In the mid-nineties I was posted to the Commando Wing, newly married to Nalini and beginning our life together in a modest rented house at Lakshmi Tekdi. The colony itself stood on the cross-country route of my school, Military School Belgaum, and overlooked breezy slopes with fields stretching below. The house came to us through the kindness of my schoolteacher, Late Mr. Janardan, who during our tenure remained a mentor, guardian, and well-wisher. His gesture of keeping the rent within my modest pay was an act of generosity I will always remember.
Our home was simple, with boxes doubling as furniture. Cooking was done on a kerosene wick stove as we waited for a gas connection, while a fridge and television remained dreams for the future. Yet as a young couple we were content. For Nalini, the fauji atmosphere was new and full of curiosity.
Our circle was a lively mix of young couples and bachelors, with Major Mohinder Verma, a towering six-foot-three presence, adding weight and energy to every gathering. As my birthday approached, I warned Nalini that some ten to fifteen commandos might drop in. She prepared nervously, but by eight in the evening no one had come. Just as relief set in, the roar of engines filled the air. The entire strength, forty-two friends including their spouses, stormed into our little home.
What followed was cheerful chaos. Snacks, eggs, bread, and cake vanished in minutes, and every utensil in the house was pressed into service. The young commandos and their wives pulled our legs good-naturedly, teasing Nalini about her first brush with fauji unpredictability. The more experienced ladies offered tips and encouragement, making her feel truly welcomed into the army family. Soon after, with new confidence, we hosted our commander Late Brigadier H S Gill and Mrs. Gill for dinner, an evening remembered for their graciousness. And whenever we were away on night exercises, the young wives found companionship with each other, guided gently by the older ladies.
Looking back, that commando raid was far more than a birthday. It was the moment Nalini discovered the warmth of an extended family and the spirit of brotherhood that defines the army.
Author: Col Robertson from 19 MAHAR
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