Magnificent Memories

June 2019

Afternoon at the playground in school

It was a hot afternoon. A group of boys played cricket in one section, few students Hopscotch in another portion and two fierce teams, highly competitive, played football on most of the ground. The goalkeeper kicked the dirty football with such energy that it soared up high above the ground and bounced near the goalpost of the opponent team. The defender immediately became conscious and focused on the ball but only in vain as the striker kicked in the ball successfully.

Maya and I stood watching the cricket match and tried to understand the rules of the game.

"Do you want to play?" asked Saksham.

'I have no idea about cricket,' she said, surprised at this question 'all I know is that one bowls the ball and the batsman hits it as far as possible while some team member runs between the three rods which I guess is called something like stamps and you score runs."

Saksham laughed and urged her to give it a try. He held the bat firmly and explained to her about the position to be stood.

A boy shouted from the other end "A girl?"

"Watch your words," I said.

"Shut your mouth, you mudblood."

"Mudd blood?New bad word, huh?"Saksham asked.

"It is a term for non-magical people in Harry Potter, in a disrespectful way," I said, giving him great knowledge.

"Oh, I see! She can and will play now. Isha, you wanna try too?"

"Let Maya try first."

Maya smiled confidently and took the bat. She tried her best but missed the ball. Several attempts went in vain.

'That's okay. It's the first time, try once again'

'No, we hardly get time to play, I don't want to waste any more time.'

"Here Isha, you try," she said, handing me over the bat.

"Later, I am going to be even worse,"

"Yeah, that is correct," said Saksham laughing.

'You're out' said one of the team members.

'Come on, this isn't fair' argued Maya.

'No problem' said Saksham.

'You should become a cricketer once you grow up. Imagine I become an entrepreneur one day and when the interviewer asks me about my school days, I would say proudly that I had a naughty friend who loved playing cricket, and today he is none other than the captain of the Indian team' I said enthusiastically.

'Woah!Captain of the Indian team?! And what do you mean by auntreyprenaour?'

'Leave that. I am seriously predicting your future'

'Thank you for the trust in me but that's way too much, ' he said.

The bell rang indicating the end of the twice in a week P.E period (yes, only twice a week, I know its sad)

"Isn't it true, Maya?"

"Be optimistic, you can do it."Maya spoke.

'Yeah, I am not joking Saksham, you will become a cricketer one day. Mark my words.'

'Yeah, whatever' said he. Little did he know that my words should indeed be marked.

'No one ever listens to me' I muttered angrily as we walked up the stairs to attend the next period.