A Freed Soul

Bangalore City

Karnataka State

India

After the euphoric win at the national tournament, the team said their goodbyes and went home to celebrate with their families. But deep down, Lokesh Kumar knew that the reunion with his parents was going to be anything but happy.

He’d made a decision.

And his parents weren’t going to like it.

The American man he’d met at the finals game in New Delhi had given him a business card and asked Lokesh to call him. It was only after Lokesh contacted the man that he realized, with a thrill of joy, that the man was Marcello Rodriguez, the General Manager of an NBA team. It wasn’t just any NBA team, however. It was the team that Lokesh’s idol, NBA legend Terry Parker had played for.

He’d just happened to run into the GM of the Houston Spacewalkers.

And Mr. Rodriguez had offered him the opportunity he’d always dreamt of. A place on the Houston Spacewalkers’ roster. He’d been offered an opportunity to play in the NBA.

But, to be eligible for the opportunity of a lifetime, Lokesh would have to make some hard decisions. He would have to procure certain certifications. He would have to beg some people for favors.

Lokesh was okay with all this, however. It was only one thing that was eating his brain. The hardest thing he would have to do.

He would have to drop out of college.

*

“So,” said Lokesh’s father, Rakesh Kumar.

“You voluntarily disobeyed my clear orders, ran off to Delhi, and wasted two weeks of precious college classes.”

“Dad…” started Lokesh.

“You made your mother cry,” Rakesh continued angrily. “You neglected your academics. You made a laughing stock of our family. You made me look like an idiot in front of my friends.”

“I didn’t…”

“I told you,” Rakesh’s voice quaked and cracked as he balled his fists. “I told you to forget about basketball. I told you that only studies will earn you a right to exist in this world. Instead, you’ve double-crossed me again, and again, and again.”

“But…”

“WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS USELESS! IT’S WORTHLESS! IT’S POINTLESS! IT’LL NEVER GET YOU ANYWHERE! WHY DO YOU EVEN DARE TO IMAGINE THAT YOU’LL GET SOMEWHERE? YOU WON’T! YOU WON’T! YOU’LL END UP ON THE STREETS AND DRAG US WITH YOU!”

“I won’t…”

“WHAT GREVIOUS CRIME DID I COMMIT IN A PREVIOUS LIFE TO HAVE A SON LIKE YOU?” howled Rakesh, now in tears. He started hitting himself in the head hard, screaming. “OH GOD! KILL ME! KILL ME! KILL ME!”

Lokesh stepped forward and held his father’s hands tightly in order to stop the man from hitting himself further. He knew that no matter how much his father would disapprove, he needed to tell him. His grip on his father’s hands was firm, as was his resolve.

“Dad, be patient and listen to me.”

Rakesh stopped struggling and looked up at his son. He immediately felt that something was off. But, he felt the burning resolve of the boy. He started to wonder how the docile kid of his had transformed into the firm, stoic young man in front of him.

“I met someone, dad.”

“Who?”

Lokesh breathed. “He’s the GM of an NBA team, you know, the Houston Spacewalkers.”

“So?”

“He really likes my game and my skills,” said Lokesh. “He made me an offer. He wants me at the NBA draft combine (1) in a month!”

“NBA?” Rakesh was incredulous. “Draft combine? Where’s that?”

“Chicago, dad.”

“Chicago?”

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime, dad. If I make the NBA, I’ll be making at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars an year!”

“What if you don’t?”

“Trust me, dad. I will.”

“So what now? What about college? What about studies? What about engineering?”

“That, dad,” said Lokesh slowly. He steadied himself and spoke. “I’m quitting. I’m dropping out.”

*

A sprinkle of water woke Rakesh Kumar up again. His wife, Sujata, and his son Lokesh stared at him worriedly. He realized that he had just swooned and fallen unconscious. He dug deeper into his memory to find out why. Suddenly, it hit him.

His son had decided to quit his studies.

“Quitting?”

“Yes, dad. I cannot pass up this opportunity.”

THWACK.

Rakesh had lunged at his son and slapped him in the face. Lokesh staggered backwards due to the impact. Rakesh breathed in furiously as he raised his hand to hit his son again.

“Quitting?” he said again.

THWACK.

He’d hit Lokesh again. Only this time, Lokesh didn’t fall backwards. He didn’t even try to defend himself. He just stood there like a great oak, facing his father.

