Kleen Bowled

“Team India – The World Champions after twenty eight years” Ravi Shastri shrieked on the mike, as the Wankhede erupted in to ovation and roaring, it was difficult even to hear ever ‘loud’ Ravi Shastri that to on the Loudspeaker. I was still feeling it was some dream, everyone one of us feeling the same because it indeed was a dream come true. The sea of Blue was waving through the jam packed Wankhede to cheer for the Man in Blue and we didn’t thwarted their hopes at all.

“What a game of cricket we have witnessed, it had all deserving of a world cup final. But in the end, it’s the hosts who held their nerves to lift the world cup after twenty eight years.” Ravi Shastri was as vivacious as any time before, the crowd was going crazy from being mad, loud music was being played on the speakers, drums were beaten to the death, trumpets were yelled, everything seemed so loud that moment, but neither of us minded it, coz whenever your mind is excited and full of joy you don’t think the loudest to be loud on the contrary when you are down even smallest of the reverberation sounds exasperatingly loud.

“May I please ask, Abhay Rajput the Indian Captain to have a few words with me?” Ravi announced as I was lost into my thoughts, Sachin paa gave me a pack at the back, Sanu and Yuvi were busy playing pranks with other team mates as I hastily walked to the dais, stood in front of Ravi wearing a light blue Blazer and nice smile on his face.

“So, how does it exactly feel Abby?” I stood looking at the crowd and team mates for a second or two, excitement was eating out the words in me, I felt my throat was dried up.

“I think answer lies on the face of every Indian right now, boys put in the great effort, good to see such a big reward for it. Congratulations to the Sri Lankan team, they played wonderful cricket throughout the tournament. I definitely would like to dedicate this trophy to the One Billion Indians who prayed for us every ball, every minute, thank you India for your wonderful support, love you all.” Crowd erupted in a roar as I completed my speech, I was very much happy to finish it in fluent English; it wasn’t a small task, at least for a fifth standard school dropout.

And the moment came, that we lived for, as I lifted the world-cup teammates came up running with adolescent energy, shining fireworks cracked around, confetti were showered around us, champagne was poured, hundreds of cameras flashed at a go and the moment was gelled into our minds ‘forever’. We took the victory lap over the Wankhede with the World-Cup trophy; I was running with the Tri-Color on my shoulders, tears on my cheeks had almost dried. As I was jogging on the lush green outfield, I saw a figure of about 5’5’’ “tall” jogging besides me(yes, I am aphorizing him to be “tall” coz he is the tallest and unapproachable person in terms of the stature he has achieved in the game yet modest and down to earth in his personal life), Sachin paa was busy gesticulating his home crowd, I saw a childlike thrill on his face, this game captivated him even after two decades into it, even a few tear drops were shinning hidden in a dimple on his left cheek, his hair were flaying in the thrill as well. It was his dream come true, only thing left to achieve in his wonderful cricketing career spanning over two decades was the world cup victory; only before today though. Our eyes matched, I don’t know what struck my mind I took Tri-Color from my Shoulder and handed it over to him. We both smiled; the smile gave the impression of being similar to me; it was a very satisfying smile.

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It was a very long night for all of us; we partied harder then we performed on the field. The next day was full of interviews and media. In the late afternoon, I finally got some time to check in the hotel room and sneak a little nap in between. My room-mate, Sanu – Suresh Raina, Left – handed flamboyant middle order batsman was on the television, watching the special bulletin on Indian victory.

“You are still into it, please bring down the volume, I need some sleep.” I lazily said

“Okay Boss.” He said taking over the remote control.

I tried to sleep but couldn’t, my mind was occupied with the question of a RJ today morning in an interview with her.

“So, I have the Captain Courageous – Abhay Rajput with me in the studio this morning, sir can you please tell me something about your childhood days, how were you being a child, naughty or shy or what? Did the game incite you from your early days? ” She asked in her bubbly voice adjusting headphone on her heads. I somehow manipulated the answer, but anytime someone asked about my past I became perturbed. Everyone wishes to be a child once again but I on no account wished same, divergent to that I wished totally opposite.

My mind was not letting me sleep in the chilled five star hotel room on a super comfy bed; it was running at its highest capacity and the same question came to my mind which had ended up in numerous sleepless nights:

“Was the Worst behind me or yet to come?”

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I had always been a decent son for my mother since birth. People say, I didn’t bothered her much, just one or two push, a little pain and I was out crying on a winter night in the January. I came out hungry – crying and the things got worsened from thereon. As I grew up, I realized in how much trouble I actually was. We were the family of three – Me, Maa and my younger sister – Chhutki. I don’t know why I never considered my father into that, coz he was never into family at all. He used to be out the whole day; in the night he will come to home drunk, abuse at my mom, eat his food, sleep and go away the early morning. Maa always used to say, he was working in home guards but I doubted that. It was my mom who used to work in the nearby locality to earn daily Chapatis and Sabji and sporadically Daal as well for the family.

We used to stay at a temporary arrangement of four walls made of bricks, with no plaster on there, a tadpatri which had openings at about three places if not less; was placed as the roof, tied with the walls, it was a place that we called ‘Home- Sweet Home’ in the Mafatpura, the area on the banks of River Sabarmati in the Metro City of Ahmedabad. Our home was small and tidy without much to look within. There was a nice Sai-Baba photo on the right hand side wall on which – ‘Sabka Malik Ek’ was written with shinning golden letters. The left most corner of the house had the Chula where Maa made the food every evening telling us the stories of Lord Krishna & some hundred odd brothers who fought with their other brothers; some god who travelled in the forest with his brother and armed forces of some monkeys to save his wife and the victory of good over bad kind of stuff which never caught my curiosity but my sister always loved that. A little traditional bed with a limping leg used to rest in the one of the corners of the room, under it was a trunk where Maa hid her jewellery and some good clothes given by some generous employers of Maa for me and my sister were also put in there. Besides the trunk was the magic box of Pandora – a little wooden box, in which I kept all the items I loved and wanted to store.

