The day I almost retired!!!!

I love sports. I love games. Don’t we all. But are we a good sport? Are we game for good? Now who decides that then? “No clues!!!” is the best you can come up with!!! Well, then let’s take it for granted that it’s “me” who is responsible. Well at least that’s what I tell myself each day I miss out on my tennis.

But now I am free, and I have no excuse to miss the games. Well not actually free; jobless; yes, jobless is the right word. And I am home, and for the unacquainted, Chandimandir cantt has the best of stages to display my sports prowess. So looking like a fool, carrying my guitar and tennis racket, at the airport pays off at the end. I can’t let the two synthetic courts go waste. It’s time to get back to business.

My dad asked me once, “Son, do you come home to visit us or to play?!!!” Now how does one reply to that? I just smile and ask him for his car keys (btw, my car is way too slow, so I prefer his when I am home). So I have hardly arrived from Bangalore, but the ultimate show down has been set. It’s David vs. Goliath, literally. He’s always had the younger sibling advantage. Genetically more advanced. Touching a 6 ft, he is all set to take on his big bro. Sid’s so dead.

The first day is a disappointing wait. Both the courts occupied. And it’s a Saturday evening. It’s English Premier League night fella, now who has the time to wait for a game. And I ain’t a chicken. Arsenal playing ManU, and Chelsea ready to slaughter Rafael Benitez’s team. “You kidding me bro”.

After a full days home grub, I am all ready. After knocking around with two kids, and bullying them out of the court after playing goody-goody, its play ball.

For one thing, “the grip ain’t right”. “My racket is slipping out of my hand”. “The guts seem so loose, how am I supposed to get control?” “I haven’t played since ages, this ain’t fair.” “That’s it, let’s go home”.

I suck at it. Boy, I used to be good at it. How the hell did he get so good? I taught him every thing I knew (except for my serve and volley tricks). I surely have put on a lot of flab, but that’s not the reason. So what is it? Is the work life taking its toll on me? But I am Superman; I was gonna play all my life. Nothing could tire me till date. So what’s happening?!!! I don’t think I can play tennis any more. That’s it; it’s only golf from tomorrow.

Monday the courts are closed any ways. Wow, what a beautiful day it is. Perfect day to go about the cantonment, cycling. Man, Check out the babes. Now hey come on, I ain’t that old. OK, let’s give it a shot. Tuesday arrives and I am all excited. After drifting and drag racing the whole first half, I am more than happy to see Sid return from college. Now he deserves his share of rest before I try and tell him who is in charge. Anyways, you never asked, but I’ll still tell, I lost 6-4, 6-1 the last time.

And guess what, for a change, it’s me serving the aces. Big serve, move to the net, baam. Fault, big second serve, move to the net, perfect volley. “Boy am I good”. The secret is a locked wrist, and good knee-bend and jump. But more than anything, it’s the self-belief (call it disillusionment) that it’s all so easy.

I t’s been 5 days now, and the first set’s been mine each time. And we won’t be talking about the 2nd or the 3rd. I still have the tinkle in my eyes, the result ain’t changin’ a thing. And you know why, because the first set makes it easy for me to enjoy each game henceforth. That’s how it always is, winning matters, but even a small win can make us forget about the end result. So go ahead, and don’t you stop till you wear out your guts. And yes, don’t forget to enjoy it, after all, its just a game, and there are a ton of excuses one can come up with after its all over.

Game, Set & Match.