“Sleeping Beauty”

I have had many “Girlfriends” – but – I can never forget “Sleeping Beauty”…

“SLEEPING BEAUTY” – The “CLUELESS” Faujan (Military Wife)

A Fictional Spoof By Vikram Karve

TYPES OF “FAUJANS” (MILITARY WIVES)

There are Two Types of Military Wives (“Faujans”):

1. “CLUED-UP”  Faujans

2.  “CLUELESS” Faujans

The first category comprises “Clued-Up” Military Wives:

1. Ladies who are aware of Life in the Military 

These are girls who come from a military background.

These include daughters of Military Officers (from the Senior Officers’ Daughters’ Association aka SODA) – or girls who have seen the life of a Military Wife from close quarters as they have a relative or friend in the military or they know someone married to a military man – or because they have lived in the proximity of a military cantonment and are well acquainted with the “Fauji” lifestyle.

Nowadays – with the increasing number of “marriages in uniform” – you even have Military Wives who are serving military officers – who are “know-it-all” – on all matters military.

There is a second category of “Clueless” newly married Military Wives:

2. Ladies who have had absolutely no exposure to Military Life

And hence – these young naive and innocent girls are completely oblivious of the unique Military Culture and are totally unaware of the kind of social life a Military Wife has to lead.

“Sleeping Beauty” belonged to the second category – she was a newly married “clueless” Army Wife.

“SLEEPING BEAUTY” – The “CLUELESS” MILITARY WIFE (“Faujan”)

Yes – “Sleeping Beauty” belonged to the second category of Military Wives – she was a newly married “clueless” Army Wife.

“Sleeping Beauty” did not have a clue about Army Life.

She was born in a family of academicians – and brought up in the tranquil environment of a university campus in a small town.

Since it was not a military town – the only persons she saw in uniform were the odd NCC officers on the university campus.

Of intellectual bent of mind and possessing an academic nature herself – she was pursuing her Ph.D. – when there was a marriage proposal for her from an Army Officer – Captain “X”.

Things moved fast – and suddenly she found herself married to Captain “X” – and she arrived with her newly wedded husband at the SP Marg Officers Mess in New Delhi.

In fact – it was in the same week – that I arrived with my newly wedded wife at the same SP Marg Officers Mess in New Delhi – where we – Captain “X” and Me were living – as happy bachelors for around one year – before we got married – in the same month – almost on the same day.

In those good-old “pre-jointmanship” days – the SP Marg Officers Mess was an inter-service combined Army-Navy Officers Mess – like Kota House.

But this happy situation – of bonhomie and camaraderie – did not last forever – since a few years later – in an act of “jointmanship” – the Army evicted Naval Officers from the SP Marg Officers Mess.

And – in a retaliatory gesture of “jointmanship” – the Navy evicted all Army Officers from the Kota House Officers Mess.

This Army vs Navy “jointmanship” battle was called the WAR OF THE MESSES 

And – since Army won “Battle Honours” in this “War of the Messes” – the Army named the SP Marg Officers Mess as “Battle Honours” Mess.

Even today – as I hark back – I fondly cherish my glorious days at SP Marg Officers Mess – the atmosphere of bonhomie in the evenings when we all sat together on the lawns or in the bar enjoying our drinks.

During my SP Marg Officers Mess days – I made friends with a number of Army Officers – and one of my good friends from the Army was Captain “X”.

On New Year’s Eve – we sat at the Defence Services Officers Institute (DSOI) in Dhaula Kuan – downing “peg after peg” of rum – and suddenly – we decided that we both had endured enough of bachelorhood – and – it was time to get married.

Within 6 months – we – Captain “X” and Me – we were sitting together with our newly-wedded wives on the lawns of SP Marg Officers Mess.

Soon – we shifted to Curzon Road Apartments (also called Multi-Storey (MS) Apartments).

Curzon Road Apartments were located between Connaught Place (CP) and India Gate on Kasturba Gandhi Road.

Luckily – in Curzon Road Apartments – we – Captain “X” and Me – with our newly wedded wives – we were “next door neighbours”.

Our erstwhile “mess-mates” from SP Marg Officers Mess would invariably “bounce” us – whenever they were in the vicinity at Connaught Place or India Gate.

These bachelor officers would suddenly land up at our homes – unannounced – any time of the day and night – demanding food and drink – sometimes even at the oddest of hours – even past midnight – on their way back from a late night movie show at Odeon, Plaza, Regal or Rivoli.

