfi, boating on the Gomti and innumerable visits to the Immambaras, life was going to be quite different and difficult too. I had braced myself to face any hardships and to keep smiling and moving ahead against any odds. We were received at the Tinsukia Rly Stn after what seemed like an endless journey traversing so many states with varied landscape. On our way to the AF Base, the officer who received us, commenced with his briefing. He told me that since it was a non-family station, we would have to be content with staying in the old Ration stand – a large room amongst 2 other families with common bathrooms and toilets at the end of the corridor. I was happy to hear this. He added, “Bhabiji, new family quarters are in the final stage of construction. If you are by chance allotted one, please opt for first floor as you may find a friendly panther at your doorstep one day, when you open the door”. I laughed it off, as a prank. He also mentioned about not walking after sunset as we may accidentally step over a snake or could encounter the panther out on its rounds. The elephant grass he told me was its perfect getaway. He assured me that the panther was only lifting stray dogs and had not become a man-eater. This was when I retorted” I don’t want to be its first victim”. Even though a little fear had crept in, I put up a bold front and told him “I am going to have the best time of my life here come what might”. W