Turbulence 2 Tranquility

By Veds

A true recording of the sojourn of Jay, in general, from being a wastrel, an orphan, guided by unknown powers on a path which ended at the levels he had set out from - middle class. Something beyond dreams during the sojourn. But, Ours is not to wonder why Ours is but to do and...

Somewhere along, the funds his father earned were of honest toil, and hence the final result, all sins of Veda Prakash absolved.

The rest but the aftermath.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Apr 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9789390543458

Veds

Jay was a normal child, with loving, doting parents and two younger offsprings, sisters till sixteen years of age.Born in 1961, in 1977, there was a drastic change in his outlook on life in general. The children lost both their parents in a span of four months, in 1977, still school students.This was the point of drastic change in life in general for Veda Prakash overall: Why us?His parents accommodated every religion, yet this.Veda Prakash saw no reason for this turmoil, yet trusting in the Lord he set forth - TURBULENCE 2 TRANQUILITY

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

THE COMMENCENT

Location Southern Military Command Area, Defense Civilians (MES) Family quarters Poona,

February 17th, 1961

It was a bone chilling dawn with a promise of a perfect clear day ahead. As said, it was all quiet on the ‘Western Front’. The quietness was suddenly shattered! A full throated cries of a new born was in the air, the latest addition to the family and human race, ‘a baby boy’ in the pink of health. It was a long awaited change in the lives of Madhavan and Soudamini. Their lives now took on a long sought after a brief tinge……

Parenthood!

After trials and tribulations finally a ray of light had dawned after seven years. The years were dark but with continuous faith and trust in the Almighty

Joy, rather - Ecstasy reigned supreme, bringing to

mind the Lotus Eaters.

In no time the good news spread like wild fire through the camp. Family and friends flocked in the early morning hours to see the new comer and congratulate his parents and share their joy. Their friends arranged for spreading the news to both parents houses.

Madhavan –Soudamini families’ routine totally changed with this new arrival. Their daily dull routine now had gone totally haywire. The sleeping and awaking times was decided by this new entrant. Time was less plus there were not jaunts outside to go to all activities were strictly carried indoors. Madhavan, who was a Defense Civilian clerk started arriving late to work and leaving office earlier, this he had done for the very first time in his life

"Time seems to have picked up hitherto unseen speed,

if growth was a criteria"

The infant started to change step by step to a baby who occupied the cradle then shared space on the bed, then turned into a toddler on four limbs within no time. The baby was friendly, outgoing in nature. He would grab the eyes and nose of people who picked him up and would be smiling most of the time. He was fast and within a short span of time started to crawl, toddle and moved with the help of his four limbs all over the place which required someone to keep an eye on him all the time. He finally came to the stage of clutching, standing, letting go, tottering and toppling over and over again.

He was always eager to be held in ones arms, running all over with his tiny steps and smiling to glory. He was a bundle and a picture of joy. Life in general was not a smooth sailing. For his parents problems from time to time came up like mood changing/ health/stress at the office, their child falling here and there. With all this life went on, it looked like there was no reason for genuine complaints. In the month of February, Madhavan arranged a party with families and friends to celebrate the first Birthday of his son, named Jay. The party went down very well with the invitees and all had a memorable time. Shortly after the Birthday celebration, Madhavan was transferred back to the Southern Naval Command in Cochin, Kerala.

CHAPTER 2

ALPHA

The year was 1962.

Jay was just a year old.

The earliest of memories Jay had was the life at the Naval Base Civilian Qtrs, MES. Jay had a total firsthand experience of military rule and command along with civilian life from the years 1962 to the hilt. He lived in the Defense Civilian Quarters (MES) at the NAVAL BASE which was located in COCHIN 682 004.

However, for Jay this life was at a price, the inhabitants were fully aware of the defense life and its matters but ignorant of the real outside world. Jay moved freely around within the Base area on a daily bases and at his will. He would keep running into new acquaintances and establish new contacts.

