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“What the hell is this..?” she thought to herself hearing the murmur in that small crowd.  The firsties had turned out in large number and the seniors preferred to stay away from the so called one sided ‘friendly’ match.  Everyone knew the result.  Firsties were confident.  Dhatri, with her three other friends had come to the Command office, in Bhopal, Central Command,  for the trial session.  The shooting was scheduled in the evening and Dhatri suffocated looking at the sophisticated weapons and the arrangement.  She had seen her favourite Champ Anjali Bhagwat shooting in the range but this was her first time... The sound proof tracks... the ear plugs... the timers... the targets... the simulators... Everything was new to her.  She had never handled this kind of rifles or pistols.  Dhatri’s mouth went dry.  Hitting the target and handling the equipments were two different things.  She was not at all comfortable with the surroundings.  The jungle and the jungle camp were much better.... Atleast she could see her favourite greenery.  Here, everything was steel gray... Tracks drawn... shooting cabinates...Soundproof glass chambers, target specifications, display systems, everything was new to her.  This was not the environment she had envisaged.  She wiped off her sweat.  

“Humm... Ab Kuch Nahi Ho Sakata... “ She thought gravely.  Afroz came over accompanied by a few persons.

“Hey.. All set?” she asked and Dhatri gaped at her stupidly.  

“Hello.. Dikari... You Ok?” Afroz’s GP asked and Dhatri looked at the old man.  He was smiling at her.  She tried to smile back.  One Officer came over and opened the weapon boxes.

“Choose ...” Afroz ordered smirking.  Dhatri looked at the pistols... her hands twitched... She didn;t know the specifications written below every gun.... She looked up at the old man.  He nodded permitting her to pick up the guns.... !  She picked up one and closed her eyes... 

“Hold it... I know its heavy... but heavy toys teach you to handle them carefully... Hold it Baby... Don’t be afraid of the toy... It should become your friend... Handle it.. feel it... make it a part of your body.....!” Grumpy was whispering in her ears....! 

She felt the gun...! Kept it aside, picking up another one...! When she held the heaviest one... She felt at ease... She felt the gun talking to her... “Pick me up Baby... I am your friend...”

“This one..!” she opened her eyes and Afroz’s eyebrows went up in surprise... 

“.45 Caliber...Wow...!” she said curling up her lip in a contemptuous smile.  Dhatri looked away.  Afroz picked up hers...! 

Three gun aggregate or complete aggregate?” Afroz’s eyes boared into Dhatri’s piercingly.  Dhatri didn’t answer....! She didn’t know what was that! Afroz decided for both of them... 

“Ok. Complete Aggregate...!” she said and Dhatri nodded.  Dhatri was clueless and Shrewd Afroz had understood her vulnerability and her habit of opting for the second option.  

“Indoor, outdoor or both?” Afroz asked brandishing the gun.  Dhatri didn’t answer.  “Both?” Afroz asked and Dhatri nodded.  In fact Outdoor was a better option for Dhatri since she always had fired outdoors...! 

“Revolver or autoloader?” Afroz knew the choice.  But Dhatri just shrugged.  She was giving up, knowing nothing about what Afroz was talking.  Afroz thrust a list of Firing options in Dhatri’s hand.  Dhatri just glanced at the list and looked up.  “Take any five.. Afroz ordered and Dhatri looked at the big list with the Firing course and the instructions.  

“You choose...!” Dhatri said with fake confidence.  She didn;t know anything about the type of firing courses.  Afroz looked at her piercingly.  She knew Dhatri didn’t know anything about the shooting competition.  Smirk appeared on her face.  Suresh turned his face in dismay.  It seemed, Dhatri had not even seen the CD he had given her about such competition.  Fredie and Pirooz came forward with an Army officer.

“Beti, Don’t worry... Come with me... I will tell you what it is..” Pirooz said very kindly.  Afroz had chosen her five... She took the paper from Dhatri and ticked her options.  Dhatri just gaped.  Pirooz pulled her hand to bring her back to her senses.

“He took the paper and saw the options Afroz selected. Frown appeared on his face.  His wicked Granddaughter had selected the toughest ones.  She had asked Dhatri to start with Tyro... Then, The moving Target, then International Rapid Fire, then Speed Event,  the combat and Lastly the Advanced Military Pistol.  The rules were different for these events.  Fredie and Pirooz had an uphill task to make sure Dhatri understood the rules...! The targets were at the distance of 10, 15 and 25 yards and the shots were to be 2 in 10 seconds, 4 in 10 seconds and 5 in 10 seconds for each events with three strings of 6 bullets each.  They showed her the rectangular and circular targets with 8 inch, 10 inch and 13 inch diameter and a plate of 8 X 6 with circles and Dhatri was supposed to knock down the targets.  

