Newspapers were my oxygen once upon a time and with my "self imposed break" I got time now to really indulge in newspaper reading!
Breezing past the usual politics, local news, politician love stories and "the late to be printed news" of Indias, almost sure, ouster from T-20 World Cup, I settled to the International Section. (I don't go according to the pages and rather go according to my interest in subjects).
I was in loss of words after having gone through the International & National news. Two stories but had one common word in the minds of the people, on whom the stories were.
Two days ago there was a bomb blast. If I am not wrong, 20 people lost their lives and more than that number were injured!
The same day, one person was killed but as he died he killed three others!
At the end, after having read both the articles I really wondered what their mothers would be going through. I mean, just read it! Your child is killed and what is the reason? Awh! That probably could be the deciding factor, without undermining the grieve!
Now for the real story!
The 20 people who died, included the bomber in a remote city of Pakistan! A 12 year old kid walked with a the bag to keep it in a crowded place. He wondered what all he could do with it! Colas, Sweets, toys, clothes, everything wandered in his innocent mind! Little did he know that he wouldn't even have the joy of making use of the Rs.50 note because the bag he carried had a bomb, which exploded as soon as he kept. The militants had cheated (they called it bribed in the newspapers) a "12 year old" kid to go and keep the bomb at a crowded place as an answer to the war raged on them by the Pakistani Army!
The man who died and as he died killed 3 others was a Major from the Indian Army. Born in Ahmeadabad, the Major was informed, through Intelligence reports, about an infiltration into the country through POK. As he rounded the infiltrators, he was sure he would get his battle to the result he was asked to! The battle raged on for more than a day. The next day it started raining and as they were waging the battle the Major lost hold of his foot grip and slided down right under the nose of the infiltrators. Even as he was sure that he would be killed he didn't let his mission have a dead end. He pulled the trigger! Three dead infiltrators and the other 2 ran back into POK, all this in a matter of 20 seconds!
Wonder what these two mothers would be feeling sitting in two different countries? One whose son was lured with money for a "momentory" financial freedom to have some sweets & colas and the other whose mind knew only one thing to protect the freedom of the Nation that he served!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Second Chance?
''I didn't want do that'', Sree pleaded! ''Please give me a chance! I'm sorry.'' he submitted as he saw it loosing, what he loved more than anything or anybody in life! But no one listened to him, no one was around!
Indian Cricket team was on the brink of repeating their feat of getting back the T20 World Cup! Sree was a very successful No.3 batsman. He could very well carry the role at any given point in the match. He could come in and just butcher the opposition if the situation demands & conversely he could also play the role of a sheet anchor and develop the innings and set the momentum.
It was nothing short of a childhood dream for Sree to represent the Indian team at the World Cup even if that had to be T20! He wanted to be a part of the squad which gets the glory for the country! He wanted to do that to give reasons to people like him to justify why every Indian household has to have one cricket fan! He wanted to do that because this is the game he loved more than any other thing in his life, more than anyone else! Cricket was not just passion it was life in every sense to Sree!
Sree grew up with his uncle & aunt ever since his parents moved out of the country to settle in Dubai. They wanted Sree to join but Sree knew that he wanted to be successful in cricket and one day play alongside Sachin THE Tendulkar, which would have been possible only in India. Any which ways he was always close to his uncle than his father, ever since he gifted him his first cricket bat, which made his decision easier!
At the age of 8 when most of the children would have just started picking the season ball, Sree was already there facing them in the nets against seasoned club bowlers! His uncle brought him to the notice of an old & seasoned coach, Piku Gaikwad! He was one of the leading coaches in Mumbai! Piku not only liked the concentration of Sree but also the techniques, which had every possibility of being molded into perfection. Sree's understanding of the finer details of the game was also a plus point which gave Piku the confidence in having the belief that someday Sree would be a top player of India. Sree made immense progress under Piku.
Piku was smart and didn't push Sree into too many matches. He had chalked out a plan of getting him to the top in a proper way so that Sree doesn't get lost just like the thousands of other aspirants of this game.
Sree was equally determined that he wants to get there on the top and deliver! He used to toil day & night and perform! He did have his own luxuries as well. His father provided him with a financial backing which would get Sree home without much struggle. But even then the love for the game, in the kid, hadn't gone even an inch low. Infact he had started loving it even more with every passing day! Sree would forget his time table but never the timings of the matches he was scheduled to play. You ask him when did any player, be it Sachin or Rahul, play a particular innings and he would not only give you the score and the opposition but also the venue and give you a session by session detail of what happened in that match!
Piku knew that if a person was so obsessed with the game it could not only be a reason for his success but in some cases also be the reason for his downfall. But in Sree he didn't find any reason to get alarmed for any negatives!
Piku always inspired his kids to play the game as a team and not just for individual glory. He would always in his briefings speak to his team and make them understand the importance of a team. Sree was very well getting all of these. Along with all of these he was putting it also practically which was more important! He was molding himself into a team man!
Piku clearly had just one favorite student but there were many who wanted to be that! Jitesh was one amongst them! He played well and complimented well with Sree! So much so that Piku would sometimes feel that he would definitely get into the team after Sree!
Jitesh had a middle class background and struggled his way up. He was of the same age as Sree and had joined Piku some 3 years after Sree having joined. He too picked up the game soon but he wasn't as gifted as Sree. That always makes the difference, being gifted! He would always play in a condition which could help Sree then lift the game for the team. No one can forget how the two actually came in early in a game after their team had lost both their openers. Jitesh rotated the strike and Sree delivered the punches. In short they played their game and frustrated the bowlers. By the end of their innings they had posted a total of 289 for 2 from 33 for 2! Without doubt Sree was the top scorer and the Man of the Match!
All this while as he played, Sree wasn't delivering what his father had wanted. Sree's father always wanted him to do well in his studies besides playing the silly game! Sree on the other hand was getting deeper & deeper into the game. His father soon found this unreasonable and cut down a lot of facilities extended to Sree. Frustration did creep into Sree but he was determined to make it. Every day he would catch a train after college and go for his matched at Azad Maidan. The whole feeling of being dependent on his uncle and aunty for his basic needs were eating him. He curtailed his expenses in terms of the magazines & fancy cricket accessories that he splurged on! He would treasure them but now the situation was different. He had one quiet a few man of the matches but had never saved for the rainy day! In those terms Sree was too casual with his life! But now when times changed he tried to adjust with the new life. He was understanding it but somewhere it was frustrating him. Cricket was the only reason he was pulling on & enjoying.
