Tranquility Inn

Tranquility Inn

I was tired. I was growing impatient. What’s more, my wrench slipped from my hand and landed on my large right toe. I let out an involuntary scream of agony. It took a great deal of restraint not to curse and hiss out in sheer frustration.

Of all places, why should my (until now!) trustworthy car get a flat? Why should I find that the wheel nuts were rusted solid in position and when I eventually did get them loose, why should they slip from my fingers and go rolling down the slope and be lost for ever? But why?

Just my darned luck as it were, it began to drizzle! I threw the wrench into the boot of the car in disgust and wiped the sweat off my brow on my sleeve. I jumped back into the driver’s seat hoping that the rain would pass as just a drizzle and I could get to my labours of fixing the flat and be on my way again.

The clouds grew thicker and the rain began to increase steadily; the drops became larger and the noise of them thudding on my car’s bonnet was like Hercules pounding on my head mistaking it for one of the Hydra’s own! I certainly would have preferred the sledge-hammer.

I waited. And hoped. The digital clock display on the dashboard said 7:30 PM. It was growing dark. I tried the FM tuner in the car. Static. I fiddled with the tuner this way and that. More static! I began to think of all the improbable reasons for me to be having such a miserable day. Here I was in the middle of nowhere, caught in an unseasonal downpour and with a flat and a wheel that could not be removed! And it was going to be night soon. I did not want to be in such an uncomfortable and potentially risky situation. For who knew what fell creatures and luck the night would bring?

Eventually I must have dozed off, for if you allow it, the pitter-patter of falling rain coupled with sheer boredom and helplessness can actually lull you to sleep.

* * *

The incessant knock on the window glass upon which my head was resting woke me up with a start. I squinted to clear my vision. What new twist of the foulest luck was this? The digital clock read 8:05 PM. I realized it was still raining; a steady downpour. I looked at the source of the knocking again. It was a hooded figure. Just a few metres away, I saw two round sources of light, which must have been a car’s headlights, refracted into a million diamond fragments by the rivulets of rain streaming down my window.

I rolled the window down slightly. I saw a man wearing a raincoat with a hood to protect his head.

“Are you having any trouble?”, he said.

“I have a flat and I lost the wheel nuts and it is raining. I am tired and hungry. Yes, I am in trouble.” Where were my manners?!

“I can see that too. I might be able to help. I live around these parts. Lucky for you that I was held up at work. Most days I am home long before this time!”

I made amends quickly. “Thank you kindly. My name is Steve. What’s yours?”

“They call me Sam. Station Master Sam. Pick up your keys and come with me if you will. I have my car right here and I know a lovely little cottage inn where you can have a nice cuppa and get your spirits back. We can take care of the car in the morning.”

I thought for a moment. The rain did not look like abating. There was no way I was going to get to London that night. “That would be very nice thank you. How far is this place?”

“Not far from here. A mile and half at most.”

So, there I was feeling all good again that a saviour had come to my rescue. Things were going to be OK after all! I picked up my keys, turned up the window and stepped out in the rain. Sam was holding up an unfurled umbrella. I have no idea where he produced that from, for I had not noticed him holding one - furled or unfurled, until then. At any rate, things were beginning to look better and so with a small glow of warmth beginning to spark in my heart, I set off with Sam in his car.

The car jolted along on the uneven road and its headlights played a medley of its own on the road. The rain had reached the proportions of a deluge by now and progress was slow, but steady. I was beginning to feel slightly better and tried making conversation.

“So you are the station master, eh?”

“Yeah.”

“Get many trains coming to this town? By the way, what is this town called? Is this even a town?”

Sam smiled at me and looked ahead at the road again. “My friend, you are in Tranquil Vale. We get one passenger train every day that brings a few tourists and some supplies. It used to be an every day regular service but lately the visiting tourists have dwindled a bit. I guess it is just a small out-of-the-way spot that not too many care for.”

“That is a nice name for a town! I bet it must be peaceful here. Tranquil, eh?” I did not think the pounding rain was helping the town live up to its name just at that moment!

“You bet. I wouldn’t go away from here for anything.” Sam smiled and concentrated on keeping the car on a straight line, at least as straight as he could manage.

In just a little while, we could see the faint glow of yellow in the distance. Gradually it grew in size and intensity until we were almost next to it and stopped. Sam shut off the engine and we stepped out and quickly ran into the entrance of the Inn. I could not see anything on the outside because of the darkness and the thick blanket of rain. However the yellow lantern hanging in the middle of what must have been the porch of the Inn was welcoming indeed.