There were many military and civilian families living at the quarters allocated to them. There were a separate group of girls too. All grown up boys and girls would not mingle those days, but hang around together, in separate groups

Every morning after brushing their teeth, discussion at common restrooms happened between the kids. There were separate restrooms for girls and boys. Even close restrooms were available for young girls and adults. Women and Men were provided with separate restrooms. As the restrooms provided to the children were large hall with two rows of restrooms seats facing each other, children discussed on interesting things and latest events they also charted out the whole day activities.

Children could wander around the Base without any fear as it was very safe. However, they would be taken by an off duty Defense personnel, if they were found loitering after hours that was 6:00 pm and were then sent to their quarters after taking information from them like Father’s name, quarter number, family details etc. Thus passed Jay’s life for two to three years at the naval Base in Cochin from 1962-1965. The memories of childhood are still very much with him.

Once breakfast was over and Mr. Madhavan left for office, Jay would start his stroll round the camp running into old associates and establishing new ones. As in those days girls were considered to be weak only males were chosen as the Bastions.

It was compulsory to reach home for lunch before Mr. Madhavan arrived to maintain peace. Jay had to follow certain rules like having a nap after lunch from 4:00 to 4:30 pm. The playground would be full of girls and boys from 4:30 (not sure why?) they played different games like hop-scotch, skipping rope, football, throw ball, seven tiles and so on. They played their hearts out till 6:00 pm. It was the best childhood spent.

Jay was pampered to such an extent that he would arrive late during his pre-school. In June 1965 his parents took him to get admitted to lower kindergarten but the school was adamant and gave him admission to upper kindergarten.

Pre-school years were the best days for Jay, the school had teachers who were military officer’s wives that brought in discipline. Jay on the other hand would sit in LKG for nearly 2 hours as he found the games played there more interesting and tried his level best to be there but was always pulled back to UKG. Jay would fail to understand why the teacher, to him ‘Aunty’ pinned down on him daily while he was playing with LKG children.

The UKG started from 10.00 am and would finish around 12:30pm. The school was very near to Jay’s quarters. The school had a milk break at 11:00 am. Jay’s mother would everyday pack a small container of milk and dosa made of wheat in a plastic cover of Brook Bond coffee powder. In case, the cover was new the dosa would have smell and traces of the coffee powder.

The next phase in life for Jay - Schooling –

a Life Changer

The UKG was located at the road approaching from the Command gates, which crossed the road from the family quarters at right angles forming an interaction. Off duty Sailors would be at the junction to handle school children crossing the road, they did it on a daily bases when school convened and also when it closed for the day. The kindergarten premises was a beautiful one which had three big sprawling mango trees that spread their shades all over.

The mango tree would bear flowers and fruits between the months of December to May. The children from the LKG class used to look up at the mangoes with yearning. Jay, too saw the un-ripened mangoes and had some other plans. Jay would come back home around 5.00 pm check around making sure that no one was watching and threw stones at the mangoes till he got two or three. The mangoes used to fall on the hard tarmac that would damage the mangoes.

The routine of Jay was going very well. When one fine Monday while he was going to UKG a sailor stopped him. He told Jay that he had seen him the previous evening taking mangoes. Jay totally denied of doing such a thing. However, the sailor was adamant and told him that if next time he catches him, Jay would be taken to the Naval Command. From then onwards Jay totally stopped throwing stones for mangoes

Classes from I to III of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Naval Base at Cochin were close to the family quarters. The school had a green grassy ground where young and old people would spend their time from evening to dusk. Children would play, elders chatted.

Many a times the waste in the area would be collected and set to fire making it a bonfire by the families living in the quarters. All of them would sit and have a chit chat around it making the occasion of a get together. These families would keep visiting each other’s quarters frequently. But on special occasions like a birth of a new member, Birthdays etc. there would be a big gathering and partying. Jay and his gang would slip in and out of the houses. Have light refreshments severed from one quarter to another.

Once, while standing beside his mother who was chatting through the window with the next door two teenage girls Lathika Chechi and Sunanda Chechi , Jay was called by an uncle from the adjacent window of another quarter. He asked Jay about the girls in the window. Before he could answer, Jay was pulled away by his mother. The adjacent quarters were only for bachelors! out of bounds for Jay.

An uncle from another quarter got married, there was a tea party held in the evening. Jay jumped across and was served royally and was sent out. He then again went in to get his fill. When Jay tried for the third time