ida

d warmth. "It's not easy, balancing work with further studies, especially in a

in, each one a reassurance that m

uadron, entered. He held an aircraft logbook in his hand, his face clouded with a seriousness that was hard to miss. Both Kapoor and I immedi

f your technicians. But when the pilot boarded to carry out a sortie to Chandigarh, loaded up with cargo, he found the VHF wasn't working. How could this happen? I don't understand." He glared at the logbook

e, responded promptly. "I'll look into it immediate

n signs off on an aircraft logbook, certifying that everything is in working order, I expect

electronic systems are working on vacuum tubes. Unlike transistors, which are mo

understand how these systems work. But that doesn't change the fact that this failure jeopardized an imp

stood, sir. I'll have it rechecked i

troduce Corporal Haridas? He's been with our squadron for the past two years.

"I know you're quite skilled with wireless and radar repairs. That's very good." He paused, his expression turning unexpectedly ki

ce, and I thanked him sincere

as if to remind him of his request for a report, and then he left the

re softness that wasn't usually there. "I don't want to waste your time," he began, his to

guard duty? I hadn't been assigned guard duties lately, thanks to an exemption

explain." He hesitated for a moment, then continued in a tone that surprised me with its warmth. "I have two children, you see.

who found it difficult to manage with more children, often compromising on education and other n

termined to help her improve her scores so she can pursue either engineering or medicine. Medicine is costly, of

why he was sharing this personal concern with me. I

g directly at me. "Could you help tutor her in math? Just a few sess

lt a certain pressure to accept. Refusing could risk his good opinion of me, and in the military, one never

said, "No problem, Chief. I

ed his eyes and softened his usually stern expression. "Thank you, Harida

ed, feeling a sense of duty

nd five, that would be ideal," he continued. "I'll arrange with Sergeant Finani

ief. I'll be t

his chair. "From the main road, take a left turn, then the first right, an

the directions. "Understood, Chief. I'l

he arrangements were settled. "Thank you, Haridas. I'm

Chief,"

personal task to someone like me, and I und

d left the office, still processing the unexpe