The News

   Commander Phoenix looked out of the tinted window in his office. He could see the leaves of all visible trees drooping. He glanced at the clock. It was exactly twelve 'o' clock.

   'Good that the weather is so sultry and humid. No wonder then that people have stuck to their offices,' he mused.

   Pleasing Commander Phoenix was a tough job. He was a hard task master and had a no nonsense approach. But that afternoon he was a happy man. Before he could mull over the file on his table, the phone rang.

   "Hello."

   "Hi Phoenix, it is me Winget this side."

  Commander Winget was head of a collocated unit. Unlike Commander Phoenix, Commander Winget was quite vocal about his thoughts and had a great sense of humour. In spite of their individual differences both worked in tandem.

   "Hey Winget, it is so unlike you to call at this time!" Commander Phoenix was truly surprised receiving the call.

   "I know you must be busy but I have bad news," said Commander Winget in a matter of fact tone.

    "What is it Winget?" asked Commander Phoenix realizing that this was the first time that Commander Winget was speaking by coming straight to the point.

    After listening to Commander Winget for the next ten seconds, Commander Phoenix reached for the remote and switched his television on. For the first time, colour drained out of his otherwise expressionless face. When Commander Winget stopped speaking he spoke in a shaky voice.

    "What do we do now??? I mean, I know we have to inform, but...."

   "I can understand what is going on in your mind Phoenix; I share the apprehensions too. It is like walking on thin ice but then, do we have any choice?"

    "You are right Winget. I will do the needful."

    "I will also come down to your office. Let us face it together. Give me a few minutes while I tell the relevant others to reach too."

    "Ok."

  Both the Commanders put down the receiver simultaneously in their respective offices but the next instant, they picked it up again to speak to their respective spouse unaware that there was unison in this too. Though the two commanders lived and functioned within the four walls of the same compound, yet, they both had their own domains to head. Their jobs involved least interference and occasional joint ventures. Yet, this was one occasion that went well beyond jointmanship: It was one that definitely required mutual support, and it was also one of those occasions that every commander dreaded to face.

    Unable to focus on anything else, Commander Phoenix got up from his chair and stood next to the fish tank immersed in his thoughts. He heard the door open. He turned. It was Mrs Phoenix. Commander Phoenix walked towards his wife with relief writ large on his face. He motioned his peon to leave them alone.

   "Thank god you have come, my dear. I really didn't know how I was going to..."

    "It is really shocking. Are you sure it true???"

    "Yes dear, it is. Winget spoke to me half an hour back. I too got it verified. It is indeed true. Winget is coming with his team. I have also called Deputy Commander Sudan and Doctor Dan."

    "What about Major Radcliffe?"

 "I have told Admin Head Jack to accompany."

 Without saying another word, Mrs Phoenix bent forward to pick up a coffee table book and pretended to read. She couldn't continue seeing the stress on her husband's face. Commander Phoenix walked back towards the fish tank. The only thing that made a sound was silence.

   "Good afternoon Mrs Phoenix." Doctor Dan and Deputy Commander Sudan. Mrs Phoenix acknowledged.

   "Come  Doc. Come Sudan. I hope you are both aware why I called you guys." This was Commander Phoenix, always straight to the point.

    "Yes sir,"  said Deputy Commander Sudan. Doctor Dan grunted.

  Both walked towards Commander Phoenix and a whispered discussion followed. Meanwhile Admin Head Jack walked in. Commander Phoenix gestured him and the other two to sit alongside Mrs Phoenix. They complied. Commander Phoenix cleared his voice.

    "Jack, where is Major Radcliffe?"

   Before Admin Head Jack could answer, a gentle knock at the door was heard followed by a voice.

    "May I come in sir?"

   Commander Phoenix looked at his wife and taking a deep breath said aloud.

    "Yes Major, come in please."

    Major Radcliffe entered with files in hand observing that for some strange reason Commander Phoenix was not sitting on his seat of power.

    "Good afternoon sir, I was told you had called me?"

