It was a hot summer's day,mala was alone at home sitting on the couch watching cricket.It was her favorite sport,and when dilip vengsarkar was on the pitch fielding or batting she was there glued to her radio,nothing can distract her at that point in time.She had vengsarkar posters in her room and his pictures from sportstar a monthly magazine on sports which she bought only to save vengsarkar’s pictures.All her friends knew her passion for the sport.she could tell the number of test matches gavaskar played, sandeep patil’s entry in to the game and how he changed the face of the game with his strong shots.Vengsarkar was a steady right handed batsman at no.3 in the team and his consistent shots and stylish ones brought the fans to the stadium to experience them in person.In the early period of his career vengsarkar was in and out of the game, but the team had to bring him back because he was a steady player who could be depended on.The order was always chetan chauhan,sunil gavaskar dilip vengsarkar and the rest. It was a home series against pakistan .the second test in bangalore and vengsarkar and sunil gavaskar were at the crease with 29 runs on the board,it was vengsarkar turn to face the ball,just then she heard the knock on the door quickly she hurried to open the door.A middle aged stood there with a small plant in his hand,mala stepped out and asked him what he wanted.he looked a t mala and said
“appa asked me to bring a parijatham plant,can you give it to him” saying he showed the plant to mala.
mala nodded and took the plant.It was a small plant with very few leaves.The leaves were very tender and mala could see the veins on the leaves. She placed it in the corner of the hallway and went back to the couch.
Just then there was a another knock,turning around she saw bala standing there.Mala smiled and called her in.Bala jumped in and said
“Hey ,I am hungry do you have anything to eat”
mala smiled and said “I was about to have lunch,come on in both of us can eat”
The two girls walked in and as they entered the hall the radio was shrieking with the commentary of the ongoing cricket match. Bala switched it off and went into the kitchen with mala.
The food was already prepared,it was vatha kuzhambu with appalam.Mala picked up 2 plates and was ready to serve. bala,bala stopped and said
“vathakuzhambu is very hot, i don’t want it, what else do you have”
“What do you want?”Can I make something for you?asked mala.
Bala nodded and said “ I like mango juice,can you make them for me?”
“why not, give me a sec,i will be back”
mala quickly went to the front room and in the cupboard her father had stacked all the mangoes to ripe.mala took two of them and returned to the kitchen, Bala was so excited, she looked over mala to see how she was preparing. mala smiled,pinched her cheeks and said
“ Give me a sec and your juice is ready” saying she quickly sprung into action and made the juice.she filled them in a big juice glass and handed it over to bala. Bala took it and smiled.
“ok bring your lunch, we can both eat together”saying she walked to the hall.Mala gave her a smile, turning she took a plate, placed some rice on it , added vathakuzhambu and took 2 appalams and joined bala in the hall.The two girls sat down and mala switched on the radio and the commentary went on.
Bala asked” what is it?”
Mala replied “ it is a sporting commentary bala, people play and commentators give us the running commentary of it all”
“oh,so what is so exciting about it”
“it is a sport, how can I explain what is so exciting?, it is exciting,that is all..”
Both girls remained silent.
“So what were you doing?” Changing the topic.
“I am here to see you, that is all”replied bala
“Hey, i forgot to tell you, i am into the netball team,i am so excited!!!”exclaimed mala
“that is good, this I call is exciting””well done you!!!”
“My first match is against the roses, they are a very strong team”
Mala’s school had 4 groups, roses, lilies, daffodils and sunflower.she was in the lilies group.
“The whole school will be there to watch the match, I am excited and at the same time scared. I am the main shooter, so so much rests on me”
“don’t worry , you will be alright””just play the game”
“yeah,will you be there?i really want you to be there to encourage me”
“When is it?”asked bala.
“coming friday” replied mala
“alright, i will be there, i will bring a cheering group”laughed bala
“You better” laughed mala.
Bala gulped in her juice and kept the empty glass on the table.
Mala also finished her lunch,collected bala’s glass and went into the kitchen to wash them.
bala cried out”mala get me some water”
mala came back with a glass of water
“here” saying she handed over the glass.
“the mango juice is just sticking to my throat”
“Yes, it is very pulpy, so it will,”replied mala.
Bala got up and said”ok. then i am going, anything else”
“no. don’t forget to come for the match”
“ok! i will be there” saying bala bid mala goodbye.
The next few days passed away quickly and mala was training hard for the match. Friday came.
