I was sitting on the bench in the small park; two little rodents were running here and there, a few birds were chirping in the sky; just like quite a few evenings I have spent here before. Only difference was I wasn’t the most talked fast bowler of the country, I wasn’t the one described as the scariest person with the bowl in the hand then but right now I was. It was a tidy and small park on the riverside of the Sabarmati just next to Nehru Bridge; since last one and half year it was almost every evening’s ritual to come here, sit and see the sun getting diluted in the water of Sabarmati on the west side skyline.
Today was no different evening; sun had already started its journey towards west skyline. Sky was painted in carroty orange; lights weren’t yet turned on the Nehru Bridge, the image of the sky was mirrored into the calm water of the Sabarmati, seemed like water was blushing due to echo of the sky flirting with it much alike a newly wedded bride blushing with the first touch of her hubby. I was glaring at the reddened water, as if someone will come out of the water and … … …
“So Mr. Man of the Series, finally got some time?” I turned towards the voice; two Ruthful eyes, full of volatility were walking towards me. I guess it was this permutation of two altogether diverse traits in these eyes engrossed me towards them, when I wasn’t the fastest bowler of the country, I wasn’t the Abby – Abhay Rajput, when I was nothing and I was only Lambu. She was Gaikwad sir’s daughter, Aadhya Gaikwad. Both of us couldn’t realise, when we got involved with each other while learning to bowl from sir, but then we made it our practice to meet at this park and spend the evenings together, sitting calmly feeling each other’s presence till sun gets down in the water of Sabarmati.
“C’mon Aadhya, I was in Radio Interview when you called, I called back as well but you didn’t picked it up. You and your attitude, only you know it, no one else can.” I said adjusting on the stone made bench, making enough space for her to fit into.
“Oh! Yes, you are so busy these days…” She was in the mood to go on and on and on, but I put my figure on her lips, she ineptly bunged her words.
“I am already not having many evenings to spend with you these days; I don’t wanna waste this beautiful evening arguing with you, we can do it on phone as well.” I took her palms in mine, they were warm. A few moments passed in the silence.
“So, when are you going back?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“You came yesterday night only and tomorrow….”
“It’s the rehab camp at the NCA, Bangalore; I need to attend it as preparation for the upcoming tour.”
She was silent, I kept on rubbing her palms with mine; She took her hand back.
“C’mon Aadhya, you know I have no other option, I have to go and still every time you react like this only.”
“Yes, I want you with me; all the time.”
“I already am with you only; all the time. Only thing is sometimes I may not be present physically but still I am with you only; all the time.”
“You are too smart to win with the words.”
“It’s the truth, and we have complicated ourselves so much that even truth seems fiction these days.” I smiled on my own words, she took eyes of mine, started to glare at the Sabarmati, she was pretending hard to avoid me, just pretending though.
“Okay, I have solution for all your problems.” Some mystery was palpable in my voice.
“What?” She looked very sweet with this artificial anger on her face
“I am goanna say to Maa about us today, let’s get married, if not married at least engaged. What says?”
“Are you serious?”
“No, just kidding…… Stupid, of course I am…!” I glared into her eyes, held her by her shoulders and before she could react, my lips were on hers. An unknown sensation went through my body, she was also shuddering, Sabarmati was still blushing so was Aadhya. We sat there till lights on the Nehru Bridge were turned on in full fledge, a bit late than normal.
0 x 0 x 0
It was almost two years since I had made my debut in team India, things were all together different now. I was the regular part of the team India, a very very successful cricketer. We weren’t staying in the slum anymore; I had a huge bungalow in the Bopal area. There was a time I didn’t had Chappals and I stole it from Temple, today I had Shoe contracts with one of the the best company in the world. Although I was a fifth standard drop-out from the municipality school, but Chhutki was studying in one of the best English medium schools of the city. I was living a happy life with Maa, Chhutki and Aadhya Gaikwad Rajput – my better half. My life was changed drastically and I was enjoying every bit of it, but still the question was there, unconsciously though but still there: “Was the worst behind me or yet to come?”
