Musings of a Mad Mind - 5 cont

Most part of my second and third year of college were spent on the field. If we weren't playing, then we were eating there or just there. We got too attached to our college ground and nothing could stop us from being there.

There have been days when it used to pour and yet the entire team would have assembled there, just so that we could be with each other. Such was our affection towards our ground that we decided to clean up our dirty kit room. I haven't worked that hard even at home. That took alot of effort on our part because that was the filthiest place in college and in less than two days, that room became our home. We had pillows, cushions and even a picture of "pillaiyar" hung there. Thats how much we revered the room and it was all worth it. It helped us spend more time in the vicinity of the ground without having to wonder, when our lecturers would go by without having to pass some unwanted comments.

At college if we were a sportsperson then permission to legally stay out of class was granted to us, with just a signature from our PD in a notebook we maintained. No questions asked by anyone from the department we studied in, if the notebook had the required signatures. There are many who misused this and often were not present at class nor at the ground. But we as cricket players didnt belong to that group. Anyone could be certain to find us at the ground even if it was pouring cats and dogs.

That gave both the teachers in the sports department and the mathematics department, to which i belonged, that I was trustworthy enough for a post in college, namely, Sports secretary.

I would however like to mention that I dont think i was the natural and first choice. Urmi was made sports secretary of the day college while there were quite a few names under discussion for the evening college.

But this time it was the turn of lecturers to make use of Urmi's and my frieindship. I guess it occured to them that we both would do well if we worked together and trust me, neither of us let their belief down. That was amply identified when we coordinated the sports day events successfully both when we were in our second as well as third year of college. Till date, it is discussed that we were the two best to be handed that esteemed post because, Ethiraj then was THE best college for sports for women.

Urmi and myself were awarded for our efforts both on the field and off the field contributions for sporting acheivements and that was certainly a moment of pride for us and one that we will cherish forever.