As we walked in, a rather portly looking fellow with a cherubic face hustled towards us. I had a colourful apron around him, which I thought he had last removed during the war!

“Sam, what brings you here at this time of the night? And in this rain too? I see you have brought a friend. Let me take your raincoat off.”

“Hello Parker, it is a horrible night out there. Not one to be out in. The train came in today with supplies and was late, you see and so I got held up at the station. On my way back home, I found this gentleman here needing a spot of assistance. His car is broken down.”

“Ah, so! You did the right thing Sam. Good on you. We can get Kenny to look at the car in the morning and he will set her right in no time at all. Kenny is a whiz with motors see!”

Parker led us in and left us with some fresh towels so we could dry ourselves. The raincoat and the umbrella really had not done much to keep us dry, in spite of us having spent only just a few moments out in the rain jumping in and out of cars. There was a crackling fire in the hearth and a general warmth in the room that felt comfortable. As we toweled ourselves dry, Parker appeared again.

“Good Sir, would you like a hot cup of tea? Or coffee perhaps? Would you prefer it with a dash of brandy, as a lift-me-upper?”

“My name is Steve. I will have the coffee Parker but lay off the brandy. I have stayed away from it since a long time. Do you reckon we could get a spot of something to eat? I just realized, I am awfully hungry! I know it is late…”

“No worries Steve, Sir! Ingrid and I will be happy to organize a simple supper in no time.”

Parker brought us our coffees quickly and vanished for the second time in few minutes, leaving Sam and I sitting in the cozy front room of the inn.

For the first time that evening I had the chance to actually look clearly at my saviour. Sam was middle-aged. He seemed generally at ease with himself and those around him. It was an easy guess that he definitely knew everyone in Tranquil Vale and that everyone in Tranquil Vale knew Station Master Sam. He had a perpetual smile on his face, not the kind that is forced and looks quite out of place like overdone makeup, but a genuine one etched into the lines of his face. He was of average height and his frame was neither too lean nor too stocky. Having hung up his raincoat and hat and umbrella, he was dressed rather simply but neat. In all he seemed the quintessential warm, small town gentleman.

Sam sat there on his sofa sipping his cup of hot cappuccino, his eyes almost closed. He must be tired after a long day at the station, I thought. I was tired myself. Oh how I longed for a nice supper. Something simple but hot and served with love would fill my stomach and sooth my aching mind and rid me of my troubles at least for the night. A good night’s sleep and I would be game to take on my car in the morning. For some reason I thought I would love to have simple porridge or some soup! Ah, I thought, how the mind plays tricks on you!

I looked around the room. The fire was still burning quite vigorously in the hearth. There was a nice ornate little engraved clock on the mantle over the hearth. Lovely paintings of rustic scenes adorned the wall above the fireplace and also the sides over the sofas on either side of the hearth. There was a lady buying fruit at a Sunday market stall, a general crowd at a fair, children playing in the muddy banks of the creek – all scenes from the town. The pictures might have been rather old but were incredibly well done by the artist. The whole room oozed happiness and contentment.

I was contemplating whether it was the coffee or the ambience in the room that was making me feel quite cozy and comfortable. I had nearly forgotten how much of a foul mood I had been not so long ago. Just then Parker returned to announce supper. Sam woke up, “I must have dozed off!”

Parker led us to the adjoining dining room. There was a nice old mahogany dining table with six chairs around it. A veritable feast was laid out on the table. The aroma that wafted towards me as I went into the room was heavenly. Ingrid came out from an adjoining corridor from what I presumed would have been the kitchen with a covered dish and set it in the middle of the table. “Dessert,” she announced plainly. We all sat down to eat, Parker and Ingrid joining Sam and I after a little bit of cajoling from our part.

It was a feast fit for a king and I ate like there was no tomorrow. Three courses and dessert later, I was feeling positively cheerful. Ingrid led me upstairs to my room for the night. I found myself in a petite and cozy room. The bed was warm and inviting. I fell into it and in no time at all was fast asleep, all the troubles of the day forgotten. I remember dreaming of angels tucking me in, in a bed of feathers and singing me a lilting lullaby. That is all that I can remember, for I must have slept soundly indeed.

* * *

I woke up refreshed in the morning, stretched myself and pulled the bedroom window drapes apart. The rain had gone and the sun was out shining from a clear blue sky dotted with a few tiny white fluffs. I quickly dressed and came down only to find no one around! No Ingrid, no Parker, no Sam. What had happened to Sam?

