It reminds me of an incident ( a bit long narration though) that happened in front of me many many decades back.
Gen WAG Pinto had just taken over as the Army Commander in Lucknow and was in the process of moving in to the Command House. Those who have seen the Command House would know that it is an awkward building where two separate wings have been connected with a very long corridor. The main wing has just one bed room and the other wing has, I think four. It was actually the erstwhile polo club building which was acquired and converted in to Command House when the EasternCommand was first raised in Lucknow. Not a very convenient House especially if you have your parents, children or guests staying with you.
Well this much about the Command House ( which incidentally was named *अरुणोदय* by me when I was the BGS/ Dy MS there in 2002.)
Now to continue with the anecdote.
The CE ( Command) came and met Mrs Pinto, as it was customary those days ,and enquired if she was happy with the house and whether she would like to get anything done. Mrs Pinto was a gentle and polite lady and while praising the House said in a kind of nonchalant manner that though it was a wonderful house but would have been so much better if there was an additional bed room in the main wing instead of having four in the other wing.
The CE jumped with an idea and told her that there was enough space available to add an additional bedroom in the main wing and he could suggest a design soon if she so desired.
Mrs Pinto told him that it was just a casual remark but if it was possible and permitted within the rules to add a room, it would definitely make it more convenient .
Now comes the second part.
I was on leave in Lucknow and had gone to say hello to the AMS and was sitting and chatting with him when we suddenly saw the CE coming out of the Army Cdr's office sweating profusely. It was winters, and we wore Khaki SD those days, which made the sweat marks rather pronounced.
The AMS was alarmed and asked him what had happened and if all was well , on which the CE replied "Yaar I had gone to get the design of the additional bed room approved from the Army Cdr and he, instead of looking at the design asked me who had asked me to do this. And when I mentioned that Madame had said that an additional room will make the house more convenient to live, he asked me if I had nothing better to do. And then told me to go and politely tell Mrs Pinto that if she was not happy staying in the Command House she could go and start living in their small apartment in Poona where he would join her in two years time."
There was a total silence for a while but once the GE had gathered his bearings he was offered the coffee which had come for me. He quickly gulped that and then left looking quite distressed.
P.S. I really wonder how would he have conveyed the message of Gen Pinto to the Lady 🤔😁
ऐसे भी Generals हुआ करते थे कभी 😅😅😅.
अभी भी होंगे जरूर 👍