Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
He was running in full speed. The ball came flying to him, it was his turn to kick the ball to goal. But everyone present there saw a rare sight; Daya a brilliant player who never ever misses miss the ball and trip. The ball went past him and bounce on the empty space behind him. He fell badly on the ground.
"Ahhh…"
Jay came running to Daya due to the pain-filled scream: kiya hua Daya are you alright? (Daya was sitting on ground grabbing his right feet)
A whistle was heard. Everybody stopped. A person also came to Daya with a concerned face: What happened?
Jay was sitting beside Daya, he had removed Daya's joggers, looking at his foot said in worried tone: Sir lagta hai sprain aa gaya hai Daya k paun main…
Sir inspected his foot: haan… lagta to esa he hai… (to Daya in concerned tone) can you stand up?
Daya nodded. He tried to stand up but could not do so "Ahhhh…" he felt as if his leg trembled and could not put up with his weight.
Jay moved forward in worry and helped him stand: mere shoulder pr hath rakho… (Daya put his arm around Jay's shoulder and stood up) chalo aao… (he took Daya to the bench and made him sit there) yahan betho mai aaya…
He rushed to the side where the all the necessities were put as they were in the middle of their practice of football. After searching for some moments, he found the desired thing and came back to Daya.
He sat on the ground near the Daya's feet and signaled him to forward his foot. Daya forwarded his foot while closing eyes tightly in pain. Jay sprayed the pain relief spray. The spray did its work; the pain subsided in few minutes.
Coach said after analyzing the current situation: Ravi switch with Daya; Harsh you replace Jay…
Daya tried to stand up in protest but Jay stopped him in his tracks, he supported Daya and helped him in standing position.
Daya in hurry initiated: Sir mai bilkul theek hun… (tried to assure him) I can play… Aap ko replace krny ki zaroorat nhi hai mjhe…
Jay snubbed him; he was worried for his friend: kya khaak theek ho? (realizing him how difficult it is for him to stand up) Khud to theek sy khary bhi nhi ho paa rhy ho… (angrily) football khelo gy… (now he faced to coach) Sir chorain issy… aapny theek kiya k issy substitute kr diya… (in amaze) lekin aapny mjhe kyun replace kiya… mai to theek hun…
Coach cleared in a strict tone: Jay, Daya ko infirmary ly jao… or wesy bhi ab practice ka time khatam honay wala hai… wahan sy free ho k drop kr dena issy ghar…
Jay just nodded in response: yes Sir…
He took Daya to the School's infirmary. It was already five pm of evening. The doctor present there checked his injury.
Dr. Ashutosh: Sprain hai… (he tied the crepe bandage on his feet) yeh bandage swelling km krny mai help kry gi… rest karain, icing karain or pair ko ooncha rakhain… do chaar din iss pr weight naa dain… zyada serious nahi hai rest sy theek ho jaye ga…
Daya exclaimed in loud voice: do chaar din…
Doctor in serious tone: Daya aap ko at least chaar din rest krna hoga… warna injury barh bhi skti hai…
Daya also in serious tone: I have a match to play in three days… (Absolute tone) or mera uss match mai participate krna bht zaroori hai…
Doctor maintained his expressions: agar aap iss pair k sath football khelain gy to shayad phir kabhi football khelny k qabil na rahain…
Daya in firm tone: I know my body best… in choti moti choton sy mjhe kuch nhi hoga…
Doctor glared him; he knew the stubbornness of this child. He had seen him various times with different injuries since childhood. He also knew his mother as the teacher of this prestigious school. This boy never listens to someone as he was spoiled enough to do what he wanted to do.
