[Ash] Best Memories from the New World
Ashwamaedh
I wrote this article for the Day 4000 contest. Requesting all our budding writers to write! Hell with the lack of participants, good writers actually stand a chance! (don't we all need gold?!) SO GO ON AND WRITE!!!
Day 4000 writing contest
From the old archives of a time that used to be and the people who used to play it ... pardon me for reminiscing but reading about the good old times took me back to what we genuinely shared and loved.
Just like back in the days, tiny eIndia was in the throes of an attack by powerful eCroatia. The difference though was that we could still have hope of defeating the Goliath with brotherhood and game mechanics, unlike how it is now. Still ... its fun to read what is a memory now but was once much more!
For your reading pleasure ... taken from an article I wrote eons ago. May today's players write a similar legacy of their own despite the shortcomings of the "Ultra" New World and the personal egos of a handful lame players. For we are human and we thrive where Angels fear to tread!
CHAPTER 2. A PLANNED ASSAULT
I take a seat across Xordin who is scouring through the report with a furrowed brow. For long moments, the only sound is the rustling of paper and the hum of the restless city in the distance. A siren blares far away and I wonder if its Arminder getting himself involved in yet another fracas with the Croatian Military police.
He is such a hothead… a young Sikh from Chandigarh, barely out of college, who moved down to Delhi because he could not bear to see the Croatian flag flying over Rashtrapati Bhavan!
I marvel at how he mirrors the immortal Shahid Bhagat Singh not only in looks but also his mannerisms…its as if the great martyr has made a return to this world, to repeat what he did once a long long time ago!
Delhi has always had a significant part to play in our nation’s history over so many centuries, since Qutb-ud-din Aibak came marching through. Its historic monuments found at virtually every corner are stories in blood and sacrifice, the whispering ghosts of history walking the ruined halls and balconies.
Ironic too, that we sit here in this ancient, yet unremarkable brick house in the middle of Daryagunj, hidden from the Croatian agents in the midst of this heaving mass of humanity…an HQ that mirrors our freedom movement – a simple cry for freedom by the people, where THEY are the heroes.
Appearances though can be deceptive and although our HQ looks run down, it is a hive of activity with some of the smartest minds in our nation busy at hi-tech workstations deep underground from where we co-ordinate our strikes across the country.
Arminder is the livewire head of our cell in South Delhi, a real finance whiz and a genius at ensuring our coffers never run dry. Unfortunately his impulsive streak means that whenever he gets an opportunity, he cooks up a plan to pester the Croatian troops. They are sick of his antics and one of these days, he could find himself in trouble!! I must remind myself to speak with him sooner rather than later and calm him down a bit!
“Damn, I cannot really understand these…these… squiggles!” grunts Xordin, making me snap out. That is so typically Xordin…great at bringing people together and giving people hope but terrible with war strategy. I lean across the table and begin explaining…
BLUE ARROWS - INDIA
GREEN - CROAT DIVISIONS
“This was the critical turning point in our battle. As you know, the Croats had a pretty easy march through the city while we relinquished our positions gradually towards the city centre. The snipers still maintained position to pepper the Croat Armoured Column as it marched along the highway. This was to delay them till nightfall which is when we would make our move.
The Croat Column had their 13th, 22nd and 25th Armoured tank division accompanied by their 4th and 7th Infantry battalions. Our snipers succeeded in scattering the infantry through the bylanes as they went combing through the buildings, looking out for antitank hideouts (which was a futile search since we already had moved them out.)
The Croat commander was in no hurry to get to the City Centre since he was confident that their firepower had secured the win…after all, they had pounded us throughout the day and reduced most of the city to rubble and they were not wrong in thinking that this would demoralize most defenders. Thanks to our spies, we however had known when they would attack and had prepared our plan.
We allowed the 13th to cross through to Bridgehead 2 while the 22nd moved up to Bridgehead 1. Our 5th Andhra regiment launched a smoke screen and a suicidal assault to cut off the 25th just prior to the railway crossing to ensure they got delayed long enough to let the supply train come trundling through at 8 pm as always… effectively cutting them off at the crossing.
Our guys had already hijacked the train and as it crossed the signal, intercepting the path, the Andhra regiment fell back. The train was halted halfway through the crossing, creating a barricade while half of our antitank 2nd Reserve battalion jumped off the train on the other side and taking cover of the train, blasted away at the tanks stuck at the crossing. The tank commander was enraged and let loose with a ferocious volley to turn the great train into a battered hulk as bogeys went flying mile high! While they were occupied, the remainder half of the antitank battalion and our sole surviving artillery (camouflaged in the Race grounds at the back) moved forward, and having outflanked them smashed through the back, leaving the trapped 25th regiment bewildered and calling for help.
