Olive Green

I have been obsessed by the uniform forever, like really forever. My love with the ‘’olive green’’ began a long time back.  It goes back to my teenage years in a school library, where I found this book on Indian Armed Forces, and before I knew; I was totally engrossed reading about faujis and their gallant tales of life-death fights.  This was also the time when movie “Lakshya” was released. The whole story of how a young guy transforms, the moment he dons the uniform. There is something about it which commands respect and admiration. All these things further powered my passion for faujis  soon grew larger than life. I had read somewhere that ‘’an Army man adores life and anyone who is a part of his life would be precious to him.’’ I wanted to be that “precious part”. I wanted to be an ‘’Army wife’’.

The actual story started when I told my Parents about my so-called aspiration of getting married to a soldier (maybe to someone in the Infantry), and I was stubborn. Coming from a chastely civilian background it was difficult for my parents, especially for my father to understand my point of view. Finally, after several rounds of discussions – turned – arguments, they understood that a fauji and only a fauji would be a perfect groom material for their daughter. Well, for my parents to find a ‘’man in olive green’’ for their daughter was not an easy task. So, from relatives, friends to newspapers and various matrimonial sites – search for my ‘’dream guy in uniform’’ began.  It was a roller coaster ride with anger, fear, frustration, and panic attacks as an integral part (what if I did not find one) my parents were worried about. Actually, there was a phase when even I was worried and to some extent depressed as I was not ready to even meet any guy other than a Fauji and then one fine day, after rigorous scanning of many profiles (which was a daily task now) – I found “Him”. My parents contacted the potential groom immediately and everything was just perfect. We started talking and it was all good. 

The more we interacted the more I realised that yes, that’s what I was longing for. Whatever I used to think, I used to read, my imaginations, my dreams were shaping into reality. Soon there were phone calls instead of messages (though the network was a major issue) as he was posted to some remote area. Being with a soldier may not sound anything different or special to many, but when you are actually with a soldier you understand how life changes in such extraordinary ways. There is something which cannot be explained I guess, the way he behaves, the way he respects, when you know how much he has toiled hard to earn that uniform, he has paid for it in blood, sweat and tears, literally. You just feel proud of being with a man who shares the responsibility of protecting billions of countrymen.

We are getting married by early next year. Coming from a civilian background, as of now, I am absorbed with all the anxiety, nervousness and anticipation, whether I will be able to “fit in”, but then I know what I am getting into. It will be worth all the sacrifices I have to make. I am ready to embrace it all. After all, I am living my dream – I will be an ‘’Army wife’’ very soon.