Five days rendezvous with fire...(a story)

It was 6.30am on my watch, when got down from the bus. The October morning was quite fresh and salubrious. The traffic was yet to take its original stance in the historical city of Mysore. I checked my luggage; I have one suitcase and a carry bag. As I was running out of time, hardly could I enjoy such an enchanting moment. I had to report at the Mysore railway station at 7am sharp. I asked to some passer-byes how to reach the station. They suggested some bus number. But getting a bus in the morning was tough. Someone told me to move a bit further for a square from where getting a bus would be easier. Like a soldier I took the order to reach at the bus stop, which was closer to the circle. No trace of any town bus neither could I find an auto-rickshaw. I started blaming myself. I could have come one night before, why am I here struggling to make it in time for the long cherished goal.


My heartbeat was taking part in Olympics when I found a scuty running towards me. Without any thinking, like an impulse my hands went on to ask for a lift. To my utter surprise the scuty slowed down, I could not make much of the rider with the helmet, but on the first close view she was looking very cute... and I went speech less.


I was wondering for a proper word...my search engine was on...finally I muttered..
"I.. I.. am.. I mean...”


Then she could make something out of it and said "Take it easy. What happened?" taking the helmet out. It felt as if I will get frozen. She was quite beautiful…I could not believe my eyes…I stood there staring at her like a statue…she was adjusting her hairs…


I replied, "I am in a hurry". Then rattled off in one pitch "I have to reach station at 7am to report for Air Force selection and now I could find nothing...so if you kindly...”

Before I could end up, she smiled...and said "My little two wheeler may not hold all your luggage". I was about to cry...the horror of time and nervousness talking to a beautiful girl on the road was producing all those reactions that she was enjoying. Finally with a shy she agreed.

Guiding me as my grand mother… "You people... will never be on time. Why can't you make it a bit earlier…” she took the pain to accommodate me and my luggage on her little vehicle?

I sat on the backseat with all uncomfort of the universe, but I was thanking and praying to God. Suddenly I felt I didn't introduce myself...and started "Well I am Sameer, my Air Force selection is there...I have to report there at station. I am in final year B.Tech, Electronics..". Thanked her gracefully. The morning chilly air was making no impact on me. Hardly I could get what was going on. She hardly spoke till we reached at station...I got down and thanked her. She looked around, and wished me all the best with a cute smile on her beautiful face.


Hurriedly gave her my contact information. I turned back towards the station in a hurry just to make it on time…after all - the defense people need punctuality but often we feel proud following our Indian rail punctuality.

From that distance I could find the men in uniform. Quite a lot of people with a heap of luggage queued outside the station. A banner saying – “AFSB Welcomes the candidates” was put there.


I took a note of things to be done. In defense life is always disciplined - thought my-self. Completed the formalities... We kept our bags on a lorry then we were transported to the AFSB. Now I was relaxed... The morning breeze was soothing my body and mind after a hectic horror and nervous mixed stint.


Suddenly thought -".. aare yaar ...forgot to ask her name..Shit". Just tried to remember her face and it was displayed in mind in a flash...Then somebody interrupted me - "Hi...I am Vamsi, I don't have got pencil...do you have any extra. They were saying it's required". As I have got only one I replied pessimistically but assured him to arrange something.


Then the days started off...it was something like playing with fire… You enjoy when you are in control, otherwise it will destroy you…


After around half-an-hours journey, we entered the gate of Air Force Selection Board (AFSB), Mysore. The buildings are lined up - like our so-called “Govt. Buildings”. The campus was quite cleaner!!! There was a model of a fighter MIG-21, representing IAF to welcome you.


We were taken in front of a building. Our luggages were kept in the vehicle. A senior officer appeared with uniform. I was thinking my self how will I look with this uniform. Then looking at the crowd I thought all are equally talented. It's tough. But let's try, after all there is nothing to loose.


We were briefed about the upcoming tests. The only thing I could think of is the discipline and value of time.


All those martinet officers were strict yet quite friendly. Whisper's started - in last batch they had selected to only one guy and two from the first batch. Then everybody started thinking what's there for him. Around twenty people at a time were called for the PICTURE PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION TEST followed by a group discussion. Later the intelligence test was conducted. Now time of tension arrived. Every one of us counting the time. Finally they were out. We were told to stand on line then chest numbers were called out for those who could make it for the next tests.


I was relieved to stay for four more days there. The rest of the day went coolly. Roamed around the campus. Quite a better place to stay. The dinner was ok, after all govt. meals... free of cost for the candidates. The arrangements were good. Some of my roommates had already appeared for the test. I made some friend on the first day itself.


I was going to sleep...Suddenly thought of her...the mysterious girl whom I met in the morning. I could have called her if I had her number with me. But again blamed for not asking her intro... However slept gracefully thinking the proceedings of the coming days.


Hardly I get up in the early morning...8-9am is a usual time. Here the day starts at 5 in the morning. Frankly the toughest part in AFSB for me. Here also one has to witness queuing. You do anything you have to stand on a queue, either for washbasin, or bathroom, or tea, or breakfast. It's a usual activity. I finished my bath. Thanks to Govt for providing warm water, otherwise life could have been disastrous in the early morning bath with icy water.


Time for breakfast...two parathas made of 10 years old atta and tea. After a short interval I find my-self on a queue with all my competitive - no friends. As hardly I thought as competitors. I think that was the best part of a SSB interview, you will make a lot of friends and realize value of teamwork.


The wing commander addressed us. He briefed about the upcoming activities and tests. First brainstorming session started off with multiple pictures description tests followed by more brain storming sessions. I could do well with a soaring handwriting. Later I found - It's not handwriting but your thinking matters a lot if you can shape them with words.

