If we were having coffee, I would welcome you to this beautiful place which is the epitome of natural beauty and divinity.
I would then pull up a chair on the lawn that overlooks the pristine hills. I’d ask you how you are and patiently listen to what you’ve got to say. I might subtly add that you are lucky to be able to do what you want with life and that you shouldn’t worry about petty things like having to do night shifts at work or why you are going crazy because your maid hadn’t shown up.
I have been there and done that.
I’d then say that we have moved to a new station and as much as I want to hate it, I am actually enjoying this calm and serene place. It had been raining cats and dogs for three days but I can spot the rainbows every now and then.
So, let’s sip some hot coffee and have pakoras watching it, for I have some stuff to tell you.
Today, I will give you a little peek into my life. I am getting used to the one thing in the Army that is constant- the tenures every two years! As they say, change is the only thing constant. We can either make a real hullabaloo of it or embrace it gracefully. It is in fact fun and the excitement is infectious.
However…
… it demands us to cope up with changes, like shifting your entire home every two years. You could be allotted a one-bedroom apartment in a metro city like Delhi. It could be a twin bungalow in the abode of clouds in Shillong. Once in a blue moon, you might have to settle in a tent or a shelter too; though the perks include exploring beautiful locations in our country which a civilian does not have access to, most of the time.
I have been staying in a guest room accommodation for the last two months because we’ve been allotted a house with a windowless tin-sheeted kitchen. Yes! You heard that right. I made the call to wait it out so that it becomes at least viable to enter.
In my short span of four and half years of being married to the man in uniform, I have stayed in seven accommodations so far in three tenures, including two temporary quarters and three ‘so-called’ permanent quarters (which we had to move twice in the same station as it had to undergo maintenance). However, I fondly remember each one of them- 165D, 258D, 251C, 453, Dhauli Ganga, and the guest rooms.
While all the packing, shifting, moving and travel is something I do not look forward to any time in the future, I know it isn’t impossible to have another movement order soon. All our 43 military boxes (Oh yeah!), including the 330L refrigerator, 42″ Television set, and the BOOKS are lying in some shed or room, unattended all this while.
But the one thing that pisses me off or rather scares me to death is the unavailability of mobile networks outside of this location. The husband has gone for a rescue operation in the morning because guess what! The roads are blocked due to heavy landslides and the fog, rainfed muddy waters, humongous rocks falling from the hill right in front of the vehicles are not helping as well.
And as much as I would like to hold my tears back, put on a brave face or smile warmly to his subordinates who comes in with a cup of coffee every now and then, just to check up on me, I do try not to let loneliness and fear set in and bother.
While you listen to my rant with utmost sincerity and sympathy, I’d assure you that it isn’t as bad as it looks.
I know he is doing his duty, and that he wouldn’t think twice before jumping off the cliff to rescue someone who was careless enough to risk his life driving through the landsides. But for one, I am so immensely proud, proud of the uniform he adorns, of the job he has to do, and simply because I have a significant role in his life.
So do I get to brood over a windowless kitchen now? No. I will sit here with you, happily sipping coffee, introducing you to the little kids that are playing around, and of course, the monkeys that gibber at us. I’ll tell you that the one thing that kept me sane this month was the decision to get back to blogging and participate in the Write Tribe Festival of Words. That life is fun and that I belong to the silent ranks. It makes me so proud, passionate, bold, and defiant.
How was your week? I’d love to know!
‘I am taking part in ‘The Write Tribe Festival of Words #6‘. On Day 1 we wrote about a treasure. On Day 2 we wrote about a resource. Day 3 was to feature a map. Day 4 was to feature a day in my life. On Day 5 we wrote a letter. On Day 6, we featured a guest. Today’s prompt is to write on the prompt ‘If we were having coffee..’
Omg!! that’s pithoragarh..my home. I miss that place. And that picture, it’s the right side view from my house. I know you are having a hard time but I so envy you right now.
My father was in defence too so I know what you are talking about. We changed houses every 3 years. Hope you are settled soon and enjoy your stay there. It’s a small town but you’ll definitely enjoy the surroundings. I followed your blog since a long time and see today you are at my hometown. Such a small world. 🙂
I admire your ability to find the good in people and places. Enjoy the tin kitchen and the chattering monkeys while you can. Cheers and continue to #writebravely!
Shaalu…a very tight hug! I can completely understand what you are going through and you know why! Trust me,you will fall in love with the ranges but keep yourself occupied as these mountains also have a flipside..of pulling you down emotionally.
I started blogging to beat the loneliness that comes to us – Fauji wives perched high among the mountains!
