The two nations were at war. The two battalions were
locked in a fierce battle. Today was the fourth day of battle, but no side was
ready to move behind by an inch.
The nation A’s battalion was stronger in number, 500
men against the 50 of nation B. But the nation B had a strategic advantage.
They were at a higher elevation and were surrounding the nation B’s battalion.
That’s why they had been able to engage A’s battalion for four days despite
being small in numbers.
The battle went fiercer and fiercer, with bullets
raining, grenades exploding, rockets flying and hitting the enemy bunkers.
Balls of fire rose to the sky. Smoke engulfed everything. Soldiers on both
sides were high on adrenalin, full with patriotic feelings. They changed
positions, played hide and seek, shot at the enemy at first opportunity, and
were ready to lay their lives for their country.
A’s numbers and B’s strategic advantage made the
battle equal. No one had budged from his position for last 4 days. Nobody knew
how long this will continue.
Then they started running of ammunition; on both
sides. First they ran out of rockets, then grenades, then finally even the
bullets.
There was silence for a few minutes. Both understood
that the other one had run out of ammunition. But this was a bad news for B. Because
in war, once the ammunition gets finished, close proximity battle would starts.
The soldiers engage in hand to hand combat and use the bayonets fixed on their
rifle heads to attack the enemy. And in such combats, the number of men matter.
Once the soldiers run out of ammunition, close proximity batttle has to start Imege courtesy wikipedia
A pal of Gloom descended in B’s camp. They knew that their 50 men would be no match for the 500 bayonet wielding men of the enemy in a close proximity fight. They will be run-over, crushed, torn-apart, and killed within a few minutes by the army of 500 men pouncing on them. Their defeat seemed imminent. Death seemed imminent.
Men in A’s camp were ecstatic. They knew that a
without-ammunition-battle is won by the strength of numbers. They were 500, their
enemy a meager 50.
Their commander addressed them “Men! Time has come
for the hand to hand combat now. They are fifty, you are five hundred. They are helpless in front of you. The time
has come for you to attain the glory. Our victory is near. “I can smell the victory”.
“He shouted, “Go men! Go pounce on them. Put your
bayonets through their throats and tear them apart”.
A’s men, running high on adrenaline, ran ahead like
mad; shouting, screaming, wielding their bayonets, ready for the hand to hand
combat, ready to kill.
B’s men braced to be swarmed by the beasts running towards them. They prayed their last, vowed to fight till last breath and lay their lives for their nation. They huddled close together for the final combat of their lives.
A’s men closed in towards them. But just before a few
meters away from battalion B’s men, they froze. They didn’t move any further. Al
the A’s men stopped in their track, discomfort visible on their faces. Wind was
blowing from B’s side to A’s side. Positioned in their places with gun in hand,
the men on B’s side hadn’t bothered to bathe in last four days. The wind blowing
from the Bs towards the As brought with it, a filthy stench, which overpowered
the mighty men of A. A’s men threw their rifles on ground and covered their
nose and face with their hands. Some of them coughed, sneezed and started
nauseating. A few put their helmets over their face to escape the filthy
stench, while some fell to the ground feeling giddy, unable to tolerate.
Batallion A's men fell to the ground unable to tolerate the foul smell emanating from batallion B's men
The wireless operator of A radioed back to their commander “Alfa calling Beta! Alfa calling Beta! A strange unidentified smell coming from the enemy’s side has affected our men. Unable to tolerate, our men are falling one by one. Please give further orders. His final words were “What’s that smell? What’s that smell boss?, before he passed out.
A’s commander analyzed the situation. The words
flashed in his mind “Chemical warfare”. The
enemy must be using chemical or biological weapons. His men, without any
protection, would be helpless and die one by one.
He at once ordered “Retreat! Retreat immediately!”
He at once ordered “Retreat! Retreat immediately!”
As if A’s men were waiting for just this order only.
They immediately scrambled to go back, go away from B’s camp, away from the
filthy smell about which everyone was asking “What’s that smell, boss?”
They retreated as fast as they could, leaving their
rifles. Returning to their post, they rounded up their vehicles and abandoned
the post immediately. They fled as fast as they could.
Battalion A’s commander radioed to his headquarters “Biological or chemical weaponry usage by enemy suspected. Men ordered to retreat”.
In Battalion B’s camp, everyone was perplexed. The
five hundred brave and mighty men of battalion A were running away from fifty scared
men of battalion B. It took them some time to believe what was happening. Then they realized that the victory was
theirs. B’s men, who were sure of not being able to see another day, were
watching the enemy running away from them.
