LIFE OF EVERY ARMY BRAT

You know you’ve lived the ultimate Army life if…

..Life of Army Brat

• Your Father’s PA number was currency at Services Club, CMH and Officers Mess…

• You knew all aunties by their husband’s names or positions – Aunty Bashir, CO Aunty, G2 Aunty, Aunty Parvaiz!

• The question ‘Where are you from’ sends you in an existential crisis – Where am I from?!?!

• Teelo Express, Barf Paani, Dodge the Ball, Oonch Neech, Chupan Chupai, Kho Kho and Pithu garam were all serious sports

• ‘Passing Out’ didn’t mean fainting but ‘Graduating’ from the Military Academy.

• You had no concept of boundary walls and a hedge was good enough to keep strangers out.

• The corner shop chacha knew who you were, where you lived and who your father was.

• The ultimate Summer Holiday was an army mess in Kaghan, Naran, Gharial, LowerTopa or somewhere else up North…

• Riding in the staff car was pretty scandalous and could get you seriously grounded.

• The waiter brought the ‘Tea Break’ when you visited your fathers office once in a blue moon

• Chaand Raat Bazaar and Eid Milan Party were right up there with the coolest events on the calendar

• You made castles with the blocky cushions from the MES furniture issued with the house

• You walked to the library every weekend to borrow books

• At least one of your teachers in APS was your mother’s friend and responsible for telling her anything you did in school faster than a speeding bullet

• CSD, the biggest mall around, was no bigger than the corner store…

• You cycled next to rows and rows of sweatpeas planted on criss cross canes

• You raced your friends to the video store to rent the one of the very few new cantt censor approved VHS tapes they got every month.

• When ‘Sahib Out Hein’ didn’t mean the gentleman had lost his marbles but simply that he was not at home

• Loadshedding was looked forward to because it meant all kids could come and play in the street outside

• Walking on walls or climbing trees earned you respect of your clan

• Watching a movie on the auditorium projector was serious cinema experience.

• Your dad went away for ‘exercise’ for three months sometimes.

• The smell of ‘Kalaf’ on your dad’s uniform, and the musty fragrance of his beret were familiar and recognizable

• Bara Khaana remained an elusive event that you never really ever were allowed to attend

• You know you would be undisputedly ‘cool’ if you got to participate in the ‘Ride Out’

• You could walk into any house and ask for help if hurt, water if thirsty or just feeling social

• Your chacha cycled back from the dhobi with your fathers uniform on a hanger over his shoulder

• Not having money didn’t mean not having fun

• Mango Party was a perfectly acceptable social event