Piku managed to get in, one day, the Chief of Selectors for the Mumbai Cricket Team Mr.Padwal. He was a close friend of Piku & their friendship was too old! Mr.Padwal was a sharp & smart administrator. He watched the boys play and bond. Piku had brought him especially to watch his young lad Sree. The top 30 players were going to get invited to a camp at Wankhede. Piku was sure he'd see Sree in the Mumbai team. But as fate would have it Sree's casual attitude wasn't taken politely. When introduced to Mr.Padwal he just shook hands with an attitude which didn't click well with the Selector. On the other hand Jitesh was more courteous to him and spoke to him with a smile. Jitesh was in the camp of the 30. Piku was happy but not elated, Sree was disappointed as he hadn't seen himself too often on the loosing side. But did he see some conspiracy there? Sree wasn't taking all this in his stride. He secretly prayed for the downfall of his friend! All of Piku's thoughts on team man and others had gone for a toss!
In the meanwhile Sree's relationship with his father was going from bad to worse. Even on the annual trips his father & Sree would have arguments which would be a treat for the entire building even though it was between the four walls and closed windows. Sree wasn't getting his motivation to excel! He used to just go on the ground and play his usual game which was now minus the flamboyance. But the causal way he took his life still existed. He now would wait after the coaching hours not to practice but to just look at the starts above and weave his dreams! Every time he would push the blame on somebody else for not being able to get into the team! He wasn't able to lift himself from the moment he was left!
As prayers would have answered Jitesh, wasn't picked for the final 15-man squad to play for the Mumbai Team. He came back immediately to Piku's camp to sort out his weaknesses, so that he could be in the team the year next. Piku too started pushing Sree to lift his spirits but for some reason his head wasn't, now, let thinking of getting runs. Hatred and jealousy had creeped in and he was now plotting to see to it that it was his turn to get into the team. Jitesh noticed the change but the picture wasn't clear!
A week later their team was playing a crucial semi-final match against one of their arch rivals whom they had never lost to! Sree went in and the team was placed comfortably. They just needed 3 runs an over to win from here. ''I can get that done in maximum 2 more overs'' Sree told his partner when he approached the crease. Fate checkmated him and it became cloudy and breezy. The opposition suddenly could swing the ball. Two overs went and Sree would score only 4 runs out of it and all of a sudden he lost his partner too! In came Jitesh!
Jitesh was glad he could bat once again with his old partner. As soon as he approached the pitch Sree just gave him the customary thumbs up punch & left without even waiting to hear the instructions from the coach! Jitesh took a look at the coach and went to his crease. Sree was all the more determined now and just because he was gifted he completed the game in the next two overs. So much so was it single handed that Jitesh played just 1 ball, when the clear instructions from the coach was to allow both of them to have some match practice for the finals! Sree was just too occupied with himself to even glance at coach or for that matter even listen to Jitesh. Piku celebrated the victory but with a heavy heart! His favorite student had just done what he would have never have wanted him to, taking the game for granted!
The Final match was a couple of days later and Piku wanted to catch up with Sree to talk about his changing attitude but somehow due to certain reasons wasn’t able to do that until the final day! He called up Sree the previous night and told him that he would pick him before the match. On the day of the match Piku reached at Sree’s home sharp at 6,as it was decided. He looked at his watch and his lad was standing there just as he was always, punctual!
Sree placed the kit in the boot of the car and placed himself in the passengers seat! He wished his coach for which he got his usual reply too, but within his heart he knew what was coming. He tried to avoid them by talking about the previous days encounter between India and Australia in the ongoing series but Piku was after all his teacher! He just stopped the conversation and asked Sree, “ What exactly is troubling you?”
Sree knew what it was but tried his last attempts at avoiding it and acted as if he didn’t get a clue of what Piku intended, “ What are you asking about Sir?”
The grounds were cleared for Piku to fire his artillery of doubts! “ What is wrong with your attitude? Why weren’t you following the instructions on the field? Why didn’t you consult Jitesh in the last match? Why didn’t you give him a chance to bat? Didn’t you know he needed match practice too? Why aren’t you being a team man? Isn’t cricket a team sport? Where exactly are you heading to, do you even have any clue?”
Jitesh just looked ahead and had no clue of what to answer! Infact he was so just jumbled up with the outburst, that he couldn’t even recollect the questions! All he felt was he was almost out of favour of his coach who had groomed him till now to probably, someday, replace Rahul in the National Team! Negativity was taking over his mind, thoughts, body & action! Sree just sat quietly. Piku wasn’t loosing his cool but wasn’t enjoying the silence as well! He just let it be!
The day was bright and the match as expected had brought in some senior selectors of the National Squad! They had come in to check out for some good display in the lower circuits of cricket!
The match was a one sided affair with Sree scoring the highest score and in top form! 79 off just 37 deliveries! Victory was on their side! But this was at the cost of Jitesh’s wicket! Sree had called out for a run but then took back his call and the team man that Jitesh was gave his wicket for the cause of the team or rather the cause of the well set Sree!
The team celebrated and so did Piku but there wasn’t the usual mood in his celebration! Time had taken his so called prodigy far beyond his capabilities of recovery! For the first time in his life he was submitting himself to the call of fate! Piku didn’t disclose the news at the party. As soon as the party ended, he called out Sree, “Sree I am heading home via your road, come in I will drop you.” The incomplete conversation was still fresh in his mind and so was the run out. He wanted to avoid but then he had no option, the party had ended and no one was around!
Piku just pushed his accelerator and in no time he was in his top speed! He wasn’t rash but he was too quick and Sree in no time understood the reason!
