Dreams clean bowled

(Reproduction of a story originally uploaded on www.wizardprince.sulekha.com on 18th Oct 2007).

“India is in big trouble. Sachin Tendulkar is out now for 97 and India still needs 200 runs to win in 20 overs. New man Dhruv Sharma walks in, its his first match and let us hope he saves India from further troubles” the voice on the microphone boomed through the stadium as Dhruv Sharma walked onto the field. He looked around the field to see any gaps which he could hit through and he immediately noticed that there was no one at square leg boundary. He took his stance and Mitchell Johnson started running in. He bowled a short and fast delivery and Dhruv was ready for it, he rocked onto his backfoot and swung the bat for a mighty heave over square leg. The bowler looked shell-shocked as the umpire raised both his arms up in the air. The entire stadium erupted in cheers. “Dhruv, Dhruv, Dhruv” he could only hear his name all around. Suddenly a splash of water made him jump out of his bed. In a very harsh manner, Dhruv realized that he had been day-dreaming.

“I asked you to take care of the shop and you are dozing like an idiot?” his father shouted at him.

“Father, I do not like this shopkeeper’s job. I want to play cricket and become as big a star as Sachin is.” He replied in an annoyed voice.

“Sachin, you want to be like Sachin? It will be better for you son, if you stop fooling around with vagabonds and start attending the shop. Atleast you would be able to earn a living. This cricket is not for us people.” His father retorted.

“I will prove you wrong one day. You will see that you would not be able to even get close to the stadium when I will play for India.” Dhruv ran away shouting.

Dhruv was the captain of his school cricket team and he was highly appreciated by all his teachers for his excellent batting and fielding. He used to open the batting and was single handedly responsible for leading his school team to the state inter school cricket tournament that year. At fourteen, many people predicted him to be a future Indian star batsman.

He once again batted excellently in the finals and scored an unbeaten hundred to help his team win the trophy. The chief guest for the prize distribution was Rohan Karmakar, a famous former test batsman of India. When Dhruv went on the stage to receive his man of the series trophy, he was warmly appreciated by Rohan for his batting and he gave his card to Dhruv asking him to meet him at his cricket coaching center in Mumbai.

Dhruv’s father was happy at seeing the trophy but the idea of his only son going to Mumbai to a cricket coaching center was still not acceptable to him. He clearly refused to accompany Dhruv or to finance his trip to Mumbai. However, his mother supported his passion and she believed that her son would be able to become a successful cricketer one day. She secretly sold some of her jewelry and gave Dhruv 10000 rupees to go to Mumbai.

Emboldened by his mother’s support and his passion for the game, Dhruv reached Mumbai. A man from Karmakar’s cricket center was at the railway station to receive Dhruv. He took Dhruv to the Karmakar cricket center, located just outside Mumbai Dhruv was impressed on seeing the lush green cricket field and the practice nets. There were dozens of boys of his age practicing various aspects of the game. Mr. Karmakar was in his office, which was a large airconditioned room adorned by several trophies.

“Welcome, future Sachin Tendulkar” he rose from his seat to greet Dhruv.

“You have got a beautiful cricket ground, sir.” Dhruv said in a tone of admiration.

“Oh, its just a humble effort from my side. I just want to give a chance to the future stars like you to achieve success and play for India, just the way I did.” Karmakar smiled as he patted Dhruv’s shoulder.

Dhruv felt as if his dreams would materialize now.

Over the next one month, Dhruv stayed at the Karmakar cricket center hostel and played several matches against various club teams in Mumbai. He scored lots of runs and was appreciated by all his team mates. Karmakar became very fond of him and he always said that Dhruv was going to make it big very soon. Dhruv wrote to his father about his performances and how Mr. Karmakar thought so highly of him.

His father was still apprehensive about his son taking up cricket as a full time profession. Dhruv told Karmakar about his father’s reluctance and Karmakar said that he would personally speak to Dhruv’s father. Dhruv was very happy and he was sure that his father would definitely agree to Karmakar. Next day Dhruv and Karmakar reached Dhruv’s village. People thronged Dhruv’s home to meet Karmakar, afterall he was a superstar of yesteryears.

“Mr. Sharma, you should see the way your son bats. He has got all the shots in the world and he faces even the fastest bowlers with utmost ease. He is a real talent and if you back him at this point of time, then he is really going to make you world famous in the times to come.” Karmakar said to Dhruv’s father.

“But Mr. Karmakar, it requires a lot of money and resources. I am a smalltime trader and its going to be very difficult for me to pay for all his training and other expenses.” Dhruv’s father said.

“Mr. Sharma, think of it in the business terms only. You buy goods after investing all your capital and you make profits when the goods are sold. Just think of the kind of money that the cricketers earn nowadays. Match fees for one match itself exceed lakhs of rupees besides the sponsorships, advertisements and other prizes that a cricketer gets. It’s a huge amount of money.” Karmakar reasoned with him.

“Yes, but that is only if the cricketer is successful and plays for India. The street cricketers do not get all that Mr. Karmakar.” Dhurv’s father seemed to be running out of any logic for his defiance.

“Trust my words Mr. Sharma. I have seen enough cricket and cricketers and have groomed many current players from my school itself. I can identify a prodigy when I see one. Your investment in your son and your trust in his capabilities is going to make him the number one batsman of the world in the years to come.” Karmakar said in almost a tone resembling a magician trying to hypnotize a spectator.

“Ok. So I am willing to support him. Tell me what do I have to do and how much it will cost?” Dhruv’s father made a decision.

“Fantastic. You have made the right choice Mr. Sharma. I plan to send Dhruv for attending advance cricket coaching at the Western AustraliaCricketAcademy. Its run by an Australian player who is a very good friend of mine. Once Dhruv receives training for three months in Australia, I will ensure him a place in the Ranaji trophy team for Mumbai as soon as he comes back. After that its only a matter of a season or two and he will be batting right alongside all the stars that you see on television. It will cost you a total of about rupees 15 lakhs only.” Karmakar beamed.

“I will do anything for him since you are supporting him, sir”. Dhruv’s father seemed worried but determined.

“Ok then, you pay me the money and I will make arrangements for his early departure to Australia.” Karmakar said.

Dhruv’s father found it very difficult to arrange the amount. He sold his shop and borrowed another five lakh rupees by mortgaging his house. Karmakar assured him that its would be less than a year and Dhruv will earn much more than this and also make his father world famous. He received the payment and left for Mumbai for arrangements. However, even after a month passed, there was no response from his side. Dhruv and his father went to Mumbai to meet Mr. Karmakar. However, they were whisked away by the security guards at the gates of his bungalow and he did not meet them even after two days. The phone number that Karmakar had given to Dhruv was no longer working. The dejected duo kept trying everything they could to meet him and after running out of money, they returned home one week later. A few days later, the local police inspector came to Dhruv’s house and threatened his father to stop following Karmakar and warned him of dire consequences. The moneylenders started pressurizing him for repayment and his father became completely disheartened and took to bed. He did not survive long and the responsibility of a widowed mother and two young sisters fell on Dhruv’s shoulders.

One evening, Dhruv lit a small fire and burnt his cricket kit.

“I resolve not to ever talk about cricket or to let anyone else in my family play cricket” he said to God as tears streamed down his cheeks.

He now works at a dhaba in Mumbai earning 3000 rupees per month and hopes to save enough money for his sisters’ marriages.