Finally it was over. My god...it was ferocious which demands time, positive thinking and sharp mindedness. Every second of those two hours was important. The balance between your eye, mind, hand and thoughts was highly needed. We were treated with an average tea and two biscuits. Later the grouping was done for Grounds task and interview. More or less I was happy with the performance.


The day's test part ended for me. We returned to the candidate’s mess with full of jest. Lunch was a bit horrible especially for the vegetarians. Now I was happy to sleep for some time but I got a call. It was an unknown number. I received it - an unfamiliar female voice was coming from the other side. "Hello Mr. To-Be-Flying officer". I was taken aback. For sometime my search engine finished my memory’s entire database with an error message. First with a hasty voiced thanked her without saying more.


"So you made it to the next round...good congrats...go ahead. All the best". All those words were glibly flowing like a rainy-hilly-stream. Before I could react the phone line went off. I sat there on my bed.


My plan to go for a nap vaporized. I was thinking agape who could it be!!! Suddenly thought - can it be her!!! All my soul, body and mind acted in unison calling to that number. But to my utter disappointment it was switched off. I could do nothing at that point...the excitement to know the caller was not important but to find if that’s her...who helped me with the lift. I composed a message and then left to play with my newly made friends.

While returning I got a reply... "Guess...who it can be?"…


I was very irritated to my-self. Then called to that number. It was probably one of the best times for me.

I started "Hello...may I know who is it?" a girls voice came. “Ya u know”. I finally surrendered without much guesswork. Then the conversation began for quite a long time till my cell died for the want of battery recharge. I was seating on the bench of a roadside lawn. I hardly remember now what I talked but more or less it covered my whole life.

Before I went to sleep - I read the message from the same number- "All the best..."

By this time I knew her name - Akanksha. What she does and something about her hobbies and all. The long phone conversation was just the tip of the ice burg that was yet to be discovered...

Got up early in the morning. This time I was feeling very fresh unlike the previous morning. Following events were interesting for me, like GD, what I learned reading the CSR helped me a lot. The topic were of current affairs, and was a given situation, over all it was ok. The ‘All the best message…” has re-charged me. I was on my toe to face the new challenges. But the first Grounds Task was tough on my part where I don't think I had done a good job. But the comments of our GTO (grounds task officer) were really inspiring. He was repeatedly saying “if you fail in one task forget it just concentrate on the next one” and I did the exact thing. After one more GT we finished for the day. It was not of much relieving yet I had to do the basic stuff.

Took lunch and got the call from Akanksha. Briefed her the activities. Evening was spent with friends. A video on air-show was shown to us. It was quite inspiring. I could find all the participant were thrilled, and were dreaming in the entire show... one day to become a part of it.

I slept soon after the dinner, which was good but can't be said better. After all free food. The next morning was scheduled for my interview. As usual we lined up to move towards our interview hall, which was in front of the main office. We had to cross around 1km. It was morning 7.10am around, I found a scuty coming. I didn't care much but to my surprise it seemed I have seen it somewhere. Then I scrutinized the rider but couldn't make much of it. Our officer was walking besides me, but I thought it was her - Akanksha. I could not turned back...and a lot of un-expressible excitement was building within me.

Then one of group mate asked what happened. I told I have seen that girl on the first day here... all of them mocked me. But I was sure it was she.

Finally I went to waiting hall.. Forgot everything...concentrated on the current affairs. I was the last but one to be interviewed. It went well with basic HR questions. I felt satisfied with the performance. Now most of the tests were over, I came with a relief out of the hall...

Then roamed here and there...My cell was not with me. So couldn't call her. Finally at 2 I called that number...Before I said even a word, I heard a male voice, and then I didn't know what to do. I asked “may I talk to Haris ?”...Then he said it's a wrong number. I felt very relieved and I was sweating in fear. Then switched off the cell. It was a day of horror, relaxation and freedom. Finally at afternoon 3.30 we went on a tour to visit the places. I didn't take the cell. When returned I have around ten messages and a few missed calls from that number. But couldn't dare to call again. I got a call at 8.30 after dinner. Finally I got to know that she is the daughter of the officer who took my interview. The stint with my interviewer was good. Then we planned for a meeting the next day after I finish my formalities.

The whole day I had to stay without the mobile. After the conferencing the results were announced, first my chest number was called out...then one word came out of my mouth - Thanks God. Three of us are recommended. The flows of congratulations deluged me with ecstasy of achievement of long cherished childhood dream, and soon after I wanted to inform her - but my cell was not with me. I had to wait for that after calling to home and my friends from an STD booth, finally the time come when I could meet her out-side of the main office.

She was really waiting for my results... I was not very excited like the other two. I was cool...feeling just relaxed. Other friends were leaving for the railway station... I wished them all the best...and standing there with her for a while...All of my roommates those who knew about her just gave me a smile, and I embraced them last time in AFSB promising to keep contact. The feeling was quite mixed with agony for them, the joy of achievement and the sorrow of leaving my newly made friend. She left quickly for her home after we had a very small chat. I think she congratulated me thousand times and I owed her a treat.

A relationship was taking its form and our agonized smile, and speechlessness was the testimony of this newly started bond. I had to go to sign off the forms. She denied calling her on that day; latter I got my last call in the AFSB.

The small meeting on the main road at noon put the foundation of an impeccable friendship. By the time I finished the paperwork, it was 10.30 at night. I said good-bye on the air, hope she could have heard that...I was returning on the Air Force vehicle to the station, got down on the same spot where we met for the first time.

I was returning with lots of achievement, full of experiences, friends and of course my first love – Akanksha.


P.S. Stories are always stories...