Three Mistakes of My Life by Chetan Bhagat

'Hey guys can you hang on, I need to make a call.' Fred said and stepped away
to dial a number on his cellphone. I couldn't hear Fred but he had a ten-minute
animated conversation before he returned to us.
'Thanks, Fred,' Ish said. I could see the pride in Ish's face.
Goodonya. Why don't you guys bring him down to Australia for a while? Hang
out and practice in my academy,' Fred invited like going to Australia was as
simple as taking an auto to Navrangpura. 'Really?' Ish said.
Yeah right, I thought. We had scraped to get second-class tickets for Goa. We
were leaving the same night to save money. Yet, Ish wanted to go to Australia.
'We can't, Fred,' I intervened.
'Why?' Fred asked.
'Can't afford it. I don't own a cricket business.' 'What?'
'I run a small cricket shop. We lied to get into your enclosure for this.'
The air became tense.
'Holy Moly,' Fred smiled, 'You guys! Some gumption. Anyway, I am no rich guy
either like your Indian team players. So that's cool by me. But you could have got
into trouble there if caught.'
'I had to make sure Ali gets tested by the best,' Ish said.
'Then get him to Australia. I leave India tomorrow. How big is your business?'
'It is kind of small,' Ish said. 'And tickets are expensive.'
'Well, one of my ex-girlfriends works with Qantas. Let me see what I can do,'
Fred said as we walked back. 'It is just Ish and Ali right?'
'That's fine,' I said quickly.
'No, we are partners Fred. Either we all come together or not. We need four
tickets,' Ish said.
'Hang on,' Fred said as he stepped away to make another
call.
'All right,' Fred said as he returned, 'I can do four tickets.' 'Wow,' Ish exclaimed,
'look Ali, this is because of you.'
Ali smiled.
'But July is better,' Fred said, 'it is winter in Australia and tickets are cheaper.'
'July works,' I said. 'We can't come in the summer vacation, that's peak sales
season.'
I figured apart from the tickets, there would be expense on passports, visas and
living expenses during the trip. I needed some time to save for that. I didn't have
to do it, but it's not every day you get to go international.