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.

Love@call center

(Reproduction of a story originally uploaded on www.wizardprince.sulekha.com on 17th Oct 2007.

Sitting in his cab, Rahul was speaking to a friend on fone. It was his first day in the big call center. He was quite nervous and awed by the atmosphere around him as he entered the automatic turn-stills. He went to the concierge and was guided to one of the training rooms. It was a hall with rows of computers and smartly dressed people all around. He walked quickly and took a corner seat in the second last row. His friendly and soft-spoken manners soon made him befriend most of the people in the room. Days flew quickly and after 7 days of training regarding the process, voice and accent and other work related subjects, his trainer told him that he would be ‘Going live’ that afternoon.

“Going live? So soon? I have not yet mastered the process?” Rahul feebly protested.

“Oh come on Rahul, I know you are capable of doing a great job. No questions now, just take a short break and then you will be logging in” The trainer snapped in. (Little did Rahul knew, that a sales process does not really need well trained agents only but those who are live and selling).

His first day on the floor was nothing to make him feel good about his new job. He made dozens of calls, however, he only got hang ups or racial abuses. He logged out at 11 pm and soon found himself stuffed in the third row seat of a qualis for a two hour ride back home.

Lying in bed that night, he prayed to God to give him success, to give him a reason to be happy and stay at the new job.

Next day was even worse. His first full day of calling did not get him any sales and to make him feel worse, his Team Leader and Trainer were constantly breathing down his neck to make a sale. As soon as the logout happened, he wanted to go away and slump in the backseat of the qualis, but, he was directed by his Team Leader to stay on the floor for a brief Team Meet. He was unwilling but choiceless and he ambled across to the conference room. He positioned himself in a corner where he would be least visible to the process manager. Senior process members stood on the opposite side of the room. Then, the magic happened, there she was, standing in one corner looking oh so innocent! Beautiful! Perfectly dressed in a black suit that made her look fair complexion even more attractive. He looked at her spellbound, she was a real beauty with poise and the look of a dignified girl yet innocent like Alice in Wonderland. He did not even know what took place in the meeting but was just stunned by her looks. On the way back, he kept thinking about her and was jolted out of his dreams by the cab driver as he had reached his drop point.

In the bed that night, Rahul prayed to God to give him love in his life. He just wanted to have a girlfriend like that girl.

“God, she is perfect.” He requested.

Rahul was an ordinary 25 year old guy with nothing to write about his looks and he belonged to a lower middle class family, living in a rented accommodation. His father had once been a well earning businessman but it was all ruined now and they even did not own a house anymore. In short, he was not the sort of a guy who would steal hearts with his appearance, especially when the heart in question was the heart of a gorgeous, convent educated, upper middle class girl. Still he prayed to Lord Krishna (he had been praying in the same manner for the last ten years) to give him love, to bring that girl in his life.

Next afternoon, he was trying to login into his system at office when he was interrupted by his Team Leader.

“Rahul, the seating plan has changed and today onwards, you will be logging in the system next to Supriya in the first bay.” He pointed to the vacant bay next to where Rahul was sitting.

Rahul walked towards the empty bay feeling even worse because now he was going to be sitting next to a senior girl who would be arrogant and maybe pretty too. Then he saw her walk in,. He tried to hide his gaze but found her walking straight towards him.

“Hi, I am Supriya. So you are going to login here from now on?” A musical voice filled his ears.

“eh? Oh yes, Hi Supriya. My name is, I mean I am Rahul.” Rahul fumbled as if there were no words to say.

Days went by and due to Rahul’s friendly and well mannered ways, they became good friends in no time, sharing food, thoughts, breaks and soon started talking on phone for hours and hours when they were not on the floor. Rahul was madly in love with her, but she knew nothing of it. Everyone in the office used to make fun of them and soon they were branded as the couple of the process. Rahul felt very embarrassed although, in his heart, he wished that they may become a couple one day.

