A series on the plight of retired army officers - II
38 years in the army and four
wars later he sits in a drug induced stupor recovering from surgery and
completely dazed at his life. His entire
life savings deployed into a building now in the venomous grip of a political
serpent who networks with babus, judges and police officers, 87 days in jail
for no reason, his wife and sons threatened with arrest, under debt and shame,
the soldier in him perseveres, faith in a bottomless pit, soldiers truly are
naive. A two star general who led his faithful into the arms of death, now reduced to rubble yet not dead.
In sharp contrast the serpent
Mahesh Vermani sits on the lawns of the Law minister, smoking a cigarette and
chewing pan, a prominent smirk on his face.
The broker before him feels lucky to be on the lawns and feels assured
when Mahesh assures him that the building is his to sell as and when he
completes the destruction of the Yadavas, the day that he says is not far. He
claims that he will not let the building go.
Does India still have an
underbelly? Do citizens have rights? Are courts and government law officers
unbiased? How easy is it to manipulate the system? This article explores the fate of retired
Major General who was used to the manicured and disciplined environment of the
Army and stumbled into the womb of corruption, malaise and abuse of power. Do
not be surprised if this story makes you think that no body is honest!
A young lad he grew up in the
deserts of Rajasthan in a small hamlet that his father a serving army officer
called home. Walking 17 km over burning Sands slightly cooled overnight and
completing the same journey back in the peak of heat in the late afternoon was
normal. Arrival of the uniformed gods with their dream fit physique and
disciplined behaviour always excited him and he knew what he wanted to be when
he grew up.
Fighting all family opposition he stubbornly took the examination
for NDA and as expected was chosen, excelled as a gentleman cadet and got
commissioned into the infantry. Over 38 years he would fight against China,
Bangladesh, the Naga separatists and Kashmiri infiltrators. He went on to
command the unit he was commissioned in then to command a brigade then to
command a division until the pyramid narrowed for the preferred.
But today he has a dark
secret – he was arrested at the age of 73 and detained in jail for 87 days.
The police has been threatening to arrest his 73 year old wife and 50 year old
US resident son. He wonders what went wrong - the Law – had it not completely let him down.
A small time broker for police
officers and a supplier of girls Mahesh Vermani had approached him in 2009 to
rent his property. Mahesh wanted to use the property as a hotel and made tall
promises of high returns. ......... to be continued.
