What could have been?

"Welcome everyone to the Qatar 2022 World Cup—…"

"Bache turn the volume down your grandmother is asleep", my grandfather said as the volume of the TV blasted our ears as I unmuted it due to the ads.

"Hnji", I muttered in agreement as I picked up the plastic wrapped remote. Thinking to myself that we have had this same remote for 10 years straight yet it still looks knew.

It's the 2022 World Cup. Football not cricket I reminded myself, the cricket World Cup is nearing as well but that's not on the agenda today.

"If I remember correctly France are the defending champions aren't they?", I was broken out of my musings by my grandfather's question.

"hmm, no… I mean yes, yes they are.", to be fair to me I only clocked the word 'defending' and my first thought was wrestling but then I thought why would France be wrestling and then I understood the question. Damn I'm feeling sleepy and excited. My brain has turned into Harry Maguire.

"We should have watched the semi and quarter finals as well, rascal boy I told you to activate the sports channel.", well technically you didn't and I forgot so, I guess we both share the blame on that.

"Eh, no biggie, we watched all of the highlights. Besides you would get your blood pressure high if the horse of your choosing lost, like Ronaldo going home crying.", in our house the only sports we watch with regularity is Cricket, Football, Hockey, the Olympics and Wrestling. But in the last couple of years things haven't been going splendid and we've fallen out of watching sports as whole.

"*click* It's all about destiny my dear. I have watched people of great talent fall and never reach their potential all my life. He's like Tendulkar while Messi is shaping up to be like M.S. Dhoni.", ah, that again, the age old statement. It's destiny, it always pisses me off but I can't argue against it. Because I've seen such things happen repeatedly in my life as well.

"That's too harsh, don't you think… I mean Ronaldo has accomplished a lot in the clubs and—",

"Clubs don't mean shit. It's the country that matters. It's hilarious seeing the youth today fight over players who haven't won World Cups and call them greats. In my time winning a World Cup was a prerequisite to even be considered worthy enough to be talked about them being greats. That boy M'baape is 24 and has already won a World Cup and he'll go on to win more.", to be honest, I agree with him completely. To be a World Champion is a greater achievement than winning a Premier League, the average population doesn't care about what club you play for. It's like that annoying question that casual anime watchers ask, 'CaN hE BeAt GoKU tHo?!?'.

"Still it is Argentina that's our horse in this race.", I replied as the 20'th minute passed.

"Oye!", I exclaimed as Messi was tackled to the ground.

"Penalty", granddad shouted, his old eyes twinkling with excitement, in that moment it seemed that he became younger.

Well for a moment at least, as soon his loud voice woke my grandmother up and she came running from the next room, "What's with this ruckus, pipe down!"

"Moti, come sit Messi is taking the penalty.", and so she did, her anger, half-hearted was quelled. It should be noted that since bursting in the room, she hadn't taken her eyes off the T.V.

"Arjun did you know your daddi used to listen to all the matches on radio. Even I didn't follow football as much as her.", well that came as a surprise I never knew she was such a fan.

It was with great elation that we watched Messi finally win the World Cup. Maradona would be proud. This World Cup has got to be the best one so far.

As we were watching the award ceremony and I was recording it so I can put it on my Instagram story, my grandmother asked me something,"What became of Messi's brother?"

"What brother?", I was confused, had my grandmother finally gone senile? But then I remembered a name, "Bojan Krkik? You mean his cousin?"

"Yes the Spanish boy. What became of him?", well that certainly brought back memories, Bojan Krkik, the next Messi. Funny, Messi himself was just gaining traction and the next Messi was already here. Damn man, what became of? He was all the hype back in the day.

"He crumbled under the weight of the world's expectations.", with a sad sigh my grandfather answered the question while I was reminiscing.

"If destiny is on your side, even a rat is an elephant.", grandma sighed as well. If my memory serves, I remember Bojan speaking about him having crippling anxiety and his subsequent fall, not mention his injury. Truly such a shame.

"It the duty of a man to act, whether he is rewarded for that act or not, is God's will. Let's not focus on things out ones control.", I replied as I watched Messi pick up the World Cup.

"Very true. Now let's sleep, I have to go to work in the morning as well.", and with that statement, I switched off the television and went to lay in my bed. However, sleep eluded me, maybe it was because of match. My heart certainly hadn't settled down, since that nerve wracking penalty shootout.

So in my sleepless stupor, my thoughts wandered back to the G.O.A.T. that could have been. Bojan. Comparisons are truly a bitch, he was just a kid and he was pressure too much. Too many talents have been squashed under the weight of expectations.

"It is what it is.", I whispered to myself. Who knows maybe, in an alternate universe he tore past his anxieties and lived up to his potential. He joined Barcelona, with Neymar, Messi, and Ronaldinho completely stomping the competition.

With those thoughts I fell asleep, never knowing that when I opened my eyes again, I would be in a place far away and a time not my own.