After exercises, Ish did catch and field practice. Ish stood in the middle with
the bat as everyone bowled to him. He lobbed the ball high and expected everyone
to catch. Ali never moved from his position. He could catch only when the ball
came close to him.
'All right, let's play,' Ish clapped his hands.'Paresh, you are with me. We'll bowl
first. Naveen you be in Ali's team and bat first.'
Naveen took the crease and Ali became the runner. Naveen struck on Paresh's
fourth ball. Ish ran to get the ball. It was an easy two runs, but Ali's laziness
meant they could score only one. I'aresh took a three-step run-up and bowled. Ali
struck, the ball rose and hurled towards the first floor. I ducked in the first floor
balcony. The ball went past me and hit the branch manager's office window.
Paresh had the same shocked expression as Ish, when Ali had hit a six off his
first ball.
'Hey, what? You hero or something?' Ish ran to Ali. Ali looked puzzled at the
reprimand.
'This is not a cricket ground. We are playing in a bank. If the ball goes out and
hits someone, who will be responsible? What if things break? Who will pay?' Ish
shouted.
Ali still looked surprised.
'That was a good shot,' Paresh said.
'Shut up. Hey Ali, I know you can do that. Learn the other aspects of the game.'
Ali froze, very near tears.
'Ok, listen. I am sorry. I did not mean to...,' Ish said. 'That is all I know. I can't
do anything else,' Ali's voice cracked.
'We will teach you. Now why don't you bowl?'
Ali didn't bat anymore that day. Ish kept the practice simple for the next half
an hour and tried not to scream. The latter was tough, especially because he was
an animal when it came to cricket.
'Get your books from upstairs. We will study in the backyard,' I told a sweaty
'Ali.
He brought his books down and opened the first chapter of his maths book. It
was on fractions and decimals.
Omi brought two polypacks of milk. 'Here,' he gave one to
Ish.
'Thanks,' Ish said, and tore it open with his mouth.
'And here, one more,' Omi said.
'For what?' Ish said, after taking a big sip.
'Give it to your stick insect,' Omi said. 'Have you seen his arms? They are
thinner than the wicket. You want to make him a player or not?'
'You give him yourself,' Ish smiled.
Omi shoved the milk packet near Ali and left.
'You have done some fractions before?' I said.
He nodded.
I told him to simplify 24/64 and he started dividing the numerator and
denominator by two again and again. Of course, he lacked the intuition he had in
hitting sixes in mathematics. However, his father had tried his best.
'See you at the shop,' Ish told me and turned to Ali, 'Any questions on cricket,
champ?'
avery
(avery)
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