A FAITHFUL STRANGE FRIEND.

As you all know, the company you get at the first place of posting after your ab- initio training influences quite a lot in your future Airforce life. You are like a semi-molten wax, which can be molded to any shape.

I had seven friends in H block, room No.6, in No. 1 sqn. , Adumpur on my first posting in 1971. All seven of them were teetotalers and engaged in some kind of civil studies. To keep the company, there was no other alternative for me, other than joining with them for civil studies and abstinence from alcohol. This habit, I continued till discharge in September 1985.

To remain as a teetotaler in Airforce life and in my community, in civil life was not considered as a very good habit of appreciation. Slowly, I came to understand that my friendship circle was becoming smaller due to my nonaligned habits. Friends and relatives of my community, when they visited me, naturally expected a treat with liquor, as they knew that I was in possession of that alluring life-saving item, inherited from Airforce. Earlier, I offered them liquor without my company, but I knew they were not pleased with that. I too felt bad if I did not give the company when I give a treat to them by showing a strange morality of a warrior of total abstinence from alcohol. Thus for transformation to true Indian host, I started using liquor in small quantity for company sake and that is being continued. I found it easy for me to make friends with many in my community and my Professional association.

Since 1995, our All India Association had frequent meetings all over India and I had frequent travels with my professional colleagues. Once I was travelling from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari with some ESM professional colleagues for a zonal meeting. My three friends made these rare occasions for a booze. They were very expert in finding out the source of liquor in any unfamiliar place in the world. It will be surprising to see them bringing one bottle from some unknown place like a magic. After the meeting, unfortunately, we did not get sufficient time for a peaceful sitting and drinking. The most expert among us brought a lemon, cut it into halves, and put them into the transparent white rum poured into a half-filled mineral water bottle. He did not forget to carry some snacks also. We got inside the train and occupied the seats reserved for us. The train started at a sharp time. Slowly, three of them started sharing sipping the bottle like mineral water. None of the crowded passengers had any suspicion of the process of their sharing of water. The bottle with the floating lemon pieces was going to be exhausted. One man who was standing and watching all their friendly sharing, wanted some water to drink. Suddenly, my friend took a sealed mineral water and gave the bottle to him. He said," Don,t open a sealed bottle. I don't mind drinking the balance of the other bottle and I can throw the vacant bottle out. "There was slight embarrassment among us. An offense is going to be unveiled !!. We were adamant to give the new bottle, but he denied and in split second he snatched the lemon floating bottle and drank the remaining 150 ml. in one gulp, and threw the bottle outside. We expected many bad repercussions. But nothing of that kind happened! On the contrary, that stranger was with full of thanks and kept the secret offense like a faithful friend.

Thank you.