“Was that required?” Piku asked! By now he had slowed down the car and was heading towards Mumbai Suburbs. Sree knew that this time he cannot afford to mess it up, “I didn’t do that on purpose. You need to trust me.” Sree began to defend himself but didn’t sound convincing about the run out! “Oh so you very well know what I am talking about! Thank God your clarity is getting back on track!” Piku said with sarcasm! “But that wasn’t on purpose. I called for sure but soon I realized that the fielder was the best guy in their team and I didn’t want to take a chance and unfortunately till then it was too late & it was his personal decision to throw his wicket!”
“Personal decision!” thundered Piku’s voice so much so that the few other people who were at the Haji Ali Junction signal at 1:30 am also looked into their junction! “Personal Decision? That’s what you call his call?”
Sree immediately realized his mistake and submitted to his coach’s anger, “Sorry sir! It was his decision for the team!”
“Good Lord should you understand, he did that at a cost! You know, you have been selected to represent the Indian Cricket Team in the T20 World Cup! He has been overlooked and you should Thank him for that!”
Sree just couldn’t believe his ears! He had already forgotten all his mistakes and drowned into the happiness of being a part of the Indian Cricket Team without having played even a single First Class Cricket! He was going to be adding to a list of a few players who have managed to do that, but only to drown in oblivion at a later date!
Piku saw the big, bright smile on Sree’s face. His anger evaporated on seeing that smile! There was a sense of achievement in that smile but Piku wasn’t sure if he had realized what he had just told his ward. Piku decided to just leave it for the moment and let him soak in that feeling. He pulled over the car at the Worli Sea Face to let Sree enjoy the moment! After it is not always that you are pulled into the Indian Cricket Team without playing a single First Class Match! Sree just threw his hands in the air and stood on the boundary wall and shouted in joy! He jumped and punched his fist in the air thrice! Passerby’s didn’t recognize him as of now, so it was easy for them to think it could be a case of mental imbalance! Piku though had to give in to the celebration!
Suddenly the Tourist Police pulled up and approached Sree.
“Kay re? Kay challa ahe? Tight ahe ka?” the havaldar asked Sree.
“Nahi Saheb! Aaj pasoon tumhala me TV var disnaar! Autograph pahije ka?”
The havaldar was not in a mood to take that and was almost going to catch hold of Sree’s collar when he say the great Piku Gaikwad running towards them!
“Piku Saheb, tumhi ikde?”
“Havaldar Saheb, ha amcha mulga ahe! Tyala aaj T20 Cricket Team madhe select kela ahe.”
Immediately the havaldars hands left Sree and adjusted the collar for him and gave him a salute.
“Sorry saheb!” he said and rushed to the van to brief his senior. In no time both of them came with a piece of paper and the camera phone!
“Saheb amhala ek photo ani ek autograph! Mazza mulga tumcha motha fan ahe!” the Senior Inspector said.
Piku wondered where did the inspectors’ son see Sree playing, he hadn’t even play a single First Class game but then let Sree have the experience! Sree pulled in his coach too in the picture which would have otherwise been illogical to be clicked!
Sree just let the moment drown him in thoughts of glory and success! He could already imagine himself hitting the winning runs for India and being given with the Man of the Series! He could see the innumerable media guys surrounding him with requests for sound bytes! He could see his fans shouting his names and calling out for a photo & some for an autograph! He could see himself on top of the bus which would get the boys again to Wankhede after they arrive in India with the trophy! He could see himself being awarded with a special gift from the Board Secretary for his exemplary performance in the T20. The complete stadium was once again filled with people who shouted each players name as they were rewarded. Suddenly there was a huge crowd which managed to break the barricade, just as they did last time and approach the stage. There were many people who shouted for Dhoni, for Yuvraj, for Bhajji and there were also many for Sree! After all he was the new face of the Indian Cricket team! Even his team mates were very happy with his performance and since he was the kid in the whole team, at 17 years of age, he was pampered to no end because of his performance. They teased him as the girls called out his name, they showered him with attention which anyone would die for, they just made him the man of the moment when suddenly in that crowd he saw a very familiar face cheering for him! It was Jitesh!
Sree looked at his coach and gave him a smile. The coach had given Sree a complete 40 minutes to live in his dreams, as he drove towards Mulund a suburban Mumbai city!
Sree got up and looked at his coach, “Thank You Sir! I hope I haven’t disappointed you now.”
Piku was a bit puzzled but understood that Sree still hadn’t got what he wanted to convey. He just resigned now and told Sree, “You have worked hard for this all your life and don’t forget to make the best use of it and not the worst misuse!” Saying that he drove away leaving Sree.
Sree received a call from the BCCI the next morning informing him about his selection. In no time there were media persons at his door step, his distant relatives, his friends, his building people but Piku wasn’t around this time to guide him! Nevertheless the gifted human that he was he picked up the questions with the attitude of a seasoned campaigner as he had seen Dhoni doing that with much confidence and ease, more than a million times! His confident answers floored the media guys, he was smart, young and witty! He was already their darling! He was all over the news channels! He was all over the sports sections of all the top newspapers! Some called it the discovery of India’s next Sachin! Cricketing experts who had never seen him play ever started analyzing his techniques and understanding where he could fit in the line up! One senior retired player went to the extent of saying that he had seen him while driving past Azad Maidan and got so impressed that he stopped his car and stood there to watch him display his skills and that day he had told Piku that he would make it to the Indian team!
The team was to assemble at Wankhede for practice before they embarked on their journey to get home the trophy once again! Every one was excited! Sree was over excited!
He was asked to report to the Hilton Towers, where the Indian Team was put up. That wasn’t the first time he had seen a 5 star hotel, but for surely that was the first time he had seen a 5 star hotel with some many of his stars! There was Dhoni, there was Yuvraj, there was Bhajji, there was Sehwag, Zaheer, Irfan, Yusuf, Pragyan, Raina, Rohit, Ishant and others! They were a young lot! As soon as Sree entered the area where the players sat, Coach Kirsten came over and shook hands and introduced himself. Sree moved over to the team area and shook hands with everyone! He sat there and listened to the team conversations! They were talking about the usual topics which kept the youngsters busy! They spoke about the fast cars, the F1 races, the party thrown the previous night and the pretty actresses! Suddenly one of the team members quipped, “I guess we now need to talk with certain restrain as we have a kid in our team now! He isn’t even 18!” looking at Sree. Sree smiled and knew his moment had arrived! His presence was finally acknowledged!
