Thread by @MajorAkhill

1/10

Let me tell you a Little Story about a Big Storyteller.

This is about Rusty & Me.

Circa 2015.
December.

On a visit to Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, to meet an old buddy posted there, I took the opportunity to call up the Manager of #Rusty to seek an appointment..

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..I didn't wish to disturb good old Rusty as though he is known to be accommodative, he prefers a selected time to welcome visitors to his home given his love for solitude.

I just had 1 Day & #Landour was a good 2 hours from #IMA

I was told that he was away to Delhi and..

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..would be back, tentatively, by next morning.

Disappointed by the lady luck ditching me, as usual, I decided to meet the Langoors of Landour. They were the only other famous beings of Landour apart from Rusty.

I perched myself on a rock at Laal Tibba & immersed myself..

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..in "Roads To Mussoorie" - one of the many lovely books of Rusty.

In company were the Laal Poonch Langoors of Landour. They didn't disturb me since I looked as one of their own🐵

I finished this book in one go, over cups of chai & maggi, overlooking the majestic hills..

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..The sunset signalled me that it was time to pack up & leave for the railway station.

I was still not done with Rusty & so I showed his picture to my Driver and asked him to keep a watch, just in case we sight him. Wishful over-thinking by a fanboy, perhaps! 🙄

But..

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..you see darlings, I always believe in a maxim -
"Believing is Seeing,
Seeing is not Believing"

And I flirt well with Lady Luck. 😎

So, somewhere between Landour & Dehra (as Rusty calls it), my car screeched to a halt in the middle of the road & before I could yell..

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..at my driver, he said "Saab, Wo Abhi Jo Kali Car Nikli, Shaayad Wo Gore Saab Usi Mein Baithe The" 🤨

I was in Luck!
What The Duck!

I asked him to take a U-turn, follow & overtake. It was pretty close.

As we overtook the Kali Car, we halted & I jumped out waving at..

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..the Kali Car Driver. 🚙

In a Red Pullover, In the rear seat was my man, Rusty. 🤗

I forgot to smile in disbelief but he did - that warm ear-to-ear grin. I introduced myself & narrated this Story to my favourite StoryTeller. He was all ears & then said "Don't forget to..

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..pen it, Major & Yes, Thank You for your Service to the Nation. My Father was in the Air Force, too but not me - I was always lazy." 😘

He signed his book for me & I didn't bother him with a pic, as both Rusty & I are blessed with old tastes. Moreover, celebrity worship..

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..is not my cup of tea. Moreover, it was a wrong time, wrong place.

We called our goodbyes & Rusty took the "Roads to Mussoorie"

Here's Wishing a Very #HappyBirthday To The Original Mr Bond.

Cheers to One Man with Whom I can spend my entire Life!

Love You #RuskinBond

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