She started talking after thinking for a few moments, deciding where to start.

"You want a detailed story, or a short one?"
"Detailed one obviously!" I snapped back.

"Okay. So, I decided to join army right after finishing my medical school."
"Why didn't you go for specialisation? I have rarely seen any doctor not trying for it atleast once." I asked her the obvious question.

"I never wanted to specialise." I looked at her with a blank look.
"Now if you'll put finger on your lips, and let me do the talking, your doubts will be clear." she said, annoyed.

I nodded and sealed my lips. I was becoming impatient.

"Yeah. So I decided to join army, filled the forms and all, cleared their screening tests by the time I became a doctor.
My name was there in the list of selected candidates who were supposed to undergo two months of basic course, before getting commissioned into the forces.

We were supposed to meet the officers who'll be training us.
By the time my turn came, I was scared. The reviews of one of the interviewer were not good. He seemed to be scaring people to leave before the course starts, and almost five of them decided to do that.
But I was not giving up. I wanted to become something I had always dreamt of.

'Miss Renee Scott, you next."
I went in and saluted my best. Then I looked at the face.
He seemed to be looking back at me with equal surprise. " Aren't you Ren? "
Gosh! He was Uncle James! NicknWills' dad. We used to meet so often at the school meetings. He never missed a single one.

I was so excited to see him. But then I remembered Will's words. Think before you act.
I composed myself.
"Yes sir, Renee Scott."
"What made you join the army, doctor?" I cringed at the last word. I hated that word.
No I don't hate doctors, not at all, I respect them hell lot. But I don't deserve that term.

He saw that. "You don't like to be called a doctor, why is that?"
"It's not like that." I tried to cover.
"Don't lie to me kid. I can see through you. Start talking now." I don't know how he managed to click the right button.

I started and didn't stop till I finished.
"I never wanted to be one. It was my parents wish. I had no other option. I wanted to be like your sons. Strong, powerful and a fighter. I used to go running and playing with them, that's how we became close friends. But after senior, my life got boring in medical school. I tried to do justice to the profession and worked harder than I would have done anywhere else. But the desire to not sit on a chair and go out and run instead, stayed in my heart, till I talked to Wills. He suggested me to join army.I found it as my perfect choice. So here I am. "

He was smiling at me. I didn't know what that meant.
He was feared by everyone, last I knew. But he was smiling right now.

" You've made a correct decision. Try to learn as much as you can, here. I'll ensure, you do that."
" Yes sir! " I smiled back and saluted him, turned on my heels and left.

Finally, there was someone who understood me.
But my happiness didn't last long.

"You docs should just scrub and stay in OTs. There's no need of you guys on the field!" He shouted next day while all of us were paused in the middle of our run.
"If you don't need us, then why not get civil doctors for your boys in the battle ground?" I replied in anger.

"Step out doctor." He used that word intentionally. He knew I don't like it.
I marched out. He sent the rest to continue running, and stood right in front of me.
"You know the meaning of dropping down, in army?" he asked calmly
"yes sir." my heart was about to jump out from my chest.

"Then drop and give me fifty for that sassy statement of yours!" He yelled and I dropped on the ground, doing Pushups.
It was hard. Doing fifty pushups in one go, first time in my life, was harder than I had thought.

Anyways I finished and got up.
He came dangerously close to me, I was shivering. "What do you want? Why are you getting all rebellious?"

"I want to be more than who I am. I want to be a fighter."
"You don't become a fighter by just talking. You become a fighter by training, by keeping your mouth shut and keeping your eyes and ears open. I suggest you finish this damn course and leave, before your impression in my mind changes to one of these needless whitecoats."

"Will you train me?" I asked absent mindedly.
"No."

"Why?"
"I don't train people who'll never require my training. You'll never be going on missions, or in the war, fighting enemies. Your job is to evacuate the casualties and treat them, that's it. I'd rather train a soldier than you."

I was hurt. And I was angry.
" So you'll not train me. Right? "
" I've given my answer. "

" Will you fight me then? " I challenged him. My ego shouting.
" Do you know what you're saying? "

" I want a fight, with you. "
He was red with anger. I don't know what stopped him from punching in my face right there, but he was definitely more mature than me, at that moment.

" Meet me in this ground after dinner. I'll fight you. Till then, keep your mouth shut, or you'll not be in a state of talking, forget about fighting. " he stress on the word fight. I was still bursting with anger and rage, but nodded in acceptance.

Others had completed their round and I was ordered to join them.
By the time we reached to have dinner, reality sank in. What had I done. I'll never be able to beat him. And I'm here for two more months. He'll make my life hell here.

Anyways, since I couldn't back up now, I decided to go and apologise him for what I said.
I reached the ground before him.
After waiting for a few moments, I heard his footsteps.

"So you wanted to fight? Get ready. Face the first punch." he said rushing towards me.
His hand came flying, I ducked and punched in his stomach as a reflex.
He stopped and looked at me in surprise. I was high on adrenaline, I placed a kick on his face, which he caught by one hand.

He stretched my leg further by putting my foot on his shoulder. I moved closer in an attempt to reduce the pain in my thigh, but it didn't help much.
"Let me go" I pleaded in pain.
"Where did you learn that from?" he asked me with the same look of surprise.

"I learnt karate in junior school, let me go now!" I was ready to answer all his questions if he just leaves my foot. But he didn't.

"Your parents wasted a talent." It was my turn to look surprised.
I tried to free my foot again without any result.
"You have three other limbs free, use them." He said with a smirk.

I tried everything I could. Punch him, pull my leg with my hand, but I couldn't even move.

"Either let me go, or tell me what to do, this fucking pains." His expression changed and he lifted my foot even higher.
I cried out in pain. "This was the first and last time you swore in front of me, am I clear?" he said calmly.

"yes sir! Sorry sir!"
He brought my foot back on his shoulder.
With his other hand he pointed towards the ground.
"Use it to for thrust and aim a kick for my face. "

I bent down and touched the ground with both my hands, it was a very uncomfortable position, but I did as he said.
"Balance your weight on your hands and move the other leg with a jerk." I followed him and kicked back. He caught my other foot in his other hand.

Now I was doing a handstand with my feet held in air.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to challenge you. I just swept away.."
"In anger. I know."
I didn't know why I said that while being upside down, I felt the need to just say it out.
But he completed my sentence.

He left me and I stood up, looking at him.
"I didn't control my anger too, Renee. I'm sorry."
I waited for a few moments to let it sink in.

"You are like my child, like my sons. And you should get the training you want, but I can't train you, it's against my rules."
I felt bad. He was the only hope I had.

"But I'll help you get better."
"What does that mean?"

"We'll fight everyday throughout the course at this time. I'll help you improve your moves. The main training will help you build up the stamina, and this here, will help you build up the speed."
I was confused. If this is not training, then what is?

"Isn't this called training?"
He laughed and looked at me with a smile. "You don't know my training. Ask Wills, the next time you meet him. You'll thank me."

I was still confused but I made a mental note to ask that panda. And for now, I was happy he accepted to atleast fight with me.
May be his remorse for not controlling his anger, or may be he was too impressed by me, it doesn't matter why he agreed. I'm becoming a fighter, and I couldn't be happier.

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:)