I looked in the kitchen. Sure enough there were the dishes from last night's supper in the sink waiting to be cleaned and some left-overs on the counter. I walked into the dining room where we had had supper last night. I found the table not cleared away, which was surprising. Our plates were still at our places at the table with dried bits of food on them. I was now sure that at least last night was not a figment of my imagination; it had actually happened. I was beginning to get more and more puzzled. I went out to the front. That is when I noticed for the first time a nicely done wooden sign in the front of the inn with a sketch drawing of a beautiful valley between undulating hills with the words “Tranquility Inn” in the middle.

I walked around the Inn and looked around. The soft warmth of the morning sun was pleasant and a gentle breeze was rustling the leaves of the woods around. The cottage itself though looked quite run-down. There was considerable overgrowth around the building and the paint had all but faded away. It was as if no one had been there for a while. I would not have noticed all this in the dark and the rain last night. There was no Sunday market here anymore, nor any children playing at a fair.

I noticed a garage next to the main building itself and walked towards it. I found the door slightly ajar. I tried to push it open but was surprised by the effort it took, for the door was rusted in its hinges and creaked loudly as it gave under my forceful pushing. I looked inside. There was a mustiness in the air within. I flicked the switch at the door but no light bulb came on. As I moved in cautiously, a ray of sunlight glinted off something and I found it was my car! How did it get in here? I did remember Parker, the inn-keeper mention someone called Kenny would fix it in the morning. So Kenny must have fixed the flat and brought it in for me. He had even given it a good waxing for the chrome gleamed bright. How nice, but when did he fix it? I looked at my watch. It was only 7 :30 am!

By now, as you can imagine, a few hairs were standing up straight on the back of my neck and I thought since no one was around there was no point in me staying there any more. I got into the car and drove off in the direction of the railway station. I was hoping I could meet Sam there, although there was this nagging feeling that I might not. Maybe there was a special early morning train that day that he needed to signal.

I reached the station in about five minutes. It did not look good at all. I got out of the car and walked up to the station building. There was no station master at this station! In fact the station was completely dilapidated. I walked onto the platform only to find even the tracks were missing in sections. No train would have passed through here in fifty years!

This was all turning out to be a bit too much for me to handle first thing in the morning. I was beginning to feel a little weird and confused. Slowly the daemons within my head threatened to surface with one scary thought after another. I turned back towards my car. I took two steps and then broke into an involuntary run. Sweat started pouring out from every pore. I fumbled for the keys in my pocket and somehow managed to fit the key into the ignition and started the car. I put the car into first and slammed my foot on the accelerator.

That is when Sam came running out in front of the car, but it was too late. for me to stop. I hit him head-on and he bounced off the windshield and fell by the side. I screeched to a halt and looked back. Sam's body was nowhere to be seen. I screamed in terror. It must have been pure adrenaline flowing through me at the time that allowed me to put the foot down on the pedal and get away from the spot. Soon I came to a T junction with a sign pointing right that said Motorway M1 London – 50 miles. I turned right.

* * *

One week later

It had taken me a week to recover slightly from my ordeal. I spent that week cooped up at home and jumping at every small noise I heard. Finally I could take it no more and so decided to find out exactly what had happened on that evening and the following morning.

I went to the County Library. I enlisted the company of an old friend to research this place called Tranquil Vale. After about an hour of rummaging through old encyclopedias and news articles, we found something. It was my friend who found the news article in a copy of the Sun Daily and he read it out loud. The article was dated only a month ago and read like this:

'The story of Tranquil Vale, by Amanda Starlight, junior editor.

Sixty six years ago, a meteor hit the moon in the area known by astronomers as the Mare Tranquillitatis, which is Latin for the Sea of Tranquility. The meteor broke into many pieces and caused a large crater on the surface of the moon. One piece was thrown so far out that it escaped the lunar gravitational field and entered the Earth’s gravitational field and therefore got sucked into the earth’s atmosphere. Half of it burned away on its fall towards Earth, but a reasonably large piece fell in a remote valley some fifty miles from London just off the M1 motorway.

Initially tourists were attracted to the place to see the meteor and so a small community soon developed, thriving on the tourist business. One couple, Parker and Ingrid Pleasant set up a small Inn at the site of the meteor fall and named their inn Tranquility Inn. The administration commissioned a railway line to pass through this valley and a small station was built there for tourists to alight.

