Chapter 14: Dinesh Reddy I
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Andepalli Village, outskirts of Hyderabad, Vijayanagar Empire.
In the remote outskirts of Ande Palli Village, a young man of about 18 years is working alone in the fields. Despite his lean and malnourished appearance, there is an undeniable determination shining in his eyes.
Dinesh Reddy, The young man working in the fields, Their family had to leave his hometown because of the oppression in the Mughal Empire. Despite their family's reluctance to abandon their home, misfortune favoured them. They faced tough times due to a bad drought, leaving them unable to pay the high taxes demanded by their landlord. When they asked for more time, the landlord threatened to make them beggars on the streets. With no other option, the family had to escape their homeland to find a safer place to live."
While attempting to make their way back to safety, the family was caught by the border patrol.
But in a tragic turn of events, while trying to save Dinesh, both of his parents took arrows to their backs. This heartbreaking incident left Dinesh as an orphan, without his parents to guide him. Perhaps because of this loss, he matured beyond his age compared to others.
As Dinesh arrived in Vijayanagara, he discovered a glimmer of hope. In this new land, he learned that even those considered from the lowest castes had the opportunity to own their land. Determined to build a better future for himself, Dinesh worked tirelessly towards that goal. Since childhood, he had always been smart, and with his intelligence and hard work, he eventually managed to buy an acre of uncultivated land on the outskirts of the village.
Suddenly;
"DINESH!.... DINESH.....!"
A man came running into the fields, even to the point of tripping on his own legs.
Dinesh, who saw this scene, shook his head in amusement.
"What's the matter, Nandan?" he asked.
The man who came in a hurry is Nandan, and he is Dinesh's friend. Since Nandan is a bit low in IQ, no one talks with him, except Dinesh, of course.
Nandan said hurriedly, "Big people said there is a recruitment going on in the new building in the city. They said that the salary is 30 Varaha," he said excitedly while showing 4 fingers. Seeing this, Vijay chuckled, folded 1 finger, and asked, "Oh, what is the recruitment for?"
Sergeant Harish, a stern and no-nonsense figure, stands near the entrance, wearing his uniform with pride. He checks the sky and glances around the room, noticing a group of recruits still sleeping soundly in their beds.
In a booming voice, Sergeant Harish yells, "Wake up, ladies! Rise and shine! You're not here to sleep your life away!"
The sergeant claps his hands together loudly, startling everyone awake. The recruits groggily open their eyes and sit up, confused and disoriented.
Dinesh wakes up, rubbing his eyes and asks in confusion, "What's going on?"
Darshan, his colleague who took the interview with him and knows how to read, yawns and said, "Why is the sergeant here so early?"
Striding towards the bunks, Sergeant Harish yells with nerves sticking in his neck, "You recruits are a shame for our nation! You should be up and ready for duty! Now, get out of those beds, you useless waste of resources, and form a line by the wall!"
The recruits scramble to their feet, stumbling out of their bunks and hastily arranging themselves against the wall, some not even properly dressing themselves as they assemble. Sergeant Harish watches them with a burning gaze.
The sergeant marches back and forth in front of the recruits, his footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent room. He takes a moment to let the tension build, and the recruits stand at attention.
Sergeant Harish stops in front of Dinesh, comes close to his face, and yells, "Everyone! Drop and give me twenty push-ups!"
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After several rounds of intense training and more yelling from Sergeant Harish, the recruits can't help but wonder, "What have we gotten ourselves into?"
TO BE CONTINUED...