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Bχq`#@UN %W 0:] ^ w 4   m  0 ~ 0 D C | B ZpN 0V                                                              BHP DeskJet 840C/841C/842C/843C0X,,,,0X0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,0I8  ƆX7:i+003|xU  ($USUS.,    1    __Yaar_Ԁ...buddy(.(3($ !USUS.,      1  (%$  1    ($USUS.,    4    __Khush_Ԁreh,ash_ker_Ԁ...Behappy,havefun r  ($USUS.,    2    _Fer...Then 8  ($USUS.,    3    __Teri_Ԁ_bari_Ԁ_kudd_Ԁ_hai_Ԁ_Barade_?...Whenisyourturn? v  ($USUS.,    5    _Waheguru...God e  __  ($USUS.,    6    _Jawan...soldier HarbansfactlyHoshairBradaKapurthala yaar Fer Teri bari kudd haiBradeKhush rehladdoosNanakWaheguruJalandharRattu ShhhbastardsSubedarHoshiarjawanOykikardaPiara  ($USUS.,    8    __Chamcha_Ԁ...brown_noser_Ԁ(.3$ !USUS.,   __  ($USUS.,    7    _Tukikarda?...Whatareyoudoing? d !USUS.,  _   OLastTrainHome  by  RamanJalota   @ August1968,somewhereontheIndoChinaborder  `   HarbansSinghwalkedintothetentandsalutedmatteroffactly. L    Sir,Ihavearequestforthecaptain. 8    CaptainHoshiarSinghlookedupfromhisdeskandsaid, Oh,itsBrada. $ t   Y...Yessir.Itsme...Brada...erHarbansSingh.  `   Heshuffleduncomfortablyasthecaptainlookedathisapplicationforleave.  L    Iamnotveryfamiliarwiththenameofyourvillage.Whereisit?Kapurthala?  8    Yessir.Youareright.ItsinKapurthaladistrict. $    So,youwanttogohomeinmidSeptember.AhBrada,myfriend,yougettingmarried   yaar_   %  1      _?     Heblushed, N..Nosir.Iamnotgettingmarried.IhaveaSisterwhoisgettingmarried   thistime.     Thecaptainranhisfingersoverhismustache,twistingittogiveitasharpangleattheend. p   Fer|  %  2      ?Youaregoingtogetmarriednextyear?Teribarikuddhai_Barade_?_0  %  3      _ \   Bradastoodnervously,shufflinghisfeetandwaitingfortheword. H   Okayyaar.Khushreh,ash_ker_  %  4      .Bringussomeladdoos. 4   Absolutelysir.Thankyousir.Hegrabbedtheapprovedleavepaperandranout  p excitedly.  \   ...... H     HarbansSinghpacedtheplatformnervously.Hewasalwaysapprehensivewhenwaiting 4 forthetrainhome.IfIdontleavenow,theymightcomeandtakemebacktothebarracks.I   havebeenhereawholeyear.ItsSeptemberagainandtimeformetogohomeandbewithmy   people.Ifthesebastardshadtheirway,Iwouldnevergethome.Goddamnarmy.    ThetrainarrivedalmostthirtyminuteslateandhequicklygotintheIIIclasssleeper.He  foundanemptyberthandunrolledhisbedding.HemutteredashortprayertoGuruNanak.  Satisfiedwiththesleepingarrangement,hepulledoutaFourSquareboxofcigarettesfromhis l shirtpocketandlitone.SeveralpeoplestaredathimincludingaSikh,whogavehimanastylook. X  Herealizedhismistake.Heranintothebathroomandtookoffhisturban.Heranacombthrough D! hislong,almostshoulderlengthhair.Hecheckedandrecheckedthemirror,finallysatisfied,he 0"  walkedout.Hestoodbythedoor,watchingthepeoplerunningaroundthestationuntilthetrain #l!  whistledandslowlypulledoutofthestation. $X"   ThankyouWaheguru  %  5      .NowIcanbreathefreely.     .....      Jalandharstationwasapproachingasherubbedhiseyesandrolledhisbedding.Hequickly  washedhisfaceandputonhisblueturban.Asthetrainslowed,hewasverysurprisedtoseehis t brotherRattualongwithseveralothersfromhisvillage.Hewavedtohisbrother,whoraninto ` thebogeyeventhoughthetrainhadntstopped.Theyembracedandhetookthebeddingfromhis L  brother. 8    Astheygotoutofthetrain,oneofthevillagerssteppedupandputagarlandofmarigolds $ t aroundhisneck.  `   Welcomesir.Wearehonoredtohaveyouback.  L    Bradawaspuzzled, Me?WhatdidIdo?Thisisthefirsttimesomethinglikethis...  8    Ratturapidlywhispered,Shhh.Youareabigheroandsomeofthevillagerswantedto $  welcomeyouandescortyou.     Ohdamn!NowIcantsmokeuntilwegetbacktothevillageandeventhenitsgoingto   behard.Damnthesepeople.     Hewhisperedback, What,me,hero?     YesBrada,yousavedthepostfrombeingoverrunbytheChineseinMarch, p remember? \   Ohthatone.ButIwasnttheonlyone.Therewereseveralofus,whoheldourpostuntil H wegotreinforcements.Itwasgoodtogetthecommendations.Rattu,Ialsogotmoremoneyin 4 mypay.OnedaywewillcomebacktoJalandharandIwilltakeyoutoabarandacinema.  p   Yes,yes.ThankyouBrada.  \   ..... H   August1970,somewhereontheIndoChinaborder  4   HarbansSinghwalkedintothetentandsalutedmatteroffactly.     Sir,Ihavearequestforthecaptain.     CaptainHoshiarSinghlookedupfromhisdeskandsaid, Oh,itsBrada.    Y...Yessir.Itsme...Brada...erHarbansSingh.    Heshuffleduncomfortablyasthecaptainlookedathisapplicationforleave.    Thecaptainranhisfingersoverhismustache,twistingittogiveitasharpangleattheend. l Hestaredintospacejustover_Brada_shead. X    Toobad,henevergotmarried.Maybewecould...... D!   Bradastoodnervously,shufflinghisfeetandwaitingfortheword. 0"    Okayyaar.Khushreh,ash_ker._ #l!   Absolutelysir.Thankyousir.Hegrabbedtheapprovedleavepaperandranout $X" excitedly. `   $D #   HarbansSinghfoundhimselfontherailwayplatform.Hepacednervously.Hewasalways %0!$ apprehensivewhenwaitingforthetrainhome.IfIdontleavenow,theymightcomeandtakeme &"% backtothebarracks.Ihavebeenhereawholeyear.ItsSeptemberagainandtimeformetogo '#& homeandbewithmypeople.Ifthesebastardshadtheirway,Iwouldnevergethome.Goddamn (#' army. )$(   ThetrainarrivedalmostthirtyminuteslateandhequicklygotintheIIIclasssleeper.He |*%) foundanemptyberthandunrolledhisbedding.HemutteredashortprayertoGuruNanak. h+&* Satisfiedwiththesleepingarrangement,hepulledoutaFourSquareboxofcigarettesfromhis  shirtpocketandlitone.SeveralpeoplestaredathimincludingaSikh,whogavehimanastylook.  Herealizedhismistake.Heranintothebathroomandtookoffhisturban.Heranacombthrough  hislong,almostshoulderlengthhair.Hecheckedandrecheckedthemirror,finallysatisfied,he t walkedout.Hestoodbythedoor,watchingthepeoplerunningaroundthestationuntilthetrain ` whistledandslowlypulledoutofthestation. L    ThankyouWaheguru.NowIcanbreathefreely. 