The team got into their regular grind of training. 4 days before the teams departure to England he asked for a special permission to go and meet Piku. The management, as always, was kind enough to grant his wishes! Sree was excited to meet his coach and share with him the experience of being THERE! He wanted to tell him how they practiced, how they used technology, he wanted to tell him how they enjoyed, he wanted to tell him what they had nick named him, he wanted to tell him every single minute of his stay with the team!
He rushed to Azad Maidan, in a car arranged by the team management with a security officer! He ran towards the tent where Piku usually sat, only to find Jitesh there! Jitesh got up and smiled at him and moved towards him to congratulate when all of a sudden he saw all the smile from Sree’s face disappearing! It was a flat expression now. Jitesh wasn’t the one who would take it lying every time, so just let it be.
“Coach has gone to the wash room. He should be here any minute. There he is.” Jitesh said and moved over to the playing area.
“Hey young man! What brings you here? You are supposed to be with the team now!”
Sree’s mood had already swung from one end to the other, “ Yeah I was but just thought I should come here and meet your before my departure.”
“Oh well that’s a nice thought! All the best then!”
Sree suddenly felt all his happiness being robbed and all his negativity creeping back to his mind, body and actions! He felt that it was all because of Jitesh that the coach who once upon a time loved him today was so cold with his reactions to him!
“Well done Jitesh! You should just start moving a bit too early I feel.” guided Piku as he moved away from Sree.
Sree was beginning to feel shattered. He just wanted to have an end to all of these issues. He was for once ready to just take it on! He turned immediately and his heart was beating fast and the adrenalin rush was high! Everything in his head was running crazy to get just one thing, get back at Jitesh! Get back at him! Get back! Get back! Get back! Get back at him, was all that was running in his mind!
Piku looked towards Sree and before he could know what happened next, there was a strong punch that landed right on the face of Jitesh! He dropped immediately on the ground with blood oozing from his mouth! Everyone got around and held Sree! Piku Gaikwad had just witnessed the first rivalry, between his two own wards, in his life! Piku immediately picked Jitesh, but he was unconscious! He called out for some help from among those who held Sree! No one understood anything!
Sree just sat over there on the ground! He sat there and had a feel of the place where he had grown up! He saw everything in front of his eyes! The first time he was bought here by his uncle, the first time he won a match for Piku, the first time he won a sizeable amount as Man of the Match and ran immediately to the adjacent mobile shop to buy a mobile for his uncle, he saw his first and only love cricket in front of him and all of a sudden he had a feeling that we was loosing everything! He had realized that his love wasn’t pure after all! His love had lost its way! He had taken his love for granted! Love was lost!
Piku, got Jitesh to Har Kishan Das Hospital as he knew some doctors there. He spoke to everyone who had gathered there and asked them to leave.
“Sanjay”, Piku called. “Could you please go and see where exactly is Sree? If I am not wrong he should still be on the ground.”
“Fine Sir, I will go and check at the ground and give you a call.”
Piku looked at the bed where Jitesh lay. He didn’t want to believe what he had just seen. “Would this have been avoidable if I would have spoken to Sree? Did I falter to deliver somewhere to my students?” His mind asked him as he sat down to think about his next set of action. “I guess Sree would have to be corrected now. If not now he would never learn in his life.”
Sree, couldn’t control his emotions and burst into tears! Regret he did begin, even though it looked a tad late. He regretted because he could see loosing his love. He regretted because for years that was the only one thing he knew, to play cricket and that itself wasn’t pure today! He regretted for his action, indirectly but because of his love! He got up immediately and called for a cab. The security guy who was sent with Sree looked hapless as Sree got into the cab and asked him to go to the hospital. He knew Piku would take Jitesh to Har Kishan Das, as he had always done that on earlier occasions if any of his players would get injured! The security guy followed the cab but immediately informed his senior about the incidents. The news had reached Mr.Padwal!
Dr. Chivate was with Piku examining Jitesh and ruled out anything serious! Suddenly Piku’s phone rang, “Yes my friend. I know exactly why you called.” Piku answered to Mr. Padwal’s call.
“So what I heard was true?” asked Mr. Padwal.
“Unfortunately I cannot deny it.” answered Piku “ I really wanted him to play for India. It would also have been a dream come true for me. But I guess everything other than his Love for the game got the better of him!”
“But Piku, was it provocated? I mean did the other guy actually tell him something which led Sree to do such an action? If that is the case we could just give him a warning and let him go, after all, he is a kid!”
“Nai! Nai! It wasn’t provocated at all!”, Piku replied and got up to move to the hospital passage and saw Sree standing right at the door! He was standing there like a statue! Still as a statue!
Piku went out and continued his conversation and came back to Sree in a couple of minutes! “What are you thinking?” he asked Sree.
“I am feeling terrible! I don’t know how did I manage to do this! But trust me I still love the game and I want to play it with my heart! I promise you this would never, ever, happen again!” Sree literally pleaded!
Sree walked towards Jitesh’s bed, under the watchful eyes of Piku, who still wasn’t sure if he could completely trust him. Sree sat on the bed next to Jitesh and looked at him! In no time tears started flowing! Sree was repenting for his actions!
“Sir I honestly admit that what I did was wrong. I wasn’t provocated either, I just got a bit too obsessed with the game and didn’t want to believe that anyone would love it more than me! I couldn’t just see that anyone other than me was going to achieve the highest level of the game, sooner! I just couldn’t digest that someone was loving it more than me!” He cried like a baby! He shivered! He begged! He could see everything going!
Piku could see his lad understanding, “Listen Sree, I did try to talk to you about all this and it is not that it was all of a sudden. I did warn you about this but you never listened to me! You were just too lost trying to get everything for yourself. I honestly don’t know what could be the repercussions of your actions but I guess you should be ready to gear up to face it.”
“But I am honestly sorry for what I did! I really really am sorry! I cannot put in words how much heavy I am feeling after this mistake! Please Sir! Help me get back with my love! Help me! I wouldn’t want to loose it Sir! I know nothing that this in life!”