Almost every house in our locality had children of my age, so from very much beginning I made good friends – Sunny, Lukkha, Bhola, Tinka and many more. We always used to play together in the sand, eve-tease the dogs and cows, try n steal an orange candy from Bhopa Kaka’s stall. It was very simple being a kid but as I started growing up I realized how much worst it is to live in the poor conditions; someone has very much fittingly said that Money can’t buy happiness but before saying this utter nonsense you need enough money in your pocket and nobody can relate with it better than me.

It was a lovely summer evening; I was sitting on the banks of river Sabarmati playing with the little pebbles. Strong breeze with the flavor of summer heat was flowing from the river, not much water was there but still the heat there was bearable then at my place. I was really hungry, it was still time for Maa to come home and prepare the dinner. Thus, was trying to kill the time and hunger, throwing little stones in the river trying to test out how far-flung can I chuck them.

“Lambu, you are here, I have been looking for you since while.” Bhola came running barefoot.

“Why?”

“Sunny has challenged nearby locality boys for a cricket match, he is looking for you.”

“Cricket..!!! As if I am the cousin of Kapil Dev” I saw Sunny coming running from far, he was breathing heavily, sweat drops were running down from his dark face.

“Lambu, we have a cricket match. It’s a bet of Ten Rupees with Khodiyarnagar boys.” He said, he was the leader of the cricket gang of Mafatpura, I never played cricket with them though, it never caught my interest.

“Have you ever seen me playing with ball and bat and right now I am very much hungry as well, please excuse me.” I said without showing much gusto, continued throwing those little shingles in the little water left in the Sabarmati due to beat of summer heat.

“C’mon Lambu, you are well built-up and your height is also good. You can be a good bowler; it doesn’t require much to do. You just have to run in, bowl and target the three stumps. And I promise if I will win Ten Rupees I will buy Khari Biscuits for all of us from it, I just want to win.”

Picture of nice crispy layers of Khari Biscuits added fuel to the fire burning in my stomach, “Okay, I am in.” I threw the bunch of pebbles in my hand at a one go in the river, stood up to set off with them.

The game was on, riverside filthy area was chosen as the venue, three out of shape branches of a tree were selected as the stumps and the field was set.

“Look Lambu, you just need to run in, use all your strength and target those three stumps, bowl as fast as you can, so fast that none of those little assholes should even be able to see the ball.” Sunny thudded vibrantly handing over the red colored rubber ball to me; Rocky was written on to it. Rats were playing hide and sick inside my stomach, picture of Crispy Khari Biscuit was in frontage of my eyes as I ran in to bowl the first bowl of my life at the age of around seven.

“And the sound of timber, Indian captain draws the first blood and Indian camp is carousing; Its an important breakthrough, Captain is elated and I can see the hunger in his eyes for more, Indian Captain is out hunting Lankans.” Sanu was still on the Television, as I stole a look at the television. I was in awe; which hunger Wasim bhai was talking about from the commentary box.

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That day at the riverside, changed my way of looking at the game. With each day passing I kept on getting more and more immersed towards it. Instead of Shaktimaan, Wasim Akram, Glen Macgrath and Kapil Dev became the role models for me. Marbles and Photos of actresses exposing their cleavages were replaced by photos of Sachin, Mark Waugh & Waquar in the magical box of Pandora.

“Maa, give me ten rupees.” I said as Maa was busy cooking the lunch, sitting in front of smoldering Chula, sweat was dripping from all over her face, her eyes were bowed red due to unvarying exposure to the heat, her oval shaped face was dyed with the black and grey colored ash in parts on her chicks.

“Ten Rupees..!! Why?” She said

“I need it; I will return it tomorrow, for sure.” I said as she hesitatingly took out wrecked ten rupee note from her blouse and gave it to me.

“Don’t waste it on your stupid cricketers’ photos.”

“Okay Maa……..”

I took it from Maa, rushed to the Tinka who was waiting at the Garth of the Mafatpura for me. We immediately started on foot for Lal Darwaja. It was the August afternoon, sun was ablaze at his best, I felt asphalt roads were on fire and I was walking barefoot over there, my feet were blazing, I sensed smoke was coming out from there. Suddenly I stopped thinking of something.

“What happened?” Tinka who got ahead of me asked

“I will just be back in a minute, you wait here.” I said rushing to the left in the spur of the moment.

In around five to seven minutes, I came dashing where Tinka was waiting for me.

“C’mon, let’s go.” Urgency was palpable the way I was rushing

“Take a gulp of air first, look at you; you are wheezing like a railway engine.”

“Let’s go from here first, will tell you on the way.” I said looking down at my feet, they weren’t uncovered any longer, I had brand new Chappals borrowed (free of cost – without acquiescence of the possessor) from the Jadeshwar Mahadev.

It was the thirteenth august and it was the idea of Tinka which we were busy implementing, both me and Tinaka borrowed ten rupees each from our parents, went to Lal Darwaja, procured the Plastic Tri-Color flags from the Twenty Rupees, we managed to get a good deal deal of fifty flags after Tinka negotiated (in fact squabbled) for almost half an hour with the vendor. Our plan was very simple buy the flags at cheaper rate, sale them on the cross roads, return the borrowed amount at home and take pleasure in the small profit earned. 

The next day, fourteenth august, we spent on the Income-tax crossroads. It was chosen as the place of action coz, first it was nearby to our locality and it was one of the most crowded crossroads of the city. First fifty flags were succumbed only within first two hours; from the amount earned; we once again went and purchased another lot of flags, buy and sale modus operandi went all through the day. It was very pleasant for me, smile on the face of a kid in the air-conditioned car or sandwiched in between a mother and a father on a two-wheeler when I handed over a flag to him, also fetched a smile on my face, a satisfying smile, don’t know why but still a very very satisfying smile.

At the end of day when closed the shutters of our business, we had one hundred and two rupees in total after deducting for our lunch (Puri-Bhaji at a nearby small stall), tea and biscuits in the noon and finally a cream-roll in the evening to commemorate success of our business; which meant we had gained forty rupees each after sweating whole day on the income-tax crossroads.

