Shuttles And Stars

Sia

The crowd at Delhi International Airport bustled around me, but all I could hear was the steady thumping of my own heartbeat. I, Lieutenant Sia Joshi, had arrived in Delhi, my first posting with the Indian Army’s Rajputana Rifles. A mix of excitement and nerves bubbled in my chest, and I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself in the present.

I spotted two familiar faces waiting for me—Captain Vidyut Shergill and Lieutenant Netra Pathak. Captain Shergill, tall and commanding, approached me first, his handshake firm yet welcoming. “Lieutenant Joshi, welcome to Delhi,” he greeted me with a smile. “How was your journey?”

“It was good, Sir,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm despite the butterflies in my stomach. This was my first real day as an officer, and I wanted to make a good impression.

Netra, with her warm and confident demeanor, smiled as she extended her hand. “You must be feeling a mix of emotions, right? I remember my first posting. The nerves, the excitement… it’s a whirlwind.”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. “That’s exactly how it feels. I’ve been waiting for this day, but now that it’s here, everything feels so real.”

“It is real,” Netra said with a grin. “But you’ll settle in quickly. Everyone here is supportive, and once you find your rhythm, it will feel like second nature.”

Captain Shergill chuckled. “For now, just focus on getting through your first day. We’ll make sure you don’t get too lost.”

We shared a small laugh, and I felt the tension ease, if only a little. They helped me with my luggage, and we made our way to the base. The drive was quiet at first, but as we approached the gates, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as I saw the Rajputana Rifles insignia standing tall. I was now part of something much bigger than myself.

“Here we are,” Captain Shergill said as we entered the base. “This will be your home for the foreseeable future.”

The base was massive, soldiers moving about with purpose and precision. Everything was so organized, so focused. This wasn’t training anymore—this was the real deal.

After reporting in with Colonel Rawat, my commanding officer, who offered me a firm handshake and a few words of expectation, Netra took me on a tour of the base. The barracks, the mess hall, the training grounds—it was all a blur as I tried to absorb everything.

“You’ll find your way around soon enough,” Netra reassured me. “It’s a lot on the first day, but don’t worry, no one expects you to know everything immediately.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, smiling. “Everyone seems really welcoming.”

“They are,” Netra said. “We’re all in this together. And you’ll make friends quickly. There’s always a shared understanding among us—it’s like family.”

That word—family—struck a chord. In all the chaos of the day, I hadn’t had time to think about my own family. My mother was probably waiting for my call, anxious to hear how things were going. I made a mental note to call her as soon as I had a moment.

As the day went on, I was introduced to more officers. There was Lieutenant Arjun Malik, who greeted me with a grin and an exaggerated salute. “The fresh recruit has arrived! Welcome to the madness, Lieutenant Joshi.”

I laughed, already feeling a sense of camaraderie building. “Thanks, Lieutenant. I’ll do my best not to add to the chaos.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Arjun said, leaning back in his chair. “We all mess up on the first day. My advice? Just don’t do anything too embarrassing in front of the CO.”

“Noted,” I replied, laughing along with the others as they shared their first-day blunders.

The sun was setting by the time I made it back to my quarters, exhausted but exhilarated. I dropped my bag and sat on the bed, taking a moment to reflect on the day. It had been intense, but I had survived. I felt a sense of accomplishment. But just as I was about to relax, my phone rang, startling me.

It was my mother.

I winced, realizing I’d forgotten to call her. I quickly answered, bracing for what was coming.

“*Sia! You didn’t even think to call me?*” her voice came through the phone, half scolding, half worried.

“Mom, I’m so sorry! It’s been such a busy day, I lost track of time,” I said, feeling a pang of guilt. “I was going to call you, I swear.”

“Hmph, I’ve been waiting all day to hear from you. *Do you know how worried I was?*” Her tone was sharp, but I could hear the underlying relief.

“I know, I know,” I said, smiling now. “I’m fine, though. Everything’s going well. I reported in, met my superiors, and the base is huge. Captain Shergill and Lt. Pathak have been really helpful.”

There was a pause, and then my mother’s voice softened. “Good. That’s good to hear. *But still, a quick message wouldn’t have hurt.*”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I repeated. “But let me tell you about my day. You’ll love this—one of the officers, Arjun, told me he saluted a civilian contractor on his first day here.”

My mother laughed, the sound bringing warmth to my heart. “That sounds like something you’d do.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But seriously, it’s been amazing. I’m nervous, but everyone’s been so welcoming.”

“I’m proud of you, Sia,” she said, her voice softer now. “I knew you’d fit in. You’ve always been strong, even when you doubted yourself.”

I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude. “Thanks, Mom. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready for it. I can feel it.”

We talked for a while longer, laughing about old memories and sharing stories. It was exactly what I needed—a reminder of where I came from, of the support that had carried me to this point.

“Don’t forget to eat properly, okay?” my mom added, slipping back into her usual motherly role.

“I will, I promise. And I’ll call you more often,” I said.

“You better,” she replied, the warmth in her voice unmistakable. “Take care of yourself, Sia. We’re all so proud of you.”

“I will, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, beta.”

After I hung up, I sat back and stared at the ceiling, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. The exhaustion of the day finally began to settle in, but there was also a sense of peace. I had made it through my first day, and despite the whirlwind of new faces, new responsibilities, and new challenges, I felt ready.

Tomorrow would bring more hurdles, but tonight, I allowed myself a moment of calm. I was Lieutenant Sia Joshi, and I was exactly where I was meant to be.

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