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 threated with arrest, under debt and shame, the soldier in him perseveres, faith in a bottomless pit, soldiers truly are naive.

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 separate tests 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 and he was designated the director-general rehabilitation and resettlement. The true soldier in him knew only how to command and was not cut out for a desk job.

Having served at the frontline for each war that India bought he has retired as a major general. He has a dark secret too – 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 – it had completely let him down.

A small time broker for police officers and a supplier of girls Maheshan Vermani had approached him in 2009 to rent his property. Maheshan wanted to use the property as a hotel and made tall promises of high returns