“YOU’RE QUITTING NOW!?” Rakesh yelled again. “YOU’LL NEVER BUILD A STABLE CAREER!”

He lunged at Lokesh and slapped him again.

“WHAT ABOUT YOUR STUDIES? WHAT ABOUT YOUR FUTURE? WHAT ABOUT YOUR SELF-RESPECT?” he screamed, slapping Lokesh thrice.

It was then that Lokesh looked his father dead in the eye and spoke. “I have no future in academics, dad. About my future, a golden gateway has just opened up. It beckons me in. And about my self-respect, it was never connected to studies. It was never connected to ranks and grades. It was only ever connected to the basketball court!”

He went closer to his father, embraced him, and said. “I don’t intend to be a useless son who’ll live off your money for the rest of my life. I do intend to make something of myself! Don’t you see dad? That future you spoke about, it’s inviting me to hold its hand! Even if I fail in the NBA, there are dozens of leagues around the world that would want me! But I can feel it, dad. That stable career you spoke of, it’s awaiting me in the NBA! I want to convince you about that, dad. I’ve worked long and hard for this! I can bring glory to not just you two, but to my entire country!”

“What do you want from us, son?” asked Sujata Kumar, Lokesh’s mom.

Lokesh looked at her and smiled. “Just your blessings.”

“Please say yes!”

*

Rakesh Kumar turned his head away from his son and walked away into Lokesh’s old bedroom. There was about five minutes of uncomfortable silence as Lokesh’s mom wept bitterly. But Lokesh stood there with his resolve burning. He would take ten, nay, even a hundred more slaps from his father. As many as it took for the man to let him embark on his basketball quest.

Rakesh finally walked out of the room carrying a big duffel bag with him, which he threw onto the floor in front of Lokesh.

“Pick that thing up,” he ordered.

Lokesh obeyed.

“Get out,” he thundered. “Get out of my house.”

Sujata started crying again, this time louder.

Lokesh hung his head and started to walk out. His brain and heart were now a torrent of emotions. A tear ran down his swollen cheeks.

“Listen to me,” said Rakesh.

Lokesh turned back to look at his father.

“Get out of my house, and don’t come back!”

Lokesh hung his head even lower. “Yes dad.”

“Don’t step foot into my house again,” he breathed. “Until you’ve won the NBA Championship!”

It was as though the heavens had opened up and their divine light illuminated the Kumar household. Sujata burst into tears of joy and relief. Lokesh looked up at his dad again with a wondrous face.

“You heard me,” said Rakesh. “Don’t return until you’re a champion!”

Lokesh advanced towards his father. First slowly, then quickly, until he reached him and hugged him tightly. Sujata almost laughed out loud as she saw the father and son finally on the same page after nineteen years of knowing one another. Lokesh then walked out of the front door without another word.

“Dear?” asked Sujata. “Why did you give such an extreme ultimatum to the boy?”

Rakesh sat on the couch, wiping his tears. He then looked at his wife.

“I’ve always been hard on the boy, Sujata. Just because I understand him now doesn’t mean I’m going to start acting like a lovey, soft, father. If I did do that, I would look fake!”

He wiped another tear.

“No, I’m going to continue to be hard on him. Let him play his favorite sport! Let him become a superstar! I’m still going to drive him as hard as I’ve always driven him!”

What Rakesh and Sujata did not know, however, was that their son, now walking away from his old prison and towards his dream, was smiling through his swollen face. The pain didn’t even bother him anymore. For the first time, Lokesh Kumar felt free. He felt free from the cage and shackles that had bound him. He now knew that the only thing standing in between he and his dream was himself. He muttered a grateful prayer to the almighty.

Lokesh’s parents watched him leave. They too, felt relieved and absolved of all guilt. “Remember one thing, son,” said Sujata. “If you want something, put in ninety percent of the work yourself. The rest, the almighty will provide!”

The revolution had begun.

Endnotes

1. NBA Draft Combine: The NBA Draft Combine is a multi-day showcase that takes place every May before the annual June NBA draft. At the combine, college basketball players are measured and take medical tests, are interviewed, perform various athletic tests and shooting drills, and play in five-on-five drills for an audience of NBA coaches, general managers, and scouts. Athletes attend by invitation only. An athlete's performance during the combine can affect perception, draft status, salary, and ultimately the player's career.