For the first year, everything was normal and business was good. There was a train passing through every day ferrying tourists and bringing supplies. However all that began to change. Rumours started coming out about strange, unexplained happenings in that place. People came back with experiences they could not clearly explain. Soon a general sense of unease crept in and tourists stayed away from the place. Then the science fiction groups came out with stories about lunar radioactivity, parallel worlds and time shifts. All this was too much for this little township to handle and in in less than three months it all but closed down. The few people that were living there moved elsewhere. It was however said at the time that Parker and Ingrid Pleasant chose to stay on in their inn along with the station master and a local motor mechanic. No one has gone near the place for over sixty years and it is not known what happened to the couple for all that remains now of Tranquil Vale is a few dilapidated buildings, the inn and the station included and some fragments of railroad track.'

My friend stopped reading and looked up at me. I was beginning to feel a profound sense of shock come over me. What exactly had I been through? My friend looked at me and asked, “Steve, exactly what took you to this place? What were you doing there?”

I looked at him and thought hard. With a vacant stare on my pale face, I slowly but honestly replied “I have no idea.”

The End

Love Me For Ever More

Love Me For Ever More

To me you are a shining star;
I love you just the way you are.
Your smile radiant like the full moon,
Makes my head go light and swoon!

Your eyes shine with confidence so bright;
And makes everything seem quite alright.
So easily you've made my heart soar;
Please will you love me for ever more?

During the night and through the day,
Whether at work or in bed I lay,
Yearning to hear your voice so sweet,
For my heart, oh what a treat!

Looking at you is a sight divine,
To be with you I long, I pine.
I'll always hold you in my heart's core;
Please will you love me for ever more?

Forever your arm I will hold,
I'll be daring, I'll be bold,
Beside you I will always stand
To protect you in any land.

Hold me in your arms tender,
Let me behold life's splendour.
Do make our story one of lore
Please will you love me for ever more?

To you, my love

To you, my love

Homeward bound went I
In the month of June.
To my family in spirits high
Singing a merry tune!

Four weeks at home ahead
Surrounded by love and care;
Hot meals, a soft bed
And thoroughly fabulous fare!

Never did I suspect then
That life's a funny game;
Little did I expect when
I'd meet a pretty dame!

I remember the day we first met
At Café Coffee Day.
The time was right, the scene was set
But we didn't know what to say!

Then I looked up at your face
And saw a warm glow.
From nowhere, with serious pace
Words began to flow.

Something clicked, something jelled
Magic was in the air.
A voice within my head yelled
That I'd found my maiden fair!

I could see you liked me too
From thine honest, sparkling eyes.
My dream of long had come true
In you, beautiful and wise!

I must have had luck profound
My heart leapt with joy.
To the wonderful person I had found
No match, the Helen of Troy!

We got engaged in a short while
Amidst friends and family.
With your radiant beaming smile
Photographed for posterity!

Before long I had to go
And we sat hand in hand.
I realised I was going to miss you so-
A feeling I couldn't stand!

Time went by too fast alas!
I had to say goodbye.
Not a moment since has passed
In my heart without a heavy sigh!

I'm far away, by many a mile
You I badly miss.
In person to behold your beautiful smile-
Is now my only wish!

For the love of the game

(Special Thanks to Malini for sowing the seeds of inspiration a long time ago and for having patiently waited through the germination period.)

The watchman picked up the hammer and hit the piece of rusted railroad track suspended from a metal chain at one end of the open middle courtyard of the school. He started off slowly, like he always did and then picked up the tempo until he reached a rapid crescendo that rang out through all corners of the school and was even heard in the pet rabbit pen that was tucked away far into the west corner of the property. He finished off with a flourish at the end with a one-two and then laid down the hammer with an air of satisfaction. It was 3:30 pm and school had ended for the day.

The quiet and stillness that had lingered in the air through most of the three and a half hours after lunch lingered nary for a minute more before all hell broke loose. Within the next minute more than two thousand boys of varying sizes emerged from all corners of the three buildings that surrounded the courtyard and poured into it en-route to the big black gates, which were now open splitting the iron-worked school emblem in two right down the middle. All were in their navy blue trousers (the lower grades in their shorts) and white shirts, mostly disheveled in appearance but all with that emphatic sigh of relief at the day being over evident on their faces.