    "Yes Radcliffe I did. Please sit."

    Major Radcliffe wished Mrs Phoenix who had by then noticed that Major Radcliffe was not very comfortable suddenly seeing so many people. She spoke.

    "How are you my dear? Come sit here, next to me."

    "I am doing well Mrs Phoenix. Thank you for asking."

    Only two words came into the mind of Major Radcliffe at that point of time. Deja vu? Commander Phoenix broke the silence.

    "So Major, how is your new project shaping up?"

    Major Radcliffe had briefed Commander Phoenix about it two hours ago and was well aware that Commander Phoenix was not the one to forget things. Strange. Brushing aside negative thoughts the Major replied.

    "It is coming up well sir. I am sure this pilot project would definitely bring laurels to our unit."

    "I am sure it will."

 Commander Phoenix decided that enough was enough. He had to tell the truth.

    "Radcliffe, you must be wondering why you have been called, asked a silly question and why so many of us are here."

    Major Radcliffe gave a silent nod, suddenly quite apprehensive about what was going to come up next. Commander Phoenix could be trusted to throw up surprises or shocks. Unaware of the Major's thought, the latter continued.

    "Well....there has been an accident in the Plains."

  "I hope everything is OK. Is..is everything OK?" Radcliffe's heartbeats suddenly increased.

    "Well...Major...there is no concrete news yet. Lets hope for the best."

    "I need to talk to my batch mate in the Plains. May I?"

    "Use the phone on my table."

    Major Radcliffe rushed to make a call. There was no reply. Radcliffe was too preoccupied to notice the entry of Commander Winget and his wife in tow. After the initial exchange of pleasantries, Commander Winget looked at his counterpart.

    "Have you...have you broken the news yet Phoenix?"

    "Not the entire thing Winget."

    "Where is Major Radcliffe?"

    "Trying to contact some batch mate to know more."

    "I think we must tell now."

    "Yes. Let us do it."

   "Radcliffe," Commander Phoenix called aloud.

    "Commander Phoenix my batch mate is not answering my calls." Major Radcliffe was tensed up.

 "Radcliffe sit," said Commander Phoenix.

    "Sir, I am...I am really worried now."

    "Radcliffe, listen to me carefully. The accident in the Plains....it was really bad and..."

    He looked at Commander Winget who then took on where the former had left.

    "And there are no survivors."

    Major Radcliffe couldn't believe what was just conveyed. 

    "Sir is it really true?"

    Commander Phoenix simply nodded his head.

    "I...I need to call...to call up my mother."

    Mrs Phoenix and Mrs Winget rushed towards the Major and made Radcliffe sit. The two Commanders expected either a sudden wail or a sudden bout of unconsciousness, hence they whispered to Doctor Dan to be prepared accordingly. Major Radcliffe took out the phone and dialed a number while the others watched in rapt silence.

    "Hello Mom, its me. There has been an accident in the Plains today..."

    "I know sweetheart, it is all over the news channels. Really sad."

    "Well...there are no survivors. Mom, Ben is dead."

    "What!!!!"

    "Mom, don't panic. I am fine. I will be strong. Do not come in a hurry. Please inform Dad."

    "Sure sweetheart. You take care. We will be there. Do not worry. Bye."

    Major Nora Radcliffe disconnected the call, dialed yet another number. She got up and walked towards Commander Winget stretching her hand to hand over the cellphone.

    "Sir, I would be obliged if you could inform about your officer's demise to his parents." 

    Commander Winget quietly took the phone from her hand and walked away. She looked at Commander Phoenix and continued.

    "Sir may I be permitted to go home now? I will not be able to do justice to my work."

    Commander Phoenix nodded. Nobody had expected such a response from a pregnant wife to whom the news about death of her husband had been conveyed. There were no screams, no wails, no abuses, no tantrums or incoherent speech. Only silent stream of tears flowing down a pair of eyes that had loved intensely and lost. Everybody watched in silence as Mrs Phoenix and Mrs Winget accompanied Nora who was quietly fighting away her tears.