Jay intervened: no problem doctor… Daya rest kary ga… (Doctor asked through eyes for guarantee) aap fikar na karain… mai khud Abhijeet bhaiya sy baat karun ga… (Daya looked at him and gave an angry growl because now it is impossible for him to play in next game. Jay successfully ignored him)
Doctor nodded in yes. He also knew his elder brother; he was the only one person who can stand before his stubbornness. He is capable enough to tackle his every tantrum. He forwarded a prescription to Jay with: yeh painkiller hai… use it only when needed… (to Daya) take care…
Both stood up and left from there. Jay collected their school bags and belongings after making Daya sit on the bench in the school ground. Jay took him to bicycle stand; he went near to the guard standing there and said: Kaka… yeh Daya ki cycle abhi thori dair yahi khari hai… mai aadhy ghanty tk aa k ly jaun ga to aap please jb tk lock na kijiye gate area… (telling him the reason) usky paon mai aaj chot lagi hai to mere sath ghar jaa raha hai…
Guard agreed: theek hai beta… aap jao mai yahin hun…
Jay came near to Daya: chalo tum mere saath meri cycle pr maine kaka sy baat kr li hai wo thori dair yahin mai baad mai aa k tumhari cycle ly jaun ga…
Daya did not reply him in anger. Jay understood the matter as he had known him since childhood: kiya baat hai ab kis baat pe naraz ho?
Daya gave him an angry look: ab yeh bhi batana pary ga tumhy?
Jay asked in an unbelievable tone: ab kiya kia hai mai ny?
Daya in rage: kiya zaroorat hai bhai ko beech mai laany ki? Tumhy pata hai na k agar tum bhai ko yeh sb kaho gy to wo mjhe match mai nahi khelny dain gy? (angrily) tum chahty ho k hum yeh match haar jayein?
Jay counter questioned him: kyun agar tum nahi khelo gy to kiya hum jeet nahi skty? Itna bhi bharosa nahi tumhy apni team py? Kiya sirf aik tum he qabil player ho? Hum mai talent nahi hai tumhary baghair match jeetny ka?
Daya tried to deny him with: mera wo maksad nahi tha… (proudly) you people are the best teammates one can ask for… lekin mai bhi participate krna chahta hun iss match mai… (irritably) lekin ab tumhari meherbani sy nahi khel paun ga…
Jay said soberly while sitting on cycle: betho dair ho rahi hai…
Daya quietly sat behind him: chalo…
Jay dropped him at home. He rang the doorbell. Disha opened the door; she was shocked after seeng the Daya coming inside with the support of Jay.
Disha asked desperately: kiya hua Daya ko?
Jay tried to console the worried mother: kuch nhi hua Auntie, bs pair mur gaya hai Daya ka football khelty huye… humny Ashutosh Sir ko dikha diya tha wok eh rhy hain theek ho jaye ga…
Disha nodded and made way for them. Jay supported him to his room. He helped Daya in sitting down on the bed. He went outside and came back with Daya's school bag.
Jay: Auntie, Daya ki cycle school ki parking mai he khari hai… mai abhi jaa k ly aata hun…
Disha stopped him with: beta aao tum betho… or tum Daya ko ghar tk chorny aa gaye yeh he kaafi hai… Jeet ly ly ga cycle school sy ab aap kiya wapis jao gy…
Jay cut her with: koi baat nahi maily aaun ga… kiya Abhijeet bhaiya jayein gy… (looking at Daya) aap bs mera aik kaam kr dain Abhijeet bhaiya ko kahiye ga k Daya ko samjhayein Ashutosh Sir ny mana kiya hai issy thory din Football khelny sy lekin DAya bazid hai humary Saturday ko hony waly match main khelny ko…
Daya to Disha in childish tone: Mumma please… khabardaar aapny or bhai ny mjhe roka to match mai khelny sy… mjhe nahi pata… aapny koi bhai ko nahi batana iss bary mai…
Disha to her child: beta mjhe kuch kehny ki zaroorat nahi pary gi… (signaling to his feet) tumhara yeh pair kafi hoga sb kehny k liye…
Daya made a crying face with: Mumma…
Disha ignored his crocodile's tears with: Jay beta aap fikar naa karo… (pointing to Daya) aapka kaam mere kuch kiye beghair he ho jaye ga…
Jay gave smile in response: mai bs abhi aaya Daya ki cycle ly k…
Disha nodded. Jay left from there.
Disha took out Daya's outfit and helped him to the washroom: aap fresh ho jao… mai aati hun…
Daya nodded and vanished through the washrooms' door. Disha went to heat the milk for him with a pinch of turmeric in it.
