RECAP   The morning after the wedding, Meena overhears Anand angrily berating his father for the ‘deal’ to write off the gambling losses. She realizes that her father too had played with her life, but is secretly glad it is Anand, and not one of her father’s other dubious associates that she had to marry. In the Eastern Himalayas, the unit has reached the camp at Lumpu and is preparing to trek from there to the Namka Chu riverside. In New Delhi, at Army HQ, the Vice Chief of Army tells his crack team of officers that in a meeting between The PM and the Defence Minister, a decision has been taken to send more troops, ammunition and supplies to NEFA. But reading the minutes of the meeting, young and motivated Major Raman realizes that the Defence Minister Krishna Menon has not accepted the gravity of the situation after all. He is still resisting the despatch of arms and supplies to NEFA…...   CHAPTER 5   In the large, square tent serving as a makeshift office for 9/2 battalion, the officers and senior most Subedar Major stood around a 5ft by 5ft sand model of the mountainous area they were to traverse shortly.  Major Sandhu, the second in command, picked up a long wooden pointer. “Two of our companies, Charlie and Delta, are to go towards Bridge 1 on the Namka Chu river, which is presently held by 2 Rajput unit. You will march first North East to Serkhim, then climb to Hathungla which is at a good height of 13,500ft, then head almost due North down to the post. I shall be leading them.”   Major Sandhu turned to Anand, “The remaining two companies, Alpha and Bravo, led by you, will go towards Bridge 5, which is far West along the river. This is your route, as you see it here. Your task will be to cross the bridge, then move east to Tseng Jong, and then climb up to Karpola2, which is a ridge at 16,000ft, overlooking the river. You have to seize possession of this area, since this is one area the Chinese have not yet entered, and it would be to the credit of Indian forces if we could lay claim to the land first.  It will also give us a vantage position to fire on the enemy if and whenever they attack our posts along the river.  Tomorrow, Captain Chaudhary shall follow with Echo company along the same route. Any questions.” “Sir, which are the various enemy positions as of the present?” “The Chinese forces are presently concentrated on the Thagla Ridge, which stretches almost parallel to the river, North, and North East of it. As you know, they crossed Bridge 2 about twenty days back, and started moving west towards the Dhola post at Bridge 3. They are presently on both sides of the river, and are opening intermittent fire on our posts. They are also firing from the Thagla ridge, which gives them a positional advantage. As of now, there have been no major casualties on either side, but we know that the enemy is marshalling their forces, probably for a large-scale attack. “ Anand spoke what was on every mind. “Sir, we are not adequately kitted for the operations. The troops require snow boots, winter clothing, more blankets.  We are also badly under-armed . All we have are the rifles, hand-guns and grenades we can carry. The enemy is said to be equipped with mortars and machine guns.” The furrows on Sandhu’s face deepened, and for a minute his composure slipped. “What the hell do you chaps think we have been crying ourselves hoarse over for the last few months? There’s been a bloody shortage of clothing, rations, arms, ammunition!  But does anybody care? No! They are busy siphoning funds into building houses in Ambala! Imagine – while the enemy builds roads into our territory, our troops build houses! The ostrich government buries its head in the sand when the dragon roars at the border. And now…now” he sputtered, a little embarrassed by his emotional outburst, “my men are told to go into battle at high altitude, sans winter kit, and sufficient ammunition!” They all stood silently as their senior fought for composure. After a few seconds, Sandhu, back in control, checked his watch. ”The time is now 8.32 a.m. Please synchronise your watches. I want all companies to march at 11 a.m. sharp. CO’s orders.“ The Subedar major left immediately to alert the troops, and Anand readied his maps. In spite of all the odds they had just discussed, he was charged, excited. With 300 jawans under his command, he was to lay siege to high Indian territory, protect his land from the enemy. Here, truly, was the consummation of his years of rigorous training, his dreams, his aspirations.                    *                 *                 *                 *   The dreams began to die very fast.  The route march began at the dot of 11 that morning, the troops in good spirit, having breakfasted on puris and halwa and steaming mugs of tea, prepared by the HQ langar. They all carried 40 pound backpacks containing packets of shakkar para and gur chana, which was to be almost exclusively their sustenance till the mules and the langar party arrived. They also carried limited rounds of ammunition, hand grenades, and verri cartridges to fire in case of emergency. There were no extra woollen socks, mufflers, gloves. Only the bare essentials to keep the soldier on his feet. Each backpack was an eloquent tribute to the Indian infantry man, to his single-minded purpose and mindset of ‘do or die’. As the battalion took the long and tortuous climb to Karpola 1, the first stage of the journey, the cold began to grip the men punishingly. They moved slowly but steadily, aware that unless they kept the limbs moving, frost bite would set in.  