The Fair Deal
At 1992
Miss Universe pageant, in final round Indian Model Madhu Sapre was asked question” What will you do if you become prime minister of India for one day ? “
and she replied “ I will focus on
creating more play grounds for children who aspire to be athletes” Watching
live telecast of the event, my neighbour jumped from his chair.” What rubbish, we have so many other
important problems as poverty, hunger, education ….and she wants to focus on
sports!!” Next morning, newspapers were reciprocating the same..”Madhu had goofed up at last round and she
lost the title by one foolish answer…” Entire episode had proven one fact…
Sport as carrier, has been last priority
for Indian Middle Class and especially if sport is not cricket..
CUT To,
Time: 2011
Location: Volleyball Court (somewhere in Mumbai)
He jumped in the air
and show ball is dashing on him.. he swung his arm and smashed the ball at
precise speed and place.. Ball went shooting on opponents and no body dared to
pick his smash… his team scored the much needed winning point… Celebration
broke out..
Karan
was gifted volleyball player. His aggression in smashing was very well known in
his school. He loved to smash.. His service was good but smashing was
electrifying.. He had talent. Karan had started playing volleyball at age of
ten at their parking tuning into playground at his society. Slowly he developed
interest in the game and joined school’s volleyball team. He had stamina,
fitness and temper; much needed basic ingredients to be a sportsman.
Today Karan was more
than happy. His school had won Junior inter school championship and he was
chosen as player of tournament
award. He rushed to his house with his trophy and beaming face. His parents
celebrated his victory. His mother, Manjula
made kheer and father, Chunilal gave him a pen as a gift. Karan
kissed his much loved trophy again and again. Winning a trophy is a wonderful
thing. It is recognition of hard work. It inspires to do more, motivates to
achieve more..
That night Karan saw a
dream that A door has opened and gush of sunshine was emanating from the room.
Karan went inside the room and Room lit up with bright sun light.. Flowers
petals were flying in the air.. He found another door at opposite corner.. He opened that door
and it was another room with white glow.. He inside the room and found another
door at far end.. … His doors of opportunities are opening…..
Meanwhile Karan was
lost in his inspiring dreams, his father Chunilal was disturbed. As Manjula
switched off their bed room light and laid next to him. Chunilal murmured.. “ I am worried about Karan”. Manjual
replied “why.. what happened !!”…
Chunilal exhaled “ This volleyball… I am
worried that Karan is playing too much of volleyball..”… Manjula surprised
“ There is nothing to worry about it. In fact this is good.. He is using his time in
something creative, in stead of just playing online games or chatting on
facebook “… Chunilal elaborated “Manjula,
you don’t understand.. He is in 9th standard. Next year will be 10th….SSC
board… If does not start focussing on
his studies now, he will have problem at 10th standard. He has to do
well at 10th otherwise his entire future will jeopardize.” Manula consoled him” Not to worry. He will focus on his studies. He understands that.. Even
if he want to make carrier in volleyball, what’s wrong in it !!! “Listening
to this, Chunilal shouted..” Are you mad
!! Carrier in volleyball.. What he will get playing Volleyball !! A job in bank
or railway for few thousands rupees !! There is no money in volleyball.. No
money means no future… Cricket is different thing… I don’t’ like him playing
volleyball.. !!” Manjua kept shut on
this and slept, leaving Chunilal alone
with his worries.
Karan’s aim was to
get selected in state junior volleyball team. He worked very hard for that. He
played all the matches at various places, cities and towns. He kept practising
his smashing technique and took care of his fitness. Entire year, He was
totally committed to his passion, Volleyball.
Naturally his interest on his studies was diminishing. He could not
concentrate on his subjects in his classroom. Karan passed 9th
standard. His grades were not good as Chunilal expected. His grades were dropped from A+ to B-, which
was matter of great concern to his father. Whenever Chunilal saw Karan, he
reminded him of studies. Seeing the passion and commitment of Karan for
Volleyball, Chunilal could not dare him to stop from playing even if he
heartily wished that…
Finally day had come
for Karan to realize his yearlong dream to be in state’s junior team. Today Maharashtra volleyball Association had called all the
deserving players for junior volleyball team selection. Karan, as expected was
selected for Maharashtra state junior team. His wish was fulfilled.
Now he will play for his state. He had to tour whole India to play volleyball.. His dream journey
continued.
He reached home
joyously with the news. Chunilal had shown some cosmetic pleasure to the news.
At dinner, Chunilal was zapped by the fact that Karan has travel entire India for the volleyball matches. He wondered that
about the missing school days !! Karan had no clear answer. Chunilal advised
him that he is in 10th standard now and can’t afford to miss his classes
& tuitions, in fact he should stop playing volleyball… Karan was very angry
on this and left his dinner in midway.
Karan was facing
window and staring darkness outside. Chunilal came to him and caressed his
hair.. He urged Karan the importance of the education. He explained the future
of volleyball player and the money he is going to earn out of volleyball. Karan
looked at his father worried eyes.. Karan found hurting truth in his arguments.
