Few things left unsaid

Posted by Abhilash January 21, 2015

Few things left unsaid

Bhuvi was bowling the 49^th over and Australia needed 12 runs to win. When I thought that the match would be over in 45^th over, India somehow managed to bring the match till the end, there was also a glimmer of a chance that we may win but Faulkner finished the match in 49^th over, I was disappointed, frustrated. Sadness filled me, every-time India lost the match it’s the same feeling and especially when India loses to Australia.

My mom called me thrice but I never replied to her as I was glued to the post match presentation. She walked beside me and told me to buy some tablets for dad as he was not feeling good. I told that I would go after an hour but she insisted me to go immediately. I remained as-if I did not listen, but my mom kept on telling me to go. I told her that I would be missing the post match analysis if I go now and also I knew I had to walk to the shop since I had given my bike to service. If I had to walk those 100 meters to the shop then it meant that I would miss the post match analysis. My mom remained quiet when I did not answer anything.

****

Almost everyone in my school bullied me; the most common thing that we used to talk about is cricket; whenever we had free class, or even when teachers are taking those stupid classes, I used to sit in the last bench along with my buddies and talk about cricket. There is nothing more interesting than analyzing ball by ball of the match that would have happened a day before. There would be a world war between our gang; any cricket fan can be classified into these three groups- Sachin fans, Dravid fans, Ganguly fans. I fall in the first category.

Though we all want India to win; what makes us even happier is when our idols play well and win the match, so that we would be able to mock others. One day, one of my friend bought a Britannia bat with Dravid signature in it. Everyone’s mouths fell wide open, I admired the bat for almost an hour though I’m not a Dravid fan, and I imagined myself with a Sachin’s autographed bat.

I came home that day from school and there was only one thing that was running through my mind; to buy a bat with Sachin’s autograph in it. I said to my mom and dad to buy me a bat, I had never asked anything with them prior to that, the best thing about them is they provided me everything before I could ask them. Mom told me that they would buy me in the next month but I insisted to buy that moment. There was a strict no from both but I did not care; all I wanted was a bat with Sachin’s autograph in it, I thought no matter what happens I should get the bat coz I had told my friends that I would buy the bat and would bring it to school the next day, if I didn't do it then I know I would be bullied more.

I pleaded with my mom to speak with my dad and make him buy me the bat. Almost for an hour she told me to wait for another 15 days but I never listened to her, I was firm on my stand. When she realised that I would not walk away without getting the bat, she finally agreed. I went along with my dad and bought the most beautiful bat of my life. It was my first bat and the next day I entered school with pride along with my bat. I could easily say that it was one of the proudest moments in my life. Just by seeing the MRF sign and Sachin’s autograph made me feel that I was the happiest person on this planet. Everyone in my class looked at my bat in awe.

*****

‘Do you remember you asked me to buy you a bat during your 6^th grade though I kept on telling you that I would buy you few days later’ my mom said quietly.

I wondered why she said that I nodded without looking at her glued to TV.

‘Back then we were not as comfortable as we are now. Money wasn't easy coming back then, both myself and dad had to struggle to earn and make a life for you’ mom said and remained silent for few seconds and continued,

‘You were very happy that day that you got your bat but you never knew that myself and your dad had to walk for the next 15 days to our office since we used up the petrol expense to buy your bat. We both walked 4 kms everyday but we never complained nor felt sad for that coz we knew that you were happy. We both never wanted you to know our economical condition; all we wanted was your happiness.’ My mom said and went to kitchen without bothering to hear a word from me.

I was dumbstruck and frozen. I was not able to hear anything or see anything for the next few seconds; the only thing that came in-front of me was my bat and the face of my parents. Having a luxurious life now was the gift from my parents struggle. I was hesitant to walk even for 100 meters for buying medicines to my dad but my parents walked 4 kilometers everyday just to buy me a bat which I liked. I felt horrible at my own self; I switched off the TV and went to buy medicines. While I walked down the road tears accompanied me, my parents walking 4 kms everyday came before my eyes, I felt bad.

I bought the medicines and while I was returning I saw a boy running out his house to his friend with a bat in his hand. The bat had Dhoni’s autograph. I thought that his dad might have bought him. The boy looked so happy when he was showing his bat to his friends. I looked behind and there stood a middle aged man leaning against the gate, he was looking at the boy and smiling, maybe he was his DAD. I saw myself in that small boy and I imagined what his father might have sacrificed just to see his son smile.

Sometimes in life we fail to look at things that are right before us, we fail to understand that we have to, we don’t say things that we need to, we don’t show things that has to be shown; just because we have been living a life that we thought is correct but life slaps you hard every-time and leads you into a path that you least expected to travel. We never say how much our parents mean to us, we have time to send ‘I love you’ text to our girlfriend/boyfriend everyday but we never even go and talk with our mom and dad. Maybe we live in a world where we are not brought up in a way that we could say that with our parents.