AFVOA Newsletter of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 01 / 2021 Page 77 of 123 Commander’s wife throwing anxious glances towards the airfield frequently. When the ladies saw us together, they instinctively thought we were up to no good and the much dreaded payback was on its way. They weren’t quite convinced when we shared our intention of hosting a plan together with them, and the doubting Thomases among them wouldn’t buy that stuff in a hurry. It was only after we invoked our unsuspecting mothers back home and made promises in their names, the ladies relented a bit and wanted to know the plan. It took some serious diplomatic skills to tell them that the execution of the plan was already underway. Out came the Cheetah story! They were aghast that such a thing had already happened but their relief was palpable: Firstly, they were not at the receiving end of our plan and secondly, there was no Cheetah, after all. The Stn Cdr was not particularly known for his sense of humour and we confessed to the ladies of our apprehensions of facing him when he returned home. The Commander’s wife, very sporting and spunky, assured us that she will handle the situation even as we heard the Jonga parking outside. She quickly told us to move into the bedroom. The Commander, very fair in complexion naturally but had turned deep crimson with rage, entered his Drawing Room and greeted the ladies. When his wife most innocently asked him about the Cheetah, he said “No bloody Cheetah! Some idiot is acting funny. I am calling my Adjutant now for taking immediate action”. At that time, the ladies couldn’t handle the suspense any longer and spilled the beans with much fanfare and laughter. We were very pleasantly surprised when the Commander’s wife announced to him that it was the ladies’ idea and the bachelors executed it for them. That’s just about the time we stepped out of their bedroom, tried to look sheepish and lined up alongside the ladies! On the Commander’s face, we witnessed a live demonstration of the term “mixed feelings”. That was the moment when the Catch 22 situation shifted from us to him. As a Commander, he needed to have taken action for this act of unmitigated insubordination but having berated us the previous day in public for not being gutsy enough, he was faced with Hobson’s choice! After a few uncertain moments, with a forced smile, he said “Ok guys, aren’t you having a party tonight?” Like the previous year, the next day was a working day but we still went ahead with a grand party, for more reasons than one! And, when the Commander asked the Sqn Ldr to repeat the telecon in the latter’s thick Mallu accent for the benefit of the Ladies, the invisible tension of impending disciplinary action vanished palpably and added that extra zing among the characters in the Drama enacted earlier in the day! All’s well that ends well, ain’t it? Jai Hind.