B’s commander understood the situation quickly, “It’s
the smell! It’s the smell my men, who haven’t bathed for last four days, are giving
off, which has made the enemy run for their life”.
He declared, “The victory is ours”. “Go men, capture
the enemy’s post,” he screamed.
B’s men rushed into A’s land, destroyed the bunkers,
and captured the deserted post.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Soon after the fall of their post at border, A’s government
lodged a protest with United Nations alleging usage of chemical and biological
weapons by nation B, and thereby violating the Geneva Convention which
prohibits subjecting the enemy to atrocities in war.
The UN took it seriously and sent investigation teams to site. After collecting evidences and interviewing the people, the United Nations team concluded that-
-There was certainly a usage of chemical
weapons by nation B. The foul smell emanating from unbathed soldiers could have contained harmful chemicals as well as disease causing bacteria.
-Usage of such harmful weaponry had
resulted in severe psychological stress for the soldiers of nation A.
-The act on part of nation B was not only a
violation of Geneva Convention but also against humanity.
UN warned nation B against indulging in such illegal
and inhuman acts in the war. Also, the Geneva Convention was amended in 2014
to incorporate following-
- Usage of foul smell emanating from men who
have not bathed shall be termed as inhuman and illegal in war.
- No nation shall use soldiers who are unbathed
to indulge in to war activities.
- All nations shall ensure that the soldiers
participating in war shall take bath twice daily.
- To facilitate compliance of above rules, all
nations shall ensure that warm water bath facilities consisting of adequate
number of Racold water heaters shall be made available at all war fronts.
- In independent delegation from the UN will carry out inspections at battle locations at the time of war to ensure availability of Racold water heaters. Any nation violating the rules may be subjected to condemnation by the UN.
- In independent delegation from the UN will carry out inspections at battle locations at the time of war to ensure availability of Racold water heaters. Any nation violating the rules may be subjected to condemnation by the UN.
Image courtesy pfannenstielfamily
The UN directed warring nations to ensure that their soldiers take bath twice daily Image courtesy wikipedia
Since then the nature of wars changed. The Racold water heaters became the major purchases for the armies all over the world.
Any nation suspecting violation of this rule by enemy
could report to United Nations by e-mailing a code phrase “What’s that smell,
boss?”, and the UN would come heavily on the erring nation.
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A few more short stories are here
A few more short stories are here
This post is written for Close Encounters of the Smelly Kind contest in IndiBlogger in association with Racold
Pictures are symbolic, only for illustration. Their source is mentioned near the picture with a backlink.
#WhatsThatSmellBoss
Pictures are symbolic, only for illustration. Their source is mentioned near the picture with a backlink.
#WhatsThatSmellBoss
Dear Saket Sir,
ReplyDeleteMay I please take the liberty to tag your blog for a blogging contest.
Please check these links.
http://www.myyatradiary.com/2014/02/my-most-memorable-memento-contest.html
http://pagesfromserendipity.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/the-blogpost-that-changed-my-destiny/
Nandhini
My pleasure Nandhini.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post.
hahahah wah wat a fun post! And yes bad smell can actually kill!
ReplyDeleteAll the best!
Thanks Swarn Priya! Good to know that you liked it.
DeleteReally an innovative take, Saket!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes :)
Thank you Anita!
DeleteCongrats for the Grand prize! Supercool, Saket!
DeleteHappy for you :)
Thank you so much Anita!
DeleteCongratulations Saket. A well deserved win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Khushboo. I came to know from you only.
DeleteReally? How cool :)
DeleteCongrats Saket, a very nice post indeed
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mayura!
DeleteCongrats!!! Kudos on the win!!! Well written and well deserved!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sunila!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post.
Quite an unusual take on the topic!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Saket! :)
Thank you Poonam!
DeleteAfter a long time I may conclude that this post was a very well deserved win! :) Congrats Saket! Kepe it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Nice of you to let me know that you liked my post.
DeleteThis was a killer post. The idea, the innovation, the script all made a deadly winning stuff. Congrats Saket.
ReplyDeleteThanks Neo, for letting me know that you liked it.
Deletesuperb writeup :)
ReplyDeletevery well deserved. congratulations!
Thanks for letting me know that you liked the post!
Deletevery good one...congrats for winning the contest
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehehe never imagined that stench could be linked to war so creatively! Good thought and congrats on winning :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shilpi, for your nice words for my post!
Delete