“Beta... you must clear the Tyro where you have 24 shots from 10 yards and you must hit the target to knock it down.  If you clear this hurdle, you can enter the other events...” Dhatri merely nodded.

“Umm... Ca..Can I ... I mean... have tr... tr... trial?” she asked stuttering and Fredie pitied her.  “Poor girl... This Afroz will eat her up alive...” he thought gravely, nodding for the trial.

“Do you want to adjust the grip, Beta?” Pirooz asked and she looked at her .45 caliber gun shaking her head.  She took that heavy gun in her hand closing her eyes, feeling the leather grip.... never wanting to put it down.... She felt the toy was a part of her body... she can control it, use it, like her fingers.  The grip tightened, finger on the trigger...! 

“You can fire six in one string... then change the ammunition and fire again another string...!” Fredie told her in what he thought to be simple language.  She nodded.  

“Knock it down baby... and get one big chocolate...!” Grumpy was again in her training session.  He had tied the wrapper of the big fruit n nut to a string and had hanged it far away from a branch of a tree.  The wrapper was dangling with the wind.... 

“On the count of three... Baby... Fire..!” he yelled and Dhatri fired mindlessly....hitting it...

“Huf...” Dhatri let out her breath when she saw a fixed rectangular plate as target some 10 yards away in the open firing range of Central Command of Indian Army, near Bhopal.  She held her pistol and fired... Nothing.... She was way away from her Target....

“Dhutt... Teri...” someone from the crowd yelled and she turned on her heels.  “Ravi?” her eyes searched him desperately in vain.  “I am hearing voices...” she turned dejected.  

“Hey Dhatri...” she again turned hearing familiar voice.  Jim was waving at her ... She dropped her gun and dashed into that small crowd...

“Dhatri...” she was stopped in between and she sucked her breath in disbelief. 

“M’am?” she was pulled into a tight embrace and she knew that she was not hallucinating... Her Maria M’am was indeed there hugging her.  

“How come?” she was astonished.  Maria gave a wink and looked behind.

“Hey....” Dr. Koite hugged her lightly and she jumped in excitement.  The small group of her friends and classmates watched on.  

“Hey Dhatri, come here!” Jim pulled her apart and opened his arms ... She ran away ducking “No...!” she hid behind Maria.  

“What is all this?” Dr. Maria asked once they settled. Dhatri looked like someone had poured a bucket full of ice cold water on her head. “I am a magnet for disaster...” she hung her head.  “Hey...!” someone yelled  

“Woh... “ She looked around in fright to find Afroz looking at her thumping her hands on her hips.  She shuddered.  The challenge gave her creeps.  The three of her gang were gazing curiously at her.  Sidelining Maria’s question, she tried to introduced her friends.

“We already know each other...!” Maria gave her a big smile.  

   

“Where is he?” her eyes kept searching for him.  She had heard him.  He was the only one to call her “Dhutt Teri”.

“Ready?” Afroz approached looking curiously at Jim.  Dhatri nodded and moved away from her gang.  Fiedie came... “Dhatri.. I could arrange for five shots for your practice... Outdoors..” he said to her relief.  She walked out of the hall with him and there she saw him with his back on the crowd, talking to someone over the phone, with a tall, fair, middle aged American.  She stopped waiting for him to look back but he didn’t.  Her anger shot with every passing second.

“Come on!” Afroz pushed her and she stormed out into the Army firing range.  “... Gudda..!” she muttered angrily clutching her fists.  

The match began and Dhatri forgot the world around.  The gun became a part of her body with her brain controlling it perfectly....

“Big sister....” Dhatri patted on the dumbfolded, stunned, petrified, stupid looking Afroz... She had not only matched the shots, but had done better in timing...! The 54 shot match in five categories ended with Dhatri’s better timing and equal knock downs...! 

“Admit it...!” Poorva stood before Afroz ... The match went on all day and as Dhatri got better and better... the seniors started rushing in to cheer her up.  Finally she had the last laugh.  But the challenge was not over yet.  Now it was Afroz’s turn to accept...!

“Big Sister...!” Afroz bowed before Dhatri in front of everyone and there was uproar, cheers, whistles, claps everywhere.  Dhatri looked around in that crowd searching for her gang and as soon as she spotted one of them, she vanished and pulled Ragini’s hand.