8    ..... $ t     Jalandharstationwasapproachingasherubbedhiseyesandrolledhisbedding.Hequickly  ` washedhisfaceandputonhisblueturban.Asthetrainslowed,hewasverysurprisedtoseehis  L  brotherRattualongwithseveralothersfromhisvillage.Hewavedtohisbrother,whoraninto  8  thebogeyeventhoughthetrainhadntstopped.Theyembracedandhetookthebeddingfromhis $  brother.     Astheygotoutofthetrain,oneofthevillagerssteppedupandputagarlandofmarigolds   aroundhisneck.     Welcomesir.Wearehonoredtohaveyouback.     ..... p   August2005,somewhereontheIndoChinaborder  \   HarbansSinghwalkedintothetentandwalkedtohisdesk.Ithadhisnameandrank H SubedarMajor. 4   CaptainHoshiarSinghlookedupfromhisdeskandsaid, Oh,itsBrada.  p   Y...Yessir.Itsme...Brada...erHarbansSingh.  \   Hesatdownathisdesk,uncomfortablyasthecaptainlookedathisapplicationforleave. H   Thecaptainranhisfingersoverhismustache,twistingittogiveitasharpangleattheend. 4 Hestaredintospacejustover_Brada_shead.     Bradafinallyheard, Okayyaar.Khushreh,ash_ker_.     Absolutelysir.Thankyousir.Hegrabbedtheapprovedleavepaperandranout  excitedly. `      HarbansSinghfoundhimselfontherailwayplatform.Hepacednervously.Hewasalways  apprehensivewhenwaitingforthetrainhome.IfIdontleavenow,theymightcomeandtakeme l backtothebarracks.Ihavebeenhereawholeyear.ItsSeptemberagainandtimeformetogo X  homeandbewithmypeople.Ifthesebastardshadtheirway,Iwouldnevergethome.Goddamn D! army. 0"    ThetrainarrivedalmostthirtyminuteslateandhequicklygotintheIIIclasssleeper.He #l! foundanemptyberth.HemutteredashortprayertoGuruNanak.HepulledoutaFourSquare $X" boxofcigarettesfromhisshirtpocketandlitone.SeveralpeoplestaredathimincludingaSikh, $D # whogavehimanastylook.Herealizedhismistake.Heranintothebathroomandtookoffhis %0!$ turban.Heranacombthroughhislong,almostshoulderlengthhair.Hecheckedandrechecked &"% themirror,finallysatisfied,hewalkedout.Hestoodbythedoor,watchingthepeoplerunning '#& aroundthestationuntilthetrainwhistledandslowlypulledoutofthestation. (#'   ThankyouWaheguru.NowIcanbreathefreely. )$(   ..... |*%)     Jalandharstationwasapproachingasherubbedhiseyes.Hequicklywashedhisfaceand h+&* putonhisblueturban.Asthetrainslowed,hewasverysurprisedtoseehisbrotherRattualong T,'+ withseveralothersfromhisvillage.Hewavedtohisbrother,whoranintothebogeyeventhough @-(, O e   thetrainhadntstopped. e   Astheygotoutofthetrain,oneofthevillagerssteppedupandputagarlandofmarigolds Q aroundhisneck. =   Welcomesir.Wearehonoredtohaveyouback. )   .....     August2007,somewhereontheIndoChinaborder      HarbansSinghwalkedintothetentandwalkedtohisdesk.Ithadhisnameandrank   CaptainHarbansSingh.  t   CaptainHoshiarSinghlookedupfromhisdeskandsaid, Oh,itsBrada.  `   Hesatdownathisdesk,andsearchedfortheleaveslip.Hewasfeelingvery  L  uncomfortable,thedeskdidntseemtobethesamedeskhehadusedyesterdaynorcouldhefind  8  hisapprovedleaveslip.Helookedacrossthetentattheotherdesk.CaptainHoshiarSinghranhis $  fingersoverhismustache,twistingittogiveitasharpangleattheend.Hestaredintospacejust u  over_Brada_shead. a    HarbansSinghstaredblanklyatnothingforafewminutesandpuffedonanimaginary M  cigarette.Heranhistongueoverhisdrylips.Heseemedtomakeuphismind.Henoddedhis 9  head.Iamgoinghome.ItsSeptemberanditstimeformyannualjourney. %   HarbansSinghfoundhimselfontherailwayplatform.Hepacednervously.Hewasalways  apprehensivewhenwaitingforthetrainhome.IfIdontleavenow,theymightcomeandtakeme  backtothebarracks.Ihavebeenhereawholeyear.ItsSeptemberagainandtimeformetogo  homeandbewithmypeople.Ifthesebastardshadtheirway,Iwouldnevergethome.Goddamn p army. \   ThetrainarrivedalmostthirtyminuteslateandhequicklygotintheIIIclasssleeper.He H foundanemptyberth.HemutteredashortprayertoGuruNanak.HepulledoutaFourSquare 4 boxofcigarettesfromhisshirtpocketandlitone.SeveralpeoplestaredathimincludingaSikh,   whogavehimanastylook.Herealizedhismistake.Heranintothebathroomandtookoffhis q  turban.Heranacombthroughhislong,almostshoulderlengthhair.Hecheckedandrechecked ] themirror,finallysatisfied,hewalkedout. I   Acleanshavenarmyjawan  %  6      ׀wasunrollinghisbeddingonHarbansSinghsberth.Harbans 5 Singhwalkeduptohimandshookhisshoulder. !   Oy,_tu_Ԁkikarda?"|  %  7           Thejawanshruggedhisshouldersandcontinued.     HarbansSinghgotveryannoyed.Hewasalreadyupsetatnotfindingareservedberthin !  hisnameaswasusuallydonebythearmy.Andnowthis.Goddamnarmy.Andthiskiddoesnt "l! eventalktome...asif...asifIdontexist.Hewalkedtothedoorandstoodtheresmoking #X" cigaretteaftercigarette. $D #   ..... %0!$     Jalandharstationwasapproachingasherubbedhiseyes.Hequicklywashedhisface.As &"% thetrainslowed,hewasverysurprisedtoseeanalmostemptyplatform.Whathappened?Whyis m'#& therenoonetoreceiveme?WhereisRattu?Wherearethevillagepeoplewiththegarland? Y(#' WhendidIstopbeingahero? E)$(   SubedarPiaraSinghstoodontherailwayplatformsmilingtohimself.Hepattedhis e _chamcha__  %  8      _Ԁontheshoulderandbegantalkingexcitedly. p      x  Q   Atlonglastmyinjunctionagainstthearmyhasworked.Nomorefakepromotionsfora = deadsoldier.Nomoredesksforaghost.Nomorerailwayticketsforaghosttogohome.No ) moresleeperberthspaidforbythearmyforaghost.Nomoreinflatedpaychecksforaghost.No  morevillagerswelcomingaghostontheplatform.Nomorefakeceremonies.Nomore   superstitionsinthearmy.Thischaradeisfinallyover.Anditsallthankstome.     Hefeltahandonhisshoulder.Apowerfulhandshookhimandjerkedhimaround.A  t turbanless,disheveled,angryHarbansSinghstoodfacinghim,staringathiseyes.PiaraSingh  ` lookedwithfearat_Brada_sangry,redeyes.BradahadaFourSquarecigarettepacketinhishand  L  andalitcigarettebetweenhislips.BradalookedlikeaBgrade_bollywood_Ԁactor,readytostarta  8  fightforsocialinjustice.Herolleditinhismouth,fromsidetosideasheshuffledonhisfeetand $  screamed, Oy,_tu_Ԁkikarda? u    TheEnd_2186_Ԁwords a       `    `     h      p    `     h      p      `       `     h        `     `     h