First Screening of 83 ft. Class of '83

Chapter 2

"Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Madan Lal, Kirti Azad, Sunil Valson," read out PR Man Singh.

"Kapsie," whispered Cheeka, who was seated on Kapil's other side. "Why do you think, your and Jim pa's names were listed on top?"

"What a brain teaser," commented Roger from Cheeka's left.

"Singh saab, in sabka samaan aap kyu leke ja rahe?" asked one of the government clerks.

"Kyuki ye sab loga pehle se ich England me hai. County cricket khel rahe hai..." said Man bhai.

"Gavaskar se captaincy se nikaalke ye? Ye khel lega?" asked the cheekier of the government clerks.

Sunny had known, of course, this issue would come up sooner or later, but he still felt his lips pursing in distaste. As both Sunny and Kapil acknowledged to themselves, the shuttlecock of captaincy between the two of them imposed by the Board had carefully spoilt what could have been a precious lifelong relationship. If they'd done it between Kapil and Jimmy-

No, Jim pa would still have been exactly the same, thought Kapil.

"Isbar toh East Africa bhi nahi khel rahi...haraoge kisko?"

And the very idea of Jim pa taking out his frustration at the Board on him was so ridiculous that Kapil laughed.

"It's not funny," said Maddi severely, thinking he'd laughed at the jibe the government officer had just taken at that team.

"Jesus, Kapsie," said Roger.

"Sorry," said Kapil hastily and resolved not to think of funny scenarios any further.

"Good luck, Singh saab! All the best!"

***

The shot had changed to London, and reel Kapil Dev took up the legend's unique run-up, accurate to the dot, and delivered a perfect ball.

"Well bowled, Kaps," said Jimmy, smiling admiringly.

Kapil turned back to flash a grin and a thumbs-up at Ranveer, who'd been, of course, trying to gauge a reaction.

"Mr. Dev! The call's been connected, sir!"

"Hello, Romi?"

"Romi toh bahar gayi hai Kukku, hum se bhi baat kar liya kar," teased Kapil's brother. "Hein? Yaha kya ho raha hai? Aadhe bachhe doodh pee rahe, aadhe cricket khel rahe. Aur tu bhi wahi kar. Dant ke cricket khel aur jamm ke doodh pee."

Cheeka fell on Kapil, laughing.

"What now?" asked Roger anxiously, wondering what the people around would think of them.

"I named Kapil Dev Nikhanj's famous buffaloes," said Cheeka.

"How could we forget that, Cheeka," said Jimmy.

"His father had got them for him in his childhood," Cheeka explained to Roger. "And it'd never struck him to name them. Guess what I named them?"

"What?" asked Roger wearily.

"Buffa," said Cheeka. "And Lo."

Kapil and Roger exchanged a silent glance, and refrained from commenting.

"Kapil, catch!" cried Madan.

"Oye, impossible hai," said Jimmy, who'd hit the shot. "Kapil ne ye pakad li na, toh jo wo bolega dunga."

"Jim pa," asked Kirti, "when do you not give Kapil what he wants?"

"Plenty of times," said Kapil.

Jimmy looked at him.