Daya was sitting on his bed when Disha came inside with the glass of milk: lo yeh haldi wala doodh pi lo phir mai kuch khany k liye laati hun…
Daya made a face: eewwww… mai to nhi piun ga yeh ganda sa yellow yellow doodh…
Disha glared him: Daya jaldi pio… yeh to peena pary ga… (attaching glass with his lips) come on hurry up…
Daya unwillingly drank the milk. Jay dropped his cycle sometime later. Disha and Daya had supper. Abhijeet came late at night… he had joined the CID Mumbai team about two weeks ago, so he was quite busy due to his job. At night when he had come home Daya already slept as he had taken the painkiller. Disha narrated all to him and asked him to make Daya understand. He satisfied his mother saying she needs not to worry about anything; he will handle all the matter himself.
In morning, Daya did not go to school. Abhijeet woke him up for breakfast. Everyone had breakfast at Daya's room. Breakfast was the time when they all had their meal together as in lunch and dinner due to timings they misses a lot to have meal together.
Abhijeet asked him signaling his foot: ab kesa hai pair ka dard… Maa ny bataya tha k practice k waqt paun mur gaya tha tumhara… ab theek hai?
Daya replied casually: haan theek hai… Ashutosh Sir ny kaha hai k aik do din rest karun ga to theek ho jaye ga…
Abhijeet said to Daya in stiff tone: Daya rest do apny pair ko… mai na sunu k tumny kisi kissam ki uchal kud ki hai… or tum next match mai participate nahi karo gy…
Daya irritatingly: aap log to mere peachy hath dho k par gaye ho… esa lag raha hai chot kiya lag gai azaab he par gaya hai mere galy… kaan dukh gaye hain kl sy yahi sb sunty sunty mere…
Abhijeet got hyper listening to his way of speaking: Daya yeh kiya badtameezi hai… (angrily) mai kafi din sy dekh raha hun… jb dekho gussa or chidchidapan… esa lag raha hai theek sy baat krna he bhool gaye ho…
Daya still stubbornly: jb hr waqt aik he baat kr kr k mera dimagh kharab kiya jaye ga to esa he hoga… hunh…
Abhijeet in same tone: dekha Maa issy kuch kehny ka asar he nhi hai ab… hum to pagal hain na jo iski bhalai ka sochty hain hr waqt…
Daya put down the spoon he had: kiya chahty hain aap log…? K mai na khelu… theek hai nahi khelta… (looking at them angrily) ab khush?
Abhijeet said chewing every word: Daya… behave yourself…
Disha saw that the argument is going on a bad direction so she interrupted: Jeet aapko late ho raha hai na… or please mjhe bhi drop kr do rasty mai…
Abhijeet glared Daya angrily and nodded. He stood up and left the room. Disha gave Daya special instructions before leaving like lunch is ready, take rest also take this opportunity to study. Daya just hummed in the response. She caressed his head lovingly with: dehan rakhna aapna… theek hai?
Daya nodded and took her hand in his own. He patted it in assurance as there is nothing to worry about.. Disha nodded and left from there.
Abhijeet was waiting outside on the bike. Disha came and sat behind him.
Abhijeet after wearing his helmet initiated: Maa aapko nahi lagta Daya ka behavior din ba din bigarta jaa raha hai… itna gussa kyun krny laga hai aajkl samajh nahi aa raha… it's strange…
Disha brushed off him: nahi esa kuch nahi hai… bara ho raha hai na… jb bachy iss age mai hoty hain na to zara gussa zyada aata hai… or ab to chot bhi lagi hai… or wo football bhi nhi khel paye ga kuch din to gussa aana to jayez hai…
Abhijeet just shrugged off.
Is this what we call the calm before storm?
A/N:
Eid Mubarak everyone.
Sorry guys got late due to some urgent work.
Thank you everyone for your precious reviews. Your reviews are what encourage me to write.
Keep reading and reviewing.
Next update after 25 reviews.
Hope see you as soon as you want me to.
Take care of yourself.
Stay Home , Stay Safe, Save lives.