“Put your money in our unit linked scheme and set all the worries a side, earning money isn’t thorny anymore – ADX Mutual Funds.” A tagline flashed on the screen of the bright 32” wall-bound LCD, I felt a gust of the air like a block of ice from AC, “Earning money can’t be this easy, can it be?” I thought as Sanu went to mini-bar and helped himself to a chilled bottle of Beer; Highlights of the Final Match sustained.

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It was a dark night, I was sniveling, tears were rolling down from my small eyes, India had lost the semi-final in the Wills World Cup-1996 against the mighty Lankans at chronological Eden Gardens, even exquisite innings of sixty five from the Little Master couldn’t save the Indians; I felt so powerless that day; I cursed myself for being a bowler and not a batsman, as if I would have been a batsman, they would have allowed me to get pad up and go to the field.

“Which students will die, if ceiling fan will fall right now?” I marveled staring at the ages old fan working intimidated, yesterday’s loss was still on my mind, Dube sir – our math teacher in his mid-forties with blithering persona was busy calculating some weird sums on the black-board which wasn’t black on many of the parts, grey shaded room gave the impression of being more like a haunted house than being a class room, spider networks were all over the ceiling as if spider man had just triumphed over green goblin. The walls were looking alike painted years ago, pellicles were dominating all over. It was how we got to our Primary Education every day at – The Municipality Primary School No.12, wondering when the ceiling fan will fall and who will be amongst the causalities.

“Lambu, tell me the answer of this sum!” He yelled as I was still staring at the fan

“Who Me?” My tone was that of being surprised

“Yes, you only Lambu, you are the only one called Lambu in the class.” He was bigheaded and that was the only reason we all hated him, the whole class gawked at me as I stood unvoiced gawking at my feet.

“Get out of the classssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss…!” I heard a bark from him.

After a while, bell rang, class ended and Dube sir came out of the class, I was standing there captivating a full support of the wall.

“Come in the staff room.” He said, that very moment I knew I am going to get some pounding, I haven’t been there before but I remember students coming out of the staff room howling, he was the most stringent teacher of all in the school.

The atmosphere in the staff room wasn’t the convincing one, the lights there weren’t working or weren’t switched on, the whole room was entirely dark, only a little light in the room; broke its way from the half open window on the extreme end of the room.

“Go and stand in that corner.” He ordered sitting on a wooden chair, its legs shuddered.

A few moments passed in hush, I stood there facing the clammy wall, a typical smell of dampness & humidity was assorted in the air.

“Strip down…!”

“What?” I turned back to look at the Dube sir

“Take down your shorts, you little mother fucker.” I don’t know why some anonymous trepidation took over my mind and I acted upon each word of him. I was unaware of the fact about what he did, I just stood there and let him act on his will but I was in severe pain, so much pain that even while walking back to the class room I was in imbalance (don’t know the imbalance was bodily or psychosomatic, but some imbalance was there), tears were rolling down my eyes when he was finished. I never went back to school after that day, never ever.

“Padhega India tabhi to Badhega India…!” Mr. Bacchan announced on the Television commercial, as I stayed lied on the comfy bed pretending to be asleep, Sanu was enjoying each and every moment of the bulletin. I don’t know why I stopped going to school, but even today Dube sir comes in my nightmares and orders, “Strip down you little mother fucker…!” but this time around before I obey his commands, my eyes get unlocked, and I keep on ogling wide eyed at a sinister ceiling.

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It was fiesta mood all over the Mafatpura, utensils were trampled with spoons or whatever was in the hand, fire crackers were being exploded, it was Diwali in the month of June, and I myself alongside others was bopping and hopping to the rapture tunes of utensils being beaten, India had prevailed over their staunch rivals Pakistan by 47 runs in the super six game of the 1999 – World Cup to maintain the unbeaten streak in the world cup against the arch challengers. Celebrations went on and on till late night; we danced till our legs got worn out.

“Is Maa here?” I asked entering a lush green verandah of a huge bungalow, where Maa used to work; a little boy of age around me was sitting with all the cricketing gear lying around him.

“Kaki, has gone with Dadi, if you want you can wait here.” He tone was very much gracious, as I sat there he got busy padding up.

“Caaaannnn I, see iiiii….. it?” I hesitatingly asked pointing towards a shining red colored ball lying out there

“What! Ball? Ohh sure take it!” I took the brand new red cherry, first time in my life. It was shining like a diamond, with large golden colors SG Test was embossed on to it, nice white colored seam was tempting, I was licking my lips seeing it.

“Can I bowl at you, only once?”

“You can bowl..!” He was surprised

“Oh, yes..! I am a very good bowler.” I tried to justify myself.

“Lets’ see…!” He said taking a glittering MRF Bat – same as used by the Little Master in his hand.

The little boy was marking his guard; I stood at the top of my bowling mark, trying to emulate the bowlers I saw on the television, I started rasping the brand new red ball with my grimy shorts using my saliva. Finally the boy was ready, I ran in with all my oomph and bowled, it was a dire delivery almost five to seven stumps away from where the batsman stood.

“What happened? This has never happened any time before, I have always been on target and even this time I bowled it straight only, how can bowl change the route on its own……!” I stood in doubt on the hard pitch made of cement as the kid tried to fetch the ball from the nylon nets.

“It’s not the regular rubber ball, its season ball and it swings.” I heard a powerful voice on my back, as I turned I saw a huge figure must be about six and half feet tall, strongly built body, his huge biceps were announcing themselves from a white colored half-sleeve T-shirt.

“Hold it like this; it’s called scrambled seam bowling. It will help you control the new ball at first.” He showed me exactly holding the ball in his hand.

I ran in, holding the ball the way I was taught, and the timber, stumps were rattled, the usual sight for me with the ball in my hand.

“O Boy..!! You can generate some pace. Well done.” As he patted my back, I proudly stood there, as if a king has conquered a fort.

“Hi, I am Sanjay Gaikwad, what is your name?”

“Lambu”

“Papa, he is the son of Bhuri Kaki!” the little boy jumped in-between. 