Piku’s phone rang once again, “Yeah Padwal, tell me.” Piku got up and moved out but not too far as he still didn’t trust Sree! He looked at Sree! Sree had held Jitesh’s leg and was muttering something. Piku’s conversation ended and he slowly moved towards to bed and heard Sree talking to Jitesh. He was apologetic! He was extremely repentant!
Sree was trying to talk to Jitesh, who lay unconscious, and recollect the old days when they played the matches together! Sree had a smile on his face as he recollected his old days. Piku could see some hope on his face. He placed his hands on Sree’s shoulders and looked at him. He didn’t have the courage, but somebody had to deliver it to Sree, “You have been replaced from the squad!” He squeezed Sree’s shoulder and tried to empathise!
Sree wasn’t just able to take it! He just drowned his face in despair! He got up and walked up to the corridor. It was empty but his heart was filled with pain, despair & helplessness!
''I didn't want do that'', Sree shouted in protest! ''Please give me a chance! I'm sorry.'' he submitted immediately as he saw it loosing, what he loved more than anything or anybody in life! But no one listened to him, no one was around!
Shouldn’t he deserve another chance, thought Piku as he stood by the bed.
Miracle, could that happen?
Indian Cricket team was on the brink of repeating their feat of getting back the T20 World Cup! Sree was a very successful No.3 batsman. He could very well carry the role at any given point in the match. He could come in and just butcher the opposition if the situation demands & conversely he could also play the role of a sheet anchor and develop the innings and set the momentum.
It was nothing short of a childhood dream for Sree to represent the Indian team at the World Cup even if that had to be T20! He wanted to be a part of the squad which gets the glory for the country! He wanted to do that to give reasons to people like him to justify why every Indian household has to have one cricket fan! He wanted to do that because this is the game he loved more than any other thing in his life, more than anyone else! Cricket was not just passion it was life in every sense to Sree!
Sree grew up with his uncle & aunt ever since his parents moved out of the country to settle in Dubai. They wanted Sree to join but Sree knew that he wanted to be successful in cricket and one day play alongside Sachin THE Tendulkar, which would have been possible only in India. Any which ways he was always close to his uncle than his father, ever since he gifted him his first cricket bat, which made his decision easier!
At the age of 8 when most of the children would have just started picking the season ball, Sree was already there facing them in the nets against seasoned club bowlers! His uncle brought him to the notice of an old & seasoned coach, Piku Gaikwad! He was one of the leading coaches in Mumbai! Piku not only liked the concentration of Sree but also the techniques, which had every possibility of being molded into perfection. Sree's understanding of the finer details of the game was also a plus point which gave Piku the confidence in having the belief that someday Sree would be a top player of India. Sree made immense progress under Piku.
Piku was smart and didn't push Sree into too many matches. He had chalked out a plan of getting him to the top in a proper way so that Sree doesn't get lost just like the thousands of other aspirants of this game.
Sree was equally determined that he wants to get there on the top and deliver! He used to toil day & night and perform! He did have his own luxuries as well. His father provided him with a financial backing which would get Sree home without much struggle. But even then the love for the game, in the kid, hadn't gone even an inch low. Infact he had started loving it even more with every passing day! Sree would forget his time table but never the timings of the matches he was scheduled to play. You ask him when did any player, be it Sachin or Rahul, play a particular innings and he would not only give you the score and the opposition but also the venue and give you a session by session detail of what happened in that match!
Piku knew that if a person was so obsessed with the game it could not only be a reason for his success but in some cases also be the reason for his downfall. But in Sree he didn't find any reason to get alarmed for any negatives!
Piku always inspired his kids to play the game as a team and not just for individual glory. He would always in his briefings speak to his team and make them understand the importance of a team. Sree was very well getting all of these. Along with all of these he was putting it also practically which was more important! He was molding himself into a team man!
Piku clearly had just one favorite student but there were many who wanted to be that! Jitesh was one amongst them! He played well and complimented well with Sree! So much so that Piku would sometimes feel that he would definitely get into the team after Sree!
Jitesh had a middle class background and struggled his way up. He was of the same age as Sree and had joined Piku some 3 years after Sree having joined. He too picked up the game soon but he wasn't as gifted as Sree. That always makes the difference, being gifted! He would always play in a condition which could help Sree then lift the game for the team. No one can forget how the two actually came in early in a game after their team had lost both their openers. Jitesh rotated the strike and Sree delivered the punches. In short they played their game and frustrated the bowlers. By the end of their innings they had posted a total of 289 for 2 from 33 for 2! Without doubt Sree was the top scorer and the Man of the Match!
All this while as he played, Sree wasn't delivering what his father had wanted. Sree's father always wanted him to do well in his studies besides playing the silly game! Sree on the other hand was getting deeper & deeper into the game. His father soon found this unreasonable and cut down a lot of facilities extended to Sree. Frustration did creep into Sree but he was determined to make it. Every day he would catch a train after college and go for his matched at Azad Maidan. The whole feeling of being dependent on his uncle and aunty for his basic needs were eating him. He curtailed his expenses in terms of the magazines & fancy cricket accessories that he splurged on! He would treasure them but now the situation was different. He had one quiet a few man of the matches but had never saved for the rainy day! In those terms Sree was too casual with his life! But now when times changed he tried to adjust with the new life. He was understanding it but somewhere it was frustrating him. Cricket was the only reason he was pulling on & enjoying.
Piku managed to get in, one day, the Chief of Selectors for the Mumbai Cricket Team Mr.Padwal. He was a close friend of Piku & their friendship was too old! Mr.Padwal was a sharp & smart administrator. He watched the boys play and bond. Piku had brought him especially to watch his young lad Sree. The top 30 players were going to get invited to a camp at Wankhede. Piku was sure he'd see Sree in the Mumbai team. But as fate would have it Sree's casual attitude wasn't taken politely. When introduced to Mr.Padwal he just shook hands with an attitude which didn't click well with the Selector. On the other hand Jitesh was more courteous to him and spoke to him with a smile. Jitesh was in the camp of the 30. Piku was happy but not elated, Sree was disappointed as he hadn't seen himself too often on the loosing side. But did he see some conspiracy there? Sree wasn't taking all this in his stride. He secretly prayed for the downfall of his friend! All of Piku's thoughts on team man and others had gone for a toss!
