All the kids were making lot of noise. Of course it
would be wrong to say that everyone was making noise.
Sachin, who was sitting on the first bench, was very
quiet as usual. Only 2 minutes were left for sir to
arrive.
At sharp 9, John sir enters the class. Everyone take
his place.
“Good morning everybody”, Sir said.
“Good morning Sir”, everyone said. Every one except
Harbhajan. He was still learning English.
“Sat Sri Akaal Sirji”. No need to tell who said this.
“Ok, today we are going to learn about team spirit”,
Sir said.
“What is timspi rit”. Well, it was Harbhajan again!
Sir many times felt that he should have completed his
English classes before joining this course. In fact
some times he felt like joining Punjabi classes, so
that he could communicate with Bhaji!!
“Beta, it is not timspi rit. It is Team Spirit” he
said, trying to control his frustration.
“Ok boys, so let’s learn something about team spirit.
Hey, Parthiv, how many times I have told you not to
put your thumb in your mouth. Now you are in big boys.
So act like a big kid. And how will you keep wickets
if you put your thumb in mouth”
Parthiv doesn’t pay any attention.
**
“PARTHIV”, Sir shouts.
“Parthiv, take the thumb out.” Sachin says in his too
gentle voice. Parthiv immediately takes the thumb out
and says - “I will always listen to you. SachinDada,
You are my role model”
Sachin gives a TVS Victor smile.
“Grrrrrr… I am the only DADA in this team! DO YOU
UNDERSTAND?” Sourav dada shouts from the last bench! **
**
“Boys, don’t fight. Today we are going to learn about
team spirit. Harbhajan! Why are you slapping Rahul?”
“Sir, he calls me ‘Sardar’”
“But you are a Sardar, right?”
“Sir, but he says - I can bowl well only at 12
o’clock. And since 12o’clock is lunch time, I will
never bowl well” - Bhaji said very angrily.**
“Rahul, I always thought you were a quiet guy like
Sachin.”
**
“But Sir, he calls me ‘Tortoise’ because I score
slowly.”
“But, they all call u Wall for your perfect defence,
right? And you should be proud of it”
"I was sir. But now I am not, because they sing a song
- ‘Rahul Dravid the Wall, Can’t hit a single ball’"**
“Sourav, you are the captain of the side, you should
make sure that boys don’t fight with each other.”
**
“I tried, but they don’t listen to me. Some of them
still listen to Sachin only.” Sourav said dejectedly.**
“Guys, no more fights. So we are going to learn about
team spirit. Team spirit is - playing for the team and
not for yourself. Can anyone give me one example of
team spirit?”
Everybody remained silent and as usual started looking
down.
**
“Ok, Nehra, give me a good example of team spirit”
“Sir.. I don’t know any. But I know a good example of
lack of team spirit”
“Ok, ok, tell me that.”
“When Sourav comes near his hundred, he forgets the
team’s requirement and plays slowly. That is a good
example of lack of tam spirit”
The whole class laughs.
“Grrrr… In next match Ajit will play in your place.
And you will be the water boy” Roars Sourav.**
“This type of fighting is not good for our team. Anil,
you are a senior member of the side. You should take
care of the boys. ANIL!!! Why are you looking at the
board, look at me.”
Some children say “Dhapanya, Dhapanya”. Everyone
laughs.
“Sir, I forgot my lenses today.”
“So you should always keep your spects with you.”
“But sir, then these people call me ‘Dhapanya’. Now I
wear lenses, so I am not Dhapanya right?”
“Is it? Then why do you call me ‘jaadya’ even though I
have lost my weight” Said angry Dinesh Mongia.
Now Ajit joins the fight. " And you call me ‘Diwali
Dasara’ because I give too many runs"
Dinesh defends himself, “I said that because you
called me ‘Navajyot Singh Sidhhu’ when I said
something without thinking.”
“Enough of this!!” Said frustrated John Right. “Guys,
one thing we have learned today and that is - there is
no team spirit in our side. **By the way, no matter what
happens, you should not call anyone ‘Navajyot Singh
Siddhu’. That hurts. ** Now we have learned what team
spirit is not. Let us now see what team spirit is?”
“Sir I have a shooting for TVS Victor” Sachin said.
“And I have to go for Coca Cola” - Said Sehwag.
“Hero Honda for me” Sourav.
"Jam jam Jammy " said Rahul.
One by one every one left the classroom.
Only sir and Parthiv Patel were left. Parthiv was
waiting for his mom to pick him up. He still has his
thumb in his mouth. Sir has anyway given up on this
side. “Parthiv, I am going to teacher’s room. Don’t go
anywhere. Your mom will come in few minutes. And don’t
forget to take your water bag home.”
Dejected sir went to the teachers’ room, called the
peon and told him to bring a VRS form!!!