“Lambu, what kind of name is that?”

“People call me that only, Lambu!”

“Okay forget it, I am the Bowling Coach of the Ranji team of Gujarat. If you want I can teach you some nuts and bolts of the bowling, I can see raw talent in you.” I wondered what this Ranji team is but I saw some glisten in his eyes, I just nodded in affirmative, I had no words at that minute.

“From tomorrow morning, sharp at six, I want you here.”

I was super excited the whole day, a person who is something at something called Ranji Team of Gujarat, going to teach me how to bowl; that too with the ball on which cricketers are used to play and not the one with which we used to play (The Rubber Ball or a Plastic one called – ‘Dadi’).

Sabarmati was as calm as ever, the shadows of the street lights of the Gandhi Bridge created illusionary view in the little water in the river, it looked stunningly beautiful. I was lying down on the filthy river side, sky was crystal clear, not even a single cloud; each and every star was clearly visible alongside huge moon, “is it a full moon day?” I wondered gazing at the sky.

It must have been around half past eight, when stomach filaments pulled to let me know it was the time for the dinner. As I reached home, some shrieking and yelling were audible from outside only, Pappa was home bit early today, bit more drunk, bit more violent. As I went in front of the gate, I saw he was beating Maa violently, she was beseeching to leave her but that moron wasn’t listening at all, only language he knew was fists and punches and slaps and some very absurdly spoken abuses.

“Please, don’t take this jewellery; this is the only thing I have for Chhutki’s wedding. Please …!!” as Maa stiffened her grip on the jewellery, punches and fists started becoming more and more ferocious, She was pleading to leave her but that man who was regrettably my father was treating her as a roadside pig. After last slap on her cheek, I was able to see some blood driving its way out from her mouth, her hair were strewn all over her face; some them were stuck to her cheeks due to tears. She was the typical Indian lady; who considered his husband to be her god and that god was right now treating her to be some creepy-crawly creature and I couldn’t take that, not at all. Finally my endurance ended; I looked here and there hastily, just bit away from the place where I was standing; I saw a solid rock of the size of a normal cricket ball, without giving much contemplation, I picked it up, took an aim and………

“And it’s a Bulls-eye, Abhay had only one to stump to aim at from the mid-wicket, and he hits it directly to catch the treacherous looking Sanga inches short from his ground, wonderful stuff from the Indian Captain, he is leading from front in this all important final.” My eyes were closed, TV was still on and voice of some much known commentator hit my eardrum.

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15^th March, 2001

The date written with the golden letters in the history of the Indian Cricket, coz on this very day Indians triumphed over mighty Australians breaking the unbeaten streak of 16 tests in a row, that to after following on. Very very Special innings came from VVS Laxman (281) in company with the typical one of the ‘WALL’- Rahul Dravid (180), and the winning flavor was added by the ‘Turbenator’ – Harbhajan taking 13 wickets including a hat trick on a final day of the match, to complete a sensational 171 run Indian victory.

It was a festive day at the Bangalore, MRF Pace Foundation. We all had a day off from the hardcore training, to watch the game and a feast there after in the honor of the victory of Team India. Analogous to this all famous test match my life also had turned upside down – 360⁰ in last two years. After dropping out from school, I had nothing to do except working on Budha Kaka’s tea stall in the morning and later on targeting three stumps with bowl in my hand on the riverside and with the help of Gaikwad sir I managed to do that quite effectively and efficiently. I was able to streak into the Probable for Ranji side just after six months of training with him (it was different that it was Gaikwad sir who was the reason for my inclusion; he was the one who somehow convinced selectors about my potential. Here in India you can’t get anything starting from your birth certificate to death certificate without preference given by some recognized person or bribing the officials forget about getting selected in the state cricket team), the GCA Officials after looking at me in the nets for almost one and half year, decided to send me to the official camp at the MRF Pace Foundation, Bangalore under the watchful eyes of none other than legendary Sir Denis Lillie. It was one of the most premier fast bowling coaching institute not only in India but whole world, the facilities out there were awesome, and it was commencement of the all together a new world to me, a new name also was given to me by this new world, ‘Abhay Rajput’; I wasn’t ‘Lambu’ anymore, I was Abby, Abhay Rajput.

Due to my pace and skills in bowling wicket to wicket, I had caught an eye of the head coach from very first day and I had become very much of favorite student of Lillie sir.

 “Look, Abby you have got the raw talent but the problem with you is, your action is neither front on nor side on, technically it’s called mixed. It’s not ideal for a bowler with pace, likely problems are back injuries in long-run and the main problem is your momentum in your mixed action takes you in the wrong direction and that result in poor stability. The task ahead of us, is to make you bowl more of side on than mixed, it will aid your lethal in-swingers.” Lillie sir showed me exactly how my action was wrong and how it can be corrected by bowling more of side-on. He definitely was a rookie trainer, and unsympathetic as well on occasions.

Up came the days of sweating in the Bangalore heat with the red cherry in the hand and out crying of the bowling consultants for changing my action to make it more side on.

India Squad for touring South Africa for the Three Test and Five One Day Series announced, No surprises except a Young Gujju Quickie in the squad

21^st June, 2001

Today evening, Squad for the Indian Team touring south Africa was announced, after such a splendid performance from team India against the mighty kangaroos at the home, claiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy hopes have been raised for their first ever win on the South-African soil. There are no major changes in the squad that battled Kangaroos at home except one that, Sixteen year old Gujju fast bowler Abhay Rajput fortunately made his way into the squad in place of injured Ajit Agarkar. He is yet to make his first class debut, but he has impressed bowling consultants including Chief - Denis Lille at the MRF Pace Foundation in his short stay there. It’s based on the recommendations of the Academy experts, he has been included in the squad said the spoke person. Let us see how well he can make an impact wearing the blue, but with Srinath, Prasad and Z. Khan already in the squad, I think he will only warm the bench, still it will be the experience of the lifetime for a sixteen year old quickie.

