Small Story 186.

Small Story 186 The Cricket Bat Encounter Sundar eagerly awaited his dad's return from the office. He was confident that his dad would bring him the cricket bat for the upcoming Sunday match. Sundar, a student in standard 7, was also a good cricket player. The bat he had in mind was just an ordinary one, meant for regular matches and not for any professional game. Every Sunday, Sundar played cricket with his friends in the apartment complex, ranging from schoolmates to office-goers. Sundar’s dad, Suresh, worked as a manager in a private firm, while his mom, Gayathri, was a bank officer. Sundar was determined to keep the new bat for their weekly games. At 6 PM, when Suresh came home, Sundar eagerly rushed to him, expecting the bat. However, to his disappointment, his dad arrived empty-handed. Sundar’s heart sank. Normally, Suresh never denied Sundar's requests. Gayathri brought tea and chips to Suresh, who noticed Sundar’s disappointment. "Are you upset because I didn’t get the bat?" he asked. "No, Dad. There must be a reason," Sundar whispered. Suresh smiled. "Tomorrow, you will get it. Let me explain. When I went to the sports shop, my friend Ramesh called. He asked how I was doing, and I told him I was going to buy a bat for you. He said, 'Don’t buy it! I have a new bat that I bought a few days ago, and I had intended to give it to Sundar. I’ve been so busy I couldn’t come over. But today, when I saw you in the shop, I realized I should bring it for you.'" Suresh continued, "Ramesh’s son, Chander, suggested to buy the bat. Chander’s a national-level basketball player and he’s a good friend of yours. He even told me that he’s coming over tomorrow for his son's upanayanam ceremony. Chander and you are good friends, and both of you are excellent in studies. I thought it would be the perfect time for you two to meet again after a few months." Sundar smiled, now understanding the situation. On one hand, he was thrilled about the bat arriving tomorrow, but on the other hand, he was excited to meet his friend Chander again after so long. He had missed his friend, who had been away for tournaments. The bat was just the excuse he needed to reunite with his buddy. Sundar nodded and felt the excitement build up for tomorrow. The cricket bat and the reunion with his friend Chander were both things to look forward to. K.Ragavan 16-3-25