The class teacher was giving the progress report for the recently held quart-yearly examination. As usual, pravin was the topper of 9th std B-section.He has been the topper and got the proficiency award for the past four years. A major part of the students in the class envied him and for the remaining students, he was their best friend and role model. He was not only good at studies but also, even better at sports. Especially in cricket.
He was not like an average 14year old boy. He was far more matured than his age boys were expected to be.This maturity may be due to the way in which he was brought up.His father was an english teacher in a mediocre school and his mother was a home-maker.His family was a typical middle-class family where the responsibilities on a child's shoulder is heavier than on parent's.
His father was the perfect gentleman pravin has ever seen. Pravin loved him so much and he always wanted to make his dad happy. But the conventional notion " CRICKET WILL SPOIL A CHILD'S ACADEMICS" was believed by his dad too. But his dad didnt restrain pravin from playing cricket. He conceived pravin was more interested in his studies than in cricket.
The school cricket team selection was held and without any second thoughts pravin was selected. The coach asked him to come to practise from next week, WITH HIS KITBAG.All of a sudden pravin's exhilaration was cut down.Where would he go for the kit bag? Even he hadnt got his dad's consent to play for the school team , let alone the problem of kitbag.
For the next few days, he was in an immense dilemma on whether he should let away the opportunity for playing for his school team or he should approach his dad for the kitbag and make his dad feel distressed. He had never been in such a critical situation in his life.He felt like this must be the most difficult situation one could face.
After giving much of thought, he decided to take the toughest decision. Yes, he decided to sacrifice his true passion.He buried,deep down, all his dreams of becoming a professional cricketer. He pictured himself to remove the pads,gloves and helmet, slowly one by one.Though he made up his mind, he was deeply dejected inside. For an unknown reason, he was angry on his parents,on his friends,on everyone and mainly on himself for taking such a coward decision.
The day after the next, when he returned from school, his dad asked him to get ready to go outside.At that moment pravin's intuitive and pragmatic part of his brain contradicted each other.
INTUITIVE PART: This outing must be to buy a kit for me.
PRAGMATIC PART: I even hadnt informed dad that i was selected for the team.Then how could he know that i needed a kitbag.
INTUITIVE PART: may be, seeing me in a depressed state,he could have inquired about it to my friends.
PRAGMATIC PART: But he was as normal to me as everyday and if at all, he had inquired to my friends, they would have informed me about it.
INTUITIVE PART: ok i lost.
Pravin got ready and sat in the scooter.After riding a few metres, his dad asked him " DO YOU KNOW THE BEST SPORTS SHOP TO BUY A CRICKET KIT?"
by prem