Mohan from 8^th grade ran out also, with his overflowing and quite visibly heavy satchel over one shoulder (having just snapped one of the straps) and holding his smaller lunch bag in the other hand. As he stumbled (he will insist he was running if you asked him, but with his ungainly bag over his left shoulder and swinging the lunch bag in his right hand, stumbling was the best he could manage) down the steps into the courtyard, he yelled at his mate Raju, “I will be there in 30 minutes sharp. You get the ball and I will bring my bat.” To which Raju replied, “OK…Oh no…wait! I forgot; we need to buy a ball. Remember we hit it into the bushes last evening and never found it?”

“Oh no!” groaned Mohan. “Do you have the money to buy one?”

Raju emptied his pockets into the palm of his right hand, “I have...”, he counted the coins, “three Rupees and 50 paise only”.

“How much is the ball at Bharathi Stores?” asked Mohan. “Five Rupees?”

“No they have raised the price to Five-fifty now.” Raju was visibly worried.

Mohan, ever the cheerful sort said, “Never mind. We need another two rupees. I think I might be able to find that in what is left of my pocket money at home.”

By this point in the conversation they had reached their bicycles in the bicycle yard. As usual, Mohan found his bicycle flat on the floor, the handlebar turned in a weird angle. He set his bags down and with a sign of resignation picked it up and straightened the handlebar gripping the front wheel between his knees. With a little bit of effort, Mohan pulled apart the spring-trap of the luggage carrier behind his cycle and pushed his satchel into it. With the lunch bag slung from the right handlebar, he was all set to pedal away. Raju was already waiting to push off.

As they left the school gates, Mohan yelled, “I’ll meet you in front of Bharathi Stores in 30 minutes then.”

With that plan made, they both raced home on their bicycles dodging dodgy drivers and careless pedestrians and getting their fair share of finger pointing and being yelled at.

* * *

Mohan reached home, stretched out from his bicycle seat to unlatch the gate and pushed it in. It clanged loudly and Mother knew instantly what the source of that commotion was – like she did every evening almost exactly at the same time! Mohan ran into the house and in one fluid motion lost his shoes, dumped his satchel unceremoniously into a corner and his lunch bag went on the dining table. “Maaa….what is for Tiffin?”

“I am making dosais kanna”, she answered. “Go wash yourself and comb your hair. Remember to wash with soap!”

Mohan had already dashed off and was back in a jiffy and a little short of breath, “Maa…ready…I only have…” he consulted the clock on the wall, “…five minutes Maa….quick quick!!”

“You have to eat at least three dosais before you can go to play. And drink your cup of Maltova….Mohan, you do not have to stuff your mouth like that….you are going to choke!” Mohan frantically polished off two and a half dosais and gulped down his cup of Maltova and got up. Mother’s blood pressure kept rising like mercury on a summer morning.

“Mohan, finish off the last half now…sit down…do not run off…oh no when is this fellow going to learn to be more responsible!” With a huge sigh, mother cleared away the plate and cup and went into the kitchen rather pleased that in spite of feeling like she had just emerged from a mini twister, Mohan had not noticed that he had actually eaten three and a half dosais from his plate! Mother had her cheeky ways too!

* * *

Mohan pedaled furiously. Two minutes down the street and two left turns later, he found himself in front of Bharathi stores. As he parked his bike, Raju arrived too and both went inside.

“Anna, one hard tennis ball!” The store-keeper (“Anna” literally meaning elder brother and a term used as a respectful address) brought out a tube of tennis balls. Mohan and Raju tested the hardness of every one of the dozen in the tube by bouncing them all over the shop floor before settling on one they thought was the perfect one. After all, they had learnt by experience to identify the defective balls in a tube and pick the one with the correct amount of bounce.

“Did you not buy one yesterday Mohan?” asked the irate store-keeper. “Have you lost it already?”

“Good for you isn’t it? You get to sell one more at your unfairly hiked prices!” retorted Mohan and Raju murmured assent grinning. Mohan and Raju dumped the five-fifty in coins on the counter and ran out leaving the store-keeper gaping and slowly shaking his head at them in disbelief. Mohan and Raju were gone so soon that they did not hear him comment, “Brats! And they will be back again tomorrow! What a headache!” Not that it would have surprised them the least – not least the part about coming back tomorrow.

* * *

It was a three minute pedal to the ground. The ground in question was actually a couple of vacant plots of land in an advanced state of neglect and disrepair in the corner of a block. It was mostly hard and pebbly. Mohan and his friends had, over a period of time, moved the pebbles and made it playable on for a game of cricket. They even had marked out a pitch approximately in the middle of the ground.

