Rise of the Machines #4

As the four of us rode amidst the sands, a Stallion pulled off the road.

_ The Ashok Leyland Stallion, or ALS for short, is the most widely used military transport in these parts. It’s a work horse, and a war horse. With a 4-wheel drive and a turbo-diesel engine, it seems to go anywhere, do anything, scare anyone. Remember that old Royal Enfield advertisement for the Bullet ? "Built like a gun, moves like a bullet". The Stallion is built like a cannon and moves like a wrecking ball. _

As we ride past, a voice hails us from the Stallion in a distinctly South Indian language. The driver was a Bangalorean, and thrilled to bits seeing our license plates. Turns out he was an ASC (Army Supplies Corps) guy driving a supplies truck loaded with Scotch whisky. He wouldn’t let us go unless we had a few shots with him. I was all for halting right there in the desert, but Prashi convinced the driver that we don’t drink and ride.

We did get a chance to look around the cabin. The driver had his own setup in there… a whole tray of boiled eggs and a bottle of Old Monk Rum.

The boys and the stallion crew.

L-R: The cleaner boy, Chaithra, Ranga, Prashi, the Stallion driver.

Chaithra at the wheel of the Stallion.

Prashi is dwarfed by the humongous stallion.