STATION: D'DUN
CABIN NO 3 – Z COY
24 MARCH 2008
Having arrived at Bhopal, after a journey that saw us enjoying every stretch of NH-59 and a sleeper journey through one of the slowest trains in India, it came as a real shock to me once we entered into the 3 EME Center. After an unexpected Musical welcome by the unit band, and introduction to the officers, we were addressed by the commandant Brig Joshi. It was after listening to him that I realized that this was not going to be just another boring visit to some military establishment. It was supposed to be an adventure hike and 3 EME Center was all set to give us an adventure of a life time.
The very next day, we were going to proceed on a bike hike to Sanchi a distance of 55 Kms. We were not going to be given the ‘Pulsars’ and ‘Thunder birds’, but what we ended up getting was something far better. The latest version of the famous fire fox cycles, with a top speed of 80 kmph, known for their light weight, easy handling & most important of all – STYLE !
As dawn came, I was ready like all my mates, in our Games Rig with Sanchi in our minds. There were only 12 fire fox cycles and the rest were mountain bikes. The hike strength was 42, and so having shared with us the danger involved in handling fire fox as an amateur, volunteers for the fox were told to separate out.
I was indeed lucky to find, all my mates of NDA in the elite group, all set to embark on an adventure of a life time. We were send in batches of six, I was lucky to be in the leading file too, and within minutes after the flag off I was whizzing past the trees lining the road at an incredible speed. At times we were forced to slow down for others to catch up, yet I enjoyed the new morning breeze of the country side, the beautiful cane fields that were waiving at us merrily and of course the totally dumb struck villagers who clapped for us and cried- Bharath Mata Ki Jai!
Frankly, for the first time in my life I realized, what it means to be a Fauji, as the feeling of Pride and Honour grew in me and in others around too around me. This I guess was the moment which no MNC’s can give in their package.
We arrived in Sanchi at 1100 Hrs and I could see in the eyes of all my comrades a great sense of achievement. Our tryst with adventure continued in the days ahead, whether it was the Hot Air Ballooning or the wonderful Cruise in the Lake. The party in the Officer’s Mess and the Holi celebrations were the tipsy pudding to our visit.
But at the end of the visit, the most memorable moment of my life, still continues to be the Bike Hike. Me-My Fire Fox-The Fields-The Villagers-The Cheering-and of course the Tears (which I made sure no one around me got to see)