Squad :SC Ganguly (‘C), R. Dravid (VC), S. Ramesh, S. Das, S. Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, NR. Mongia (WK), D. Mongia, Robin Singh, Anil Kumble, H. Sigh, Z.Khan, J. Srinath, BKV Prasad, Abhay Rajput.

A few months before, I was a slum boy, running in bare foot on the filthy roads, practically doing nothing and today I was in the INDIAN CRICKET TEAM, yes I was amongst the Men in Blue, Life was never so kind, I was excited how would it be to be playing with those guys whom I have only seen on the television, whom I adored specially Dada, he was like god to me. I was happy yet confused, thrilled yet baffled, overwhelmed yet perplexed.

“Is the worst behind me or yet to come?” That was the first night I didn’t slept, Bangalore sky looked great in the night.

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Here, I was with the Men in Blue at the Johannesburg, the largest city in the South Africa, also known as Jozi or Jo’Burg locally. Johannesburg may not be built on a river or harbor, but its streams are the source of two of southern Africa's mightiest rivers. A number of streams meander through the suburbs of Johannesburg, and form the source of two of southern Africa's primary rivers – the Limpopo and the Orange.

At the beginning I was very very nervous & uncomfortable with the team but within a few moments, I got normal. There was nothing special, nothing to worry about, they were fun loving, normal human beings same as me; they were decent and soothing; slowly and steadily I started feeling comfortable. We were wandering here and there in the Jo’burg Botanical Garden also known as Rose Park, wonderful fragrance of the Roses was in the air, beauty of roses were satisfying for the eyes, I was fascinated to see these much different species of the Roses, Pink, Yellow, Red, White, Orange and even Black Roses were there.

“You know, Zak I am very much lucky person, I didn’t even went out of the Mafatpura whole my life so far and today I am here in some other country, wandering in the one of the most beautiful gardens on the earth, god has been so kind to me.” I said taking nice red colored rose in my hand, beautiful whiff filled in my nose. I was totally underestimating my Luck, it was just the beginning.

“Good Morning, welcome to the coverage of First Test between India and Protease at the beautiful wanderers, a bad news is coming from the Indian Camp. Indian spearhead Srinath twisted his ankle badly in the practice session today, so we are having a young debutant Abhay Rajput in the India Team, who has chosen to bowl first on this overcast morning after winning the toss. Its goanna be a big day for the young lad.” Someone in the commentary box was over enthusiastic as I looked at the picture of Lord Shiva in my locker, given to me by Maa before I left for South Africa. It was the moment, the moment of my life time; first time in my life I was going to walk on the cricket field representing my country, people will be watching me on the television, they will be cheering for me; transformation had begun – transformation of ‘Lambu’ into ‘Abby – Abhay Rajput’ and I was doting every bit of that.

“Will Maa be watching me or Chutki? But where, we don’t even have television back home...!” I was lost in world of my own perplexed thoughts; someone patted on my back, signaled it was the time to go on the field, my heart skipped a beat.

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“It’s a clinical performance by Indians, congratulations to the men in blue for comprehensive series win over Kiwis at home.” Ramiz Raja was standing wearing a totally artificial smile on his face as usual; we all were standing in a queue, cracking jokes, abusing each other.

“And it’s the time for the Man of the Series, and no surprises in there. With 22 wickets in 3 Tests, it’s Abhay Rajput.” Whole team applauded, Dada smiled, I bashfully walked towards the presentation area, someone patted on my back, I didn’t realized who he was.

“Two Man of the Series awards in first three tournaments you have played, seems you are making habit of it.” I just managed an unvoiced, disconcerted smile at him, I was feeling pretty uncomfortable out there.

“It’s always great to perform, I am really happy with my performance.”

“It’s becoming a statement now a days that, a pumped up Abhay with the bowl in his hand is the scariest thing in the world cricket.”

“I am just concentrating on bowling fast, as faster as I can; everything else is just coming on its own; thank you.”

“Abhay Rajput, ladies and gentleman; Man of the series” I heard some applause, as hesitatingly took the trophy and cheque from one of the officials on the dais.

0 x 0 x 0

 I was sitting on the bench in the small park; two little rodents were running here and there, a few birds were chirping in the sky; just like quite a few evenings I have spent here before. Only difference was I wasn’t the most talked fast bowler of the country, I wasn’t the one described as the scariest person with the bowl in the hand then but right now I was. It was a tidy and small park on the riverside of the Sabarmati just next to Nehru Bridge; since last one and half year it was almost every evening’s ritual to come here, sit and see the sun getting diluted in the water of Sabarmati on the west side skyline.

Today was no different evening; sun had already started its journey towards west skyline. Sky was painted in carroty orange; lights weren’t yet turned on the Nehru Bridge, the image of the sky was mirrored into the calm water of the Sabarmati, seemed like water was blushing due to echo of the sky flirting with it much alike a newly wedded bride blushing with the first touch of her hubby. I was glaring at the reddened water, as if someone will come out of the water and ... … …

“So Mr. Man of the Series, finally got some time?” I turned towards the voice; two Ruthful eyes, full of volatility were walking towards me. I guess it was this permutation of two altogether diverse traits in these eyes engrossed me towards them, when I wasn’t the fastest bowler of the country, I wasn’t the Abby – Abhay Rajput, when I was nothing and I was only Lambu. She was Gaikwad sir’s daughter, Aadhya Gaikwad. Both of us couldn’t realise, when we got involved with each other while learning to bowl from sir, but then we made it our practice to meet at this park and spend the evenings together, sitting calmly feeling each other’s presence till sun gets down in the water of Sabarmati.

“C’mon Aadhya, I was in Radio Interview when you called, I called back as well but you didn’t picked it up. You and your attitude, only you know it, no one else can.” I said adjusting on the stone made bench, making enough space for her to fit into.

“Oh! Yes, you are so busy these days…” She was in the mood to go on and on and on, but I put my figure on her lips, she ineptly bunged her words.

“I am already not having many evenings to spend with you these days; I don’t wanna waste this beautiful evening arguing with you, we can do it on phone as well.” I took her palms in mine, they were warm. A few moments passed in the silence.

