Alls well that ends well

Surprising how time passes by speedily when the going is good. After the Training schedule came to an end on 27 Sep, we were still not sure when we would be given our movement orders to return. In fact, on the evening of the 26^th, there were suddenly rumours flying thick that the course had been extended by a week, that all the tests would be conducted again, that the world was finally coming to an end (that was what was going through the minds of virtually everyone) that martians would be landing near the 26 feet wall and would be duplicating it on Mars (I made up the last one!). Rumours have always had their way in this course. They have cleaved their way through truth and sanity. Everyday, we used to wake up to some zany report from ‘Abdul’, seconded by some tormented soul. Most of the times, the rumours remained just that. On other times they turned out to be true. Anyway, coming back to the 27^th, even in the afternoon we were unsure of what was happening. Would we be stuck here for another week? At around 1500h, we finally got the go-ahead. Within a matter of hours, the premises were bereft of any human activity. That was the night we drunk ourselves to oblivion (at least I don’t remember reaching the room). Returning to Siliguri on the 1^st  , the rains, the downcast skies and the same old atmosphere welcomed me. Now, when I look back, all in all, we had a good time, only due to the fact that all of us were together through thick and thin. If not for the underlying camaraderie, the story would have been scripted otherwise. I say underlying because it was not so apparent on the surface. But it was always there whether on the occasion when we were given a lift by a ranting and raving ‘Gopu’ or when we ran long distances goading each other on. The ‘twenty-twenty’ club will be coming up shortly. Invitations are being sent. Please do make it a point to participate.