हाफ गर्लफ्रेंड

school.' 'But it is the only option for our kids. You want something to eat? My wife made pakoras.' I shook my head. If you could help with the school.' I said, as he interrupted me. 'Rajkumar ji... 'Madhav. Please call me Madhay.' 'Okay. Madhav ji. See, my MLA funds are limited. I have to repair roads, fix power and install hand pumps. In fact, I have already run out." *How about the state education ministry?" Ojha laughed. His laugh gave away the answer, "It's Bibar. You should know." he said. 'So you can't do anything?" "You want a personal donation from me? I am a humble government servant,' he said. 'No, that is not what I came for. I felt the local government should support the only proper school in the area, Parents of these kids vote for you." They do. However, they also have other, more important issues they want me to focus on." I stood up to leave, 'You sure you don't want to try the pakoras? An angry Rani Sahiba is not a pretty sight. I sat at the dining table, eating pulao and raita for dinner. 'Sit.' I said. 'Stand up,' she said, her voice calm; too calm, in fact. I flicked the rice from my fingers and stood up. "What happened?' 1 said. I'm allowing you to help out in the school. It doesn't mean you tin whatever you want." "What did I do?" I said. 'You went to meet that arrogant MLA without telling me? I thought he might help. We can't run the school without toilets forever." "Him? He wants the royal family to look bad." 'Why?' 'How else will he look good?' I kept quiet. 'Sit, my mother said. We both sat down, facing each other at the dining table. The huge dining-cum-living room was eerily silent as she spooned some rice on to her plate. "What did he say, anyway?' she said. 'He said he had no money left from his fund. Because he ate it all up,' my mother said. "Sometimes I wish I had not declined the ticket.' 'What ticket?' 'His party had asked me to contest last time. Why do you think Ojha is so insecure about our family?' 'Contest elections? You didn't tell me.' 'Well,' my mother said. 'I wasn't interested. And did you have time in Delhi to listen to your mother?' 'I was studying. Ma.' 'Or playing basketball' The mention of basketball, without any warning, made me go blank. "But you never really listened to me even when you called. Wonder what kept you so distracted there. No girl and all, no?" I kept quiet. "Was there?" she said and laughed. 'Can't imagine you having a girlfriend. "Pass me the raita,' I said. 'Say, no, if there was someone.' I shook my head. "What?' 'Nobody." You sure? Why have you become all quiet?' my mother said. 'I miss the game. You mentioned basketball. I haven't played in a long time. So go play. Go to Raj High School, people still play there,' I nodded. 'In fact, my mother said, 'you could even...' She turned silent mid-sentence. 'Even what?' 'Nothing. 'Say it 'Was going to say you could even teach the kids at school. But..." "We don't have a court. Or the money for it,' I said, my voice irritated. So I didn't mention it. Anyway. you go play. It'll clear your head. My head is fine.' 'See how you talk to your mother? If your head was fine, you wouldn't have gone to the MLA. I just wanted to help.' 'Enough. Eat your food.'My mother still treated me as if I was ten years old. The funny thing was. I let her. 181 reached the Raj High School playground at 6 in the evening. I saw a I few teenage students on court. We smiled as we acknowledged each other. I asked for the ball. A student passed it to me. I was touching the dusty and dotted-rubber texture of the ball after ages. I took a shot. Chhaak. The soft sound of the ball going through the net without i ouching the ring told me I still had it in me. A few students clapped, 'Where's St. Stephen's?' one boy said. He had noticed my college T-shirt, I looked at the boy. He seemed clueless about my fancy college. I had been like him not too long ago. I told him about my alma mater. 'English college?' he said. 'Completely. That too high-class English," I said and laughed. 'I will never make it.' 'I entered through the sports quota. Maybe you can too.' I dribbled the ball. The thumping sound matched my heartbeat. I'm not that good," he said. I threw the ball at him. He caught it reftexively. 'Let's see. I'm Madhav, by the way. "Parth." he said and dribbled the ball. I tackled him as he ran across the court. He was good, but not experienced. It took me twenty seconds to take the ball back from him. I took a shot even though the ring was quite far. I missed. Parth collected the ball and took a shot. He scored. I high-fived him. The last of the sunlight fell on the court. It cast long shadows of the already tail players, I stared at the darting shadows, unable to focus on the game. "What?" Parth said. He had scored another basket. 'Nothing. I said, blinking rapidly. He passed me the ball. I caught it by habit, still lost in thought. I wondered if they had basketball courts in London. I was pretty sure they did. I wondered if she still played. And If she did, did she think of me? 'Shoot, bhaiya.' Parth said. I threw the ball. It not only