Chunilal requested Karan to focus on his studies and leave volleyball, at least
for this year. Karan had never seen his father in such worried state.
His young mind was
confused between his desire and his father’s plea. In fact both were equally
appealing to him. He loved to play volleyball and that is also true that there
is no great future for the sport. Half of his team-mates did not knew the captain
of Indian volleyball team!! Volleyball
is not like Cricket where money and fame is residing. Nobody watches Volleyball.
He remembered the empty stadiums of volleyball matches, he played or watched
!!!! More the thought about the dilemma, more he got confused. It was like
heart vs brain… dream vs reality.. Passion vs practicality!!
Bowing to family
pressure, Karan started skipping his volleyball matches, only to spend more
times with his text books. Karan used to lock himself for hours in his study
room, not to study but to stare at his books.. As his body drifted away from volleyball
court, his mind leaned more towards it. In his study room, Karan used to
imagine about his volleyball practices, game strategies and team-mates… He drew
volleyball court, on this mathematics worksheet. Passion is like magnetic
force, one can’t be detached easily, once attached.
Karan did badly in
his first monthly evaluation test. Chunilal became very
panic.. He literally begged Karan to focus on his studies. Influenced by
Chunilal’s emotional appeal, Karan decided to focus on his studies and forget
everything else. Lost in these thoughts, his cell phone rung. Call was from
Maharashtra Volleyball Association. They told Karan to prepare for interstate
tournament at Hariyana, next week. There will be 10 days of tour at Hariyana to
play Volleyball against other state teams.
Karan was thrilled by
the news. But very next moment his joy was disappeared. He remembered his resolution
to focus on study. Extreme desire to play and Extreme pressure to study !!! Perturbed
Karan could not sleep. He did not have daring to speak to his father about the tour;
neither he could let his dream shatter.
Finally next morning,
he nervously raised the subject of the tour at breakfast table. Listening to
him,
Chunilal jumped from his chair and shouted at him, for first time in his life.
He ordered Karan to tour.. How can he be
out of school for 10 days in such important SSC year !!!!! Having no other
choice, Karan simply obeyed.
Karan went to
Maharashtra Volleyball Association office and withdrew himself from the team.
His application was accepted. As Karan came out of the office, He felt very
heavy heart… He realized that his long cherished dream had just died… died in
front of him.. He wanted to cry aloud.. He felt that earth beneath him is
cracking and hot Lava is emanating from it.. He felt that big skyscraper above
him is about to fall… Cars surrounding him are blown apart and flying in air as
if birds… He tightly closed his ears and eyes….
From that day
onwards, Karan’s interaction with outer world became minimal. Chunilal took
that as sign of his growing seriousness to his studies. Karan, locked in his room kept thinking about why it is so bad to play volleyball !! What’s
wrong in following his passion !! Is money everything in the world ! May be he
can win Gold medal for India in Olympics
!! May be he can contribute in popularizing Volleyball in India and the
world !!!
Karan kept engulfed
himself in such thoughts, growing his inner frustration. Finally, Karan decided
that he will bluntly tell his father that he can’t study and will play volleyball only, even if he throws him
out of house. Karan dashed out of his room and stood right in front of Chunilal.
Chunilal was reading news paper and he looked at Karan from his glasses. Karan
was speechless in front of his father.. He could not be blunt as he thought..
There was some unknown force, preventing him from doing so.. Chunilal asked him
“What !!!”.. Karan could hardly open
his mouth and spoke “I… need some money…
thousand “… Chunilal gave him money, without asking the reason.
Karan was not scared
of his father. His problem was that he loved him…
Karan dashed out his house
and went to beer bar. He drank as much
beer he can. Finally he headed towards his house, with each step fumbling.. He
was walking on the road aimlessly. He had no direction. He saw a car approaching him and BANG… Car hit
him… He jumped in the air by car-hit.. When he was in air, he saw a ball approaching
him. He raised his arm to Smash it… Everything went blank afterwards.
When Karan opened his
eyes, he was in hospital bed with his family surrounding him. Nearest was his
father Chunilal. His mother was weeping hard. Chunilal caressed his hair and
very sad voice explained to him :
“ You were hit hard by a car. You right leg
was totally damaged and doctors have to amputate it. You have no right leg
now.. You have to use crutches for entire
life.”
Karan looked at his
body and found no right leg. Tears rolled down on his cheeks … “I have no right leg.. I can’t walk on my
own.. I can’t play volleyball… I can’t play volleyball… “
Suddenly his sadness
evaporated. “ Thank god I can’t play
volleyball now.. I am ineligible to play the game.. Now I can focus on my
education completely without any confusion. Pain of not able to follow the passion
is much worse than loosing one leg… Destiny has given me a fair deal..”
He leaned back and exhaled
relaxed breath..
Regds
vadan
