Page 105 - Love Story of a Commando

‘Oh God! Virat you should understand I am not your “comrade in
arms” but a common person. We drink as much water as we want when we
feel thirsty.’ I mimicked his pedantic voice.
‘I should have waited before giving you the water. Now I will have to
go look for water in the dark.’ He looked exasperated.
‘What do you mean? Are you thinking of fetching water now?’ I was
shocked.
‘Yes, madam! Right now! It is eight in the evening and I can easily
look around and come back here in an hour or two. I need to go, but you stay
here. It is not safe for you to come with me,’ he said.
I felt really exasperated and wished I had taken basic survival classes
in school or at least watched Bear Grylls: Extreme Survival on Discovery
channel where he shows you how to deal with life-and-death situations by
sheer quick thinking, feats of endurance, basic survival techniques or
sometimes just by pure luck. That way I could have realized the importance
of water in such situations, if not anything else.
‘I am not staying here in this wretched place alone at this hour. I am
coming with you,’ I said.
‘No! I am not taking you with me. Not only will you slow me down
but also it is much safer here. The jungle is not just full of wild animals and
boars but also crawling with insects and poisonous snakes. Nope! No
chance! Stay here lady!’ he said adamantly.
‘I will die of a heart attack here. It is pretty scary. Please take me
with you. Please.’ I fluttered my eyelashes.
‘Look, Riya, it is not safe out there. Hopefully water should be
nearby. Kashmir is full of mountain streams. I will be back soon,’ he tried to
persuade me.
‘Hopefully?? And how do you plan to find your way in the dark?’ I
asked.
‘I have night vision devices and GPS, madam. At NSG we are
provided the best weapons and devices and I am also trained to deal with
extreme situations. Don’t worry about me,’ he said earnestly.
‘GPS? Does it really work here? In this jungle? What kind of GPS do
you guys have? I have no faith in all this. Please, please take me along with
you, I promise I won’t be any trouble. Please Virat! Please!’
Survival is really tough. He was supposed to plead before me but
instead I was doing all the begging. Sigh!
‘But you won’t bug me with your questions anymore. We have to be
quiet or it could be dangerous. Okay?’
‘Pukka! God promise. See I am mute already,’ I chirped.
‘Okay, follow me and always keep your eye on me. You will follow
my instructions no matter what I say. Don’t even think of your stupid heroics