Heaven in Hell

DAY 4

DAY 4:
0445 HOURS

ASHWIN SAHNI
Last night was hell. My body feels like a cemented tower, unable to bend or move an inch without breaking. I hope that Officer Siddharth is in a good mood and the day feels like a vacation in Hawaii. 

Reaching at the grinder and gathering up in formation, I saw Officer Siddharth walking towards us with a deep scowl on his face. I guess my prayer got lost in the translation and we would be having a day in Hell, instead of Hawaii.

Without the roll call, he just ordered “Drop”

Our bodies, still not having recovered from the cold dips and squats with seniors from fuck-world last night, weren’t fast and co-ordinated enough to drop immediately.

“Did I say drop or did I stutter, Head?”

“Sorry sir”
Shit, I'm dead. Stupid Ashwin. Get your brain and mouth to work.

“Up, Head. Roll call for today”

“20 sir”

“Each one of you is doing push-ups till your Head takes 20 dips. You come here and tell me the name of each person in your class after the dip. Am I clear?”

“Yes sir”

“And if anyone stops or rests, the count starts again. You better hope that you or somebody of these shitheads know the reason for this. Anybody?”

Before I could think, Kyra raised one of her hands and said, “I do sir”

“Do I need to send you a written invitation?”

“Negative sir. It is because Cadet Ashwin did not answer the question and we did not drop fast and co-ordinated sir”

“Come here, Kyra”

Kyra came up before Officer Siddharth and stood in attention

“Since you know the reason, you are responsible for ensuring nobody fucks up. You see anyone slacking, tell me. As for Cadet Ashwin, he would be dealt with separately.”

Knowing that this day is going to be a very painful one, I just concentrate on completing this task. I'll find some strength when I have to face the other punishment.

The distance to and fro running and the wet clothes scraping against my body was killing me by the time I was done with first 15. I don’t think I could do one more but Brian faltered, resetting the count to 1.

KYRA IRANI:
Officer Siddharth had ingeniously put me in an impossible situation. If I do not point out the person slacking, I would be at fault and if I do, I would have ‘betrayed’ my comrades. They would kill me in the after-hours. Either ways, I’m definitely getting punished for saving stupid Ashwin’s ass.

Hoping that Officer Siddharth considers my honesty and my comrades my situation, I pointed out when Brian missed a push-up.

Officer Siddharth immediately re-set the count making the class groan while Ashwin glared at me with pain and anger. Hey, what was I supposed to do?

0800 HOURS
ASHWIN SAHNI

Thank God, it is breakfast time. I desperately need some rest and sleep. But food will have to do for now.

Dismissing the class to mess, Officer Siddharth orders Kyra and me to stay back. I have zero strength left but quitting is no option. So, I force myself to find some motivation and not run away.

Directing us to the pull-up bars, he orders both of us to hang up.

“Kyra, keep count of the pull ups. Both of you will do a pull up, stay there until my question is answered and then come down. And repeat. Clear?”