As Mohan and Raju arrived, they could spot a couple of their friends already at the ground, throwing pebbles at each other, with neither being able to score a hit! When they heard the clamorous tring-tring of the cycle bells, they knew it announced the arrival of the bat and ball and that they would have a game that evening after all!

Presently more friends started to arrive and very soon there were nine boys on the ground.

“Where is Girish?”, asked Raju.

“He has not come yet, which means he probably will not”, responded Thomas nonchalantly.

A collective groan went up.

“What will we do for stumps!”, lamented Karthik, voicing the collective anxiety. Girish owned the only set of cricket stumps in their group.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find something to use as stumps instead”, said Mohan, ever the optimist. “Let us see if we can find broken branches around the ground that we can stick into the ground as stumps.”

Everyone dispersed looking for branches and soon three thin dead branches of varying lengths were found. That made for stumps at one end of the pitch.

“Let’s just make do with a flat stone at the bowler’s end”, said someone and all agreed instantly. No one wanted to spend any more time organizing things. They all wanted to play.

“Is connection allowed?” piped Srini.

“What does he mean by connection?” asked Jacob, who was a relative new-comer to the group.

Mohan explained, “You are allowed to run a batsman out at that end by just collecting the ball when you are touching the stone. Usually you put one foot on it as you stretch to collect the ball thrown in by the fielder, and that would run the batsman out if he is out of his ground.” Jacob liked the idea. “Oh that is interesting. Very well.”

All was settled then and play could begin. Oh, not just yet. Teams had to be drawn of course!

Mohan and Karthik assumed the captaincy of the two teams. Raju yearned to be captain too, but he also wanted to play on Mohan’s team. So he shrewdly chose the wise option and accepted the vice-captaincy. Occasionally, Mohan would allow him to control things for a little while.

“Who’s got a coin?”

A coin was found on somebody and was tossed. All crowded over it to see what had come down. Mohan had called correctly. He chose his first teammate, “Raju!”. Karthik picked next, “Thomas”. So it went on and both teams had four players each. That left Jacob yet to be picked. Jacob had to accept the fact that it would be him that would be overlooked until the very end for a little while. After all, wasn’t he the newest member of the group and had yet to prove his prowess?

Mohan graciously offered Jacob to Karthik’s team, but Karthik declined to have him in his team as he did not know how Jacob would fit into his plans. Magnanimously, Mohan invited Jacob into his team, even though he wondered how he would fit into his own plans!

“How many overs a side?” asked Srini.

Raju looked at his digital Milo watch, which he had won in a crossword contest recently and said, “We have just an hour before it gets dark, so we’ll play eight overs a side, ok?”

It was agreed; the coin was found again and was tossed. Mohan called correctly – most of the others could not believe how many times Mohan managed to call correctly at the toss – and obviously chose to bat. You did not entertain any other options now, did you?

Of course, Mohan opened the innings with Raju as his partner.

“Two batsmen, bowler, wicket keeper, rest all field. No umpire, so no LBW. Non-striker to call no-ball on the popping crease and wides will be generally agreed upon.”

“The telephone post at mid-wicket will be the boundary there and the brick wall the cover boundary. Behind the wicket, it would be the border with the street.”

The rules were set, the batsman had taken guard – without an umpire to give him one - and the game began.

* * *

Srini opened the bowling and bowled a tidy over costing only five runs, all run in singles. Thomas was next. He tried off-spin. Mohan and Raju managed to smash a boundary apiece and took the score to sixteen without loss.

Mohan was good with the bat and scored on either side of the wicket. Raju was more an on-side player but did connect with a lot of balls. In the middle of the third over, there was a stoppage in play as Srini had stepped on a rather large and ugly looking thorn from fielding near the bramble bushes by the boundary. So a couple of them helped him hobble to the centre and someone pulled the thorn out of his foot. A little blood seeped out and it stung badly, but Srini would carry on gamely. It was a matter of honour playing for the team and there would be enough time later in the evening to fuss over it with cotton wool and Dettol!

The innings resumed. Five overs into the innings, both openers were out, but had made decent scores and the total read 38/2.

It became 44/3 after six and Jacob strode out. Oh yes, he was the last batsman in the team – what did you think? Somehow they managed to last until the fourth ball of the eighth over and finished on 55 all out in 7.4 overs with Jacob hitting the last two balls he faced for boundaries before looping a simple return catch to the bowler.

