Agent 024

LIMITS

"It is quite simple.", said Agent Gupta as he began explaining the hurdle race.

"You will climb the rope, then go through this climbing frame, you will then climb this wall jump through the fence travel through the mud lying down and run back to where you began. Understood?

"Yes sir.", we shouted.

"Is that understood?", he said in a louder tone.

"Yes, sir.", we shouted back.

"Good, form two lines and get started.", Agent Gaurav said.

I joined a line midway so that I'd have enough time to watch people do it and figure out the best way of crossing these hurdles.

"Ready?", Agent Gaurav asked.

"Yes, sir.", the two trainees in the front of the line shouted.

"Go.", the agent said and started the timer.

The two guys ran at once and reached the rope. One of them climbed easily while the other struggled at the bottom.

"It's all about the technique. You grasp the rope in your hands tightly and then force your body up, clasp the rope with your feet and repeat the process. The key is to use your body for uplifting your legs.", I overheard two guys behind me talking.

"Ready cadet?", Agent Gupta asked.

I looked at the guy next to me and we both nodded in acknowledgement.

"Ready.", we shouted.

He started the timer and we both ran.

I reached the climbing rope and clasped it with my foot, finding some foothold there, I pulled my knees up and repeated the process.  I lost my grip midway and stumbled back to the ground on my back.

A collective groan of surprise ran through the crowd. I could feel a pain in my back. 

"Tisha, do you want to continue?", Agent Gaurav asked.

I attempted standing up and could manage.

"Yes sir.", I shouted. 

The previous person who chose to give up was given the entire week off. I couldn't afford that.

I clasped the rope once again looking up making up my mind not to let myself slip this time.

I repeated the same process again this time more carefully and slowly. By the time, I reached up, my back was ready to give up. I looked down wearily at the ground below me, I wasn't risking another blow to my back not today at least. I took a deep breath and jumped down landing n my feet balanced on my hand. I faced paced towards the monkey bar - if only if could be as cute and small as the ones we played on in the playground. I clasped one bar and held onto another with my second hand. I have no upper body strength I realized as I could no longer propel myself up and got down after the fourth bar.

I looked up at the bar knowing I will have to start again.

"Let's get this over with.", I told myself as I held the bar with force and quickly starting crossing over. I walked towards the fence but was in no position to jump over it, so I simply propelled myself up with my hands and got to the other side of the fence. There was a 100 m trench in front of me that looked and smelled like everything repelling.

"This is easier.", I consoled myself as I got down and began to crawl through the trench.

After about three minutes, I emerged covered in mud. Wiping the mud off my body, I walked back to where the class was collected. I didn't look back at any of my classmates. I didn't want pity.

"Cadet?", Agent Gaurav asked.

"Yes sir.", I said standing in attention position.

"I want you to go to the infirmary and take the rest of the day off."

"If I may sir, I'd like to stay for the complete training of the day.", I said. I hadn't gone through hell just now to withdraw from the battlefields.

"That's an order cadet. You'll be no use to us or the nation with a broken back.", he said.

"Yes sir.", I said and turned walking off to my hostel.

I removed my shoes and wiped off my trousers before entering. People passed me without a second glance. Looks like people walking drenched in mud is a common sight here.

I walked in my room and switched on the geyser. I took out a black t-shirt and grey trousers and walked into the bathroom. I knew I had to wash my clothes immediately or it would stink like anything. I scrapped of my clothes which hung to my body tightly. I let the tap run, and put my trousers under the heavy flow of the water which removed most of the dirt. I made a mental note to take them to the laundry after my back had decided to show mercy. 

Muscle pains was not something new to me. I knew the standard procedure to deal with them.

The water had become hot now. 

I dipped my sleeve into the hot water and squeezed it onto my back. It immediately gave a burning sensation but I continued dabbing on my back. The hot water would ease my muscles and they needed that. I applied soap and showered my body. I held on to the tap as I got up.

"Shit.", I said as the pain got worse.

I wore my clothes, drank some glucose mixed water from my bottle, grabbed an apple Priya kept for me like every morning, blessed her kind soul and walked out of the room and locked it.

I walked as normally as I could and saw the infirmary before me.

I thanked the architecture for making the infirmary at only a two minute walk from the hostel. The man must have had his fair share of disasters in training. After all what better inspiration than adversity.

I stepped in the relatively empty infirmary. The day had just begun.

"Oh great.", I whispered as I saw Abhay dressed in white helping the doctor arrange the medical equipment.

"Hey doctor.", I called out. 

She looked at me and Abhay followed. His expression rapidly changed from confusion, concern grief anger hurt or maybe I had started hallucinating.

"I think I might have a broken back.", I said and collapsed on the nearby bed as the two ran towards me.