016 the target: Bedtime
flash story
Excited by firearms and travel, Sanju joined National Cadet Core in 8th class.
While getting ready for the first class of NCC, he dressed himself in NCC uniform and looked at him in mirror with pride. It was similar to Army’s khaki pant and shirt, cap and black leather shoes.
First day was just some briefing and second day onwards it was a military parade drill. 5 days a month they had NCC classes and same drill continued for many months.
One day instructors came with rifles and told cadets about rifle. They first explained rifle’s various components and their significance. Then they explained aiming –
In prone position, hold the rifles steady.
keep the eye, target and bead in the crook of rifles in one line.
pull the trigger without movement in any part of rifle or body.
After ensuring each cadet understood the fundamentals, they gave rifles without bullets to each cadet to practice for some time. Before dispersing they asked everyone to come early next day.
Next day instructors came with all firing gear – boxes of bullets, carpets, bags and rifles. Gear was distributed among cadets to carry and they started walk towards firing range in hill. Out of excitement Sanju picked up rifle. Rifle’s weight was too much for Sanju’s age. With great effort he was barely able balance himself and walk. Initial route was an uphill which added to Sanju’s difficulty - his knee pained and he was thinking of giving rifles to someone else walk without any load. Instructor saw his gait and said “why don’t you exchange with a light weight article” but Sanju’s pride did not allow him, he replied “Sir I am fine and can carry it slowly.” They reached the top of the hill and then down journey on other side of hill started. Sanju thought he would run very fast, as he used to do when walking downwards. But with rifle weight he wasn’t able to balance and he walked downward slope more slowly.
After a walk of an hour, they reached firing range away from population. They cleaned the place, filled bags with leaves from trees and then put the carpet parallelly. They put bag in front of carpets to make support for rifles. They then walked to other side and put targets. In the tree nearby there was a bird’s nest which had eggs. Instructor asked them put targets away from tree to avoid any harm to eggs.
They were instructed to fall in line and then final instruction were given. Instructors opened the ammunition box lick and then magazines were loaded into the rifles.
Sanju’s turn was in first round.
Sanju was quite confident of hitting all 10 bullets to target within a radius of 1 inch. Lowest circle was supposed to win. Sanju took prone position and with left hand resting on bag he held the rifles steadily. With right shoulder supporting the butt of rifle, he loaded the bullet. He then tried to aim by closing one eye and aligning target mid-point and bead in the crook. He has aimed perfectly as waited for fire instruction from instructor.
Instructor loudly said “fire” – others fired causing a loud shooting sound
Sanju’s eyes blinked and rifle started swinging. He knew his aim is gone. He tried to aim again but could not close only one eye. He tried again but both eyes closed simultaneously as he panicked.
Instructor shouted at him- “Sanju fire!”
With closed eyes, Sanju pulled the trigger of trembling rifle.
He thought he has hit the eggs in nest.
Before he could think further “load and fire” shout of instructor hit his ears.
He loaded the rifle again…
Without much variation, he just repeated actions of first round for all 10 rounds.
After completion, they first put the rifle on the sides, collected the cover of bullets and then ran to see their result in targets.
Sanju was devasted to see none of the bullets hit the targets. He then went to see the nest.
He took solace from the fact that eggs were unharmed in the nest.
Over the years, Sanju learned firing and after many years he hits 10 out of 10 in an inch radius.
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