Then one day, he could not bear it anymore and gathered courage to speak to her about his emotions. He spent the entire day sitting next to her in the office but could not get the right moment to talk to her. He called her on phone as soon as they took their cabs on the way back, but could not say anything to her. Finally, after she disconnected the call, he sent her a message confessing his love for her. An hour went by, and he felt that he had ruined a lovely friendship and she would be very angry to him.

“Probably she would never speak to him again and may even insult him in front of the office staff’, his thoughts wandered in all directions. Suddenly the phone rang. He was scared to see her number flashing on the screen and did not attend the call because he knew that she was going to give him an earful. However, the phone kept ringing and finally, he attended the call, saying a feeble and terrified “hello”.

“I love you too, Rahul” Supriya’s musical voice rang in his ears.

“What? I mean you mean what you said? I am sorry. I thought you would be upset. It was really foolish of me to propose to you like that. You are a good girl. I do not want to lose a precious friend like you. Please do not be…..” he mumbled.

“Shut up. Just listen to me. I love you and please do not be so shy. You are as good a person as anyone else in the world. If you wanted my love, all you needed was to just say it. I am glad to have a partner like you. Now take care, sweet dreams and make sure to give me a treat tomorrow for getting a great girlfriend” She giggled and hung up.

Miracles do happen friends. Love can come anytime, anywhere and to anyone. If you love someone, then take my word, go ahead and confess your honest feelings in a proper manner. Not saying it would not get you anywhere but if you confess, you may just become lucky like Rahul. God bless all.

Magic wand’s prediction puts India as the World Cup winners

The week gone by was all about love and yesterday was the culmination of weeks of planning to woo and get wooed. However, be prepared pretties and prettas because the ultimate fancy of Indian masses (no, not talking about the corruption, idiots), the World Cup of cricket is ready to descend in our lives Saturday onwards.

Now, coming to the topic of the blog that just came out of Wizard’s head, India is going to win the World Cup Cricket Tournament 2011. Mind you, this is not the fancy of a die hard Team India fan or somebody who wants to see Sachin go past his half century of ODI centuries in the upcoming tournament, but, a real piece of news that was obtained by eavesdropping on the conversation between two beautiful angels living in Heaven’s square, God land, who had come down to the planet earth to get a feel of the World Cup Fever.

Angel Pretty Wings: “Which team do you think will win this World Cup?”

Angel Sharp Brains: “As per the astronomical, astrological, logical and illogical as well as lays sponsored dillogical calculations, based on the speed of pulsating quasars and the rate of discovery of new solar systems, I believe that Australia will once again win the trophy.”

A resonating sound of slap reverberated in the entire hall as Angel Pretty Wings couldn’t control her anger and lost her calm and pretty demeanor.

Angel Pretty Wings: “How can you be so stupid? Don’t you know that team India is going to win this tournament? Moreover, winning a world cup doesn’t depend on the silly predictions based on planets, stars, quasars or meteors that dart around in the unseen portions of the Universe. These calculations are made on the basis of real life, laws of human behavior etc.”

Angel Sharp Brains: “So you mean that all these factors point towards an Indian win in this year’s finals?”

Angel Pretty Wings: “Yes and now let me tell you why this is bound to happen. Let’s take the trend of the World Cups for the last five WC tournaments. In each of the five finals there has been a sub-continental team that has played one Ashes team.”

Angel Sharp Brains: “I still don’t get how that puts India as the winners?”

Angel Pretty Wings:”Just wait and listen to the complete logic. Out of the five finals, Pakistan has played two and SL has played two whereas India has played one. Pakistan won their first and lost their second, SL won their first and lost their second, however, India lost their first and now they have one chance remaining. So by this logic, they will play and win this year’s final to keep the equation even.”

Angel Sharp Brains: “Oh yeah! That’s really a wonderful piece of calculations and I am going to tell all the other angels to bet for India because the God will bat for India in this world cup.”

Angel Pretty Wings smiled at me and told me to convert their conversation into a blog.