The score read in his head 27 for 4, 27/4 in the penultimate over. Wicket number three fell when Chunu was clean bowled by Ghotan’s last delivery. Ghotan, the other fast bowler of Dipu’s team bowled the penultimate (fifth) over.

There were still six more runs needed for a tie, and seven for his team to win the match.

Only the last batter, I mean, the pacer of his team actually, Tapu, was left and his credentials as a batter didn’t amount to much.

Most of Bappa’s teammates were back in the dressing room, I mean, on the steps of the first house of red bricks at the entrance of the galli.

This five-a-side match between the two teams was a matter of life and death for Bappa, a fifth grader.

The other side being led by Dipu, oh, his real name was Dipak, had defeated them in two out of the best-of-five matches. If Bappa had either Teko or Ghotan in his team, his team would have won all five of the five matches. If Bappa’ s team lost the match today, they would lose the bet as well. As a result, the next party of tea and samosa would have to be sponsored by them.

And wasn’t Bappa broke now? How was he gonna buy a gift for Ma’s birthday on Sunday?

He saw Tapu, his lanky nephew, slowly coming out of their house, the last house at the other end of the galli and crawling to the wickets near the red brick house. Bappa knew that he had to get the strike at any cost. He scurried with the measured steps of a Captain to catch up with Tapu.

“Block the ball with the bat at any cost and make a dash to my end like you have firecrackers on your back. Don’t get out, for God’s sake.” He hissed out at his nephew with gritted teeth.

Teko, the tall and lanky fast bowler in their locality, was hurrying towards Bappa’s end where the slippers of all the players were collected together to serve as the wickets. Pronoy, one of their seniors, was standing behind the chappals as the umpire.

Bappa looked at Dipu standing in the middle of the galli with the rows of three houses on either side.

Bappa could make out the smug look on Dipu’s face. For him, with Tapu at the striker’s end, the match was as good as over.

Teko’s first delivery soared over Tapu’s head to be collected by the keeper with a lot of difficulty. Bappa was halfway through but got back to the chappal end in time before the keeper could collect and throw it back to Teko.

The second ball landed near Tapu’s feet and swerved away taking the edge of his bat. Bappa was already there at his end and had to literally push Tapu out of the crease to the other end. Now, five more runs were needed to win.

And Bappa had four balls to score those runs. He must not get out, he told himself, his team’s as well as his own prestige depended on that. He had to show all who was the best batter amongst them youngsters.

The third ball was a beauty and hit him on the left shoulder hard as Bappa jumped up to defend himself from the ferocious tennis ball.

The fourth was even better and miraculously didn’t hit the stumps!

Two more balls to go and six more runs to win! He saw Teko taking his time to ask the fielder behind the keeper to come down behind him in case Bappa played a lofted shot.

Bappa, anxious, missed the fifth ball, a lollypop as well, as one of his teammates stood up to go to the pavement at the open end of the galli, behind the keeper. For him, the match was already lost.

Teko was bowling the last, the sixth ball of the final over. Six runs were still needed for a win. Bappa said a silent prayer to Lord Govinda Deva. Ma said He is the wish fulfilling God and hit a sixer he had to for the sake of his pride and prestige.

Teko came charging in from the chappal end and bowled a yorker. But Bappa had kept his eyes on the ball all along and struck at it with the lower end of his bat with all his might.

T-H-A-C-K!

The bat made a connection thereby producing a sweet sound. And all eyes were following the ball going up, sailing over Dipu’s head, over the head of the umpire before landing on the roof of the house at the dead end of the galli.

“SIX!” signalled the umpire.

“Six,” chorused his teammates as they came running and lifted Bappa on their shoulders.

“Six,” Bappa heard his heart singing.

Now, with Dipu and his team having lost the match and the series still alive, he could buy Ma a gift on Sunday.

***

Rathin Bhattacharjee, ex-Principal, SXPS, worked in BCSC, Bhutan. Winner of HM’s Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching (2018), he’s a much-published, anthologized author with five books to his credit. He’s been adjudged the Best Fiction Writer by different publishers. An avid reader, he loves writing, critiquing, translating and editing.