So stay strong and keep blogging and socialize a lot..I am just a message away 😀
I can totally understand how scary or must be when your husband is away and you are without mobile network. Life in army comes with all sorts of challenges. 40 boxes wow… That’s a lot of unpacking you must be doing. Take care girl. A tight hug from me.
40 odd boxes …salute to you as well lady …I resonate with the fact that even a small place is good to live if you have a huge heart!!!
Oh Shalini I can understand your situation. Before I got married I moved 23 homes in as many years . And of course temporary accommodation with permanent residents you’d rather not have ….. but as you said there is a plus to all this which is getting to see the unseen wonders of our country. Truly it is the strong women like you who are the true defenders of our nation.
Cheer up. Remember these days will also pass and when you’ve finally retired you will miss this chaos that is now your life .
Shalini this is a side of you I never knew. I can only imagine that it’s not easy moving, settling down and moving again so often. But the way you expressed your feelings, the cloudy days and the fact that your man in uniform makes you so proud, only makes me cheer for you. Way to go gal. So glad to have connected through the challenge
I love that rainbow pic you have shared! You are right either we make a hullabaloo of it or embrace it like adults! But, for me it’s always the former initially!
We are super proud of you and yours and wishing you a pleasant & exciting stay in your new home!
Thanks for your comments on my blog!
Srk was a dream …. actually! Hope to stay connected!
With your post I got a peek into the life of an army family which was never known to me. If I think I am brave for living alone in the city with a small kid then it seems an exaggeration compared to your life. You are the real brave. Hugs to you Shalini for enduring the wait. I hope a window gets carved out of your windowless kitchen 🙂
Again a very honest post, Shalini. I’m totally awed by that rainbow picture! A great way to end the challenge and congratulations for that!
I am grateful to the men in uniform who keep us safe and the women in their lives who keep them happy.My best wishes and prayers for you and your husband Shall. Blogging does help.
I always loved and respected those men in uniform. Their families too. It’s tough to be away and to wait. But you are strong. Hugs. And 43 boxes. Awe… how much time you both spend of packing all these?
Hey Gorgeous woman – I live on rent and have the uncertainty hanging on my head every 11 months as to what wil happen when its time to renew. Plus I have to get a moving and packing crew and do most of it myself and deal with super eeeeuw kinda men as the crew for this. Now maybe your picture looks rosy!?! 😉
Plus you get to see divine locations; though the window less kitchen and living in guestrooms is kinda a pain! Also the dangerous nature of your man’s work can make things so uncertain- I admire your gumption to live it so big and brightly. I never hear you grumble rant or whine – ever and thats such a positive part of you!.
I wish I could use a portakey and beam myself down to you to keep you some company and enjoy the hot pakoras in this gorgeous green rainy weather!!! A big hug to you and I hope things ease up a bit soonest!!! Cheers 🙂
Oh it’s hard to move around like this. We are also in a similar situation here, though, my husband is not in the military, we have been moving from country to to country, apartment to apartment every year due to his job. So I can empathize with you, Shalini.
That view is gorgeous. Traveling and living in different places is an enriching experience, isn’t it?
I am wondering how you managed to blog with all these things going on at your end! Kudos to you, Shalini. Congratulations on completing the challenge. 😀
Shalini, you are truly telling us the untold story of army life. To let the men in uniform do their jobs, they need a strong support back home. You are doing excellent. I would have gone crazy in a few days if there are changes in my routine. Great work Shalini. Coffee with you is a moving experience.
Shalzz Salute! To both you and your brave soldier! I am feeling tired just reading about all that moving and shifting. Sending you love and hugs. Hope you settle down soon in your new home.
We can never be thankful enough to your Hubby and his tribe for keeping us safe. And to the unsung heroes, the wives , the families, the children who stand by the men.
I am so glad you have started writing again. This was such a beautiful post.
That was an amazing post. Having a dad with a transferable job, I hated moving so much! I see the merits now but then, leaving your comfort was hard.
This is so beautifully crafted. Amazing work.
I have loved this piece and can read it …don’t know how many times…
This is an amazing post. And I cannot imagine what it must feel like. Hugs to you, and I hope you begin to enjoy this life in a windowless kitchen. Unless you want to say – Tor do iss deevaar ko! 🙂
Loved reading this… I’ve lived in one home from birth to marriage and another home post that.. and I’ve always wanted to know how it would be to move to different places and start over.. Immensely proud of all our uniformed men and their families.. hats off
“Kohleyedme” such a beautiful name for a blog site.
From the first line till the end of the blog post I was hooked. It felt as if we were actually sitting and chit chatting. Pithoragarh is my hometown and how dearly I miss it.