Sunday, August 10, 2008

Individually Multiple ??

He fought in vain. The sleep was no-where near to be. He looks above at the blank ceiling for some time- hoping the white colours heavies the brows. But it was not to be. Disgusted, he gets up and fills himself a glass of water. With only the maddening silence of the white walls, he sat around balcony overlooking a small field.
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Earlier in the day, he found himself in this very different city. Different to what he was used to both in terms of size- Oversize and Micro-size (:D). But he found it difficult to come in terms with the city-partly because he felt feverish throughout the journey and partly because he had never met this aunt of his.
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As he let the flowing air fill his conscience, he began to look around to confirm his bearings. He had been the newest imported victim- of the perennial power cuts. He wondered if this was a way of harassing people who never did their homework in time. He hated power cuts for it meant long hours of isolation- He would miss cartoon networkL. Mom had already left for shopping with her sister. He was never considered for markets, for he had distaste towards bargaining. His mom would always complain of his failing towards the value of money, much to his chagrin.
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Maybe the field was not so small after all. The toddlers’ feet came rushing at the stroke of 5 pm. The timing was amazing, the synchrony perfect. With one loud call all the tiny tots filled the ground. The ground seemed gigantic for the tiny steps. The boundaries were shortened, the stumps drawn erect. How he wished the kids opted for hide and seek? He would have monitored each of their places with a frigging grin. After all these kids now a day’s learn the intricacies of cricket much before they are knowledgeable to games like hide and seek. He mused at the change! Was this only confined to this new city?

All drawn, the question wrested on team division. As usual a hue and cry was raised for the choice of first player. They recounted yesterday’s division and so on it went. Note worthy was not the cacophony, rather the way each one of them argued about the player number one, as if the whole team was divided and they were cashing for the extra slot. More surprisingly, it was a she-The only girl amongst the players. The senior most (at least he looked so) settled the issue and the teams were finally partitioned.

He had already foreseen the quarrel for bat first issue. But that was not to be. He was pleasantly surprised. The sight of tiny toddlers reaching for the ball, running shouting made for the beautiful sight. He felt not all was that different from his own city. The plaintive joys devoid of any malice marked the gentleman’s game. Just when, he was beginning to believe that his time was spent for good, things took unexpected turns. Although the jarring of fan had announced the arrival of notorious electricity he decided not to budge.

The tiniest of the tiny had gone into bat. He had quite a bad time in the middle. His team members demanded that he retire himself out. But he was not willing to die down. The captain suddenly comes down to the pitch and orders him to leave the pitch and declare himself out. The non-striker was supporting the cause. Things worsened, slangs were thrown (:O). Unexpected?
The declared out batsmen with a heavy face, watery eyes went off to his home. Few deliveries later he came back, this time accompanied by her sister. She had the questioning glance all over her gaze. She reprimanded him- the way an elder sister does when she feels he needs her protection. The tone of hers got better. She had turned friendly after her initial rebukes. She had even made them shake hands!

He was anxious. He was waiting eagerly for the reel to roll over. He kept hoping that the sister leaves and allows the kids to settle their matter themselves. But the serial dragged on. Just as when he expected the final end, he drew up to the edge of the seat. But there was something else. It virtually rained on his hopes. And it rained big. Perhaps he had yet not come to terms with the city. Just maybe!

4 comments:

rainboy said...

i remember when i was a kid...kida are like creatures in the night, so wild and free.
you smeared it this post with innocence.
liked it.

Piper said...

A simple event very beautifully described...getting better with every passing day, eh? ;)

Mads said...

difficult to understand on the first go for a dumbo like me, so i didn't comment pehle.. :D
after reading it again, i kinda got it (dont ask me what now)
loved ur writing style man.amazing how u can type down ur thoughts so well :-|

Sashu... said...

there such innocence here :) simple..smooth n tender..utterly :) loved dz!!