I consider the cow a sacred and also a very docile animal. So, when referred to as a cow by a few well-wishers, it surprised me no end, as I was neither docile nor sacred by any stretch of the imagination. The only similarity I bore was size wise. Even though I didn’t think it very funny, I didn’t have much of a choice.The name would stay as long as my husband was the commanding officer of a squadron and in defence parlance the commanding officer’s wife was cow, whether docile, mild, calm, fat or thin. My herd though was different, I was cow to a flock of fledglings as the squadron was called Falcons.Our tenure started with a bang. The first month saw floods ravage our base. The station was like a mini river with only a patch of the runway and a few corners here and there spared. The unit had to move lock, stock and barrel with the men and their flying machines in tow to safer shores till the waters receded. I had to keep my girls in high spirits.The cow had a duty to perform. I had to moo around in a skillful way. Most importantly, I had to keep the squadron together. There were times when I may have behaved in an immature manner or reacted wrongly in a given situation. I guess I was forgiven, the cow was excused. Even my lack of culinary expertise was condoned.We were, I can proudly say, a good team. Though we did face a few problems, we had our good times too. With a bunch of bubbly youngsters and very lovely ladies, every occasion was a celebration. When it came to talent we could be at par with the best. With Bindu’s culinary skills, Bandita’s classical music, Chou the artist, and Banjo’s Tosca, there never was a dull moment. Each new entrant to the squadron was welcomed in the weirdest of ways, be she a newly wed bride or someone posted to the unit. The squadron made sure they would never forget their first day with the Falcons.Each day, each moment was cherished. Though I always felt I could never do enough for them, they were always there for me whenever the need arose. We trudged along so beautifully till one fine day fate dealt a heavy blow. Our Ahlu was taken away from us. He died in a crash. He was such a wonderful young man, the pride of any parent. I can never forget the grief of his mother. The squadron was in a pall of gloom for quite some time. But, being part of a fighting unit we had to look ahead, and move forward.Before long it was time for us to move to other shores. My husband had completed his tenure. Even though our wonderful innings with the Falcons had come to an end, to me it will be something that I shall treasure for the rest of my life. It will always be a special chapter in my book of life: my days with the Falcons.
