Subaltern Stories: Talk with the Ladies

It was an Officers Mess party and I was a newly posted subaltern. Like other young officers I too collected a drink and moved to a corner near the bar. I was nursing the drink and watching the senior officers and ladies from a distance when the senior subaltern came to me and asked what the hell I was doing alone and away from the others but very close to the bar. He asked me to go to the ladies and talk with them. I tried to protest saying that I didn't know any lady but the senior subaltern was undeterred. He forced me to go with him to a group of senior ladies and introduced me by announcing my name and adding that I was keen to meet the ladies! After that he left the scene. I felt awkward but to cover up my discomfort I started making conversation. I asked one of the ladies about the 2IC, who was away on a course, assuming that she was his wife. She answered without hesitation about the course and that prompted me to prolong the conversation by asking more about  the 2IC and their children. The other ladies started giggling and laughing but I couldn't make out the reason. I persisted with the line of conversation until the lady told me that more questions about the 2IC might not be appropriate for her to answer and pointed to another lady whom I might talk to. Embarrassed, I took leave of her and went to the bar for a refill. And I took a decision not to get pushed by the senior subaltern or for that matter by anyone especially when it comes to ladies!