AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 121 of 237 who are otherwise known as the lowest form of life on earth suddenly gained in size and stature and we were escorted into the gathering as if we were heroes who accomplished an impossible surgical strike mission and returning to Base alive! The next one hour, it was a direct one-on-one interaction between Dr.Swami and the Colonel. The Afghan crisis was still simmering then and the latter was absolutely floored by the level of knowledge of the former on the Afghan crisis, particularly the intricacies and the finer nuances of the geo-political game there. He openly complimented Dr. Swami and said that even his Army Chief may not know as much! For the first time, the topic changed from the Afghan crisis. Dr. Swami wanted to know how comfortable the Colonel was in India and if there is anything he can do to help. The context here is that some of the foreign officers had faced problems in clearance of their personal effects arriving through Containers and the DSSC administration had already sought help from Dr. Swami for sorting out this mess through MEA. The Colonel had no such problems. He told Dr. Swami that he had the option of doing a similar course in the UK or France, but yet he chose India because he had heard so much about the rich traditions and diversity. And, since his arrival in India, he was spending less than 10% of his usual monthly budget in Afghanistan but leading a royal life and Indians don’t seem to realize what they have. And the liquor you serve in the Bar is simply out of the world, the ultimate manna from Heaven! The conversation became a bit light- hearted from then on. Dr. Swami said “C’mon Colonel, I am sure you must be facing some problem in India”. Thinking hard on what to say, the Colonel looked around till he spotted me positioned next to him. I suddenly saw a look of unholy glee on his face. He said, “Dr. Swami, this youngster, who calls himself an Air Force Officer, does not keep me company in the Bar. He just doesn’t drink. I am sure that your Air Force can do a better job of grooming Officers”. Though it was said in good humour, the entire lot, including Dr. Swami looked at me as though I had just committed a blue murder and had joined the party with bloodstains all over me! I was thunderstruck, started stuttering and stammering for a suitable response. I caught the Commandant’s glare that clearly announced”: “Boy, if you know what’s good for you, pick up a drink”. As if on cue, a liveried bartender offered some exclusive Scotch reserved for VIPs and I, like an automaton under remote control, picked it up and took a deep slurp! Lo and behold, I must confess that the lesser mortal in me didn’t fathom the designs of destiny to lead me to my “Eureka” moment