In Uniform or Casual: Always on Duty

Ram Pratap Sharma woke up early in the morning, seeing a long day ahead. He got ready in his uniform to board a convoy jeep that would transfer him from Tawang to Tezpur. Early morning travel was a bliss for him, with pleasing weather and quiet roads. After all, the roads were covered with fog and chilling winds.

The patriotic songs played in the background as Ram looked outside, resting on the window, feeling the serenity of the mountains. He was leaving for home after joining the armed forces for the holidays. His life changed completely. In that 12-15 hours journey, he lived several lives from being a son, to being an army officer, he felt gratitude, and his smile showed satisfaction. His mate. Dheeraj, in the driver's seat, noticed him and asked playfully, "Aur Ram, kaisa lagra hai? Pehli baar ghar jaare ho na yaha aane ke baad?" (So, Ram, how are you feeling? You are going home for the first time since you came here, right?)

Coming out of his trance, Ram looked at his colleague and answered, "Yes, and I am too excited for it. My parents would be so happy to see me, and they will be surprised as I haven't informed them that I am coming." Dheeraj laughed and told him that he did the same when he went home for the first time after joining the forces. Their banter continued, and by the evening, they reached Tezpur.

They took shelter in the army guest house for the night. Ram had to go ahead, and Dheeraj was to return to the camp the next morning, taking other officers to the camp who had already arrived in Tezpur. After taking dinner, they went for a walk. Dheeraj asked Ram about his hometown, and the conversation took them to Dheeraj's life, who once went to Dehradun, the hometown of Ram. Dheeraj narrated his love story, which started in Dehradun. They did not realize that two hours had passed while talking and walking. They returned to the guest house and slept.

The next morning, Ram started early, taking the bus from Tezpur to Rangapara North, a small railway station. He changed to civilian dress as he had to take public transport and did not want to draw attention on the way home. Isn't it how often people play double role, one at their workplace and the other for the public? But no matter, officers are always on duty whether in uniform or casuals. He took a passenger train from Rangapara station to Guwahati as it was the main hub for the Northeast, connecting across India.

Ram reached Guwahati before time, and decided to grab something to eat before he started for New Delhi as the train was about to start at 9:45 p.m. After eating, he waited for the train to arrive. Finally, the North East Express arrived at the station, and he settled into the train. He was the lower birth near the gate of the coach. He dumped his duffle bag under the seat and went to sleep even before the train started. He was too tired because of continuous traveling.

It was in Mughalsarai (now Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay) that he woke up when two kids boarded the train and took a seat in the next compartment as they chatted and argued about something. He woke up and stretched his arms, realising it was already later than his wake-up time. He went to get freshened up and came back with renewed energy. Different vendors pass by selling chips, tea, coffee, etc. He stopped the vendor selling onion kachori and bought two kachoris for breakfast. Later, he took some tea from another vendor. After having his breakfast, he sat silently on his seat watching the scenery outside the window. 

As he was watching outside, his view was blocked by the boy from the side compartment who was fighting with his sister for a chocolate. He was running here and there and then got out of the coach. Ram felt a tension as he noticed nobody was seeing the kids running here and there. He went outside the coach and saw the boy sitting near the gate, eating chocolate. He took a sigh of relief until the boy noticed him and stood there.

Ram asked the boy to go inside as it was not safe to stand near the gate. He may fall, but the boy did not listen and started taking a step back. Ram was afraid and did not want to attract people's attention as it might induce panic, so he took matters into his hands and jumped to grab the boy. But before Ram could hold him, the boy dodged and came on the other side, and the sight was terrific as Ram was hanging on the train door. The boy started crying and peed in fear. It was then that people came out of the coach and found Ram and the boy. Seeing the situation, two men came forward to help Ram climb onto the train. 

After much effort, Ram was inside the train and everyone had a sigh of relief. The boy's parents asked Ram about what happened and scolded the boy. They thanked Ram for saving their boy's life, not thinking about his own life. Ram told them it was fine and said, "It is my duty to save the country people. Please do not worry about it. After all, your son is safe now, but please take care of him while you are traveling." Everyone looked at him in surprise and asked him why he put his life in danger again, and then the boy noticed his duffle bag, and said, "Muma, papa, see uncle has the bag with army print. I also want that bag for school." Everyone looked under the seat and asked him who he was.

Ram told them, "I am Lieutenant Ram Pratap Sharma." Everyone in the coach saluted him.

This post is a part of Tricolour Tales Blog Hop hosted by Sukaina Majeed and Manali Desai under #EveryConversationMatters and Blogaberry Dazzle hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.