Living a Dream
He loved cricket, it was not just his passion ,it was his religion. From the day his elder sister gifted him a bat…from the day he held his bat, he knew what he wanted to do with his life ....be a cricketer. He was just nine then but that didn’t encumber him to dream big. He would ardently follow India’s progress through out the cricket seasons , in fact no one passionately celebrated or brooded over India’s wins and losses.
‘ Tendulkar was batting and India was hovering over a win, but with once clean stroke, he hit it across the boundary’, the T.V. erupted with loud applause, but no applause was loud enough to hide the joyous yelling of little Swarg . He watched Tendulkar with utmost devotion. If cricket was his religion, than Tendulkar was his God. “Swarg settle down” his mother said from the other room “its time you get down to your books” but little Swarg could never handle a book for 5 minutes , though he would happily spend 5 hours with his bat.
His mother was worried about him “Swarg is not performing well in his studies” she told her husband in a worried voice “”hmmm yes I have noticed that too” he replied. “its just that he spends so much time on playing cricket” said his mother, his father was deep in thought, after a while he said …”I think its time we take his passion seriously and give him professional training” It was his first step towards realizing Swarg’s dream. So, Swarg began to train hard , as a result he began to rise remarkably in this field. At 14 , he was selected for the state’s junior team, he was elated, for he was now part of professional cricket world. But his big break came when he was 16 , he was preparing for his boards when he was selected for the U-19 Indian cricket team . His joys knew no bounds but his parents were in a dilemma they didn’t want him to sacrifice his studies , but Swarg was not someone to be tamed when it concerns his cricketing career . So his parents grudgingly gave in to his wish.
Swarg shone brilliantly, there were great reviews of his in the National and Regional dailies. It seemed nothing would stop him to enter the Indian Cricket squad. But life is not perfect, Life is not easy and life doesn’t make things easier to achieve . after still performing well in the tournaments the “call” never came ( the call for the Indian team) Swarg was disappointed. His inability to make it to the higher brigade , made people assumed he lacked in the perfection of the game. The state coach who was once full of high praise for him began to drop him from the inter-state tournaments. It affected him and his performance, but it didn’t prevent him from training hard, but no matter how hard he trained ,how many hours he spent on practicing, the coach and the selectors were indifferent towards him.
Swarg was upset but he never lacked confidence in his skills. It was his optimism that with his hard work he could make it to the team that lead him push himself so hard. But then the inevitable struck —he was injured, he dislocated his right arm in a practice session. Swarg was inconsolable now, the optimistic fire that always burned inside him was in threat of extinguishing. After six months of resting, he was ready to go back on the field, but the state selectors were not ready to accept him, they had lost their confidence in him, after some failed trail matches, they almost sealed his fate—that his career was over.
Few month passed and Swarg has not touched a bat nor watched any cricket game. In fact he had as if banished himself from anything that reminds him of cricket. The trim, hard stomach was showing some flab, even during his injury he had kept himself fit, because he wanted to get back on the team, but now it seemed he had no purpose left in his life. His entire life was focused on cricket , it was as if his shadow. His parents helplessly watched his condition , but his father was determined to bring him on track no matter how long it takes.
Early next morning , his father came to his room “son lets go for a jog”, “no dad I don’t want to” he answered groggily , but he had to finally give in to his dad’s persuasion. So since then every 6 am , the father and the son would set out in the morning air and strangely enough Swarg began to feel fresh after these walks. In fact he began to look forward to these walks where he would empty his heart and mind before his dad. They became best of friends and this exercise not only helped him to clear his mind of all the negativity but also bought back his energy .
