I had a friend, while under training called Umrani... His unique feature was his almost omnipresent smile... it wasn't a half smile or partial smirk.... it was a happy full of joy 32 teeth smile ...... he always had the same joyful smiling disposition, whether he had just returned from a strenuous training session or was heading out for P.T. or was fighting to control the television remote....
He was a fantastic artist... I remember him coming to my room to see a pencil sketch of Marilyn Monroe done by my sweetheart.... He was sketching the same but in colour....
He was a fantastic artist... I remember him coming to my room to see a pencil sketch of Marilyn Monroe done by my sweetheart.... He was sketching the same but in colour....
While training, we were almost 40 odd guys together, through thick and thin.. We came really diverse backgrounds and religions but were united by purpose and were a really happy band... One evening we came to know that there had been an accident and Umrani was involved.... The remaining 39 odd guys from couldn't have been more focused in our prayers and united in our fears for the well being of our buddy....
By early morning our darkest fears had been confirmed... He was no more... The sketch he was doing wouldn't be completed by him.... it was for most of us the first brush with death, each of us dealing with the loss, alone in our cabins, in our own confused fashion, each one of us totally alone shattered, scared and traumatised, wondering if our life would ever be the same again... I know most of us went to the temple quietly in one and twos to say a fervent prayer for our friend.... we were however soon to realise that, however frequently one might encounter death, it still never ceases to shake the very foundation ones beliefs... All one learns is, to cover ones shock, camouflage one disbelief of how frail our existence really is.... Umrani was a real good guy.... May he RIP......
P.S. That sketch he had left partially completed was eventually finished by Upendra and gifted by us in memory of our buddy....
P.S. That sketch he had left partially completed was eventually finished by Upendra and gifted by us in memory of our buddy....
Need photographs.... any one with Umrani's snap?
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance....
Very well written by Ash....Thanx for bringing alive the memory of our old friend
ReplyDeleteIts a different matter that friend Upendra also met the same fate a year later. Both were dear friends, Uppi a Sqn Type too. remember Umrani for his gentle nature and Upendra for his golden heart. Miss them both.
ReplyDeleteWell, Well, Well....The famouus Marlyn Monroe....I cant forget.......... It was Umrani who actually taught me how to sketch taking me a step forward from my cartoons......and the first one I did was the Marlyn Monroe.... It still hangs in my drawing room wherever I go.....as I remember my dear friend so fondly. The only difference in his and my pencil sketch was the necklace centerpiece. His was a teardrop and to have a difference, we decided that I would have a heart with a teardrop instead. I was not in Bidar when the incident took place....and came to know of the accident only in June 1993. But I still remember his love for sketching and painting......Miss You Umrani.......
ReplyDeleteThat night is clear to this day...... He signed up the first Kiran mk II that was ready and I the second. He was to be beck before me. Every star the blinked a split second than it I thought itbshouldnhid in it the hope that he was perhaps returning with an R/T failure or perhaps electrical failure... Eventually I landed, only to discover that night officers had seen the fireball.
ReplyDeleteI hope that those who would have the opportunity to correct the reason would indeed have done it....
Miss you Umrani.......
Miss You a lot Umya. The lovely cartoon sketches of girls wud provide all the entrainment to us in the academy....
ReplyDeleteRIP