"What a match this is turning out to be. Just 11 runs needed to win for the visitors of the last over. This is the closest WorldCup final I've witnessed."
Vijay stared at the TV as he listened to the commentators. Beside him, his grandson and his friends were doing the same. It was pin drop silence as they watched the bowler run in to bowl the first ball of this crucial last over.
"The bowler runs in for this first ball. It's a nice one, well outside off. The batsman could do nothing but just tap it for a single. It's 10 from 5 now."
Everyone in the room left a sigh of relief. The young ones praised the bowler wholeheartedly, but Vijay remained silent. He had more experience than these teenagers. He knew it was still a long way to go.
Silence fell over the little room once again as the bowler ran in.
"That's some fine hitting from the batsman. I tell you Mike, the home team didn't see that coming. Two back to back four's for the visitors have taken out the vocal chords from out of this crowd.
"It was always a gamble throwing the ball to a rookie, and they are paying for it now. It's like a walk in the park for the visitors now. Just 2 runs needed from 3 balls."
The boys erupted into a string of curses for the bowler. Vijay could only smile. It's like he knew something like this would happen, and this hasn't surprised him at all.
All his life, Vijay had been realistic, but his 75 year old heart was still hoping against hope for some miracle.
"What a comeback this is from the rookie. I bet you could hear this crowd roar from miles at the moment. The visitors are digging their own grave here. What was once a walk in the park, this 2 wickets have broken their legs.
It's two runs needed of the final delivery."
Vijay could bet that the noise in his house could also be heard down the road. Just two balls ago this children were cursing the bowler, and suddenly they were all praise for him.
But this swing of tension was becoming too much to bear for Vijay's heart now. Even among all this noise, he could hear his heartbeat, and he didn't need a doctor to tell him that it was very fast.
Vijay closed his eyes as the bowler ran for that last time. No, he couldn't watch it.
"No, this is not a miracle Mike. This is more than a miracle. Just three balls ago, no one in this stadium would've given a whisker of a chance to the home team. But somehow, they have managed to pull it of.
The Home team wins the World Cup."
Vijay didn't watch the proceedings, but a loud cheer around him told him that their team had won.
Vijay was so happy. He wanted to get up and celebrate the win. But that cheer was the last thing he heard.
Vijay's heart beat for the last time that moment.
***
cchinu (03/03)
YOU ARE READING
365 DAYS 365 TALES
Random"Every day has its own story" Yes, every day of the year 2016 is going to have a story. We will bring smile on your lips, We will bring tears in your eyes, We will make you sequel in joy, We will make you mourn and cry. You will travel to the...