These impromptu food and booze sessions – which lasted till the wee hours of the morning – came as a big surprise for “Sleeping Beauty”

“Sleeping Beauty” was used to the placid social life of a small town university campus – where “early to bed and early to rise” – was the lifestyle norm.

“Sleeping Beauty” had never seen even a drop of alcohol in her parents’ home

So – these unrestrained drinking binges – where everyone consumed enormous amounts of alcohol – and many officers got high and behaved with wild abandon – and seeing their drunken behaviour – all this caused her even greater cultural shock and distress.

However – she adapted herself to her new life as a “Faujan” (Military Wife)

And – to compensate for the “sleep deprivation” due to the late nights – she spent most of her time sleeping during the day – hence – I gave her the nickname:

“Sleeping Beauty” 

One evening – around 7 PM – on my way to my flat – I saw “Sleeping Beauty” eating her dinner.

Those of you who have lived in Curzon Road Apartments will know that the Kitchenette of the one room flat was located at the entrance – which opened into the corridor – and we mostly kept the door open for cross-ventilation.

So – as I walked down the corridor to my flat – I saw “Sleeping Beauty” standing before the gas stove with a plate in her hand.

The plate was filled with generous amounts of a variety of dishes – and – “Sleeping Beauty” was merrily eating away to glory.

“Having dinner so early…?” I asked her.

“No. No. I am just “Tasting” the food – to see it is okay…” she said.

“Tasting…? Ha Ha – you are “tasting”…? So much food…? If this is “tasting” – I wonder what your dinner will be like…?” I asked – pointing towards her plate – which was fully filled with food – as if she was eating a full-fledged meal.

“Sleeping Beauty” laughed – and she said to me:

“Okay. 

I will tell you. 

My husband has invited his boss and all the officers in his office and their wives for dinner. 

By the time they finish their drinks and have dinner – it will be past midnight. 

And – I will feel very hungry by then. 

So – I am having my dinner now itself….”

“You are eating your dinner now itself – even before the guests arrive…?” I asked her, flabbergasted.

“Sleeping Beauty” gave me a mischievous smile – and she said to me:

“Yes. 

I am going to have my full meal – even the sweet dish. 

Then – it does not matter how long they keep drinking – or – whatever time they eat their food. 

I will have a second round of food with them just to keep up appearances. 

Or – maybe – I will actually be a bit hungry by then – so I will have a full fledged helping of food…” 

I marvelled at the earthy wisdom of the young bride – it was so breathtaking in its simplicity – a useful “mantra” for all hostesses – especially for Military Wives who have to entertain a lot.

I will always thank “Sleeping Beauty” for this pointer for hostesses – which I suggested to my wife and many ladies.

In fact – I started following Sleeping Beauty’s mantra “myself” – after I joined the ranks of sober teetotallers – who anxiously wait for dinner to be served – while the boozers keep endlessly downing drink after drink.

So – if you are “faujan” – a Military Wife – whenever you invite people for dinner – you know what to – just follow Sleeping Beauty’s “Mantra”:

Have your dinner well before your guests arrive for dinner 

Yes – if you are the hostess – eat plenty of food before the party.

Of course – there is always scope for a second round of eating – along with your guests – when they have their dinner.

Happy “Wining and Dining”…!!!

BTW – Dear Reader – let me tell you that “Sleeping Beauty” still looks as youthful and beautiful as she did – more than 36 years ago – in 1982 – during our Curzon Road Apartment days. That she still looks so beautiful is no wonder – since she still sleeps the entire day – yes – “Sleeping Beauty” ensures that she has plenty of “Beauty Sleep” – the secret of her ageless beauty…

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Link to my source post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve:  http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/07/memories-of-curzon-road-apartments.html

This Story was written by me around 4 years ago in early 2014 and First Posted online by me Vikram Karve in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at 6/16/2014 02:15:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/06/humor-in-uniform-sleeping-beauty-and.html  and  reposted on January 9, 2015 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/01/humor-in-uniform-army-wife-called.html  and later on July 6, 2015 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/07/humor-in-uniform-mantra-for-military.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/10/sleeping-beauty.html and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/05/sleeping-beauty-unforgettable-faujan.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2018/03/16/sleeping-beauty-a-story-for-world-sleep-day/ and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/01/sleeping-beauty-clueless-military-wife.html