“Wass up buddy?” Someone shouted, loud music was playing, green, red, blue, disco lights were flashing, I was sitting on a table with the glass of scotch. We were in the Carrabian for the ICC Champions Trophy. It had become routine of mine, to spend the days on the ground and nights in the pubs; I had started to take myself for granted. I turned to see, it was the fast bowler from the Pakistan, he also was the member of the speed gun bowlers’ club, same like me.
“Nothing much” I took a deep sip of the scotch
“So, how are the preps going on?” He took the seat, in front of my table.
“Not so great, it’s tough to maintain the pace these days, am having some problems with my back, and form also hasn’t been the great in last two series, so under pressure a bit this time around.” disenchantment was blatant in my sound.
“International Cricket is demanding and tough as well at times, it’s intricate to cop up at times.” some silence followed for a while, I finished my glass, ordered one more.
“If you don’t mind, I have one suggestion.” Some mystery surrounded as, I put my glass down, looked at him and nodded.
“Take this, it will help you.” He said putting a packet
“What is this?”
“Coke”
“Drugs..!” I was astonished
“A little helps you re, I am taking it since a while. That is the only reason I have been one of the premier fast bowlers since last five years. Everybody takes it, take it.”
“But, you can get habituated to it.”
“Who says that? I am not habituated to it. I am quite normal.”
Don’t know why, I took the packet, took out the white power and took a little sniff of it; I entered some another world, I felt as if sound of the music all of sudden stopped, people around me went away in hush, I was in all together a different world, virtual world within the world but somewhat away from the original one.
0 x 0 x 0
“Abby, I want to talk to you, please come in my room!” I was in the mood the go and have shower after such a hard fought match against the Aussies, but Dada ordered me to come to his room, as we stepped out of the team bus.
“Sure Dada will be in a minute.” I thought he must be looking to congratulate me, for such a splendid bowling performance especially in the death overs I was unplayable.
I went in the room, changed into my favorite shorts and t-shirt, splashed some water on my face and was off to Dada’s room.
“Hello Dada..!”
“Oh hi Abby..”
“Water??? Hey..Careful..!!” He threw a water bottle at me; I juggled but held on finally
“It was a good win, wasn’t it?”
“Oh yes, Dada. It’s always special to win against kangaroos.”
“You were phenomenal, good to see you back in the form. You were bit out of the shape and low on confidence but since Champions Trophy, you have got your pace back.”
“Yes Dada, feels good to be back in the form, I have been working hard on it.”
“Sure?”
“Didn’t get you, what kind of question was that?”
“Means you are working hard on your bowling?”
“I am not getting you Dada..!” I was perspiring in the AC Room; expressions on Dada’s face were turning into the one of angst and disappointment.
“Okay, let me make it clear, Abby are you doing anything which you shouldn’t?”
“Whh…aatt… What Dada?” when someone asks What on your question that doesn’t mean he hasn’t heard you, the fact is he is trying to have some time thinking on what to answer.
“Look Abby, you are like a child to me, I am just worried about you. I have come around a few things about you, which aren’t the best.”
“There is nothing like that Dada; I am not taking anything which I shouldn’t. I am totally clean.” I was almost about to cry.
“I didn’t say anything about, you taking something Abby.” I kept on staring down, I didn’t had any courage to make the eye contact with him
“Look Abby, stop all these, I need you, this team needs you, this country needs you.” I saw a touch of fatherliness in this man’s voice. I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t retort in any manner; I walked out of the room immediately with tears rolling down my eyes.
Knock..Knock…
I didn’t realized, when I slept. A hard knock at the door, broke my little nap.
“Must be Dada” I said to myself, walking off to open the door, brushing my eyes. As I opened the door, two guys in the executive kind of look were standing at my hotel room, I gave them a confused look, my eyes were still full of sleep.
“Hi, this is Arthur; ICC Anti-Doping Agency.” He said extending his hand to me, I gawked at him wide-eyed.
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