There she was in a white sports skirt,and her white house color shirt,a white wristband and white canvas shoes. The girls were already in the games room taking last minute advice from the games teacher. The school ground was a medium sized one and on either side was the netball ring standing with a head held high.The teachers, students were all there supporting their favourites.The stands were full, the teams walked in lead by their captain. for the lilies Dhanam was the captain and for the roses it was shamini .They stood in the middle of the ground waving to the ground ready to take the toss.Mala was so excited and as she walked along with the team she looked for one face, that of her friends.somewhere in the crowds she knew she was there, supporting her in all ways. But her eyes were searching for her.as the ball was placed in the center each group had their side picked up and all of them rearing to go.The ground looked very colorful with all the house flags put up and this trophy was very significant to every one,it was a very prestigious cup set up the superior Mother to encourage net ball in the school.The game started and the teams were in an aggressive mood,passing the ball quickly as they could beating their defenders.The ball got passed from end to end but never near the shooters on either side.After 5 minutes,the ball finally came to Mala and she scored the first point for her team. The team were exuberant.But in the next few minutes, her defender Martha got the ball and as she ran, she tripped Mala and Mala fell down with a twisted ankle and gave a sigh of pain. The game stopped. she was on the ground, her games teacher, came to her gave her some water and asked if she was alright and her teammates carried her to the nearest room,laid her on a bench and asked her if she was alright,Mala nodded and they quickly disappeared to continue the game.Mala was so angry with herself for getting her ankle twisted. she started to cry. There was a gentle knock on the door, mala turned her head to see it was there and bala was there, came down to her and asked her if she was alright. Mala could not say a word.she was choking with grief.
bala consoled her sat down beside her and said “you will be alright don’t worry”
“how? see i cannot play anymore, this was my first match, i still have so many matches, i scored my first point for the team,why do I have to fall like this”saying she started crying.
Bala consoled her and said “you can do it, mala, you want this very badly isn’t it? then why do you cry.come on think of the joy you would get, if you’re team wins in spite of your injury.come on nothing will happen to you come on get up slowly let me see.saying she helped Mala to sit up.then holding her hand she helped her to stand up. Now slowly push your toes downwards let me see”
mala did as she was told but it hurt, she gave out a quick cry”it hurts”
“yes it will” do it again and made her to do it again this time rotating it from side to side, it did help her, it hurt but not that much, now walk, let me see,
Mala did as she was told, she could but it did hurt a little bit. Bala helped her walk a little more and now Mala had the confidence to move on her own.
Bala asked”how are you feeling?”
“It hurts but i think i am ok”
“it will but you will be alright, go on, join your team”
mala smiled”thank you”
bala nodded.”go now.we will talk later”
Mala helped herself a little more and stepped out of the room she went to where the other team mates were and sat down, they all looked at her surprised. one of them asked”are you ok?”
“Yes, I am,” replied mala.
It was half time. The team came to their resting places and when they saw mala they asked “are you alright?”
“yes, I am, it must have been just a muscle pull, i guess, i will join now”saying mala got up and her team were surprised.
The next 30 minutes went by, mala felt the pain but her concentration on the game was more, that the pain did not affect her. She played very well and ended it. The team won by 3 points and everyone was overjoyed. They all cheered mala for her wonderful effort and her games teacher came up to her and said “Mala, you truly are a sports woman, brave, and courageous, you didn't let down your team. good job.”saying she tapped Mala on her shoulders.the other team mates also complimented her for her effort.
Mala sat there waiting for everyone to go, she looked down at her foot, it was swollen, she knew she had sprained her ankle slightly. Bala walked up to her, mala looked at her and smiled”congrats, you did it,you were all on fire,mala, i love this game because of you,you were too good”
“you know what? i must thank you, you gave me that courage to do it,otherwise i wouldn’t have”
“You should always know what your goals are, if that comes into perspective then everything else will disappear, whether it is pain, grief, inadequacy, everything will vanish and only your goal will be there, it becomes easy for you to move towards it. never have that doubt whether you can do it or not, if you think and if you have made up your mind,then nothing should stop you from achieving it.”
“you gave me that confidence today, if with all the pain i could achieve ,then i can achieve anything,bala”
“there is no magic in this world, it is the hard work of someone behind it”
“yes!i was stupid to sit and cry”
“Never mind, don’t waste your time crying over something that has already happened, always think what next?”
“yes, I will “
“can we go home,now?”laughed bala
“yes of course,i am hungry, tired and in pain”saying she tried standing up,by now her legs grew stiff and she fell back in her chair.
Bala said “ok come on, I will help you”,saying she lifted Mala and put her hands around her shoulders and Mala started limping.
Mala was comfortable with her arms around bala, the two girls walked, shoulder to shoulder towards the bus stop...
Paadam Thodarum...
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