Being an Army kid means to move around every three years, to change school, to leave my school, friends, home, neighbors. Just when teachers start to recognize my face, we were being taken from that place and the whole process started again. To go to a new place every three years was heartbreaking.
When my friends tell me that they are being grounded, and they don’t have the means to call on the house phone, I used to tell them all my dad had to do to was take my identity card, therefore leaving no way for me to get out of the main gate.
There were a few amazing things I learned by being a Fauji Brat. I have changed more than five schools and studied in more than four states during my entire school life. This helped me know about the various cultures and customs of people and made hell a lot of friends than one can imagine.
The Officer’s kids. They are a different breed. They had that air of superiority. Every student in the class used to treat them with respect for no reason. The same goes for the children of teachers.
When you have lived your whole life within the base, where you are protected by the country’s best, it becomes a task when you eventually move out. I seldom worried about hidden cameras etc in Naval Mess.
I was free to wear what I want and not be judged or leered at by anyone. This is possible only in the Defense. I have worn a dress, shorts and my friends too have worn whatever they wanted and not once did we feel uncomfortable.
My parents and most of the Faujis give their kids full freedom to live the life they want. Many of my friends have gone onto choosing Fashion Designing, Hotel Management, Medicine, Engineering, Modelling even Standup Comedy! The best part about Fauji Papas is they will support you no matter how crazy your dreams.
