Chapter 15：Some Cricket Tips

'You want to see bats?' I asked from the cash counter.

The boys shook their heads.

Ish turned to me and signalled silence.

'Happy birthday, Harsh. You bowler or batsman?' Ish said.

Harsh looked up at Ishaan. A grown-up man asking an eleven-year-old if he was a bowler or batsman was a huge honour. It meant he was now old enough to be specialised, even though he may not have thought about it.

'Er, I am more of a batsman,' Harsh said.

'Defensive or attack?' Ish asked as if he was interviewing Tendulkar(1) on ESPN.

'Huh?' Harsh said.

'You like shots?' Ish asked. Which kid didn't? Harsh nodded.

'Show me your stance,' Ish said. He turned to me and asked for a bat, I went to the stack of willow bats. I had bought them directly from a Kashmiri(2) supplier in Law Garden. I picked the right size for the boy. Size six and two hundred bucks. Not top of the line, of course, but the best we could hope to sell here.

Harsh took a stance on the empty space in front of the shop. Like every kid, he leaned his entire weight on the bat while standing. Ish moved over and gently straightened Harsh's back. He moved his wrist upwards, and told him to balance the weight evenly on the legs.

'And now, whenever you attack, use the front leg to move forward but do not forget the back leg. That is your support, your anchor. Notice Tendulkar(1), he keeps one leg fixed.'

An awestruck Harsh air-struck a few strikes.

'Give me some tips, too,' the younger one whined.

'First me, Chinu,' Harsh said.

Ish turned to Chinu. 'What are you, Chinu?' 'All-rounder,' Chinu said promptly.

Their parents finally found our shop. It was time to go to the temple.

'Mummy, I want the ball,' Chinu said. 'How much?' his mother said. 'Six rupees,' Ish said.

She took out a twenty-rupee note and asked me to give two. 'I want the bat, mummy,' Harsh said.

'You already have a bat.'

'This one is better for my stance, mummy. Please.' Harsh took a stance again.

He had improved with the lesson but his mother ignored him.

'How much is this?' she said.

'Two hundred rupees,' I said.

'Too expensive. No Harsh, we are not getting a bat.' 'My birthday present, mummy, please.' Harsh cajoled.

'Yes but beta(3), why buy something from this temple shop. Old city doesn't have good quality. We will go to the Navrangpura market.'

'It is excellent quality, aunty. We source from Kashmiri suppliers. Take my word,' Ish said.

'Aunty' eyed us with suspicion.

'I was the team captain for all municipal schools in the area, aunty. I have personally chosen the bats,' Ish said with as much heart as Omi's dad said his prayers.

'Please, mummy,' Harsh said and tugged at her saree. The tug connected to aunty's purse, which opened and brought out two hundred-rupee notes.

Done. We had closed the deal of the day. The bat cost us a hundred and sixty, so forty bucks profit, I exclaimed mentally.

'Goodbye, champ.' Ish waved to Harsh.

'I'll come to your shop on my happy birthday,' Chinu said.

'Yes! You are amazing, Ish,' I said and hi-fived everyone.

'The kid is a quick learner. If he practices, he will be good. Of course, his mother will stuff him with studies the moment he reaches Class X. The only stance he will take is to sit on a desk with his books,' Ish said.

'Don't be depressing, man,' I said. 'We made forty bucks on the bat and four on the two balls. We are forty-four bucks in profit, sir.'

We sold some candy and two more balls in the next two hours. Our total profit for the day was fifty bucks. We moved the bats and the ball baskets inside and closed shop at 7.00 p.m., after the puja(4). To celebrate our opening we chose the chana-bhatura stall. At four bucks a plate, I could expense it to the business.

'Do I get to take some money home? I really want to give mom my first salary,' Omi said as he tucked in half a chili with his hot bhatura.

"Wait, this isn't real profit. This is contribution. We earn the rent first and then we will see.' I placed my empty plate back at the stall. 'Congrats guys, we are in business.'