The day of play commenced as the cycles were placed at the centre of the long passage at the foot the cluster of buildings. I went off to one end with the soft green ball in my hand; the sun glaring over the four of us with its generous heat waves. Soaking up all the energy and wearing us down to the bone, it stood as high as possible and continued rising till the clock struck twelve.
Soon exhausted, the shade beckoned to us and we dragged ourselves to the ground. Our content faces rained down sweat and our heart raced faster than light. Completely seeped of energy, one of us left the concrete cricket field laden with cars and made way to the safe sanctum of his home. But, there was more action to come.
With drinks of water replenishing our energy to sufficient levels, we walked back to the field, and this time the sun tried to repel us harder. This time playing with a red ball, we continued our game permeated with action, strength and power-physical as well as mental.
Thumps and thuds and claps and sighs sounded around the field as adrenaline flowed. The willow tapped at the red ball which pranced through the air and embedded itself in my hand. A jubilant cry rose to the surface and penetrated the ears of the unhappy batsman walking back dejectedly; I rejoiced gleefully and went off to bowl to the new batsman. My heart pumping oxygen at an alarming rate, I raced forward towards the batsman.
A deft touch delivered the bowl straight into the green patch of grass-dried and dehydrated from the evil actions of the sun. I walked back dejectedly and then turned. Eyeing the stumps with concentration, I made my way again to bowl. This time wide on the off side, a slight cut shot made the bowl dissapear under a car. Siting down on the bench, I expected the ball being hurled back to me when the event took place.
Another car made a slow turn and obstructed my view of my friends who were indulged in a frantic search for the red sphere fashioned out of rubber. As time ticked on, a porky lady made her way to one of my friends and gestured for him to give her the ball which he had just gotten out from behind the tyres.
"Chintu, give me the ball," she roared angrily referring to Chaitanya Patel with the name everyone preferred.
"I will not allow this nonsense in my building. Everyday i see you playing and hitting the ball on the cars. Who will pay if there is damage? You tell the committee that you will abide to their rules and will play with a soft ball. And what is this?"
The lady continued ranting angrily and causing a raucous commotion. Hearing this din I went off to support my friend. She snatched the ball and took it away. Anger brimming in our teenage mind, we retorted with glares and looks of extreme hate. Picking up the soft green ball which rested in the grass, we recommenced play.
Annoyed by this display of obstinacy and revolt, the porky resident reached out and took away the other ball as well. Looking with disgust at the rusted cycles which lay as our stumps, she did the something which no civilized human being would ever do.
She kicked the standing cycles with all her might and they collapsed on the ground. Not happy with even that, she repeated her harsh action on the cycles again. Our blood boiled, and it was not the summer heat which was causing it. Repropping the cycles to their initial position, we stood there with the third and final ball in our hands.
The standing cycles met the same result as before. The sound of their fall was hidden away by the howl from the lady.
"Dont you all understand a single word? Have you all decided to spoil the lives of all the society members by this crap? This nonsense will not be tolerated by me. And who is this fellow? Krishna I have told you earlier also that people from outside this building are not allowed to play."
This last statement was replied to promptly by Krishna Chopra," He is my cousin brother."
"I do not know anything. If I see him playing again I will go to the police." Yelling for the watchman, she called him. The hearts in our chest stopped at the absence of compassion and respect for a fellow human.
Threatening the poor watchman she shouted," If I ever see anyone playing in this building then you will be the one to lose your job. And throw this guy out, right now. It will not matter to me how you manage that, but now it is your responsibility. And from now i'm going to park my car right in the middle of this road. Then lets see where you play," she concluded by gesturing the centre of the road we played on and eyeing me with disgust and revulsion.
Again kicking the cycles she puffed away. Not aware of the effect she had had on the people around her. The fear she had instilled in the young watchman’s mind; the anger she had earned in our minds; the fall in respect she had won through when she threatened the poor watchman; and finally, the happiness and enjoyment she had stolen from us.
This is just an account of what happened today. We have been going through this since a long period of time. We have been threatened with the name of the police, and why is that? Why isn’t the future allowed to do the activities it prefers?
It is true that gaming consoles have replaced the physical games enjoyed by past generations, but is practicing sport wrong? We agree that playing in an area laden with cars is not suitable, but do we have another option? We are advised to play on grounds and in the open, but the question I ask is simple: IS THERE AN OPEN GROUND THERE? IS THERE ANY OPEN SPACE LEFT FOR PRACTICING SPORT?
The answer is no. Threats involving the police may not instill a sense of complete dread, but it does warn us to stay away. We have faced this since a long time; and especially I have been treated inhumanely in this building, which neighbors mine. Is there an explanation for the point that outsiders are not allowed to play in the building? Is this a reason to object to and to steal the enjoyment from a teenager who is just trying to relax by practicing recreational activities? Is this a reason to treat a boy, who is not even an adult, as though he is an alien from outer space?
This is what has been going on and is going to continue happening in the future. We have been tired of this menace and have finally decided to let go of our desire to play in accordance to the protestants around us. But is that ethically correct? Aren’t we allowed some freedom for enjoyment? We follow all of the rules put forward to us and we have not instilled a single dent in any car, nor have we caused any damage; then why are we suppressed?
I, as the author of this short account, have been forced to reach out to the public as there is no one present to help us through this predicament. Passing on this experience around the world will be the only way we can help ourselves and help the world. Because, committing other actions which can be done to avenge this cruel deed, would make us equal sinners.
I do not ask your help to avenge our plight, i just ask you to share this short account to enlighten people. We do not seek revenge, we just seek justice.
NOTE: This short account is NOT fictitious but is an event which has taken place in real life just a couple of days ago. Please spread this short account to make the masses aware of the injustice and revelation going on against the sport of cricket in a nation which respects and encourages this sport.
