The Shell

It was soon after Ahmed failed his tenth class for the second time that a recruitment rally was held on the main island. Ahmed and several.of his friends crossed over and joined up.for the fun of it. Two weeks later, the letter arrived at his house. He had been selected to join the Indian Army as a jawan. His father swelled with pride. Ahmed felt a stab of fear at the thought. All his 17 years he had lived in Kalpeni, one of the beautiful Lakshadweep Islands.

He had gambolled in the benign waves, played football on the white beaches, gone swimming in the incredibly blue lagoon. He had eaten with relish the coconut rice and tuna curry that his Umma made every day. How could he leave behind all of that ? How could he leave behind Yusuf and Ali, his bosom friends? And Amina, his little sister; wouldn't she weep if her Ikka left her side, crossed the sea and became a soldier? Ahmed's own eyes filled at the prospect.

Two months later, after a rough three-day voyage, Ahmed reached the mainland. From there he and five others were put on a train that took them to their destination. The Regimental Centre where their training was to be. Then life turned into a nightmare