The Revenge Game Begins.

Mangalore City

Karnataka State

India

“No, son. I cannot permit this!”

Rakesh Kumar was beside himself. Even after all his efforts, his son, Lokesh Kumar, was once again neglecting his academics and wasting his time playing basketball. He’d put in lakhs (1) of rupees into Lokesh’s education to make him a successful engineer, but the boy had decided to defy him and potentially, bring shame on his family.

“You said you went to Mangalore for a tournament. What about your academics? You’re missing your classes back in Mysore!”

“Don’t worry, dad. They’ll teach those classes again specially for us. Even if they don’t, it’s all available on YouTube!” explained Lokesh.

“YouTube?” said Rakesh Kumar angrily. “I won’t tolerate this nonsense anymore! I’ll tell you, one last time, to leave that worthless tournament right now and catch the next bus back to Mysore. Start attending your classes regularly! Or else you’ll end up on the streets!”

“Dad,” said Lokesh pleadingly. “This is the finals of the state level tournament! If we win, we’re off to the nationals!”

“Nationals?” thundered Rakesh. “Where is this going to be held?”

“New Delhi, dad.”

“New Delhi?” Rakesh was incredulous. “So you’ll leave the state, go way up north, and waste your time on a profitless, fruitless, and impractical venture that won’t even earn you one square meal a day?”

“Hello, Lokesh?” it was his mom, Sujata Kumar. “Lokesh, son, listen to me. Listen to your father. Please go back to college! You’re ruining your future!”

“Mom, please listen. This could add value to my resume! I could get a scholarship somewhere! This would contribute to my future!”

“Lokesh, I don’t know how to convince you-“

Sujata Kumar’s voice broke as she started to cry.

“Mom. Mom. Please don’t cry!”

“See what you’ve done?” It was his father again. “You made your mother cry! I cannot bear you anymore! Have you no shame? Have you no sense? It’s useless to talk to you. You’re destined to fail. Looks like everyone was right about you! I raised my biggest enemy in my own house with my own hands!”

Lokesh was shaking. “Dad, please don’t say that-“

“You’re no son of mine!” yelled Rakesh. “Get lost! Go to hell!”

With that, he hung up the call.

Lokesh’s lip quivered as he felt the urge to cry. He held his face in his massive hands, trying to stop the tears.

“What happened, CB?”

Lokesh jumped. Ashish Mehra, alias Ash, was standing behind him, looking concerned.

“It’s my parents, man. They’re horrified I’m here! Even after every game we won and after every news article about me!”

“Just calm down, CB,” said Ash soothingly. “Typical Indian parents! Just try and win this tournament. We’ll be state champions! We’ll probably get paid!”

“Yeah, I guess.” Lokesh wiped his tears.

“And don’t get emotional in front of the team. I mean, I’m your classmate. I know that you’re still human. But those guys worship you like a god! So don’t take a fall of grace from heaven, Lord CB!”

“They don’t worship me,” smiled Lokesh faintly. “And stop calling me CB! It’s getting old!”

Ash grinned. “You’re CB for life, man! Let’s go play!”

He got up, opened the door of the hotel room, and turned back.

“Those guys worship you like crazy man! How haven’t you noticed?”

*

State College of Engineering’s (SCE) boys’ basketball team reached the arena. This was the state tournament finals.

SCE, Mysore v/s Karnataka University of Applied Sciences, Mangalore

Lokesh noticed the amount of media presence there and smiled. SCE was a small-time engineering college. They weren’t really known for anything. The academics there were average and the sports program was subpar, almost non-existent.

But, the miracle basketball team had defied the odds and shocked the state, toppling powerful teams and eliminating some of the heavy favorites to win the tournament. They’d gathered so much attention in the process, every local newspaper and news channel was there.

The team went to their locker room and started to change. Lokesh paid a visit to the restroom to wash his face. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Someone else was using the sink. Someone very familiar…

The other boy wiped his face and looked up at him “Lokesh Kumar? Joker of all Trades?”

“Anuj Varma,” said Lokesh.

Anuj laughed. “So this is where we meet! Me, a winner in all aspects! From St Mary Ann’s to Karnataka University of Applied Sciences! Best rookie on their basketball team! You, still a loser. SCE Mysore, really? Even that other loser you hung out with in school, Karan Singh. He joined an IIT and has his own start-up company in his very first year! Meanwhile you, SCE Mysore?”

He howled with laughter.

Lokesh smiled. He didn’t want to snap and throw a punch at Anuj and risk disqualification.

“Do you hear yourself?”

Anuj and Lokesh both turned around. Ash stood at the door, staring down Anuj.

“Winner in all aspects? Don’t make me laugh! You got till here hanging on the coattails of your extremely powerful team! This guy? He’s led a small-time college’s team to the state finals! He’s beaten all the powerhouse colleges in the state, and you’re next! So, don’t act all high and mighty!”

“Hanging on the coattails?” said Anuj angrily, advancing towards Ash.

Lokesh intervened. “Let’s settle this on the court, Anuj.”

Anuj stopped, staring at Lokesh. “I guess we shall,” he said menacingly, storming out of the restroom.

“Who was that guy?” asked Ash.

“One of my many bullies in high school,” said Lokesh. He went to the sink and splashed some water on his face.

“Karan got into an IIT, and has his own start-up? I’m so happy for the guy!”

*

The players assembled on the court, ready to play. On the sidelines, many reporters jotted down notes for their respective media companies.

“Ready to go, CB?” asked Ash.

“Yeah, all ready,” said Lokesh.

“CB? What’s CB?”

Ash and Lokesh turned around to find Anuj behind them, listening in.

“CB is for Cement and Bricks, his nickname,” said Ash.

“Hey! Ash!” said Lokesh angrily.

“He was probably given that nickname because he shoots more bricks (2) than buckets! What a sad loser!” said Anuj.

The referee arrived with the ball, ready to start the game.

Lokesh turned to Anuj and grinned. “We’ll see who’s shooting bricks and who’s shooting buckets in some time!”

The referee tossed the ball up, and Lokesh and Anuj jumped up for the tip-off.

Lokesh’s revenge game against Anuj had finally begun.

Endnotes

1. Lakhs. One lakh is equal to about a hundred thousand. (1,00,000 is one lakh in India. 100,000 is the same value elsewhere)

2. Bricks: Basketball slang or basketball lingo for when a very poor shot attempt hits only the rim or the backboard and does not go in the net. The term refers to the basketball falling from the backboard or rim like a brick, since it was so poorly thrown toward the basket and falls quickly.