It was probably in the year 1940, when the World War II was in full swing and Germany was advancing on all fronts. My father would have been around twelve and Bhagwati was already more than twenty five. Shyam’s dream of joining army would come true now. He met an agent during one of the wrestling matches who promised him entry in the army. Agent wanted a deal before he does the rest. Bhagwati was to pay him twenty rupees, the money he would get immediately on joining army.

Next day, the agent took him to Gorakhpur army recruitment centre and introduced him to the army recruiters. After basic checkup and drills, Bhagwati was found to be physically fit to join army as “Sepoy” (Private – lowest rank in army). His uniform of Khakhi colour was issued and he also got his shoes – new ones. Bhagwati looked at his boots for several minutes as if lost in some thought. Well, he can now stand tall among his friends. He has a government job and that too in army – a respectable profession. His wow to his mother was completed. His imagination of becoming something more stopped here. He has become a big man. 

Finally at the end of the day, he was told to move to his barracks with his luggage along with several new recruits. He was no more a free bird. After collecting his twenty rupees from the cash counter, which was his joining bonus, he walked back to his barrack. Agent waited outside the recruitment centre for hours and after cursing he walked away. These twenty rupees was not for the agent. It was for his brother – Ram who has to be brought up so that he can become officer and more respected man. Mare thought of making his brother a respected man filled him with pride. He now had a mission, to make his brother a successful man in life – not like his father who did nothing and not like him either who had to obey orders of his officers.