It is quite strenuous to walk alone in the hilly paths. On one such path, I had to walk for two or three days. But on the way I laid hold of a soldier, who made my journey a lot easier.
"Eay babu, where you going?" He asked me first, calling me from behind as if he knew me. I turned to look. A soldier in army uniform was approaching fast towards me with small strides. I had heard a lot about the cruelty of army soldiers, so in order to get rid of him I answered ´11am" and kept on ahead. But by then he had reached me.
"O-ho," he laughed and the gilt front tooth gleamed in the light—"There´s where I´m going too. We´re together for the whole day; isn´t that so, dai?" he said carelessly.
Black coat, army cap, khaki pants. The clip of a cheap fountain pen shone from the pocket of his black coat. He also had a Queen Anne watch around his wrist which could be seen as he raised his hand—he was given to raising his hands now and then while speaking. He had a huge red handkerchief around his neck.