In all the innings was a good one. Mohan and his vice-captain were seen deep in thought. The score was not too high but was very defendable if they bowled well. There had been two catches taken by the opposition, a run out and one bowled through the legs. Srini had scraped his shin on the ground – to add to his thorn-in-the-foot accident - trying to stop a boundary and was bleeding slightly. He was going to need a lot of cotton wool and Dettol not to mention the possibility of having to go to the GP for an anti-septic injection! For now, he put that hideous thought away and tried to concentrate on the game at hand.

So the second innings began with Raju opening the bowling with his medium pacers. He started with a tight over only conceding two runs and also toppling the off branch with a neat delivery to dismiss the opener.

That was a great start for Mohan’s team and they already started feeling a bit confident. To this day it is rumored that, in fact a little gamesmanship and banter could be heard from some fielders although Mohan would never admit to it, cricket being a gentleman’s game and all that!

The early confidence was to be short-lived though for Sathish started to swing his bat around, which coupled with three wides made it a very good over indeed for Karthik’s team. The score read 21/1 at the end of the second. This was not good at all for Mohan’s team.

Mohan decided it was time he bowled himself. The idea was a good one because with his off-breaks he immediately got rid of Sathish, who came charging down the pitch only to miss the ball and was stumped by the wicket-keeper in spite of first fumbling the take. What a wicket and at a crucial time too! Mohan finished a good over.

Soon the score read 49/3 in seven overs. Twilight was setting in and visibility was beginning to fade. This had become a tight game indeed! Actually, it was slipping away from Mohan’s team. He had himself bowled two overs and had used up his quota. However, he had saved one over for Raju exactly for this kind of a situation. Mohan tossed the ball to Raju. “Good luck Raju. Get us the last wicket.”

First ball of the eighth over. As Raju ran in to bowl, all fielders – at least the ones on Mohan’s team - clapped in unison. Raju bowled a good length ball on off and was pushed towards point for a quick single. 50/3.

Mohan decided to make a couple of fielding adjustments. The second ball was a full delivery and was smashed back down the pitch and Raju dived in his follow through to stop what would have at least been a couple of runs if not a boundary. What an important fielding effort! Raju got up and dusted his pants and took one look at his scraped palm. No, he could not dwell on such minor injuries now.

Four balls remained. A single and a two followed bringing the score to 53/3 with two balls remaining. Karthik’s team needed 3 runs to win and Raju needed the one wicket.

Mohan made a sign to Raju, pointing to his toes, as he reached the top of his run-up. Raju steamed in and tried to bowl the Yorker but it ended up being a full-toss. The batsman did not anticipate it and only managed to scamper a single.

Final delivery and 2 runs required for a win. Now, everyone was tense. What a match this was turning out to be!

Raju tried his yorker again. It worked better than the previous delivery. The batsman managed to jam the toe of his bat down in the nick of time and got the ball away towards square leg and took off for a run. They started back for the second, but Mohan running from mid-wicket swooped low on the ball, collected it cleanly in his right hand and flicked it under-arm to Raju. Mohan stumbled and fell flat in the dust, but Raju was waiting at the non-strikers end, left foot on the slab of stone and arms outstretched to receive the ball. He caught the ball just before the batsman slid his bat over the line and ran him out! What a finish! The score stood at 55 all out, both teams level, the scores tied!

It would be a gross understatement to say what ensued was chaos.

“That is not out, he reached the crease in time” – someone from Karthik’s team.

“Certainly not! I ran him out clearly. He was miles out” – Raju in response.

Everyone pitched in with their version of what had rightfully happened and whether the last batsman was run out or not. The batsman in question would obviously maintain that he ran as fast as the wind and made it in time! In a minute no one could actually hear what anyone else was saying because each was screaming his version of what had happened at the top of his lungs!

Eventually they gave up. Everyone was tired and covered with dust, some with dried blood. The sun had gone down and it was becoming dark rapidly. Still arguing they all went to their bicycles and started home. They had all had a thoroughly enjoyable game and a nice evening and were fully satisfied.

* * *

Mohan arrived home for the second time that evening and this time the gate did not clang, simply because Mohan did not have enough energy to push it all the way. Laboriously, he parked his cycle and went in and Amma was already waiting for him. “Do you see the time Mohan? It is already seven! Look at you! Did you fall into a ditch? So tired…how are you going to finish your homework? Haven’t I told you to play a little less on weekdays?”

