MARCH TO GLORY
Ek....Ek....Ek Do Ek......
Little did i know that the above rythmic beat ( wasn't rythmic at all even though it had a pattern ) meant rising the left and the right leg with every count of one and two reespectively, failing which there was a punishment ready for us in store. This was how one half of my 11th standard was spent. Waking up every morning by the sound of alarm at 4:30 AM in the chills of december winter, we were to line up in the school field ready to meet our FAVOURITE TDC (Tulsi Das Chatterjee, favourite is a PUNN indeed). Who after giving a glimpse on our shoes and uniform and frequently shouting and beating, made us enter the Military Bus which took us to the road outside Victoria Memorial. The place where the torture began( perhaps we felt it to be a torture only in the beginning ).
Cadets from different school and even other government officials like the police force, navy and so on used to be there practicing already. And as usual our day began on a bad note of "How to be Punctual". The day were tough in the beginning. but when we became accustomed to it, days seemed incomplete without the beats of those drums, to which we were to march on the beautifully paved roads. Our instructor worked very hard to make a good squad out of us, but failed miserably everytime. Nitin Shresta, the Major of the army though was luckily on our side and favoured us at every instant ( note that we still were not relieved of the punishments as i guess punishing in in the blood of Army Officers ).
Four hours of regular practice got our body toned( though most already had next to nothing between the skin and the bones) and our skin tanned. The worst part was the not so good breakfast as after the workout we were given to eat the food, that too in a specific time alloted by the officials, exceeding which there was a punishment assured. The best part was ocourse the girls. We made our very best to take our stand right next to them, but our instructor was smarted and took us as far as he could to keep them out of reach in the fog of winters. Though still many among us managed a chance to talk to their crushes, my crush had a silent deatch as i hardly could even get close to her. I remember she was pretty.
After a rigourous course of 6 months ( which included both the practice as school and at the fields ) we were ready to march in public on the 26th Jan '06. All prepared and we in our best attire, did walk on the red road on the tune of the band ahead. Smart and stylish were we, and with a great show of discipline ( At last ), we managed to grab the "MOST DISCIPLNED CONTINGENT" award, even though we started of as the "MOST UNDISCIPLINED" lot.
That was a indeed a true March to Glory !!!!