In the meanwhile Sree's relationship with his father was going from bad to worse. Even on the annual trips his father & Sree would have arguments which would be a treat for the entire building even though it was between the four walls and closed windows. Sree wasn't getting his motivation to excel! He used to just go on the ground and play his usual game which was now minus the flamboyance. But the causal way he took his life still existed. He now would wait after the coaching hours not to practice but to just look at the starts above and weave his dreams! Every time he would push the blame on somebody else for not being able to get into the team! He wasn't able to lift himself from the moment he was left!
As prayers would have answered Jitesh, wasn't picked for the final 15-man squad to play for the Mumbai Team. He came back immediately to Piku's camp to sort out his weaknesses, so that he could be in the team the year next. Piku too started pushing Sree to lift his spirits but for some reason his head wasn't, now, let thinking of getting runs. Hatred and jealousy had creeped in and he was now plotting to see to it that it was his turn to get into the team. Jitesh noticed the change but the picture wasn't clear!
A week later their team was playing a crucial semi-final match against one of their arch rivals whom they had never lost to! Sree went in and the team was placed comfortably. They just needed 3 runs an over to win from here. ''I can get that done in maximum 2 more overs'' Sree told his partner when he approached the crease. Fate checkmated him and it became cloudy and breezy. The opposition suddenly could swing the ball. Two overs went and Sree would score only 4 runs out of it and all of a sudden he lost his partner too! In came Jitesh!
Jitesh was glad he could bat once again with his old partner. As soon as he approached the pitch Sree just gave him the customary thumbs up punch & left without even waiting to hear the instructions from the coach! Jitesh took a look at the coach and went to his crease. Sree was all the more determined now and just because he was gifted he completed the game in the next two overs. So much so was it single handed that Jitesh played just 1 ball, when the clear instructions from the coach was to allow both of them to have some match practice for the finals! Sree was just too occupied with himself to even glance at coach or for that matter even listen to Jitesh. Piku celebrated the victory but with a heavy heart! His favorite student had just done what he would have never have wanted him to, taking the game for granted!
The Final match was a couple of days later and Piku wanted to catch up with Sree to talk about his changing attitude but somehow due to certain reasons wasn’t able to do that until the final day! He called up Sree the previous night and told him that he would pick him before the match. On the day of the match Piku reached at Sree’s home sharp at 6,as it was decided. He looked at his watch and his lad was standing there just as he was always, punctual!
Sree placed the kit in the boot of the car and placed himself in the passengers seat! He wished his coach for which he got his usual reply too, but within his heart he knew what was coming. He tried to avoid them by talking about the previous days encounter between India and Australia in the ongoing series but Piku was after all his teacher! He just stopped the conversation and asked Sree, “ What exactly is troubling you?”
Sree knew what it was but tried his last attempts at avoiding it and acted as if he didn’t get a clue of what Piku intended, “ What are you asking about Sir?”
The grounds were cleared for Piku to fire his artillery of doubts! “ What is wrong with your attitude? Why weren’t you following the instructions on the field? Why didn’t you consult Jitesh in the last match? Why didn’t you give him a chance to bat? Didn’t you know he needed match practice too? Why aren’t you being a team man? Isn’t cricket a team sport? Where exactly are you heading to, do you even have any clue?”
Jitesh just looked ahead and had no clue of what to answer! Infact he was so just jumbled up with the outburst, that he couldn’t even recollect the questions! All he felt was he was almost out of favour of his coach who had groomed him till now to probably, someday, replace Rahul in the National Team! Negativity was taking over his mind, thoughts, body & action! Sree just sat quietly. Piku wasn’t loosing his cool but wasn’t enjoying the silence as well! He just let it be!
The day was bright and the match as expected had brought in some senior selectors of the National Squad! They had come in to check out for some good display in the lower circuits of cricket!
The match was a one sided affair with Sree scoring the highest score and in top form! 79 off just 37 deliveries! Victory was on their side! But this was at the cost of Jitesh’s wicket! Sree had called out for a run but then took back his call and the team man that Jitesh was gave his wicket for the cause of the team or rather the cause of the well set Sree!
The team celebrated and so did Piku but there wasn’t the usual mood in his celebration! Time had taken his so called prodigy far beyond his capabilities of recovery! For the first time in his life he was submitting himself to the call of fate! Piku didn’t disclose the news at the party. As soon as the party ended, he called out Sree, “Sree I am heading home via your road, come in I will drop you.” The incomplete conversation was still fresh in his mind and so was the run out. He wanted to avoid but then he had no option, the party had ended and no one was around!
Piku just pushed his accelerator and in no time he was in his top speed! He wasn’t rash but he was too quick and Sree in no time understood the reason!
“Was that required?” Piku asked! By now he had slowed down the car and was heading towards Mumbai Suburbs. Sree knew that this time he cannot afford to mess it up, “I didn’t do that on purpose. You need to trust me.” Sree began to defend himself but didn’t sound convincing about the run out! “Oh so you very well know what I am talking about! Thank God your clarity is getting back on track!” Piku said with sarcasm! “But that wasn’t on purpose. I called for sure but soon I realized that the fielder was the best guy in their team and I didn’t want to take a chance and unfortunately till then it was too late & it was his personal decision to throw his wicket!”
“Personal decision!” thundered Piku’s voice so much so that the few other people who were at the Haji Ali Junction signal at 1:30 am also looked into their junction! “Personal Decision? That’s what you call his call?”
Sree immediately realized his mistake and submitted to his coach’s anger, “Sorry sir! It was his decision for the team!”
“Good Lord should you understand, he did that at a cost! You know, you have been selected to represent the Indian Cricket Team in the T20 World Cup! He has been overlooked and you should Thank him for that!”
Sree just couldn’t believe his ears! He had already forgotten all his mistakes and drowned into the happiness of being a part of the Indian Cricket Team without having played even a single First Class Cricket! He was going to be adding to a list of a few players who have managed to do that, but only to drown in oblivion at a later date!