The desperate radio calls went out to the other regiments who had crossed the bridges halfway and while they debated and started to slowly reverse backwards, our citizen resistance force hidden on the island close to bridgehead 2 silently moved to both sides of the shore and quietly planted copious amounts of C6 on both the bridgeheads.
Before the Croatian commander could reverse out of the bridge, the command had been given, and the ruined city shook with massive explosions and the rending scream of metal as both the bridges collapsed virtually simultaneously into the river.
The thunder could be heard for miles around and the pall of smoke that rose ominously into the sky was met with wild cheers by the military, resistance volunteers and citizens alike. The Croatian assault was broken and in the dark of the night in an unknown city, they lost their nerve and their infantry and remaining survivors quickly surrendered.”
I paused, breathless … imagining what it would have been… a victory to savour… a victory with horrendous costs to us and the Croatian army…and yet I could feel the rush of blood in my old bones … that old feeling of adrenalin pumping through… a feeling I had all but forgotten.
The only sound was the swishing of the fan, as Xordin sat there, stunned and incredulous. It took a few moments for him to speak…a proud gleam in his eyes…”unbelievable!!! Simply fantastic!! This is JUST what we needed!!!”
He thumped his desk with all his might and rose up “ I MUST address the people right away. I have to let them know there is still hope!” and then he paused…
”you never told me though… who planned it all? Whose masterstroke was it?”
I turned to look at him wistfully “There were so many… I cannot name them all…
all fought with great courage in the face of impossible odds. Yet, yes, there were a few geniuses, the ones we all know … and the ones we do not.
Among the main strategists was a Serb named Captain Vladimir Alexei from the 2nd anti tank battalion, who died when the train was pounded along with nearly half of his troops. The resistance was led by the fiery Ashphalt, Hem Sharma and Akshay and the assault at the railway crossing was led by the unbelievably tireless Brigadier Abhinay Gupta.”
“The whole nation owes them a huge debt of gratitude!” said Xordin with head bowed. “thank you very much for the briefing, I shall now prepare myself”
I turned back to step out when his voice again called out “You never told me who informed you about the Croatian plans!!”
I slowly turned around with a smile beginning to form … “ah but it was an anonymous tip…however I have a suspicion who it could be. He is most likely an old ghost, someone may have seen flitting about Chhatisgarh … a master of disguise, cloaked among the many who walk the streets everyday.
I thought he had died during the Chinese operation…but it seems some people have nine lives indeed. It should be fun meeting him again.
For now, I cannot tell you anymore till I am certain… and I await his next cryptic message as he floats within the occupied lands.”
Xordin looked at me disapprovingly… but he knew better than insist on pushing me for info. With an irritable, dismissive wave of his hand, he turned back to his desk while I chuckled out the door… thoughts going back to that fateful day, decades ago, when the rain poured down in sheets as I hurried down Sudder Street, past the Salvation Army … only to bump into an innocuous looking,bespectacled, “well endowed” Bengali gentleman...stuffing himself on hot jalebis under the awning of the Blue Sky Café.
"Nomoskar, myself _____ Rayne. Would you like some jalebis?"
Yes, he was quite a piece of work …
This is where the story paused and the next chapter was written.
Funny how this seems to tie in with the present ... for I have heard news of a portly bespectacled ghost still prowling the streets of this 'NEW WORLD'!
JAI HIND!
Comments
This is for the old boys! you know who you are!!!
Xordin has a new name as does Maverick ... but well I edited Mav ... Xordin was just so apt for the time!
o7 Sweet memories!
pertamax
o7 Terimah kasih!!! 🙂
This was a really interesting read! Inspired me to write something similar too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxCAvK2wIEo
The song is dedicated to you guys who built this community. It was the first thing that came into my mind when I finished reading this.
o7 thanks! This was just one part in the story that was written ... 🙂
Voted! o/
thank you!! 🙂 \m/
Pls also read...I think you might like it! 🙂
Ash, Rayne, OTT, Asmita, prabal, xordin miss all of you! You guys were simply awesome and you inspired us to play when we were new, thank you! But right now eRepublik is dying and to make matters worse eIndia just looks like a place where people come to spread hate and false rumours esp about me. After 3-4 articles being published about me, needlessly, it was much refreshing to read an account of you reminiscing your glory days with the gang. 🙂
PS - I know all the above citizens by more than one name, the second one being their 2nd profile name or RL name! 😃 Thanks for sharing once again and all the best in RL 🙂
dude some serious allegations about things you did... hope you clear the air! But good to be back with all!!! o7
I would gladly clear the air, but all that I keep hearing is someone complained about you or allegations about things I did. Now, if there was even little truth about any of these rumours, someone whlould have stood up in public or published an article about it. I am waiting for someone to do that. But all the person can do is talk in PMs or threads in which I am not present trying his level best to spoil my name as he had predicted some time ago because he knows very well he can't face me like a man in public. I can't really address something without knowing what are the allegations, can I ?
oh and vote for the article if you like it!!!
xordin was here...
