Section 15 No Kiss, Only Bang

There were several sixes to that direction. Coconut trees are now history. One ball post-hit was moving towards the main trunk whose width was not much. Suraj gave a jump in tension. The ball just hit the trunk! The coach went to the bowler and whispered something. Then came a ball, very fast, away from off-stamp, without any bounce - an yorker. Probably it aimed at banging on the wickets, but it missed them. Suraj hit the ball with equal zeal. It went straight with ferocious speed, hitting one of the branches near its origin, bringing out a great sound. The ball fell down straight. Everybody looked to that direction. The tree gave a shiver. The branch broke, hang down for a fraction of a second, then went down to the ground, cut off from the tree.

Everybody looked at Suraj. Suraj felt pity. For once he thought if he would pranam the tree, but he didn't. He went to the coach.

"We should spare the tree."

The coach was waiting for Suraj to build up. Where to hit then? Suraj gave the answer.

"Let's go back to the coconut trees." The coach was eyes only.

Back to the same target. But Suraj had become more zealous. Something was pouring out from his eyes. His body was on fire. His whole being was waiting for the ball to be banged out of the world.