Feb 8^th 2008
Nepte went to open the mail box after returning to his quarter from the parade field. He saw envelop with ‘dated material’ from Fort SndyTL, CA. He called the brigadier’s office in CA, and, tried to get hold of the brigadier. Her secretary told him she was busy at arranging a party at Fort Lootedale Base, TX.
Party?- asked Nepte.
“Yes sir, you should have gotten a mail from her office too” said the secretary. Nepte, after knowing what the letter was about, opened that envelop and read the letter. That read-

Dear all,
I am writing this letter to inform ya’ll to come to Fort Lootedale Base to encourage ya’ll’s dear friend and my dearest bhai Loote. Ya’ll be on time ni feri!! Sharp at 8 AM Central Nautanki Time (CNT) on coming Saturday.

Brigadier,
SNDY

Fort SndyTL, Ca.

P.S Ya’ll better be prepared to encourage.

After going through the letter he asked himself- encourage Loote at what? He had no clue. And, “ya’ll better be prepared to encourage” on the post script kept his head spinning. He tried to figure out and finally gave up and called the brigadier on her cell phone.  He had no luck there to get hold of her. He started cursing the hell at the local post office not bringing that mail on time. He had no time to be prepared because he got the letter a day before the party day. Is it a party day or an encouragement day? He asked himself, and was clueless still.

Feb 9^th 2008, Fort Lootedale, Tx.

Nepte reached Fort Lootedale base at around 7 AM CNT. After showing his ID card to the guard at the door and telling him to keep up the good work he headed towards the big notice board when guard mentioned that the brigadier wanted everyone to read the notice before they go to their respective tents assigned for them. The notice read:

Dear all,
Thank you for coming here and taking part at encouraging ya’ll’s dear friend and my dearest bhai Loote. I am sure you will encourage him. Proceed to your tent and relax for a while. I will bring Loote to your tent so that you can encourage him.

P.S Nepte I do not want any upadhro ni feri !!! I am telling ya.  I mean it!!!!!!Natra…….

Ussss, ussss, ussss. As if I am the only upadhryaa over here- thought Nepte and headed to his tent, but was still clueless about the whole ‘encourage’ topic. Everybody , started to come to the base one after another. They seemed aware of what they needed to do. Nepte, met everyone to figure out what he had to do exactly. No luck there for him. He decided to ask Sndy and headed to her tent.

Nepte finally located the brigadier’s tent in that windy day. Wind was blowing about 20-25 mph. but the gust in between the tents made it feel like it was blowing about 50 mph. Feeling the wind gust he thought the insurance company was nothing but a rip-off business. They should provide an ‘air gust’ insurance as a complimentary package for an adult of an excellent weight for his/her height.

Outside her tent Nepte heard Sndy, talking  to Loote:

Sndy: lutu, please say yes ni babu – mayalu tone here
Sndy: loote, vaney ko mann hai natra….- voice filled with anger
Sndy: aau bhai aau, I will rub some bengay at your sore fingers. Hera ta story type garda garda finger swell nai vaye chha – very gentle this time
Sndy: aba ta mana vaneyko. Look at me ma happy chhaina ta? Camo lai hera kati khusi chha!! Nepte ta yo kuraa garyo vaney bdgrukk budrukk ufranchha. Timi chai kina yesto?- crying this time.

Nepte was still clueless hearing Sndy talking to Loote. She sounded like she was trying to persuade him to do something that she has done, and Camo has. He heard her saying that he himself would jump off the floor if he get to do whatever that was. Nepte could not resist and entered the tent.

Nepte: dijju darshan!
Sndy: Nepte, when are you gonna learn to knock the door before you come in? – very angry.
Nepte: sorry dijju. This whole topic of encouragement is driving me crazy. What are we encouraging Loote to do? And where is Loote?
Sndy: Loote at his tent.
Nepte: at his tent re? and who were you talking to?
Sndy: I was just practicing to encourage Loote.
Nepte: hyaaa, k k ho k k!!! khoi godaa deesyoss dhogam natra feri arko mahabharat suru garisinchha  hajur.
Sndy: vo vo pardaina aaja. Lucky you today!!!
Nepte: he he he. Dhanna chhui bhaako belaa maa pareychha!!! Sadhai chhui vaisyo na kailey ni dhognai pardaina malai!!!
Sndy: chupp!!! Badtaa haina hai. Aafulai Loote lai convience garauna katro tension chha!
Nepte: k kuraa maa convience garauney ta?
Sndy: common lets go get Loote and take him to all the tents. You will know!!!

At Mav's Tent:

(coming up next)

Happy holi to ya'll!!!