One day while they were returning from their usual walk, Swarg stopped beside a tree to wait for his dad to catch up, while waiting he noticed an army of black ants laboriously carrying food to their hole. He was watching then with interest when his came up behind him and saw what had held Swarg’s attention “see those ants son, each and every day they set out on their task and only returned to their houses when they had completed it” his father picked up a stick and touched the big piece of food four ants were carrying “Dad don’t” as the ants lost their balance and were scattered. His dad just smiled and said “ just watch they will pick it up again” and sure enough the ants picked up the piece and dispersed. “See Swarg, life is not easy for everyone, even these small creatures like ants had to work hard to get what they want. They too face problems and obstacles and also failures but they never give up trying, whether they succeed or not , see son it’s the trying that matters much not the successes and failures” Swarg was silent after a pause.....” I understand dad what your trying to tell me” he said quietly “and I will try I promise”
Next day Swarg was up before his dad and was anxiously waiting for him “no jogging today dad” he said , “What but you have your track suit on” he dad was puzzled “Well today am gonna start my practice session and you will be my coach” he smiled. Swarg was back, he would laboriously train hard every single day and he was filled with hope and confidence again. He did brilliantly in the trails and the selectors could not find any fault with him this time and took him back in the team. Swarg was unstoppable now, he excelled in all inter state tournaments and the regional newspapers were in full rave about him.
Swarg’s father smiled as he finished reading an article on his son, his smile then turned to grimace as he felt a sudden stab of pain in his chest, he was feeling ill lately, but he didn’t want to alarm his wife and least of all his son. “hi dad am back ..... dad whats wrong?” Swarg rushed to his dad as he saw his father’s pained faced “nothing son am alright, just old age catching on” he smiled feebly “Are you sure dad? Maybe we should check on a doctor” “No son am fine” he assured Swarg.
Swarg continued his winning streak , but meanwhile his father’s health worsened with the passing days. But his father would never let his illness come before his son’s dream , he wanted Swarg’s dream to come true as much as Swarg wanted.
And then one day it did come true . Swarg was got the call from the national selectors, he would be representing India, Play for India at the international level. The newspapers exploded with the news of the newest inclusion in the National team. Swarg’s happiness knew no bounds the only person he thought deserved credit was his Dad. He could not hold back his tears when he told this news to his father. “I knew it son. I knew you could do it” his father said in a voice filled with emotions “I will play well Dad and prove my worth” Swarg promised.
The day Swarg left for Delhi, to join the Indian team , his father was very ill, he could not even come to the airport to bade his son goodbye. Swarg joined his new team members and once the coach saw him play he didn’t regret Swarg’s inclusion in the team.
Swarg was nervously sitting in the dressing room. The match had just started and India has opted to bat against Australia . It was his first ODI and the pressure was mounting on him . “hey Swarg there’s a phone call for you” the team manager hissed in his ear. Swarg immediately knew something was wrong . He placed the phone to his ears and heard his mothers strained voice “yes ma whats up?” “Swarg your father is in critical condition we have just admitted him to the hospital” he could sense the panic in her voice as he himself felt it. “What? Ma how is he?” he asked her urgently… “He insisted on talking to you before…” his mother broke off “Ma please put him on line”…his mother hands the phone to his father “hello son” he heard his father’s weak voice “ Dad am so sorry I could not be there with you” Swarg was crying now “ don’t be foolish Swarg, you would have been sorry if you were here with me not playing. I would have been sorry if my illness stopped you living your dream” his father said “But Dad how can I play knowing your in this condition…” he broke off “ Listen Swarg its not just your dream, its mine too, you will me put in more grave condition if you leave everything and rush down here, I didn’t call you to call you back I called you to make sure you play all your worth , I just want to you to ensure me that” his father was pleading him now “ Yes Dad I will play and play all my worth…….and dad Thank you!” after a pause he added “I will always make you proud” his father closed his eyes with a smile.
It was Swarg’s turn to bat, the words of his father still in his ears, he took a deep breath and set out towards the crease.
As Swarg was walking to fulfill his dream, his fathers breath was becoming faster and faster the doctors rushed about shouting for oxygen to make him breathe normally.
The crowds were all cheering the new player, he put on his helmet and took his position to face the bowler,
The doctors were positioned beside his father, trying to make him gain consciousness.
The bowler did his run and threw the ball at Swarg , , swarg raised his ball and hit it with all his worth, the crows erupted as the ball landed in their midst, it was a huge six!! (he lived his dream)
Meanwhile far away in the hospital all was quiet as his father breathed his last. ( his dream lived on along with his son)
YASHOMANA CHOUDHURY