“Chal... chalatay hain... Lets go...!” she said looking at the crowd, scared to death seeing people approaching her.  Jim had this experience and he dashed to her rescue...! Maria and Koite stood little away from the crowd holding hands looking at flushed face of Dhatri.  He was nowhere in the picture.  Dhatri too had forgotten about him.  Juniors were looking at her in admiration, respect and seniors were congratulating her.  She suddenly seemed to have risen in her status.  Her Fabulous Four gang members were taking due credit shielding her well from the crowd.  Pirooz couldn't stop blabbering excitedly on Dhatri’s win.  He was the happiest person.  Afroz, surprisingly had taken her defeat in a stride admiring Dhatri and accepting her as big sister.  She had lifted Dhatri up and hugging her.

“Thank god.. you don’t take part in National Championships...” She said and Dhatri beckoned her closer.

“You know what? I didn’t know that such matches exist... and I cannot work with those accessories like sights, target scopes, guts, grips, tool kits, strings, and those big earplugs and wrist supports... I just know how to fire and hit the target... So I am better off the way I am... You are the true champion... a true sport...” For the first time Dhatri gave a speech without stuttering ... The sense of being a big sister gave her confidence.  Afroz patted on her back and joined her hands surrendering.  

Dhatri came out of the gates of the Army firing range with Dr. Maria, Dr. Koite and Jim.  Still no trace of him.  As she walked out of the gates he was waiting for her anxiously.

“Hey... you should have seen her... she was a fire...” Maria thumped on his back and he sighed relief.  Coming to face her he opened his arms and Dhatri went back a few steps.  

“Where were you?” she asked angrily.  “I couldn’t stand the tension...JL...” he said grinning and she shot up...

“Darpok...” she fired back and he pulled her hand.  Maria intervened.  “He was there praying hard... your Mari Mai...” she said grinning and Dhatri’s cheeks changed color.

“How come you all are here?” she asked the important question.

“Another expedition... down south... Neelgiries...” Dr. Koite explained and Dhatri’s face lit up.

“But this time, a different team....” Dr. Koite poured water on her excitement.  

“What? Why?” She asked raising her voice..... And then pointing at Jim asked accusingly...”Why is he here, then?” Dr. Koite roared in laughter.

“Its, his mission...On medicinal plants...” he clarified and she turned to Ravi.

“No... I am not a team..” he raised his hands.  “I came here to meet you, JL...” he said lowering his voice.

“Don;t call me JL” she spat back turning.... Afroz was looking at them curiously.  Dhatri assumed big sister’s role and pulling her hand introduced her to her old team....

*************  ********

Note:

Little bit of gyan... Skip reading if you don’t want to know.....

Courses of Fire

• The Tyro Course is divided into three stages with three targets per stage, a total of 24 shots. All firing is from 10 yards. This course of fire must be successfully completed by all newcomers before advancing to record matches.
• The International Rapid Fire  consists of 30 shots at 25 meters. The course is subdivided into six strings of five shots each; two in 8 seconds, two in 6 seconds and two in 4 seconds.
• The Advanced Military Pistol course is divided into 6 stages for a total of 50 shots fired from 10, 25 and 50 yards.
• The Moving Target Event  course is divided into 4 stages 12 shots each, for a total of 48 shots. The target will travel 60 feet in six seconds, between two barricades.
• The Falling Plate Event is divided into 4 stages; each stage will have 2 strings, with 6 shots per string, 48 shots total. The targets will be 8 inch round medal plates, fired at 10, 15 and 25 yards.
• Combat Event - An aggregate of the following stages: Stage 1) 7 yards - 12 shots from the standing without support position; eighteen seconds, time starts with loaded gun in holster and includes reloading for second 6 shot string. Stage 2) 25 yards - 6 shots kneeling, 6 shots standing left side from behind barricade, 6 shots standing right side from behind the barricade; sixty seconds, time starts with loaded gun in holster and includes reloading for subsequent 6 shot strings. Stage 3) 50 yards - 6 shots sitting, 6 shots prone, 6 shots standing left side from behind the barricade, and 6 shots standing right side from behind the barricade; two minutes, time starts with loaded gun in holster and includes reloading for subsequent 6 shot strings. Stage 4) 25 yards - shots standing without support; ten seconds, time starts with loaded gun in holster.
• The Ambidextrous Match is shot in three stages, using the 8" plate target: Stage 1) 10 yards, 6 shots freestyle; 6 shots each, strong hand and weak hand only, unsupported. Stage 2) 15 yards, same as Stage One. Stage 3) 20 yards, two 6 shot strings, freestyle.
• The Unsupported Standard Match is divided into four stages, with two strings per stage and 6 shots per string, for a total of 48 shots. There are three D-1 targets, fired at 10,15, 20 and 25 yards. All shooting is done with alternating strings of weak hand and strong hand unsupported.
• The Speedload Challenge Event is divided into four stages, 2 strings per stage with a reload, six shots per string. There are three D-1 targets, fired at 10, 15, 25 and 50 yards. Shooting includes strong hand and weak hand unsupported.