It had been two weeks with a set agenda of Arnav's life which included days spend on school and football practice, interspersed with horse riding and shooting. His weekends were spend by roaming the city with Ron to whom he had felt a companion ship. Ron had introduced him to several other locality boys and men from different walks of life. He got to play with home team and also came to realize that most of them went to the same school as them. He had improved much on his bike riding skills as well. Both him and Ron were now trying to ride a car. In the mean time he had come to know of Ron's family as well. Ron was studying in XII. He had an elder brother named Abhay who is currently pursuing his B.Tech in Computer Science and is also preparing to attempt the civil service entrance exam. To concentrate his focus on studies , he had opted to stay in a hostel near the college. Ron's father Shashi was a business man dealing with diamonds and other jewelry. He had three shops in and around Delhi. Ron had lost his mother to an accident from which Khushi had miraculously escaped. Khushi was two years old. Since then she had been the apple of eye in the family. Life of Zala family revolved around her.
Due to the impending XIIth Std model exams the football coaching was suspended for 3 weeks. Arnav was roaming about the school campus after school as he felt the need to have some fresh air. He had loved the campus atmosphere. Walking to the football ground he saw the sub junior boys (upto 5th Std) on the ground preparing for the game with no coach in sight. He assumed the boys might have decided to use the ground since it was free now. He was amused when he saw Khushi sitting on the ground on the periphery with a sketch pad and few color pencils. She was looking wistfully at the boys getting geared for the game.
One of them came and asked her "Didi, your brother is the captain of the school team. Why don't you ask him to teach you to play ?"
Khushi looked up and replied "Adi, Bhaiya would do it without a doubt but it would affect his already packed schedule what with the exams,annual inter school sports championship and all. I don't want to over tax him. Also mine is a pass by interest. May not continue at all. Why waste his time which could be used properly. More over if he teaches me, he would alter every rule known in the game so that I am not hurt. I want to just try and feel what is the exhilaration the teams feel on the ground. Just a wish". That took Arnav by surprise. He had taken Khushi for a spoilt brat with all the attention that was being showered on her by her family and friends. He was clearly wrong. She cared ,she was practical and she had extraordinary interest.
Adit looked on sadly. He looked up and spotted Arnav sitting on the second row of stadium.He knew Arnav was a good player. He went up to Arnav ,extended his right hand and said "Adith Raina,4th Std". Arnav shook his hand and said "ASR".
Adith continued "We are in kind of a situation here. Khushi Didi wants to play and we have no idea how to instruct her. We were taught by our coach and we only know so much. Could you instruct her along with us? We have the ground for only 3 weeks and we don't have time to waste."
Arnav thought of it for 2 minutes and nodded his head
Arnav walked up to Khushi who was looking at the ground and said "Get up. Run entire length of court 3 times"
Khushi was astonished. She shouted "WHAT?"
Adit intervened "ASR is going to teach us and you to play for the next 3 weeks.So please di, let us do it"
"But I can't run in this dress"
Arnav retorted with "Change". She responded "I don't carry the sports wear every where hoping for an opportunity to play ". Adi bit down a chuckle.
Arnav walked off stating "Then carry now on-wards". She literally had to fist her hands tightly to prevent herself from hitting him. Arnav proceeded to instruct the boys while Khushi watched.
She was cheering all the while. When no longer the sound could be heard , he turned around to see her walking towards Ron. Ron howled a greeting and waited for Arnav. He joined them wrapping the session and proceeded home.
The next day saw Khushi changed into a track suit waiting for Arnav . She completed the 3 runs and stood in front of him. He asked her to do a few more exercises which effectively completed the 50 mins. She excused herself and went to change. She didn't want Ron to find out. After 4 days of continuous body training ,which she felt as sheer torture,Arnav allowed her to touch the ball.
Back at home, Arnav thought about her determination. He had put her through the work out sessions for two reasons. He wanted to check if it was the Baby Khushi talking just for the heck of trying out. If so he neither had the time nor the inclination to do it. Secondly he wanted her to be prepared for the physical turmoil that she will have to face in the field. She persisted and that impressed him. He admired people with a will to persist. He went to sleep remembering her flushed face after all the work out he had put her through.