Ash.. Dear friend.. Bengalis don't offer jalebis.. Rayne would come after you for that.... Rofl
HAHAHAHAHA , this Rayne did 😛 once upon a time 😉 his rosogullas were poisoned ... but that's a tale for another day 😛
Xordin, Arminder, Ashphalt, Hem Sharma, Akshay & Abhinay. 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍
Those names............. made me nostalgic.
I badly miss all of you guys including you,ash.
I wish i could go back to the year of 2009 when all of the fun started here & meet all of you in my journey till now.
yea man... there was one guy missing in that - navincharles ... he is back too now! 🙂 I think the whole bunch is kind of back but a bit wary 😃 We should still meet! Dhaka aaunga milne 🙂 as long as you offer some daru!
Ofc bro. Always welcome in Dhaka. 😎 😎 😎
Is he offering you daru in dhaka? Hey what happened to the 1 month clause u told me..... 🤔🤔
xordin was here....
You forgot a story about me? What you did with two eIndian "legends"? Don't you think you should shed some light on that incident too?
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Whatever stories you know, you should write. It will help the media be more active. The idea and the deal were David's and there was nothing from my side. If you choose to believe otherwise, then please go ahead and let off your steam.
I totally believe that it was david and shail, but if you would have come out and said it was david and shail at that point, it would have make all the difference in the world. Also you had my credentials not them, hence I were to blame you not them.
Come on... Mate..... In rl i had stuff like that... Even there i dont bring up such stuff when friends/mates meet after several years... Vent out everything in pm...
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I had told them both to own up and explain and I had been promised an article with a full explanation. It was a tough time, and decisions were made and actions taken which were against what I would ever have done. the bottom line though is that it was for the good of India who still needed goodwill given the possibility of PTO was much higher. Anyway... I do not begrudge the situation you were under but this eventually would have been a call you would have had to take and/or be online had you not gone away on leave. As a CP, we shoulder a lot of responsibility and whatever comes with it.
You did well and I never had anything against you... not then... not now, not ever.
@calvinhobbes - no problem in c2f bringing it up. It was not a glowing moment! (the article was titled good memories, not bad!) He was blamed and there was nothing that could be done. fact is though that it was just Croat Propaganda .. the Croats themselves were never ones to stick to their word and have been greedy, power hungry idiots at all times. So the way I see it, history and time proved that what David and Shail did was CORRECT and that perhaps instead of staying silent we should have just stood up and said "yep screw you Croatia"
Maybe c2f is right... I should actually write an article about this! would be quite intriguing as a read but could have repercussions 😃
is that you hari?!! welcome back!!!
Randomly lurking around
welcome back bro. 🙂
o7
@calvin It is not about venting stuff, you don't know what happened, Ash is one of the few people from erepublik, who are older than me and I have respect for. But only if you knew the situation you would know that it is about everything going public and not down to sorting it out in pm. Ash and I are not at good terms because of two people who tried to throw me under the bus for taking decisions they wanted to, which I would have never supported. And thus showing everybody that David Forde is not a legend but a piece of shit liar who did things for his own benifit.
everything going public and not down to sorting it out in pm
two people who tried to throw me under the bus for taking decisions they wanted to, which I would have never supported
So its déjà vu!
There is a difference though - I agree with c2f's point of view and accept we should have handled things better. A pm is not needed to accept a folly.
Glad to hear eindia history.thnx for a great article
my pleasure! thank you for commenting and reading! o7
I like reading and writing.by the way I am new here, can you please guide me on what things to do in beginning
Join the Indian Armed Forces Military Unit and keep reading the shouts. Guys hang out on discord apparently. There is also a Facebook page and a Whatsapp group. You should definitely write articles cos that's the best way to find genuinely cool real life players from around the world. Write a cool article about India maybe - or a story (mystery?) anything at all.... and publish in the English speaking countries as well as India. Once you have written your article, we will help shouting it out and having it get attention 🙂 Check this article for where people in eIndia stay - https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/residence-places-real-time-lives--2681424/1/20
The link to eIndia discord channel: https://discord.gg/xRSev2 . It will expire same time tomorrow. If you didn't join, let me know, I will put up again
what a fantastic surprise to find this story! thank you for bringing the smiles and a hearty belly laugh. good times!
thank you for your comment! Its a pleasure when someone truly appreciates a story! 🙂