“So, when are you going back?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“You came yesterday night only and tomorrow….”

“It’s the rehab camp at the NCA, Bangalore; I need to attend it as preparation for the upcoming tour.”

She was silent, I kept on rubbing her palms with mine; She took her hand back.

“C’mon Aadhya, you know I have no other option, I have to go and still every time you react like this only.”

“Yes, I want you with me; all the time.”

“I already am with you only; all the time. Only thing is sometimes I may not be present physically but still I am with you only; all the time.”

“You are too smart to win with the words.”

“It’s the truth, and we have complicated ourselves so much that even truth seems fiction these days.” I smiled on my own words, she took eyes of mine, started to glare at the Sabarmati, she was pretending hard to avoid me, just pretending though.

“Okay, I have solution for all your problems.” Some mystery was palpable in my voice.

“What?” She looked very sweet with this artificial anger on her face

“I am goanna say to Maa about us today, let’s get married, if not married at least engaged. What says?”

“Are you serious?”

“No, just kidding…… Stupid, of course I am…!” I glared into her eyes, held her by her shoulders and before she could react, my lips were on hers. An unknown sensation went through my body, she was also shuddering, Sabarmati was still blushing so was Aadhya. We sat there till lights on the Nehru Bridge were turned on in full fledge, a bit late than normal.

0 x 0 x 0

It was almost two years since I had made my debut in team India, things were all together different now. I was the regular part of the team India, a very very successful cricketer. We weren’t staying in the slum anymore; I had a huge bungalow in the Bopal area. There was a time I didn’t had Chappals and I stole it from Temple, today I had Shoe contracts with one of the the best company in the world. Although I was a fifth standard drop-out from the municipality school, but Chhutki was studying in one of the best English medium schools of the city. I was living a happy life with Maa, Chhutki and Aadhya Gaikwad Rajput – my better half. My life was changed drastically and I was enjoying every bit of it, but still the question was there, unconsciously though but still there: “Was the worst behind me or yet to come?”

“Wass up buddy?” Someone shouted, loud music was playing, green, red, blue, disco lights were flashing, I was sitting on a table with the glass of scotch. We were in the Carrabian for the ICC Champions Trophy. It had become routine of mine, to spend the days on the ground and nights in the pubs; I had started to take myself for granted. I turned to see, it was the fast bowler from the Pakistan, he also was the member of the speed gun bowlers’ club, same like me.

“Nothing much” I took a deep sip of the scotch

“So, how are the preps going on?” He took the seat, in front of my table.

 “Not so great, it’s tough to maintain the pace these days, am having some problems with my back, and form also hasn’t been the great in last two series, so under pressure a bit this time around.” disenchantment was blatant in my sound.

“International Cricket is demanding and tough as well at times, it’s intricate to cop up at times.” some silence followed for a while, I finished my glass, ordered one more.

“If you don’t mind, I have one suggestion.” Some mystery surrounded as, I put my glass down, looked at him and nodded.

“Take this, it will help you.” He said putting a packet

“What is this?”

“Coke”

“Drugs..!” I was astonished

“A little helps you re, I am taking it since a while. That is the only reason I have been one of the premier fast bowlers since last five years. Everybody takes it, take it.”

“But, you can get habituated to it.”

“Who says that? I am not habituated to it. I am quite normal.”

Don’t know why, I took the packet, took out the white power and took a little sniff of it; I entered some another world, I felt as if sound of the music all of sudden stopped, people around me went away in hush, I was in all together a different world, virtual world within the world but somewhat away from the original one.

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“Abby, I want to talk to you, please come in my room!” I was in the mood the go and have shower after such a hard fought match against the Aussies, but Dada ordered me to come to his room, as we stepped out of the team bus.

“Sure Dada will be in a minute.” I thought he must be looking to congratulate me, for such a splendid bowling performance especially in the death overs I was unplayable.

I went in the room, changed into my favorite shorts and t-shirt, splashed some water on my face and was off to Dada’s room.

“Hello Dada..!”

“Oh hi Abby..”

“Water??? Hey..Careful..!!” He threw a water bottle at me; I juggled but held on finally

“It was a good win, wasn’t it?”

“Oh yes, Dada. It’s always special to win against kangaroos.”

“You were phenomenal, good to see you back in the form. You were bit out of the shape and low on confidence but since Champions Trophy, you have got your pace back.”

“Yes Dada, feels good to be back in the form, I have been working hard on it.”

“Sure?”

“Didn’t get you, what kind of question was that?”

“Means you are working hard on your bowling?”

“I am not getting you Dada..!” I was perspiring in the AC Room; expressions on Dada’s face were turning into the one of angst and disappointment.

“Okay, let me make it clear, Abby are you doing anything which you shouldn’t?”

“Whh…aatt… What Dada?” when someone asks What on your question that doesn’t mean he hasn’t heard you, the fact is he is trying to have some time thinking on what to answer.

“Look Abby, you are like a child to me, I am just worried about you. I have come around a few things about you, which aren’t the best.”

“There is nothing like that Dada; I am not taking anything which I shouldn’t. I am totally clean.” I was almost about to cry.

“I didn’t say anything about, you taking something Abby.” I kept on staring down, I didn’t had any courage to make the eye contact with him

“Look Abby, stop all these, I need you, this team needs you, this country needs you.” I saw a touch of fatherliness in this man’s voice. I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t retort in any manner; I walked out of the room immediately with tears rolling down my eyes.

Knock..Knock…

I didn’t realized, when I slept. A hard knock at the door, broke my little nap.

“Must be Dada” I said to myself, walking off to open the door, brushing my eyes. As I opened the door, two guys in the executive kind of look were standing at my hotel room, I gave them a confused look, my eyes were still full of sleep.

“Hi, this is Arthur; ICC Anti-Doping Agency.” He said extending his hand to me, I gawked at him wide-eyed.

