Sunday topic

#தீராத_விளையாட்டுப்_பிள்ளை

   # sports and games.

               Whichever house we lived in as children we had a mandatory court where we would play shuttlecock or Tennikoit. This was in addition to the games we played with our neighbourhood children. Since we lived in army leased houses we were lucky to have a lot of space . 

                When Appa ( it was actually Amma) built our Ashok Nagar house the first thing we did was lay out  a court. 

                 Inbetween for a year or so we were in Bikaner . House on about 8 to 10 grounds of land. Yes we could lay any number of courts we wanted. The sad reality was that we had no neighbours with children . We were in the Contonment  area far outside the city and all our classmates were inside . Most of them lived in palaces. 

                 Then there was excitement in the air. The 18th Sikh regiment ( to which Appa belonged )  was to have their annual sporting events. Already with the Asian Games in Dec 66  our imagination was  fired up. Here in close quarters we were witnessing its replica.  

                  Each one of us  four had a favourite company . We would root for it. Never miss a chance to cheer . Our talk at home was all about Alpha company this or Charlie company that. Yes on the lines of  our IPL teams and it’s stars. 

             Games and Barra Khana  are over , but our holidays are not over yet.

              Then our leader that is our eldest brother has a brain wave. We get all sporting equipments on loan from the army sports depot.  Okay those team games are not possible since we are just four.  Yes we have badminton and tennikoit , only singles. 

                We have javelins, discus and shotput. We compete with each other. 

Tracks for running events are laid and we have 50 , 100 and 200 metres. Some stools and chairs and we have an obstacle race. 😁

                  We have got boxing gloves. The  ground is sandy desert soil , so a boxing pit is marked out . Here Amma puts her foot down . No girls cannot box!! See you have lost a Mary Kom from the South with this discrimination. 

                    Games and sports over and here is the prize distribution ceremony. Audience of 1 , the orderly’s young son. Chief guest is the players ‘mother. Most prizes are won by our elder brother . Only paper certificates. No gifts that I can remember. 

                    The chief guest then doubles up as the caterer and we all have high tea along with the Haldiram snacks that Bikaner is famous for.