WHERE BOYS TURN GENTLEMEN.....

Family reunion… Destination… Alma mater…National Defence Academy Pune. 

This was no ordinary reunion. The boys who turned gentlemen years ago could stay in their cadet cabins with their wives to relive their days and go down memory lane. The giddy enthusiasm on the faces of these fifty-plus men was evidently visible as  they were cadets once again. 

The trip from the Airport to the Academy seemed forever for my husband, and the moment our cab landed at the Squadron gate, his buddies in the near vicinity rushed to the car to help us unload our stuff to join them for the first reunion lunch. There were serving Lt Generals on this trip who did not bat an eyelid to pick up a suitcase to carefully deposit it inside the squadron, while the taxi driver was  astonished by the excited voice of greetings around the place. The architectural elegance of these imposing buildings created a perfect backdrop to this reunion. 

Course mates is a tribe that defies definition and does not wane or wax with time as the time spent in rigorous training seals the bond forever. Grandfather retired from the services, and a serving grandson will have the same josh meeting a course mate. The commitment, chivalry, and camaraderie are incomparable, as they are forever friends regardless of the circumstances. They may meet infrequently, but a warm hug with an academy nickname melts away the time. For this band of brothers, responsible army men who risk their lives to protect their motherland, rank has no meaning when they are with their buddies. 

Time  flew by during the lunch, and all you could hear were laughs and greetings. There is a parallel fraternity of wives that has come into being over the years of interacting with each other who were looking for familiar faces, exchanging greetings, and catching up on the happenings in each other's lives. Post lunch, we visited NDA in their buses which took us to Peacock Bay, the Equestrian training area, and many other places while we heard live commentary from the gentlemen who had turned cadets for this trip. 

The spirit of not giving up on these men in the forces was displayed here. My phone slipped and fell in Peacock Bay, the diver retrieved it from the muddy water, and astonishingly in working condition. Of course, it did not last after staying in the water which is another story. 

The setup of cadet cabins in the Squadrons was a big surprise for us ladies. We were getting a chance to stay a fraction of the life of a cadet, and we loved it completely. The fun-filled evening and the laughter continued late in the night when we heard amazing stories from the horses' mouths. The icing on the cake was the sweet sound of the pipers walking through the corridors to wake us up in the morning, and we felt like royalty, nothing less than the Queen.

Royal breakfast at the Cadet Mess followed the wreath laying and paying homage to the brave hearts at the sacred Hut of Remembrance, built by the cadets, commemorating the sacrifices of all those alumni who laid down their lives for the motherland. The sanctity of this place is well maintained, which is felt by the peace and calm around it. Later, we visited  the historic Sudan Block, an iconic image of the Academy, and we watched the screening of the Course Movie. The brave wives of the brother officers who are no longer amongst us agreed to be with us on this get-together and were honoured in memory of their gallant husbands.

The highlight at tea time was the quintessential cold coffee of the NDA. No one was interested in eating as they all vied for the stall of cold coffee. An informal lunch at the picturesque Peacock Bay gave us an occasion to relax, catch up with old friends and forge new friendships. The vast expanse of Khadakwasla Lake was the ideal setting. Going for a walk post lunch to the Gole Market and hearing  the stories was a treat and rest was not on our minds.

Chatting over cups of coffee and then rushing from one event to the other along with these giddy young cadets, time just flew by, and it was time for the  dinner  in the cadet mess. An immense opportunity for us where musical evening continued so late that the jazz band in charge felt entertained when he had come to entertain us. The highlight of the lavish sit-down dinner was The Tipsy Pudding of the Cadet Mess, which none of them will miss for anything, and no one can make it better than this place. 

They say whatever is done in the forces is practised to perfection. The farewell breakfast was a lavish affair around the beautiful greens of the Golf course. A perfect send-off for this trip as we carried a bag full of memories of this unique experience. 

IMAGES from Google