"That's it, Jaidutt! Smash it over!" The supporters of Arjuna House were roaring. And why not? The Arjuna team needed just 2 more to win off the last over and Jaidutt was well-placed on 42. As the captain of Krishna House handed over the ball to me, all I could think of was Azhar giving the ball to Sachin for the last over of the Hero Cup semi-finals. Only, as the reader would notice, there were two subtle points of difference: first, in that match, South Africa needed 6 runs to win off that over whereas here, Arjuna House needed 2. Second, and more importantly, I was nowhere within miles of Tendulkar in my bowling technique and versatility.

The over started. My plus point had always been sticking to a good line. I did just that for the first two balls and pitched in beautiful yorkers. The chants for Arjuna intensified as Jaidutt prepared to face the third ball. This one shot in like a rocket and he just put his bat out in front. Ordinarily, it would have sailed over the bowler's head. But not quite so ordinarily, I was a bowler who could jump pretty well and pretty quickly. I got a caught and bowled.

Jaidutt        c&b     Rishi        42

There were groans from the Arjuna camp. Their last good batsman was gone. But still, only 2 runs were needed. My house supporters grew hopeful. This was the beginning of the Arjuna tail. Rahul was the new man in. By virtue of being his classmate, I knew that he had weak nerves. Comfortably, I bowled another dot ball. Possibly I got complacent now, because the fifth ball I pitched outside the off-stump. Rahul lashed out at it and struck well. But there was Ashish at the covers. Ashish was one, who we believed, had the hands of God.

Rahul        c Ashish     b Rishi        0

Now the Krishna house supporters erupted with joy. One ball to go and 2 runs needed. The last ball went right through the batsman, Vishal.

Krishna House had won. And I was the hero.

She came upto me just after the match. I knew that her name was Nidhi and that she was from Karna House. But I never had the courage to go to her anytime. I was dead scared that she would have some boyfriend who would set his henchmen after me. And beautiful girls like her are rarely without boyfriends. But, boy! This was a miracle! She flashed a smile at me, "Great over, Rishi! Congrats!" "Thanks! Care to have a cool-drink?" I asked. I obviously needed some to cool my head and to stop the pounding in the left side of my chest. We talked for about 15 minutes (I cursed myself for not being able to sip my two cool-drinks slower). On reaching home, I was first stopped by my brother. He asked, "Dada, what happened?" "Cool match. Arjuna needed 2 runs to win off the last over. I bowled. Bowled a maiden over," I was smiling. But not for the reason he thought I was.

Life was nothing short of terrific from then on. I was good in academics. So it was only too easy for me to help her out with her studies. And she made it a point to accompany me for my net sessions. As for me, I played my part very well. I responded positively to all that she did and found that I couldn't have asked for more. I found her amazing - so graceful, so elegant - what not?

It was 7th February - just about seven months since that fateful cricket match where I had bowled a beautiful maiden over. But, in cricketing jargon, this maiden had me stumped, caught at silly point, run out of good phrases to describe her and anything else you can think of. That day, after class, she asked me how I would propose to her (which she knew I would) on Valentine's day. I came out with what struck me first: "I'll go down on my knees and offer you a screwdriver ..." She looked at me awkwardly. "... And then I'll say, `I am all nuts about you. Please fix me up!'" She burst out laughing. I offered her a ride home. With both of us in very high spirits, we started off.

The rest of my story is better left untouched. Witnesses said that the truck hit her so hard that it was impossible for her to survive even for a few minutes after the collision. And I - the person responsible for her being with me - was relatively unharmed.

---

"That's it, Jaidutt! Smash it over!" The supporters of Arjuna House were roaring. And why not? The Arjuna team needed just 2 more to win off the last over and Jaidutt was well-placed on 42. As the captain of Krishna House handed over the ball to me, all I could think of was Azhar giving the ball to Sachin for the last over of the Hero Cup semi-finals. Only, as the reader would notice, there were two subtle points of difference : first, in that match, South Africa needed 6 runs to win off that over whereas here, Arjuna House needed 2. Second, and more importantly, I was nowhere within miles of Tendulkar in my bowling technique and versatility.

There was a third point which you wouldn't know unless I told you. I was bowling with my left hand - my right arm, originally my bowling arm, had been smashed beyond repair in that accident.

And I needed to bowl a maiden over.