The Shooting Star
Picking up the towel from my previous post on the Volleyball game, it was our first day of practise. After much communication and fight to get a ball, we finally had three today. As the clock turned to the 17th hour of the day, I decided it was time to collect everyone to come down to the field.
There was much anticipation for the practise throughout the day. Manish had come to my desk and introduced Mr. Reddy who was also interested in playing volleyball. It was as if I had become the pointsman for the game. Lisa had sent out an email to everyone announcing the practise session and Jayaram was pinging me from 4:30 onwards. Richie went back home to change early, to be in time for the game. Frank, Laura and Brian had got their sports gear along. There was a sense of anticipation. I went with Eli to discuss some naunces of the game after lunch.
At 5pm nobody was ready to go. Everyone was swamped with work but by 5:20 some people were down. I went upto Laura and almost pushed her to come with us for sometime. At 5:31pm, we reached the courts. There were some other people practising and team iOfense joined them on the other side of the court. In the reshuffle, Laura and I were on the other side i.e. playing against iOfense.
Before this evening, I was happy about developments in life. I rode the Hummer to DC. Met Prateek at 'Fur', one of the biggest disks in DC. Saturday night was rocking at Ned Devine. I also got couple of my topics of the MS paper done that day. And here I was playing volleyball by the lake. I wonder how a shooting star is just before its termed 'shooting'. How does one differentiate between more than average happening events in life and the flicker before an oil lamp goes out? Sometimes events happen so quickly that it takes time for human minds to comprehend the situation.
As the game progressed, iOfense was clearly the better team. We lost two games on the trot. My team did not want to go back losing. So a fast version of the game was suggested to finish up in less than 10 minutes. Every point won fetches the winning team a point on the scoreboard regardless of who serves. On the 5th point of the game we served. The score read 1-3 against us. The point was a little longer than usual when, while the ball was still in their court, both Manish and Brian went for the ball to smash it into our side. I jumped up to defend and was hoping against hope that they would miss the ball.
They did miss the ball. Both of them clashed in mid air. Brian, around 24 and atheletic, and Manish, 38 and a visibly non atheletic personality, fell on the sand. Celebrations on our side for a point well won. Just as I turned around, I saw people gather around Manish. He was crying out in pain. He was on his back, eyes closed, and unable to move at all.
At first look it seemed like a muscle rupture or something minor. As people tried to touch his leg, he shrieked in pain like never before. His lower right leg was almost perpendicular to his straight body. It reminded me of a video I saw a few years back when this boxer broke his leg while trying to kick the other guy (yeah, dunno why? and that too in a boxing match). Anyways, I tried to convince myself that it was nothing serious.
Almost everyone had the same version of how it happened with a twist of their own. I got Manish some water from Frank's bottle. Some people spoke to Manish to soothe him down, some caught up on their breath and some just watched. He was in some real pain. That was when one realized that it was time to call 911.
While some people took charge of the situation, I spoke to Laura about how did she feel about the game. Seemed like she played it for the first time today. In between, I was speaking to Manish too and telling him that everything is fine, but with 12 other people senior and better at handling such situations, I did not feel the need to take matters into my hand. Meanwhile, Laura and I spoke of the events coming up for us in the near future.
As the ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes, I went on the ground clutching Manish's hand. He gripped it strongly and was crying in pain as the medics tried to put him on the stretcher.
Such is the relation between pain and humans that it makes heroes out of ordinary men in extraordinary situations. As I tried to soothe Manish saying that everything would be fine, he murmured," I know I will be fine. I am worried about the future. My wife. My children".
At that moment, I got a glimpse into how a person being carried away on a stretcher possibly feels. I am sure Manish is fine now and that its nothing life threatening. But the point is how his pain is smaller than his concern for his near and dear ones. How a jawaan who takes a bullet to his heart might possibly be thinking of his wife, his child and their future in the last seconds that God gave him to recapitulate his life and make a last wish. It reminded me of when I, at 10 years and 33 days, walked into the ICU of Mulchand Hospital to see my father for the first time in three weeks after he had a series of heart attacks. The first thing that came out of his mouth before I could speak was." How were your exams? Study well. Studies are very important if you want to become something in life". I took that sentence to heart, and though I never topped any class or school or college, I believe the larger meaning of doing what you do with all diligence and perseverance was conveyed.
There was much anticipation for the practise throughout the day. Manish had come to my desk and introduced Mr. Reddy who was also interested in playing volleyball. It was as if I had become the pointsman for the game. Lisa had sent out an email to everyone announcing the practise session and Jayaram was pinging me from 4:30 onwards. Richie went back home to change early, to be in time for the game. Frank, Laura and Brian had got their sports gear along. There was a sense of anticipation. I went with Eli to discuss some naunces of the game after lunch.
