Filmy Fauji Wedding: Episode 2
There was an instantaneous yes from both sides and we were engaged. This was in November ‘86 and a few weeks later we moved out for exercise Brass Tacks. With rare telephone facilities those days our communication was restricted to letters. Waiting for letters had its own charm. Back home the two families decided the dates and the venue for wedding. Since most of the relatives from Rajni’s family were settled in the North it was decided to have the wedding function in Agra. Consultations were made with Panditji and 12th June was marked as an auspicious date notwithstanding the peak of Agra summers with temperatures touching almost 44 degrees. Load sheddings those days were not an exception so one had to take care of own electric generation and pump house at home.
We (the unit) were based in Babina at that time. The SL forces were active and had gained considerable area that was earlier controlled by the Tigers. The supplies to the distressed civilians were cut off. The least expected of the Indian govt. was to provide relief to the civilians in Jaffna and pressure was mounting fast. We were asked to be ready for mobilisation. If I recall correctly it was around 25th/26th May that we received stand to orders. My wedding was just about two weeks later. Sensing there was no possibility of this getting materialised, I wrote back home saying I was moving out for an exercise and can’t present myself for the wedding. I’d advised them to postpone the wedding. The letter delivered on 4th June was a big shock to everyone at home. Getting a communication just a week before the D-day caused confusion and chaos. This message was yet to be delivered to the girls side. Rajni, her parents and other family members had already arrived in Agra putting up with her sister. One of her sister with her husband had come from London getting acclimatised to Agra’s scorching heat. Her father who originally hails from Amritsar had gone there for some work and was expected back after two days. One of Rajni’s sister marries to an Air Force Officer, posted at Tejpur then, was just about to travel to Agra.
My brother and mother visited Rajni’s sister place to break this news. As expected the shock was more here than it was with my brothers. My mother-in-law burst into tears. My mother understanding their concern made a stray offer of a token wedding to be solemnised with my photograph. And since my father-in-law wasn’t in town no one quite knew what to do next.
Meanwhile as an adjutant I was in the thick of activities. It wasn’t a mobilisation for periodic exercise. We were moving out for a war and CO was out attending a court martial proceedings. The briefings from the higher hqs were few and the whole plan was quite fluid. On the 4th/5th of June the first train was made available. One coy and the bn hqs took off for Hyderabad, followed by another train. The third train was to head for Chennai. We were to be inducted by air from Hyderabad and by sea from Chennai. Not very clear instructions at that moment of time.
to be continued...
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