The green valley had long given way to bare shrubbery, then as they approached the snowline, masses of frost appeared on the mountainsides, slowly covering more and more of the slopes till there was only stark whiteness to be seen everywhere. The hob-nailed leather boots were inadequate to walk through six inches or more of snow, the wind cut through the olive green fatigues just protected by a pullover, and hands turned numb and blue holding the straps of the backpack. But there was little to do except carry on, walking steadily, the mind only concentrating on looking for footholds in the soft, yielding snow, the eyes scanning the white-shrouded peaks all around, and turning upwards occasionally, for a glimpse of the destination. Their night halt would be at the higher reaches of the mountain, at 16,000ft, where there were log huts and a small detachment of men stationed to facilitate troops moving on to Tsangdhar on their way to the western banks of the Namka Chu.   Karpola 1 was a revelation, a forerunner of what they were to expect as they moved further north into the colder regions. When they reached the top of their first destination, it was snowing steadily and bitterly cold. After a frugal meal of shakkar para – the gur chana was saved for later, as it could give high energy with just a handful - the jawans put up temporary shelters with canvas cloth spread on the ground, and suspended above that with poles, and snuggled into horse blankets to live out the night. Anand and his Subedar Major lay down in the tiny hut, on the bunk beds respectfully prepared by the soldiers posted there. Fully clothed and mentally alert, Anand lay thinking. He calculated that at this rate, it would take them 3 days more to reach Karpola 2, which was well north of the river. How long would their rations last? If the Chinese accosted them at the crossing of the river, would they be able to hold them off with the minimal arms they were carrying? Once they reached the K2 peak, if the mule party were delayed, how long could the jawans manage without a square meal? He was consumed with a cold rage at the callous attitude of those in authority who could send these faithful men into battle without a care for their basic necessities. There’s been no planning, no training for mountain warfare, no contingencies lined up.  This is as foolish and arbitrary as the charge of the light brigade. Into the jaws of death, rode the six hundred.” He tossed and turned all night, mentally charting their course, weighing the options, calculating their strengths. He felt angry, impotent, frustrated. Dreams sour very fast in the harsh high climes.   The Namka Chu river was gripped with another kind of wrath. . Emerging from between the mountains in a swift, furious torrent, it carried the icy waters from the great Himalayan heights south eastwards, not slowed in its path by rock faces or cliffs.  It just cut its path over and around the obtrusions, and gushed undeterred, a magnificent manifestation of the mountains’ spirit.  The unit reached the banks of Namka Chu in the forenoon of the third day. At the head of the contingent, Anand stood for a long moment surveying the swift waters. He sent up a silent prayer that they had reached so far unapprehended. Now, all they had to do was cross bridge 5 in front of them, and march north east towards Karpola 2, a good four hours of hard terrain. They could camp at the base of the mountain in the night, then start climbing in the early hours of the morning. He turned to Sub Maj Girwal, “We will break march and walk across the bridge in twos, “ he instructed. The bridge was pucca, but still swayed gently as they crossed slowly, in double file. Anand scanned the down banks of the river for any sighting of Chinese troops. There was none. “Shaab!” The cry came from down the ranks. Safely across, he whirled around, his hand automatically reaching for his rifle on his back, as his knees bent and his head ducked. The men were peering over the handrail of the bridge, pointing excitedly. to the fish leaping in the current. They laughed at the idea of catching some to cook. The bridge jerked and heaved in sympathy. Anand felt his anger like a hot flame rising from the nape of his neck. “You fools! Stop it at once!   Have you any idea where you are going to end up? In the river, with those damn fish. Get your goddamn backsides this side of the river before the whole company is put on hard duty for a month!” They sheepishly filed onto the banks and got back into their original marching formation. Anand ran his hand over his face and made an effort to calm down. The last few days’ strain of keeping his men on their feet over the most difficult terrain, was beginning to show. He couldn’t afford to let them down now. Not when they were so close to their destination, so close to the enemy positions. They had a battle to fight, a victory to claim yet… ….to be continued