Page 27 - ISS Profectus E Magazine

CRICKET

By Mihira S. Nair, XI B

I have no idea why certain people are obsessed with a group of
people trying to hit a red ball into the sky with an oddly shaped stick.
As for my cousin and only friend (as I was new to this school) Dev,
cricket ran through his blood. Dev could go rambling about cricket for
hours, while I was more skilled in pretending to be a big cricket fan
like him.

The recess bell rang and Dev called me to meet his friends and I
denied saying I was feeling tired. “You can’t be shy forever.” he said,
jerking at my hand. “But my food...” I tried to protest. “Oh, just stuff it
in”, and with this he pulled me out of my seat to the grilling ground.

He introduced me to his friends and though they were all cricket fans
and I secretly was not, I found them to be amazing friends. It felt like
colors were added to my black and white life but it wasn’t long till
these colors were drained out. There was some kind of professional
cricket coach coming to the school tomorrow so that he could select
and train students for the upcoming inter-school cricket match. I had
no other choice but go, for I couldn’t risk losing my new friends by
admitting everything to be a lie and saying I have never played cricket
in my life. But the most wonderful idea struck me when I returned
home that day.

“Ammaaa! My stomach is aching so much. I don’t think I can go to
school today". I tried to sound as natural as possible the next day but
mom was smart and said “I don’t have medicines for your kind of
stomach ache". Seeing my face fall she smiled and said “Alright, just
for today you can stay at home Mr. Sick boy". I jumped onto my bed
with inexplicable joy and relief.

The next day at school I began gloomily “It’s awful that I had to have
this stupid stomach ache right on the day of the selections.” “Lucky
boy! It seems like the coach too had a stomach ache yesterday and
so the selections are postponed for today” said Dev. “What!” I
exclaimed trying to force a smile onto my face.

Coming out of my thoughts I suddenly saw the ball heading straight
for my face and I swung the bat in order to save my face from getting
disfigured. Seconds later I heard somebody call out “Sixer!”.
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