Chapter 5: Invitation to play
I made eye contact with Virat and waved at him. I have to strike up a conversation with him. I started moving toward him. For some reason, he was panicking as I went towards him. He was shaking and shivering. I could see his lips moving as if he was muttering something.
"Hi" I stood in front of him and took the liberty to speak first. Before I could say anything else he spoke.
"I won't do it ever again. They forced me to do it" Virat said while fumbling his words. I don't know what is going on with it but whatever it is, it's funny.
"So you admit you did it?" Though I don't know what's going on, I will try my best to humour this misunderstanding.
"Yes and I will never do it again." Virat replied in a meek fashion.
"Though I know what you have done. I still want to hear it from your mouth" I replied, acting as if I was a king.
"I… I will never piss on plants at night" Virat replied stuttering and with tears in his eyes.
I was trying hard to control my laugh from the very first moment but the dam broke at this point. I laughed out but soon controlled it before it got any louder for adults to hear it.
"Sorry, man. I don't know what you think I am but I am not the right person to confess your sins to. Leave all this in the back, My name is Vipin Chaudhary. I am seven years old as of today." I introduced myself while stretching my hand.
Does this way of talking and behaviour feel odd for a seven year old? Of Course. I tried my best to change my way of speaking and behaviour but this is something I took with me from my past life.
Virat just stood there with a puzzled expression. Seeing me stretch my hand he shook it but said nothing. After a moment he looked me in the eyes. I could see a hint of anger and embarrassment.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your little secret, that is only if you introduce yourself to me." I said with a little chuckle following my sentence.
"I feel stupid now. Anyway, I am Virat Kohli. I am nine this year" Virat gave me a small introduction.
"Is that all? So, where do you study? I go to Vishal Bharti Public School." I tried extending the conversation but what can a seven year old contribute except for asking for school name and games.
"No way, I also go to the same school. Why haven't I seen you anywhere? So how do you go there? I cycle down to school." Oh, he is getting comfortable.
"Stop kidding me. We go to the same school? Well, my father drops and my mother picks me from school. So where do you live?" I asked as this was also a surprise for me. We go to the same school.
"I love down the street the fourth house from the left. So, are you really seven or have you changed your DOB like some of my friends? I don't know why they did it but their parents said so. You don't look seven so I asked" Virat asked with a smile on his face. We are both in the zone.
"For real, you live there. Well, my parents haven't allowed me outside alone so we never meet. Though I look big for my age I am just seven. So do you like cricket? I saw you looking at the bat passionately" I struck the iron while it was hot. Cricket builds friendships and rivalries both.
"Don't tell anyone but the bat you got today is the same bat I hit 26 runs against the Paschim Vihar team. We won the match by 16 runs. Though I have only played a single match with that bat. It sure is lucky and I gifted you my lucky charm. Aren't I great?" He had a smug smile on his face while he boasted about his play and win. Well, winning a match sure is a thing to boast about.
"I love cricket. Whenever I get time I go play cricket. I have recently joined an academy. The coach said I have great potential. I am getting professional training now. Soon, I will don the blue jersey and will play for our country. Just wait. You cheer for me when you see me on screen. Okay?" I could see stars in his eyes when he was talking about cricket. I had the same passion for cricket. What I couldn't do in my previous life I will do here. Hearing him talk made my resolve much stronger.
"What do you mean cheer for you? I will be there on the field together with you playing for our country" I said with some weight behind my voice. I will surely play alongside him.
"You better try your best or you will have to cheer for me. Hey, I saw your form when you held the bat earlier. It was perfect in my opinion. Are you getting coached somewhere? Why haven't I seen you play?" Virat asked.
"Well, today was the first time I held a bat so no I don't play or let's say others don't let me play with them. So, right now I am an outcast. They think I am weird" I said with a smile on my face. If this were to happen with any other child my age. It would mentally torture him his whole life but I have outcast my previous life also so it doesn't affect me much.
"Hey, why don't you join the same academy as me? We'll both play together and I saw you got a bicycle as a present. So why don't you start going with us to school. We can both go together and play together" Virat suggested to me. I was happy. Someone was offering me something upfront for the first time in my life.
"Sure why not? I will convince my parents. I do know some tricks" Who am I to refuse such an offer.
Grrrrrrrr….
As I was about to say something my stomach churned and made a loud noise to which I saw Viraat laughing.
"Let's eat something first" I invited him to the place where they served food.