I was becoming famous through my cricketing skills. I had been focused and very astute in gauging the shots. The selectors for the trophy match picked me up with four other players. It was a dream come true for me to travel to the iconic place where the Indian cricketing sensation had started his career. The travel from Pune to Mumbai was not far. The entire cricketing team, all of us five players from the Pune Koregoan Gymkhana were paired with seven other players from the Pune Hinjewadi Gymkhana to play against the Mumbai Gymkhana players in the open maidan. Irony of this is that we were all playing U19 (under nineteen) and were selected because we were all 18+. We all on the team were on our last leg merely 3 to 6 months away from losing our last chance to play under this category to make the progress to the next level. Our parents had invested, or for the ones who understood, had vested interest in all of us. Few of the parents wanted to be present along with their young men to see with their own eyes, the last match and hoping to cheer them into mesmerizing and memorable performance on this epic last match under this category.
The first day was quite exciting. The opposition team put up a big score at a fall of just two wickets. The odds were against us. When our side started, we lost two wickets in the first over. It was quite a tense moment for us and our parents who were praying for their offspring to perform so that the team can win. My parents had a lot of hope that I would be able to perform, and they were not wrong even though they were not present to see me perform. When I went out, two down, I gave a hard time to the bowlers. Fielders had no work because I was placing shots which cleanly reached boundaries. Some reached with two bounces whereas few went directly off boundary without a bounce. Soon, I caught up on the score and we won the match with at least three overs to spare. I was awarded the man of the match award in the evening.
In the after party at the hotel nearby, I had been sober because I was not going to allow the victory to build me an ego. The other players from my team had a good time with their spirits high and their minds higher with the spirits they piled on. One of the players from my gymkhana had to be rushed to the toilet. Not that he could not hold onto his piss, but he was not able to hold his drinks. I helped him reduce the amount of alcohol from his system. Well, he did most of the vomiting. I was just there to support him. When he took a break, I could see that he had nearly lost his senses. He was intoxicated and could not walk. I think his body would have sent the signal and he ignored. While the body helped throw out most of what he drank later but what his body had processed had resulted in stupor.
I asked him which room number he was put up in. He mumbled, "502."
I said, "Ok buddy. I am going to take you to your room and drop you. Are your parents with you?"
He said, "Yes, but don't tell them about my state."
I would not have to. Considering the way, he was walking even with my support, there was nothing to be said. I took the lift to the fifth floor and knocked on the room "502". A woman opened the door, and she was shocked to see me holding onto nearly unconscious friend. I too was surprised because she looked way too high class. She was in her silky nightgown which was bright red, and I could see that she had not changed her posture to hide anything. She said,
"You are Mayur! The man of the match. I was very impressed by your performance."
I was delighted to hear my praise. While I had no ego about my performance, but surely, if anyone praised me for my act, I used to feel flattered. I indicated to my new friend and said,
"Mam, your son seems to have passed out. Don't be hard on him."
She looked at him and said,
"Please don't get him in the room. His room is "205", I guess. Can you drop him there and come to my room?"
Well, I was confused as to what was being requested. I asked, "Mam, you are saying I should not get your son to your room, and you are guessing his room is 205?"
She looked seductively and said, "I don't want anyone to see him in this state. I am expecting my family member to meet me tonight, and I would not want this loser to be seen in this state. I am guessing his room because he is not staying in this room."
I had no way to confirm the room number with the passed-out friend. I called up the coach and asked,
"Sir, what is the room number for the guy whom I am helping? He has passed out and the room number he mentioned was for his parents and they don't seem to know his room number."
My coach replied,
"All players have been given rooms on the second floor. So, his room number will be 205. I don't know the room number for his parents. I am supposed to take care of you players and not your parents. Please don't disturb any of the parents."
I nodded on the phone while still holding onto my friend. I profusely apologized to the woman and said, "I am sorry, I should have called the coach. But aren't you worried for your son?"