Piku saw the big, bright smile on Sree’s face. His anger evaporated on seeing that smile! There was a sense of achievement in that smile but Piku wasn’t sure if he had realized what he had just told his ward. Piku decided to just leave it for the moment and let him soak in that feeling. He pulled over the car at the Worli Sea Face to let Sree enjoy the moment! After it is not always that you are pulled into the Indian Cricket Team without playing a single First Class Match! Sree just threw his hands in the air and stood on the boundary wall and shouted in joy! He jumped and punched his fist in the air thrice! Passerby’s didn’t recognize him as of now, so it was easy for them to think it could be a case of mental imbalance! Piku though had to give in to the celebration!
Suddenly the Tourist Police pulled up and approached Sree.
“Kay re? Kay challa ahe? Tight ahe ka?” the havaldar asked Sree.
“Nahi Saheb! Aaj pasoon tumhala me TV var disnaar! Autograph pahije ka?”
The havaldar was not in a mood to take that and was almost going to catch hold of Sree’s collar when he say the great Piku Gaikwad running towards them!
“Piku Saheb, tumhi ikde?”
“Havaldar Saheb, ha amcha mulga ahe! Tyala aaj T20 Cricket Team madhe select kela ahe.”
Immediately the havaldars hands left Sree and adjusted the collar for him and gave him a salute.
“Sorry saheb!” he said and rushed to the van to brief his senior. In no time both of them came with a piece of paper and the camera phone!
“Saheb amhala ek photo ani ek autograph! Mazza mulga tumcha motha fan ahe!” the Senior Inspector said.
Piku wondered where did the inspectors’ son see Sree playing, he hadn’t even play a single First Class game but then let Sree have the experience! Sree pulled in his coach too in the picture which would have otherwise been illogical to be clicked!
Sree just let the moment drown him in thoughts of glory and success! He could already imagine himself hitting the winning runs for India and being given with the Man of the Series! He could see the innumerable media guys surrounding him with requests for sound bytes! He could see his fans shouting his names and calling out for a photo & some for an autograph! He could see himself on top of the bus which would get the boys again to Wankhede after they arrive in India with the trophy! He could see himself being awarded with a special gift from the Board Secretary for his exemplary performance in the T20. The complete stadium was once again filled with people who shouted each players name as they were rewarded. Suddenly there was a huge crowd which managed to break the barricade, just as they did last time and approach the stage. There were many people who shouted for Dhoni, for Yuvraj, for Bhajji and there were also many for Sree! After all he was the new face of the Indian Cricket team! Even his team mates were very happy with his performance and since he was the kid in the whole team, at 17 years of age, he was pampered to no end because of his performance. They teased him as the girls called out his name, they showered him with attention which anyone would die for, they just made him the man of the moment when suddenly in that crowd he saw a very familiar face cheering for him! It was Jitesh!
Sree looked at his coach and gave him a smile. The coach had given Sree a complete 40 minutes to live in his dreams, as he drove towards Mulund a suburban Mumbai city!
Sree got up and looked at his coach, “Thank You Sir! I hope I haven’t disappointed you now.”
Piku was a bit puzzled but understood that Sree still hadn’t got what he wanted to convey. He just resigned now and told Sree, “You have worked hard for this all your life and don’t forget to make the best use of it and not the worst misuse!” Saying that he drove away leaving Sree.
Sree received a call from the BCCI the next morning informing him about his selection. In no time there were media persons at his door step, his distant relatives, his friends, his building people but Piku wasn’t around this time to guide him! Nevertheless the gifted human that he was he picked up the questions with the attitude of a seasoned campaigner as he had seen Dhoni doing that with much confidence and ease, more than a million times! His confident answers floored the media guys, he was smart, young and witty! He was already their darling! He was all over the news channels! He was all over the sports sections of all the top newspapers! Some called it the discovery of India’s next Sachin! Cricketing experts who had never seen him play ever started analyzing his techniques and understanding where he could fit in the line up! One senior retired player went to the extent of saying that he had seen him while driving past Azad Maidan and got so impressed that he stopped his car and stood there to watch him display his skills and that day he had told Piku that he would make it to the Indian team!
The team was to assemble at Wankhede for practice before they embarked on their journey to get home the trophy once again! Every one was excited! Sree was over excited!
He was asked to report to the Hilton Towers, where the Indian Team was put up. That wasn’t the first time he had seen a 5 star hotel, but for surely that was the first time he had seen a 5 star hotel with some many of his stars! There was Dhoni, there was Yuvraj, there was Bhajji, there was Sehwag, Zaheer, Irfan, Yusuf, Pragyan, Raina, Rohit, Ishant and others! They were a young lot! As soon as Sree entered the area where the players sat, Coach Kirsten came over and shook hands and introduced himself. Sree moved over to the team area and shook hands with everyone! He sat there and listened to the team conversations! They were talking about the usual topics which kept the youngsters busy! They spoke about the fast cars, the F1 races, the party thrown the previous night and the pretty actresses! Suddenly one of the team members quipped, “I guess we now need to talk with certain restrain as we have a kid in our team now! He isn’t even 18!” looking at Sree. Sree smiled and knew his moment had arrived! His presence was finally acknowledged!
The team got into their regular grind of training. 4 days before the teams departure to England he asked for a special permission to go and meet Piku. The management, as always, was kind enough to grant his wishes! Sree was excited to meet his coach and share with him the experience of being THERE! He wanted to tell him how they practiced, how they used technology, he wanted to tell him how they enjoyed, he wanted to tell him what they had nick named him, he wanted to tell him every single minute of his stay with the team!
He rushed to Azad Maidan, in a car arranged by the team management with a security officer! He ran towards the tent where Piku usually sat, only to find Jitesh there! Jitesh got up and smiled at him and moved towards him to congratulate when all of a sudden he saw all the smile from Sree’s face disappearing! It was a flat expression now. Jitesh wasn’t the one who would take it lying every time, so just let it be.
“Coach has gone to the wash room. He should be here any minute. There he is.” Jitesh said and moved over to the playing area.
“Hey young man! What brings you here? You are supposed to be with the team now!”
Sree’s mood had already swung from one end to the other, “ Yeah I was but just thought I should come here and meet your before my departure.”
