There is a popular saying among the men in armed forces the ‘faujis‘…. “We work hard, we party harder”. What the others might not be aware of is that these men in uniform are big pranksters too!
One such prank not only showed me the lighter side of my husband but also reiterated that he meant the world to me.
Married to an Indian Air Force Officer, I was welcomed in ‘fauji style‘ into the folds of unit posted in Srinagar in 1999. Kargil war was fresh in my ‘civilian’ mind. The terrorist activity was also at a high in Kashmir Valley…. Jhelum flowed with her waters red..
The day I landed in Jammu as a new bride, there had been a fresh attack on the military base in Srinagar and there was a high alert. Men in olive-green army fatigues armed to their teeth could be seen keeping eye on every nook and corner. Deserted roads and closed shopping areas all were reeling under a pall of gloom. The tense atmosphere had already registered in my mind…and I was quite visibly disturbed.
After an overnight stay at the army transit camp, we flew to Srinagar. We were received by two officers who were the part of a prank that awaited me in the Air Force Station. Those two officers appeared very sad and quiet. Later in the evening one of them arrived at the door of the room we were putting up in…The prank was taking up its form. What I did not know was that my dear husband was also a party to the larger prank…!!
We were informed about a terrorist attack and that all hands on deck needed to report back to duty. Aby, my husband played along and psyched me further. He went away leaving me fretting in the room of Officer’s Mess. Late night I sat at the residence of Commanding Officer of the unit still worried. And then one officer walked in ….heavily bandaged, blood on his clothes, dishevelled, limping…. He told us that due to a landmine blast all in the vehicle were seriously injured particularly Aby and he was fighting for his life in the station medical centre.
I was totally shocked…. The other ladies were also a part of prank but they showed a concern causing me to panic. We all rushed to the hospital where the doctors scared me even more… I saw Aby lying on the table with blood over his chest, hands and eyes. As I sat near him shaking like a leaf, the doctor tampered with the wires of ECG machine. Soon enough the machine started showing a flat line denoting that there was no heartbeat !!
I had totally lost my cool and screamed for the doctor. The doctor did come and played the last cards of the prank. He very seriously informed me that I would have to resuscitate my dying husband by administering a mouth-to-mouth respiration!!
Without giving any thought to the doctor’s suggestion and not wanting to waste a single second, I complied though I had no idea how to administer a mouth-to-mouth respiration. No sooner I bent and my lips touched my husband that everyone broke into claps and Aby woke up from his supposed serious condition laughing….he kissed me back right there with everyone shouting “welcome to the Air Force”
With relief flooding me, I too joined in the laughter. With a loud “I love you” he folded me in his arms sealing our love.
I remember the evening as if it happened yesterday though it has been sixteen years now. We still laugh about the whole episode and he teases me no end.
And that moment of love and laughter and the twinkle in his eyes still tugs at my heart.
“This post is a part of #LoveAndLaughter activity at BlogAdda in association with Caratlane.”
Shoma Abhyankar 
Too good to win. It was like a Drill.
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😀thank you
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Awww…that was sooooooooooo romantic! ! Hay, you didn’t tell.me.this story, Shoma! Loved every word!
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I didn’t? I tell it all the time that people repeat word to word if I start telling again 😂
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Congrats on winning the contest. 🙂
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Thank you 😊
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That is one awesome story Shoma! Something not even a reader will forget easily 🙂
Here is to many more years of togetherness for you two!
Cheers
(a big hi! back after a small break :))
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Thank you Leena. Cheers!
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I am not sure if I would have done so with my wife, sometimes the situation goes out of hand and might cause permanent damage to the relationship (especially if it involves playing the worst)!
Anyway, seems you two are happy about the incident and enjoy it even now!
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No offense Alok but fauji life is very different and difficult and fauji wife is a breed in itself. Even during our courtship days we mentally prepare ourselves for stressful situations. My husband had participated in Kargil war and we had been engaged for a year during that time. Men of armed forces know that anything can happen any day and if everything turns out well it is reason to celebrate. I did cry during that ragging but when I learnt that it was a prank I was willing to be sporting enough to mingle with everyone instead of getting annoyed. The bond that was forged on that day with other officers still stays strong and I can count on those them even today.
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No offense Alok but fauji wife is a breed in herself. We mentally prepare ourselves for stressful situations right from our days of courtship.
Moreover all ragging episodes are carried out in controlled fashion and at slightest hint of situation getting out control, the ragging is stopped then and there.
Armed forces men and their families understand that there might be worse situations and hence when everything turns out to be good we celebrate. The ragging is done to test the strength of a wife and her stress holding capacity. I did cry during that ragging but later on knowing about prank was willing to take it all sporting instead of getting annoyed. The bonds forged that evening with others still stay strong.
My husband participated in Kargil war and we had been engaged during that time. I knew what I was getting into…we do not have a choice of not worrying even if there is no active war going on. I worry all the time…
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I can understand, good knowing this then ☺️
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Yeah I can imagine this.
In Baghdogra we played a scary prank on one of the new wives… setting up a brothel and all.. and some officer playing as customer… the new wife reduced to tears by now was pushed into a room… where she found her husband waiting for her. How much we laughed!!! I wonder where they all are now!
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The memories of welcome are the best… And such strong bonds are forged. Didn’t know you are also one of the clan 🙂
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