Amma dragged Mohan to the bathroom and made him have a shower. Hot dinner was ready for him when he stepped out and Mohan ate greedily.

Dinner done, Amma sat Mohan down at his desk and asked him to bring out all his home-work. Ok, so there was Maths, Science and even some History home-work to write! They killed him at school, his teachers! Mohan let out a big groan! “My whole body is aching Maa…”

“Did I not ask you not to tire yourself so much? God knows what you find interesting about your game of cricket on a dusty ground?” Amma heaved a sigh. “Now concentrate on the home-work. I am going to attend to Appa and will be back in five minutes, ok?”

“Huh! What does Amma know about cricket?”, thought Mohan.

Amma came back in five minutes, only to find Mohan fast asleep with his head flopped on his books, a sentence half in the writing, his pen trailing off on the paper. Amma tried to wake him up but Mohan was already in la-la land, playing another cricket match. He was batting with his idol Sachin Tendulkar together in the world’s largest cricket ground, the MCG. He was facing up to Brett Lee. He was about to cover drive Lee for four, when Amma’s voice came through, “At least go sleep in your bed Mohan. I will wake you up early in the morning so you can finish your homework.”

Reluctantly he sleep-walked in a zig-zag line, prodded along by Maa and mumbling to himself. He fell on his bed and then with a smile on his face finished his cover drive with grace and poise. Maa shook her head, tucked him in, turned the light off and walked away, also with a smile on her face.

The End

(Dedicated to Harbhajan Singh of the Indian Cricket Team and Andrew Symonds of the Australian Cricket Team for their stellar performances forgetting the real reasons for playing cricket during the Sydney Test of Jan 2008.)

Vermicelli Upma/Brinj with cucumber raita

Vermicelli Upma/Brinj with cucumber raita

Ingredients:

For the raita:
1 medium cucumber, peeled and finely diced
1 teaspoon sugar, a pinch of salt
2-3 tablespoons plain yoghurt.
some washed and finely chopped coriander

For the Upma/Brinj:
A small cup of vermicelli (broken) - approx 50 grams
1 large ripe tomato, washed
1 medium onion
a clove of garlic finely chopped
a small piece of ginger finely chopped
an assortment of vegetables, whatever is available in your fridge (usually, carrot, beans, cauliflower, brocolli, green peas, baby corn, red capsicum, etc) washed well and diced into small pieces
2 teaspoons of refined sunflower oil
2 dry chillies (red)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
a pinch of turmeric
half a teaspoon of Garam Masala
a few curry leaves, washed & split into smaller pieces if required.
salt to taste
a teaspoon ghee (clarified butter)
some broken cashew kernels and some raisins (sultanas)
a twist of lime
washed and finely chopped fresh coriander

Method:
Cucumber Raita:
Mix the chopped cucumber into the yoghurt. If the yoghurt is very thick, you may add a little water. Add the sugar and salt to taste. Garnish with the chopped coriander.

Vermicelli Upma/Brinj:
Step 1: Dry roast the vermicelli:
It is important to dry roast the vermicelli to keep it from becoming mushy and sticky in the end product. Dry roast the vermecelli in a pan, on a medium flame, constantly stirring it around so as to uniformly roast it to a light golden brown hue. Keep aside on a dry plate.

Step 2: Fry the cashews:
Fry the cashews in the ghee in a small pan. Stir as you fry. When the cashews turn golden brown, add the raisins (sultanas) in and stir for a moment. take it off the flame and set aside.

Step 3: The main thing:
Take a cooking pot. Make sure it is completely dry. Add the 2 teaspoons of oil and the cumin, mustard and red chilli. Allow it to splutter and pop. When spluttering add the curry leaves and the finely chopped garlic.

Add some water (approx 150 ml) and allow it to come to the boil. When boiling, add the diced vegetables in and the finely chopped ginger. Add a pinch of turmeric. Allow the vegetables to cook a while. Add salt and stir well. As and when required, add more water. Add a pinch of garam masala for flavour.

Once the vegetables are almost cooked, add the fried cashews and raisins. Add the roasted vermicelli as well. Add salt to taste. Keep the flame medium and stir constantly. You will notice that the water gets absorbed in by the vermicelli very quickly. If required, add a little more (hot) water. Keep stirring well to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Stir until most of the water is evaporated and the consistency looks right. Take off the stove and twist a little lime in to add some zing!

Garnish with the chopped coriander.

Serve with cool cucumber raita.

Bon Apetit!