“Oh well that’s a nice thought! All the best then!”
Sree suddenly felt all his happiness being robbed and all his negativity creeping back to his mind, body and actions! He felt that it was all because of Jitesh that the coach who once upon a time loved him today was so cold with his reactions to him!
“Well done Jitesh! You should just start moving a bit too early I feel.” guided Piku as he moved away from Sree.
Sree was beginning to feel shattered. He just wanted to have an end to all of these issues. He was for once ready to just take it on! He turned immediately and his heart was beating fast and the adrenalin rush was high! Everything in his head was running crazy to get just one thing, get back at Jitesh! Get back at him! Get back! Get back! Get back! Get back at him, was all that was running in his mind!
Piku looked towards Sree and before he could know what happened next, there was a strong punch that landed right on the face of Jitesh! He dropped immediately on the ground with blood oozing from his mouth! Everyone got around and held Sree! Piku Gaikwad had just witnessed the first rivalry, between his two own wards, in his life! Piku immediately picked Jitesh, but he was unconscious! He called out for some help from among those who held Sree! No one understood anything!
Sree just sat over there on the ground! He sat there and had a feel of the place where he had grown up! He saw everything in front of his eyes! The first time he was bought here by his uncle, the first time he won a match for Piku, the first time he won a sizeable amount as Man of the Match and ran immediately to the adjacent mobile shop to buy a mobile for his uncle, he saw his first and only love cricket in front of him and all of a sudden he had a feeling that we was loosing everything! He had realized that his love wasn’t pure after all! His love had lost its way! He had taken his love for granted! Love was lost!
Piku, got Jitesh to Har Kishan Das Hospital as he knew some doctors there. He spoke to everyone who had gathered there and asked them to leave.
“Sanjay”, Piku called. “Could you please go and see where exactly is Sree? If I am not wrong he should still be on the ground.”
“Fine Sir, I will go and check at the ground and give you a call.”
Piku looked at the bed where Jitesh lay. He didn’t want to believe what he had just seen. “Would this have been avoidable if I would have spoken to Sree? Did I falter to deliver somewhere to my students?” His mind asked him as he sat down to think about his next set of action. “I guess Sree would have to be corrected now. If not now he would never learn in his life.”
Sree, couldn’t control his emotions and burst into tears! Regret he did begin, even though it looked a tad late. He regretted because he could see loosing his love. He regretted because for years that was the only one thing he knew, to play cricket and that itself wasn’t pure today! He regretted for his action, indirectly but because of his love! He got up immediately and called for a cab. The security guy who was sent with Sree looked hapless as Sree got into the cab and asked him to go to the hospital. He knew Piku would take Jitesh to Har Kishan Das, as he had always done that on earlier occasions if any of his players would get injured! The security guy followed the cab but immediately informed his senior about the incidents. The news had reached Mr.Padwal!
Dr. Chivate was with Piku examining Jitesh and ruled out anything serious! Suddenly Piku’s phone rang, “Yes my friend. I know exactly why you called.” Piku answered to Mr. Padwal’s call.
“So what I heard was true?” asked Mr. Padwal.
“Unfortunately I cannot deny it.” answered Piku “ I really wanted him to play for India. It would also have been a dream come true for me. But I guess everything other than his Love for the game got the better of him!”
“But Piku, was it provocated? I mean did the other guy actually tell him something which led Sree to do such an action? If that is the case we could just give him a warning and let him go, after all, he is a kid!”
“Nai! Nai! It wasn’t provocated at all!”, Piku replied and got up to move to the hospital passage and saw Sree standing right at the door! He was standing there like a statue! Still as a statue!
Piku went out and continued his conversation and came back to Sree in a couple of minutes! “What are you thinking?” he asked Sree.
“I am feeling terrible! I don’t know how did I manage to do this! But trust me I still love the game and I want to play it with my heart! I promise you this would never, ever, happen again!” Sree literally pleaded!
Sree walked towards Jitesh’s bed, under the watchful eyes of Piku, who still wasn’t sure if he could completely trust him. Sree sat on the bed next to Jitesh and looked at him! In no time tears started flowing! Sree was repenting for his actions!
“Sir I honestly admit that what I did was wrong. I wasn’t provocated either, I just got a bit too obsessed with the game and didn’t want to believe that anyone would love it more than me! I couldn’t just see that anyone other than me was going to achieve the highest level of the game, sooner! I just couldn’t digest that someone was loving it more than me!” He cried like a baby! He shivered! He begged! He could see everything going!
Piku could see his lad understanding, “Listen Sree, I did try to talk to you about all this and it is not that it was all of a sudden. I did warn you about this but you never listened to me! You were just too lost trying to get everything for yourself. I honestly don’t know what could be the repercussions of your actions but I guess you should be ready to gear up to face it.”
“But I am honestly sorry for what I did! I really really am sorry! I cannot put in words how much heavy I am feeling after this mistake! Please Sir! Help me get back with my love! Help me! I wouldn’t want to loose it Sir! I know nothing that this in life!”
Piku’s phone rang once again, “Yeah Padwal, tell me.” Piku got up and moved out but not too far as he still didn’t trust Sree! He looked at Sree! Sree had held Jitesh’s leg and was muttering something. Piku’s conversation ended and he slowly moved towards to bed and heard Sree talking to Jitesh. He was apologetic! He was extremely repentant!
Sree was trying to talk to Jitesh, who lay unconscious, and recollect the old days when they played the matches together! Sree had a smile on his face as he recollected his old days. Piku could see some hope on his face. He placed his hands on Sree’s shoulders and looked at him. He didn’t have the courage, but somebody had to deliver it to Sree, “You have been replaced from the squad!” He squeezed Sree’s shoulder and tried to empathise!
Sree wasn’t just able to take it! He just drowned his face in despair! He got up and walked up to the corridor. It was empty but his heart was filled with pain, despair & helplessness!
''I didn't want do that'', Sree shouted in protest! ''Please give me a chance! I'm sorry.'' he submitted immediately as he saw it loosing, what he loved more than anything or anybody in life! But no one listened to him, no one was around!
Shouldn’t he deserve another chance, thought Piku as he stood by the bed.
Miracle, could that happen?
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