My Trysts With Life

"You go get it", "No!!!" , ":Why should I go get it!!", "Go or i'll take my bat"... I looked up, the sound of this scuffle making me look up. I was sitting in the balcony, tired after all those classes, and time pass, that an engineering college makes us do. I was trying to study (see the emphasis on trying!!!), but was actually more interested in the cricket match that was going on between the small kids of our locality.                                                                     As it always happens in our infamous "Gully Cricket" the ball went straight into that "Dreaded" person's house (that old uncle or aunt, who used to shoo away any attempts to get back the ball). The holy bible of the Gully Cricket was called for, and the Clause "Get the Ball" was read. It clearly stated, that the person who had hit the ball, had to go and get it, by hook or by crook. But again, as always, no one wanted to

It was a cold winter night- typical shivery 31st of December, in Lucknow.  We were all watching the all night long comedy shows that welcome the new year, warmly huddled up in our bed. The TV anchor was just making a joke about the cold weather, when the call bell rang. Me, the eternal scapegoat, was made to go and answer the bell, cursing the person who had come at this ungodly hour. I open the door, to be greeted by a mournful wailing, and I see a man holding a small baby boy- (sleeping, unconscious??). His tearful eyes, and that soul stirring look, melt my young(14 year old heart).                             "Bhaiya ji, help me, my son needs a hospital. He is suffering from pneumonia, and needs to be treated immediately. Please give me some money, anything will help. Please, I beg you, save my son."     I stood there, as if frozen in time. Here is a 40 odd year old man, literally on his knees, bowing down to an eight year old, begging for mercy. I rushed inside, tell