Ad-venture
Writing ads is the second best way of making money out of one's writing skills", my curiosity aroused like a rising delivery and I raced through the article to know which was the best one. But to my utter disappointment, I found out that the most lucrative way (written in that satirical piece) for the writers was writing ransom notes.
Not brave enough or -? to rush in where angels fear to tread, I thought it better to go in for the second, which literally was an ad- venture. Writing copy in advertising agencies involves great fun and provides ample opportunity for writers to work at their creative best and you may shine within no time ala Kohli, opined my friends.
Thrilled with the thought of writing something great like" Rahul's envy, Modi's pride", "yeh bill mange more", "yeh haram ka ghapla hai "or "Nothing official abort it, ha ha". I made up my mind to add that elusive feather in my cap which had till now eluded me, and the decision of entering into the Ad-world was certain.
Now began my preparation for the forthcoming "word cup "I would dream of lifting the word cup trophy with my own 'Parker 'I have had the reason to be optimistic, for I had been appreciated for hitting quite a couple of fours and sixes in Urdu couplets and for scoring a few runs in English print media as a freelancer.
As there was little chance of getting the kind of exposure I was looking for at my home ground, Patna, and not affluent enough to cross over to international boundaries, I had to settle with crossing over to regional boundaries in search of fast-bucked pitches. I thus landed in the city of Red Fort and the capital of India, Delhi.
I was quite optimistic that my inclusion into a good team would certainly pitchfork me from obscurity to prominence and the wordsmith and verse smith in me would combine to produce many a symbiotic one liner and two liner, catchy enough to catch all and sundries attention.
Bubbling with confidence I headed for the trials and I was inducted (easier than expected) into a team of good and spirited players. Mine was not a grand debut but being an optimist there was no question of me getting bowled.
And since my inclusion I tried my level best to keep the score board ticking and my strike rate too was not that poor. I may not have reached the expected "Mark "I was no 'Waugh'. Whenever I failed to click I would console myself, 'these things happen yaar, there is no need of getting let down. Everyone has his day.
On one's sunny day any one can go singing Lara-Lappa, when the willow works a player gets Sachin-ated to fascinate every one with his power Play and blitzkrieg. Every player goes through a lean patch.
But my captain would behave more like a chieftain and once he crossed the boundary of decency which left a young man like this humbly crying like a baby. Tears came rolling down my cheeks as runs flow from Kohli's willow.
Dejected I thought it better to call it a day and I tendered my resignation letter, but soon I was politely persuaded to continue and though not in plain terms but he felt sorry for the outburst. Days passed by. But just after a couple of weeks during a meeting he was at his offensive best, a young colleague was at the receiving end.
He was no less than a Douglas Jardine and the young apprentice was certainly no Bradman but I sincerely felt as if it was a 'body line' series and the sole aim of the offender was to hit the guy facing him.
No change of overs but the sides changed and his ire was directed towards me now. I had gauged his mood well by then and decided to end the duel well before his quota of overs could be completed.
I played a defensive stroke to the first short pitched delivery, the second one came up fast and was a bit rising, I had to hurry to save my bails of patience being dislodged.
I expected the next delivery to be a beamer or a yorker and it might have entered right into the block hole of my self respect but thank God nothing of this sort happened. It was known to everybody familiar with my style of play that containing me for a longer period through lethal bowling was difficult. Apprehensive and tense, I was ready to face, come what may.
It wasn't a straight delivery, a short pitched one it was, I handled it in a way that he least expected from me and left him stunned. I still remember his eyeballs widening and eyebrows making an arch. An uneasy calm prevailed. He saw my resignation letter landing on his table.
I didn't even wait for his approval or disapproval. After all he was no third umpire to make a decision whether I was out or not out. I had decided to call it quits. I went onto back foot, exchanged a few pleasantries with my teammates (former by now). We have heard and seen a player from the losing side winning the 'Man of the match'award.
I still feel I was the 'Man of the match. For I might have lost something but gained many things in return. My confidence was restored, integrity retained and the grip tightened. And with these assets, one can protect his bails being dislodged.
By Ghayur Ahmed
