Guru's Air Force One

 Some of you might have noticed a sign board as MCO with an arrow mark at railway stations and may be wondering what is it ? It is nothing but a guiding office for jawans to assist them for any help they wanted. Our train from Madras reached Bangalore City station at around 0500 hrs in the morning. We all went to that MCO as instructed by AF Tambaram only to see a board "counter opens at 0730 hrs". So we're to wait for 0730. When counter opened, we all rushed up there. The so called defence discipline stared from there onwards. We were asked to stand in threes means three lines and in three rows. An young man in army uniform advised us to take care of our belongings and also said a transport will arrive shortly to pick up us. He too said to have our breakfast but not to go far off as the transport would arrive at any moment. So, we were waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting for transport. In the mean we had our breakfast in batches and in turn. Around 1030 hrs, I had the guts to leave the station upto Majestic circle with my friend Krishnan (I had struggled much to take him with me) as there was no sign of transport coming. I bought one Horlicks bottle and two inner vests (total cost Rs 13). I handed them to my friend as he had a carry bag with him. Around 1130 hrs, a long open trailer with 3 feet side grills, 5 feet wide and 15 feet in length had halted in front of the station. This was the transport to pick us, we were told by MCO. We were in deep shock to see that peculier transport. Nothing can be done, so we loaded our luggage at the extreme end of the trailer and all of us stood in the left out space. Travelling through beautiful Bangalore City roads by standing and our heads open to the sky. Travelling, travelling, travelling.......cont'd

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Guru's Air Force One

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