The Mistake ( a short story)

 THE MISTAKE  ( a short story)

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The train started moving.

“Hi going to Mumbai,” he asked. He looked a rough and tough guy though smartly dressed.

“Yeah,” she replied sternly resenting that he chose only her to talk to.

“I too” he smiled but did not get any further response.

She was toying with her mobile chatting on ‘whats up’ when she heard him saying to a couple seated opposite birth.

“I am in Air Force”

“ Wow ! Are you ? she asked him suddenly.

“ Yes.” He was pleased and exhilarated by her attention.

“ Civilian or uniformed ? “

“ Uniformed”

“ What rank?”

“ Sergeant, I am commanding a squadron”

“ Which one ? You see I have a great fascination for men in uniform”

“ Maratha squadron” he said priding himself.

“ So you are in Air Force, a sergeant and commanding a squadron” She started fiddling with her mobile pretending not to be attentive to him. The couple remained cosy within themselves oblivious of others in the coupe. He started listening to his IPOD.

At Baroda station, the compartment was crowded with Air Force and local police. His bags were searched. RDX was found alongwith pistols and ammunition. He was taken into custody. He was totally bewildered, confused, surprised and perplexed.

“ Hey Mr. I am Nishi. Squadron Leader Nishi of 29 Squadron, Indian Air Force. AF squadrons are christened by numbers and not by names and a squadron is never commanded by a sergeant. She said to him while  he was being whisked away by the police.

Her last words were ringing in his ears in jail and he was cursing his masters/handlers who had trained him across the border.

-------------------------------------------------o-------------------------------------------All rights reserved/Tribhawan Kaul

kaultribhawan@gmail.com

kaultribhawan@yahoo.co.in