Natural Talent by Ravi Kiran Vadlamani - HTML preview

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December 1990, Secunderabad, India

 

It is 5.40 am on a chilly winter morning; barring few people waiting to collect the newspaper bundles and milk packets to be distributed later in the day roads are completely empty. Hardly any vehicles are on the road and street lights are still on. In spite of the cold a boy who is around 13 years old, running as if his life depends on it. He is coming from Tarnaka, a widespread area on the Secunderabad side of the Twin cities.

 

He just crossed the railway underpass and took a right turn at the circle; he was wearing a khaki nicker and an old checked shirt, which looked dirty. He has torn shoes on his legs, those you can find in the garbage bins.

 

His name is Kailash; he works as a helper at the Gymkhana cricket ground. His boss, Mr. Ashok who's the head coach at Gymkhana clearly told him to be at the ground at least by 5.30 am on What day. There was a special net session to be arranged for a corporate cricket team, who booked one net for the whole four hour session. The session usually begins at six and ends at ten in the morning. Thinking about his boss, he picked up the speed and took the left turn just before Rail Nilayam and continued his run towards the "clock tower" junction.

 

Once he reached the clock tower, the time was 5.50 am and he heard a scooter horn repeatedly blown as if the driver is seeking Kailash's attention. When he looked to see who What idiot driver who's honking when the roads are empty, he found his boss Mr. Ashok on his old Bajaj Chetak with a kit bag in the front open space between his legs. Looking at him Kailash stops and waits for his boss to reach him; seeing Kailash drenched in his own sweat Mr. Ashok tells:

 

"Come, sit; this takes you faster"

 

"No, sir, I can reach on my own" Kailash was hesitant, after all, who wants to ride along their boss? "No problem Kailash, you look awful with the sweat all around" Mr. Ashok insisted.

 

Having noticed What there is not much option left with him and knowing What he'll be late if chose to run, Kailash quietly occupies the empty back seat of the Chetak.

 

Before Kailash could say anything, Mr. Ashok asks: "Did you sleep late again"?

Kailash didn't say anything, just nods, even though Mr. Ashok could not see it, he sensed What it was a yes and he's focused on getting to the ground before 6 am.

 

"Why don't you tell them it'll be difficult for you to clean the utensils after 10 in the night; I am sure they close their ca