Khushi was able to play confidently with the junior boys and she was happy about it. Khushi had wondered why Arnav had agreed to train her. She brushed it aside thinking it to be a favor to her brother. She could have strangled him for putting her through such tough work outs. She had come home every day bone tired and her body aching all the way from head to toe. She had to try really hard not to show the pain to avoid any attention from family.But once on the ground she realized the importance of the work outs. She was determined to keep up the work out as a part of her life style. Khushi didn't realize she had her first ever wish granted by Arnav when she scored 2 goals today. Khushi dreamed of the goal when she fell into a peaceful slumber with a smile on her face. The training and the play came to an end in another 2 weeks time.
Due to the impending XIIth Std model exams the football coaching was suspended for 3 weeks. Arnav was roaming about the school campus after school as he felt the need to have some fresh air. He had loved the campus atmosphere. Walking to the football ground he saw the sub junior boys (upto 5th Std) on the ground preparing for the game with no coach in sight. He assumed the boys might have decided to use the ground since it was free now. He was amused when he saw Khushi sitting on the ground on the periphery with a sketch pad and few color pencils. She was looking wistfully at the boys getting geared for the game.
One of them came and asked her "Didi, your brother is the captain of the school team. Why don't you ask him to teach you to play ?"
Khushi looked up and replied "Adi, Bhaiya would do it without a doubt but it would affect his already packed schedule what with the exams,annual inter school sports championship and all. I don't want to over tax him. Also mine is a pass by interest. May not continue at all. Why waste his time which could be used properly. More over if he teaches me, he would alter every rule known in the game so that I am not hurt. I want to just try and feel what is the exhilaration the teams feel on the ground. Just a wish". That took Arnav by surprise. He had taken Khushi for a spoilt brat with all the attention that was being showered on her by her family and friends. He was clearly wrong. She cared ,she was practical and she had extraordinary interest.
Adit looked on sadly. He looked up and spotted Arnav sitting on the second row of stadium.He knew Arnav was a good player. He went up to Arnav ,extended his right hand and said "Adith Raina,4th Std". Arnav shook his hand and said "ASR".
Adith continued "We are in kind of a situation here. Khushi Didi wants to play and we have no idea how to instruct her. We were taught by our coach and we only know so much. Could you instruct her along with us? We have the ground for only 3 weeks and we don't have time to waste."
Arnav thought of it for 2 minutes and nodded his head
Arnav walked up to Khushi who was looking at the ground and said "Get up. Run entire length of court 3 times"
Khushi was astonished. She shouted "WHAT?"
Adit intervened "ASR is going to teach us and you to play for the next 3 weeks.So please di, let us do it"
"But I can't run in this dress"
Arnav retorted with "Change". She responded "I don't carry the sports wear every where hoping for an opportunity to play ". Adi bit down a chuckle.
Arnav walked off stating "Then carry now on-wards". She literally had to fist her hands tightly to prevent herself from hitting him. Arnav proceeded to instruct the boys while Khushi watched.
She was cheering all the while. When no longer the sound could be heard , he turned around to see her walking towards Ron. Ron howled a greeting and waited for Arnav. He joined them wrapping the session and proceeded home.
The next day saw Khushi changed into a track suit waiting for Arnav . She completed the 3 runs and stood in front of him. He asked her to do a few more exercises which effectively completed the 50 mins. She excused herself and went to change. She didn't want Ron to find out. After 4 days of continuous body training ,which she felt as sheer torture,Arnav allowed her to touch the ball.
Back at home, Arnav thought about her determination. He had put her through the work out sessions for two reasons. He wanted to check if it was the Baby Khushi talking just for the heck of trying out. If so he neither had the time nor the inclination to do it. Secondly he wanted her to be prepared for the physical turmoil that she will have to face in the field. She persisted and that impressed him. He admired people with a will to persist. He went to sleep remembering her flushed face after all the work out he had put her through.
Khushi was able to play confidently with the junior boys and she was happy about it. Khushi had wondered why Arnav had agreed to train her. She brushed it aside thinking it to be a favor to her brother. She could have strangled him for putting her through such tough work outs. She had come home every day bone tired and her body aching all the way from head to toe. She had to try really hard not to show the pain to avoid any attention from family.But once on the ground she realized the importance of the work outs. She was determined to keep up the work out as a part of her life style. Khushi didn't realize she had her first ever wish granted by Arnav when she scored 2 goals today. Khushi dreamed of the goal when she fell into a peaceful slumber with a smile on her face. The training and the play came to an end in another 2 weeks time.
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