After I got married my husband too tried taking me to Deolali to see my old school and the house we stayed in, but I always refused. I always felt that pain and anger(with god) when anyone asked me about my father or mentioned the army.
Being an Army officer, He was an adventurous, fun loving and a caring man! He loved dogs and his passion for flying is what made him known throughout his regiment, he even founded the flying adventure wing ! He was respected and loved by all his colleagues and family!
So after 22 years I finally agreed to go there since I knew sooner or later I had to go there to make peace with this part of my past. The entire journey to Deolali I had a feeling of excitement building up like I was FINALLY going HOME, but as we started nearing I became nervous and finally as we entered Deolali I had tears in my eyes. I could see me with my father standing at the entrance, I was starting to feel I made a wrong decision of coming to this place!
I had to gather up my courage since we were staying with my husband's friends. Once we reached their house, they were very welcoming and I did not even once feel like I was meeting them for the first time. The next day we went to see the Passing Out Parade, it was beautiful and made me Proud of being an Indian, after the parade got over I met a few old batch mates of my father, who were very happy to see me. Our friends (with whom we stayed ) made it a point to make me visit all the places I wanted to see, my old school, the house I stayed in as a kid....I did not want to go in seeing the condition it was in, but my husband along with his friend went in and spoke to the occupants of the house and took me in to give them a tour of the house. Later they took me to the famous Levet Market, the army hospital, the THI institute, my old play school, etc!! Next day I was totally taken by surprise when they told me that we were going to Sharma Hill( named after my Father). As we reached the hill I knew it was finally time to come to terms with everything and let go of the bitterness I held in me for this place and so I climbed the hill and just as tears rolled down my cheeks I remembered a very dear friend had once told me that I have a beautiful smile which I should flaunt...so I looked up in the sky and gave the best smile I could and called out to my father saying that I will always remember him with happy thoughts that make me smile and never with tears! Suddenly I felt a lot lighter and calm and I know that I would definitely be going more often to Deolali not just as a daughter going to her dads home; but as a friend to my new friends whom I can never thank enough for going thru the trouble of making me feel like me again, and Alok who knows me more than I know myself....I would be lost without you!!
