Diner Sheshe

"I was 8 when I watched 'Border'. The movie transfixed me and I told Papa excitedly, 'I want to join the Indian Army!' Papa replied encouragingly, 'You will!' In her college days, Mom was an NCC cadet and so she cheered me on when I followed in her footsteps. She'd say, 'Girls can dream and achieve big!' And so in my final year, I prepared for my CDS exams. But unfortunately, I was screened out in my SSB interview.

During that period, my family was going through a financial crisis. Not having made it to the Army hurt me, but I had the spirit of a soldier and I promised myself that I'd try again. I worked in a BPO for a few months to run my home and also gave the exam again! And then the day I'd dreamt of arrived; my joining letter reached home! My parents cried with joy. I exclaimed to Papa, 'I did it!' I also promised him he'd never have to work a day in his life again. At the Officers Training Academy, no distinction was made between male and female cadets; we had to earn our salutes. We were pushed to our limits and my spirit was moulded to face challenges. My company commander at the OTA had a heart of gold- when I requested for an increase in my stipend to send home, my request was granted; I was touched!

After a year, I passed out of the academy in 2011. I'd paid for my parents' first flight so that they could attend my passing out parade. And when they put the stars on my shoulder, I became 'Lieutenant Prajakta Desai.' After another 6 months of training, I became an air traffic controller to serve in the Army Aviation. I was the baby in my unit who was surrounded by officers with far greater experience than me. But I was motivated to learn and was involved in several rescue missions! When an earthquake struck Sikkim in 2012, my team and I evacuated hundreds and provided them with rations.
Humans of Bombay, fb