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Abhay’s Doping Test Positive, Banned from International Cricket for Two Years

In the biggest news of the day, the premier fast bowler and spear-head of Indian Pace attack: Abhay Rajput’s doping test came positive today and he has been banned from playing international cricket for two years. Abhay was out with the team India at New Zealand to play 3 Tests and 5 ODIs, when ICC’s Anti-Doping Agency caught him for the Doping Test and it came positive. Abhay accepted that he was taking drugs since last six odd months, first time he took it was ICC Champions Trophy in the carrabian. Abhay was considered to be one of the most promising young player in the country and this act of his has put a black dot against his personality. Though he is just twenty one year old, thus still after completing the two year ban, he can return to the international cricket but will cricket accept him once again? The question remains unanswered and only time can answer that.

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“I am sorry Dada” I was howling like a kid in the arms of Dada, he was caressing my hair slowly and carefully

“Everybody commits mistake, you as well did. But, you made the mistake and only you can correct it. Remember you are just twenty one, after serving two years ban you will only be twenty three, you can come back and you have to. Remember I told you: This Team, This Country, We all, Need you Abby and you have to come back to this dressing room with same fire and pace as before.”

0 x 0 x 0

Cocaine had made me its slave, I was totally into it lastly and when I was caught by the ICC the situation was very much worst, like I had to take daily dosage of it to avoid the side effects of not having it. Now I was caught by the ICC and was restrained from playing, I couldn’t take this at all; I was broken into pieces.

“Abhay, I trusted you so much, I thought you were a fighter and you became the slave of this pathetic thing called cocaine.” Aadhya was all over me, as I entered the bedroom. I guess she was full of anger; since I came in the morning but kept all of it within as Maa was present.

“Inteeerrr..national Cri… Cricket is veeryy much demanding….You woooonnt understaaannd it.” I was stammering, I hadn’t had the coke since more than twenty four hours and it was having its own effects on me.

“So, all others are having it?”

“No”

“Then why you, why?”

“Leaaaaavvvee me alone……….!!” I shouted on my highest volume, Aadhya was stunned by it. Someone from within was stretching each and every nerve of mine, my head was spinning, I felt each and every drop of blood in my nerve system was dried, the whole world around me was spinning, I felt my entrails will come out from my stomach via mouth tearing my lungs down.

Somehow, I got hold of some vase from the table, Bang and it was shattered into pieces, I felt my brain will explode like a bomb, my fists got tightened, I held bed sheet tightly, foam started to come out of my mouth, I started to shout badly, Aadhya was watching all these being a sculpture; she was stunned, She could not believe what she was facing right now; she had never seen such a violent and beast alike dimension of his loving husband, my shouts started to fade away slowly, I begun to calm down a bit, she came down near me held my hands, started caressing my head. I don’t remember anything thereafter.

It had almost become routine of everyday, Maa and Aadhya weren’t allowing me to have Coke and with each day passing I felt like, my death was coming near. I had no appetite; my stomach was rejecting anything inside. I also stopped coming out of my room, I hadn’t shaved for a month or so nor even hair-cut.

“Look at you; what have you done to yourself Abhay?” Aadhya brought the mirror in front of mine, even I wasn’t able to recognize the person in the mirror; eyes had gone deep; even had dark circles beneath, hair were going nowhere, unshaved face looked grimier than normal; The guy in the mirror looked scrawny; I almost had lost eight to ten kilograms.

“Leave me alone.” A deep voice came out from somewhere

“I can’t, I am half of yours, and if one half of yours is in pain other cant remain idle and let it drop in some more pain.” I tried to ignore her, she held my face

“Look into the mirror Abhay, is this the premier fast bowler of the country? Is this the guy who was the scariest person in the world with the bowl in his hand? Is this the guy whom I married? Is this the guy whom I loved? NO……………… Answer to every question is no.” She broke down giving me a tight hug, her tears were rolling down on my shirt, I could hear the pain in her cry. We sat there, crying for almost half an hour. She silently moved out of the room, don’t know why but my legs automatically followed her. I came out in the main room; it seemed it was ages before I had been there. I saw a daily newspaper lying there, I took it, opened the sports page

Tigers at home, nannies away: India lost 4-0 to England in England.

It has been a dreadful English Summer for Indian Cricket Team, after failing to win a single ODI, now they have been whitewashed in the Tests as well. It has been one of the worst performances by men in blue in recent past. More especially Indian Bowling was pathetic; none of the bowler was able to leave his impact on the English men. The fact was evident from the fact that, in none of the four tests Indian Bowlers were able to get all ten English wickets. Even in the batting only The Wall – Dravid shown some resilience; except him it was all disappointment. I know this isn’t the place to talk but, but still India missed its premier fast bowler, Abhay on this tour. I guess, his presence would have made some difference in this pace friendly atmosphere.. …

All of a sudden, someone snatched newspaper from my hand; I saw Aadhya was standing there, tall and confident.

“What?” I calmly asked her, she just took my hand and placed a brand new red ball in my hands, the scene at the Gaikwad sir’s home came flashing in front of my eyes, when I held this bowl for the first time, a sudden quaver passed through my body.

“I need you, we all need you, this team needs you, this country needs you Abby; you have to come back to this dressing room with same fire and pace as before!” Dada’s words echoed into my eardrums; I smiled looking at the ball, then I took my eyes of it and merged them with Aadhya’s, I felt her eyes were glittering, but very next moment I realized, there were tears in there.

0 x 0 x 0

Almost two years left in my ban, but still I was determined to back in the Indian team, at any cost. It wasn’t any easy at all; the most important thing was to get uncontaminated from the effects of the Coke, it took six months in the Rehab to let me go completely uncontaminated. Next big task, was to get back to the best of my fitness level and get ready for the highest level and I choose the place from where it all begun: MRF Pace Foundation.

The first thing I received at the MRF Pace Foundation was a hard slap on my face, by none other than Lillie sir. I felt relieved that very moment; he too.

I was back at my own best; within half year or so. And now I was waiting for the opportunity to sneak into the Indian Team, and get back to bleed blue once again.

“Don’t just wait for the opportunity, grab it and make the most out of it.” Suddenly increased volume of the television grabbed my attention; some sexy girl exposing half her body was announcing this; I didn’t got what she was advertising; Sanu was sitting there with remote in his one hand and beer bottle in another.

