SOAP 6

After supper, timid knock, Charlie opened the door, "Zala, Benazir, a pleasure, come in. I'll fetch us all a pot of tea."
As he left Benazir said to Sonali, "kinda cute, does his share."
Sonali smiled, then Zala told why they'd come, "so you ask him or should we?"
Sonali, "you do it."
After various small talk, Benazir got to the point, "you two have been good friends to us, helped us sort out a lotta things. We've decided on a ring ceremony, want you two to be our official witnesses."
Charlie glanced at Sonali, caught her nod, "Heavens, I'm honored, flattered you'd actually choose us. A real delight, when is it?"
"Two weeks from now."

Thursday in a park near HQ, two partners laid out a blanket. Zarmeena and Nasreen shared an HQ MQ unit. Zarmeena opened a borrowed copy of Nau Roz, womens monthly magazine. Nasreen started on the organization newsletter.
Five minutes later, Nasreen gasped loudly, pushed the newsletter in front of her partner, "see that photo. Guess who."
Zarmeena tilted it back and forth until light was better, then whistled softly, "I'd never forget, that's the colonel and the general too."
"We were there, saw the general pin the Iron Cross on him. Now look, history repeats itself, this time Order of Merit."
"Commander and 2-i-c of 3 Kabul. Let's us apply there."
They had already read of improvements in 3 Kabul, how it was no longer the organizational refuse pit. Now a promotion factory.
The crystal clear photo did its work. Over a dozen members knew exactly who Malali and Charlie were and applied to 3 Kabul.

Malali was in a meeting when the mail and supply plane arrived, bringing Zarmeena and Nasreen. Charlie met the plane. Both snapped to attention, snapped out the mil salute, which Charlie returned.
He smiled, "well well, so it's Sgt Hochstetter and Lt Schultz, welcome to our humble unit. It would be my pleasure to show you around."
Both beamed at the recognition, "my goodness, Col, look at the nice living units."
"Please, first names only here, security, call me Charlie."
"Charlie, HQ is an urban slum compared to how you've spruced up here. We're glad to be back with you."
"I'm honored, flattered you'd actually choose 3 Kabul. The photo?"
Both nodded.
Nasren looked puzzled, "the writeup said 21 years in the British Army. Yet you don't look a day over 30."
"In those days, you could join at 15 1/2. I did. Being in love, knocks off a few years."
Sonali walked up, hugged him, "oh Lt Schultz, Sgt Hochstetter, it's been awhile."
Zarmeena smiled, "no wonder you two clicked together so well. There'd be a lotta trust between an officer and his radioman."
Sonali smiled, "tea?"

Malali came in, joined them. Zarmeena and Nasreen leaped to attention, gave the mil salute, which Malali returned automatically.
Charlie smiled proudly, "Malali, it's an honor to introduce the former Lt Schultz and Sgt Hochstetter, now known as Zarmeena and Nasreen."
Malali grinned, "you came to the right place. We're having some fun here."
"Exactly why we applied, didn't wanna be left out, get here before it's too crowded. Think any of them donkeys in HQ know their arse from their elbow?"
Malali asked, "so Charlie, had a chance to show them around?"
"Got them set up in a MQ unit."

MQ's were back-to-back, attached in row housing. Nasreen and Zarmeena were directly across from Sonali and Charlie and an instant couples friendship blossomed.
That weekend the four went for a picnic by the coast.
"This here's fabulous, " Nasreen gave her verdict, "fresh air, miles from anywhere. Again?"
They did, Friday as well.

Saturday was their appointment with the education officer. As they snuggled that night, Zarmeena ruffled Nasreen's hair, "awesome place, nice well-maintained units. Imagine, us both privates and we're friends with a sgt/WO couple. Never happen in HQ, too snooty there."
"Yes honey, and starting courses too. We're on our way, good decision to come here."
"Well we do always know where we can get good advice."

In a few months both made Cpl. 3 Kabul was after all expanding. They'd bought a few things for the MQ unit, developed good friendships, so they wrote to friends in HQ and told them of how things were.

Malali had 3 months of accumulated leave, so Charlie would take over. The change was instant. Malali had been the sort who stayed in her office. It took nerve, effort to approach her.
Charlie, every single workday, visited everyone at their workstation. No, not inspecting work or playing the heavy. Just being friendly, opening lines of communication. He was an awful lot easier to talk to, whether a personal or work topic.
Previously respected, now he was more so. He'd gently suggest you see the education officer or counsellor or do whatever he could.

Toward the end of Malali's leave, he was opening mail. Letter from her, found her way into HQ Intel. Next letter was from C-in-C. Field commission. WO C Thompson was now substantive rank Lieutenant, acting rank Commander.
3 Kabul was in loud celebration, yes they were happy with the news, simply felt he did a better job.
The education officer Adela noticed the change in tone too. He was a lot quicker to kick HQ behind to get a particular course for someone. He gave Adela red-carpet treatment, compared to Malali's more brushing her off. Adela was happy on the personal side too, found a new girlfriend, wanted to stay.
Her girlfriend, the counsellor Nooria, was equally pleased. Under the ancien regime, counselling was almost a sin, a shame, people afraid to go. Under Charlie, he'd actually accompany you on your first appointment if you wanted, help you break the ice.
He bought more paint in a month than Malali had in a year. Gave couples a day off work to do the interior of MQ units.
He ordered several magazine subscriptions, to be left on a rack in the mess. No you couldn't take them home or they'd disappear for days.
Three Bollywood movies a week.

Snuggling, Sonali asked, "so where'd you find the loot? Paint, magazines?"
Laugh, "where else? Kicked some behind."
She kissed him, "I do recall you were very good at it, lotsa practice."
He laughed, "yeah, those were the days."
"Come on now", she protested, "tell me exactly what you said."
"If they want any success whatsoever in the literacy upgrading program, those magazines are absolutely essential. As for paint, how you gonna recruit if you don't have nice photos?"
"So, your next plan?"
"Dearly love to get these people satellite TV. Don't like the odds on that."
She ruffled his hair, "go for the morale aspect. You still need 30 more members, people who voluntarily choose to come here. If there was TV, it'd be a factor in their choice."
He kissed her, "I do recall, on a number of occasions when you were my radionman, your suggestions proved useful."
It worked, 3 Kabul was agog, they had TV.

Charlie declared a victory celebration in the mess. "Listen up people, don't want no one thanking me for this TV. All Sonali's doing, she told me exactly what to write, so 3 cheers for Sonali."
It worked in the larger sense too. Dozen good photos of camp, add TV, add letters going back to friends. Soon applications were pouring in, most from friends of 3 Kabul or friends of friends. References were thus easy to check.
Back at HQ, the chief beancounter had choked on the purchase order for TV. Until Salima called her in, told her to remove head from behind, instant attitude adjustment.