Promotion Exam - Part D

 

First Sip and Final Toss

Yesterday, the 12^th Sep 2025, after ages, I attended the AGM and Dinner. That is, a “YY” (Yes, Yes, for both) for the OTAAA. That in itself was a feat for me, what with me hobbling around on a walking stick. One of only two such illustrious Officers, the other being, Maj Chandrasekharan, the one who noticed the two “miscellaneous” entries in the accounts, which made people like me feel foolish, not to have noticed it! Well, be that as it may, Thank God I had the sense to pause at the entrance to the auditorium and peep at what some others were doing. Thus, I was lucky to get the coupons for liquor and dinner. I dread to think what would have happened if I had just walked in straight looking ahead as is my wont (which you will know soon) and missed the coupons.

After the lively interactions of the AGM, I hopped on to the very cushiony lawn of the Cadets’ Mess and started looking for the bar in right earnest. I found one nearby and approached it. A strapping Officer with a wide, open collar and with a flat tummy and straight back, wished me and asked about my poison. Poison? As I said, whisky, I noticed the board saying SS 70. I said, “Oh, I am at the wrong bar” but he waived me into silence and asking, “which course, Sir?”, handed me a glass which he said was “Fusion” (did he mean the rhyme?), which I happily accepted and took the first sip while answering, “6^th”. He looked up, pointed to the sky and exclaimed, “Oh!” with a wide, but reverential, grin. I thanked him profusely and said, “let me find my bar” and very gingerly hobbled on to find a chair. I found one, but that happened to be just at another bar which said, SS 60. Chairs in between were mostly occupied by ladies, some of whom could be Officers, but I could not plonk myself amongst them, could I? Well, I had covered half the length of the long lawn by then and decided to move on from there too, for the bar of 60 was also not mine, but after a few sips and a small rest. You get my physical drift, don’t you?

As I was drinking in the ambience, one waiter passed by. I asked him “where is the general bar?” He caught on to the funny question and pointed to the Officers Mess Bar at the other end of the big lawn. I thanked him and took a few more sips gauging the distance for my precarious walk. And then delicately (embarrassed by the askance look of some ladies, as I didn’t notice any sympathy) moved on to the indicated bar. There the barman asked me for my coupon without actually asking me! That is how polite he was. In fact, I had to ask him, “Oh, you want the coupon?” He with a broad smile nodded to say, yes. I saw another bar nearby. He said that was of SS 20! Man, it was bars galore. But if you were a “local” as we were termed, without a coupon, you were a goner in the Officers Mess bar!

Well then it was dinner time. What you learn as a youngster stays with you to the grave. Only it is like in a logarithmic scale, with younger days far away and grave, very close. I always used to be one of the last to reach for dinner and yesterday was no different. I picked up a plate, served something measly and walked looking at the yonder table to sit and I went for a toss!

You see, food is laid out at a higher ground and tables are on a lower ground. One has to step down to eat. I am the “smane dekh” type (remember? I told you already above), as the Commandant told a visiting dignitary to point out the girl cadets indistinguishable from the boy cadets. (He had said in his address at the AGM, that the said dignitary had asked, “Where are the Lady Cadets?” and the Commandant is supposed to have told him, “Look straight ahead”).

I and my plate were picked up by a few unknowns in a jiffy. But as I was led to the dining chair, I found Mrs Unnithan asking me if I was alright and another young pretty girl offering to get another plate filled for me. I wish I had the grace at least to ask her name. I was flustered, so she, the benevolent soul, will excuse me.

NB. It was so sweet of Col Prince, the Secretary of the Alumni Association to call me today and ask whether I broke any bones or what. I am glad to say, even the tip of my tie had no gravy mark! And am glad to report that my old agility is still safe by 10%.

PS. I was very glad to hear the Commandant in his address, saying things what he had done, like introducing OTA to college students, conducting a pre-fitness test scientifically and all, as those and some others were close to my heart but was afraid to suggest to any one before.

I am Col Rajendran, of SS6 (NT), Meiktila, who went into EME, for those who care. Funny thing is, I am from OTS, not OTA!

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