As usual the children were creating a cacophony.
Pushing his thick glasses up to the bridge of his nose Keshav Mahajan peered at them. The children continued, blissfully unaware. He really would have to do something about it… knowing that others wouldn’t, and would hardly refrain from complaining.
“Come here all of you.” But nobody moved.
He took out his whistle and blew hard on it. “Tweettt!”
They all turned to look, as they finally heard him. “Get into a circle all of you!” he said.
“What is the problem here?” asked Keshav in his authoritative voice.
“Uncle we have a match coming up and they are not practising properly. At this rate we will definitely lose.” piped up the tall fellow in a navy and white Nike tee.
“Who is the captain?”
“I am,” said the boy again.
“That’s the problem uncle. They don’t want to listen to me. Everyone wants their suggestions to be implemented.”
“That wont do,” said Keshav shaking his head gently.
“Listen! Are you ready?” The heads bobbed in unison. Eyes open wide.
“How many of you want to win the match?”
All hands went up in unison.
Peering at them over his glasses, his black eyes looking like marbles magnified, Keshav cleared his throat. The children kept looking at him, but now with eager expectation.
“See, in a team everyone has to be sure about their goal. Then everyone has to give their best. Whatever you do, you have to be the Dhonis and the Virats.”
“Virat and Dhoni? How can everyone do that?” asked one who was cleary the youngest in the group.
“I mean be the best batsman, fielder, bowler, wicket keeper and of course the Captain.”
“So lets do an activity. First of all sit down and close your eyes.”
Reluctantly they flopped on the ground squinting at one another. Keshav Mahajan mustered all his seriousness and glared at the munchkins. Quickly eyes were shut, as were the gaping mouths.
“OK! Take a deep breath. Exhale! Inhale deeply… Exhale deeply!
Now visualise yourself on the ground. Arrange yourself in the game and watch yourself play.
Look at your stance. Are you standing properly? Check yourself. Now watch the game carefully. Watch the bowler… Look at the run up and the delivery. That’s a beautiful delivery…. But look at the batsman now. Look at yourself connecting your bat with the ball… You hit the sweet spot! Watch the ball soaring through the sky… Watch the fielder… look at you chasing that ball and you scoop it up and fling it back to the wicket keeper, without missing a step. Wicket keeper how beautifully you caught the ball! Softly into your glove…That’s a lovely whistle you have… as you lop it off to the bowler!
Fantastic!”
“All who played well, clap for yourself!”
Clap-clap-clap-clap!
The claps rebounded all around.
“Open your eyes now! Tell me now how did you do?”
The whoops and yells punctuated the spontaneous outpouring of the answers.
Listening to them one by one, his eyes started glistening with the tears of joy threatening to overflow.
He shook hands with all and wished them the very best for the next match.
As a parting shot he asked them a last question, “So what will you do during your match?”
“Visualize” chorused the team!
Pic courtesy: www.Pixabay.com