“Sanu, can I please sleep? Thoda sa kam kar de yaar……..!”  Even I knew, I wasn’t going to sleep, but I wanted to think incessantly.

0 x 0 x 0

“Hey Abby, you seem a bit down!” Aadhya came in with a nice cup of warm tea; she was looking beautiful in her bottle green saree. The volatility in her eyes was a bit settled now, but still they were ruthful, I kept on glaring at her.

“Six months have passed since completion of my ban; still there are no signs of positivity from selectors’ side.”

“You have worked hard, now just wait don’t get impatient. Have faith on your own luck.”

“Luck….! It has been strange yet inseparable portion of my career so far, let’s see, what it has in store for me...!”

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First T20 World Cup: Indian Seniors Steps down, Says send Young legs.

All Indian seniors pros; including Sachin, Dada and Dravid had withdrawn themselves from the first ever T20 World cup, asking to send in the young legs for the shortest format of the game. The leadership has been trusted upon the young shoulders of the wicketkeeper batsman: MS Dhoni. Another surprise was recall of the fast bowler Abhay Rajput to the team, his inclusion was the result of shoulder injury to Indian spear head Zaheer Khan and out of form Irfan Pathan I guess. He was out due to positive Doping test two years back, this will be his first international tournament after it. Let’s hope he can create the same impact on his comeback, which he made in the past.

Indian Squad: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Utthapa, Yuvraj Singh (VK), Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (WK & C), Rohit Sharma, Irphan Pathan, H. Singh, P.Chawla, S. Sreesanth, Abhay Rajput, Yusuf Pathan, S. Badrinath, Joginder Sharma.

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“And the India creates the history, team India, the champions of the first ever T20 world cup.” I wondered how it was always Ravi Shastri on every good moment for India, was it only the co-incidence or he was the lucky charm of Team India.

“And now is the time for the Man of the Match, it was a gripping final and we had some wonderful performances from both the sides; but in the end it was the spell of four for sixteen, which made the difference from the mighty quick Abhay Rajput. Ladies and gentleman: Abhay Rajput; man of the match for the night.”

I took the Man of the Match medallion from a middle aged, South African Cricket Board official, thousands of cameras flashed, my eyes weren’t used to these many cameras since a while now, they were forced to go close, next day newspapers published my photograph with the eyes closed.

“You did it Abby, you did it.” Aadhya was esthetic on the call

“You were the force who made me do it.” I didn’t wanted to divulge the tears in my eyes to her, but she got me, even on the call. We stayed silent on the call for a while.

That was the day; I never looked back since then; Never ever.

0 x 0 x 0

“A Really bad news coming out on the very first day of the World Cup, Indian Captain MS Dhoni has fractured his left hand in the practice. There were lots of expectations from the Mahi & his ever cool leadership in this world cup at the home but now he won’t be the one leading Team India. Parthiv Patel was made as the replacement of him in the side and in place of injured Dhoni, Indian team will now be led by the rookie fast bowler: Abhay Rajput. We have the chief selector Krish Shrikant here with us; so what is your reaction on this Kris?”

“O this really is a very very bad incident and we all will miss Mahi very badly in this all important tournament. Not only was his leadership but his batting was also the important factor for Indian Victory in this world cup, but we can’t prevent accidents. So, I wish him a quick recovery.”

“What is your comment on Abhay Rajput leading the team?”

“Oh, he has been part of this team since a while now. He has been superb for team India with bowl, he has a very good cricketing brain and we all hope that he and team India do all the good in this world cup at home, to bring it back home.”

“So this was Chief Indian selector, giving us valuable inputs on the current Indian Team scenario in the world cup; we only hope weather it is Mahi or Abby; world cup should come to India only, camera person Ajay ke sath, Santosh; Aaj Tak.”

0 x 0 x 0

The atmosphere of the dressing room was heavier than the normal; everyone was busy following their pre-match superstitious rituals; I was sitting in front of my locker, looking at the picture of Lord Shiva, given by Maa, years before when I made my debut; I still had it in my locker. It was a huge day, we were playing the World Cup finals against the Lankans, the occasion had come after twenty-eight years to bring the glory back to the country.

“It has been all luck, you were into the game due to luck, into the team due to luck, got back into the team due to luck, into the leadership also due to luck. This is the time to prove to your luck that you deserved all of it, you have had so far. This is the time to prove to your own self that you were worthy recipient of that luck, go ahead and snatch that trophy. The worst is just behind you, it isn’t coming any further.” I was almost shouting within, as the National Anthem begun, I had a mysterious glint in my eyes, saluting the Tri-Color.

“Team India – The World Champions after twenty eight years..!” I suddenly woke-up, I saw myself rushing to the ground, tightly hugging each and every men in blue, I saw myself crying, I saw myself lifting the trophy on the 32” LCD, I checked, my eyes were wet even now. In a while bulletin ended, I closed my eyes, Sanu switched the TV off, and carefully went out of the room.

0 x 0 x 0

It was a lovely evening; I was here at the Somanth for taking the blessings of the Somnath Mahadev, one of the Twelve Jyotirlings across the country for helping us to win this World-Cup. Believe me, if you wanna find peace, there will be a few better places than Somnath. I was standing in the back yard of the huge temple premises, nice melody of rise and fall of waves of the ocean was soothing. Air was moisten, serenity was in the atmosphere, birds were returning to their nests with the food for their children, sun was looking huge, it was about to get dissolved in the water of ocean, the ocean was calm-headedly accepting the surrendering sun within it, nice breeze was flowing from the ocean, taking all the negativity away from me. With every moment passing, I was feeling more and more tranquil and unruffled. The very important thing I learned standing out here; the answer to every question, problem lies within us. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from outside.

“The Worst is just behind me, it isn’t coming any further.” I stretched my arms and shouted but my voice got diluted in the air as chanting in the temple begun:

Bum Bum Bhole, Bum Bum Bhole,

Bum Bum Bhole, Bum Bum Bhole……..

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