At 5pm nobody was ready to go. Everyone was swamped with work but by 5:20 some people were down. I went upto Laura and almost pushed her to come with us for sometime. At 5:31pm, we reached the courts. There were some other people practising and team iOfense joined them on the other side of the court. In the reshuffle, Laura and I were on the other side i.e. playing against iOfense.
Before this evening, I was happy about developments in life. I rode the Hummer to DC. Met Prateek at 'Fur', one of the biggest disks in DC. Saturday night was rocking at Ned Devine. I also got couple of my topics of the MS paper done that day. And here I was playing volleyball by the lake. I wonder how a shooting star is just before its termed 'shooting'. How does one differentiate between more than average happening events in life and the flicker before an oil lamp goes out? Sometimes events happen so quickly that it takes time for human minds to comprehend the situation.
As the game progressed, iOfense was clearly the better team. We lost two games on the trot. My team did not want to go back losing. So a fast version of the game was suggested to finish up in less than 10 minutes. Every point won fetches the winning team a point on the scoreboard regardless of who serves. On the 5th point of the game we served. The score read 1-3 against us. The point was a little longer than usual when, while the ball was still in their court, both Manish and Brian went for the ball to smash it into our side. I jumped up to defend and was hoping against hope that they would miss the ball.
They did miss the ball. Both of them clashed in mid air. Brian, around 24 and atheletic, and Manish, 38 and a visibly non atheletic personality, fell on the sand. Celebrations on our side for a point well won. Just as I turned around, I saw people gather around Manish. He was crying out in pain. He was on his back, eyes closed, and unable to move at all.
At first look it seemed like a muscle rupture or something minor. As people tried to touch his leg, he shrieked in pain like never before. His lower right leg was almost perpendicular to his straight body. It reminded me of a video I saw a few years back when this boxer broke his leg while trying to kick the other guy (yeah, dunno why? and that too in a boxing match). Anyways, I tried to convince myself that it was nothing serious.
Almost everyone had the same version of how it happened with a twist of their own. I got Manish some water from Frank's bottle. Some people spoke to Manish to soothe him down, some caught up on their breath and some just watched. He was in some real pain. That was when one realized that it was time to call 911.
While some people took charge of the situation, I spoke to Laura about how did she feel about the game. Seemed like she played it for the first time today. In between, I was speaking to Manish too and telling him that everything is fine, but with 12 other people senior and better at handling such situations, I did not feel the need to take matters into my hand. Meanwhile, Laura and I spoke of the events coming up for us in the near future.
As the ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes, I went on the ground clutching Manish's hand. He gripped it strongly and was crying in pain as the medics tried to put him on the stretcher.
Such is the relation between pain and humans that it makes heroes out of ordinary men in extraordinary situations. As I tried to soothe Manish saying that everything would be fine, he murmured," I know I will be fine. I am worried about the future. My wife. My children".
At that moment, I got a glimpse into how a person being carried away on a stretcher possibly feels. I am sure Manish is fine now and that its nothing life threatening. But the point is how his pain is smaller than his concern for his near and dear ones. How a jawaan who takes a bullet to his heart might possibly be thinking of his wife, his child and their future in the last seconds that God gave him to recapitulate his life and make a last wish. It reminded me of when I, at 10 years and 33 days, walked into the ICU of Mulchand Hospital to see my father for the first time in three weeks after he had a series of heart attacks. The first thing that came out of his mouth before I could speak was." How were your exams? Study well. Studies are very important if you want to become something in life". I took that sentence to heart, and though I never topped any class or school or college, I believe the larger meaning of doing what you do with all diligence and perseverance was conveyed.
Life comes at you fast. Act now. Dont wait to say to someone that you love them. Dont wait on things to happen for you. Dont act in a manner that none would feel bad when something bad happens to you. Life is short. Live it because a point in a game can change your life.
p.s.: I just got a call from Mr. Reddy saying that Manish has a fractured hip bone and that he would be operated upon tomorrow. His wife cannot drive and hence she has not gone to the hospital yet. There are some other relatives taking care of him currently. I would go to see him tomorrow afternoon. I am not sure if he would be able to or willing to play any outdoor game in the future. I pray he does.
posted by Ujjwal at 7/24/2006 10:59:00 PM
3 Comments:
Good lord!! that was a long post..gee havent read it completely yet..will do though..:)
that was me, sush, dont publish this comment though..:)
rightly said about ppl in stretchers more worried about the near and dear ones rather than their own pain!
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