Chapter 50: Gas Tragedy

We're all set for the upcoming ODIs against England! I've been putting in the hard work and training my punches and yorker deliveries, even though they're not perfect, I'm confident I can still use them effectively when the situation calls for it.

But the real standout of my training has been my eagle eye. I can see the entire field placement while playing, and easily identify gaps between fielders. Of course, placing the ball precisely is a different story, and I've always focused on my swing and controlling my shoulders to give me the power I need to punch the ball when necessary.

However, when it comes to executing punch shots, wrist work is essential. And to be honest, my wrist strength hasn't been my strong suit. It's still challenging for me to place the balls against the turn. But, being a teenager, I'm still in the growing phase, and I'm working hard to put on the necessary strength to improve my game.

Besides cricket, I've recently discovered a new passion for cooking. Although I'm not quite ready to create a masterpiece from scratch, I've been experimenting with various Maggi recipes, and the results have been nothing short of amazing!

In fact, my Maggi creations have been such a hit among my teammates that I've been considering taking my culinary skills to the next level. I'm even toying with the idea of opening a franchise based on my unique Maggi recipes. But the question is, will it work?

To be honest, starting a new business venture is always a risk, and there's no guarantee of success. However, if you're passionate about what you do and you believe in your product, anything is possible! Plus, Noodles is a popular item that has a massive following, so I might just have the perfect recipe for success. I might just create a Noodle empire!

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Yesterday, I received a call from Virat Kohli, informing me that my Mother and Grandfather had safely reached Delhi and were staying with them. Naturally, I was over the moon at the prospect of seeing my loved ones, but my excitement was short-lived.

Unfortunately, my coach denied my request to leave the premises, stating that he didn't want anything unexpected to happen before the match, especially since I was part of the playing eleven. As much as I respected his decision, I couldn't help but feel disappointed at the missed opportunity to see my family.

It was the day before the first match and to make matters worse, my family would be in attendance. I knew I had to keep my focus and not let any mishappenings happen, but sometimes shit happens, even to the best of us.

Despite having an optimal body, using it efficiently on the pitch is a whole different ball game, and unfortunately, I messed up big time. Despite the coach's earlier warning, I decided to sneak out of the hotel.

I had already informed Virat of my plan, and he was waiting for me outside the hotel on his bike. I grabbed his helmet and started riding the bike, feeling both nervous and exhilarated at the same time.

I had a sudden craving for Ram's famous Chhole Bhature, which I used to devour as a child living in Rajauri Garden. Now that I was back in the area, I knew I had to have some.

As I shared my plan with Virat Kohli, he gave me a sly smile and warned me about the potential consequences if our coach found out. "You'll get yourself fucked up. What if the coach finds out about this little adventure?" he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

But I wasn't about to let a little fear hold me back. "If I'm not scared, why is your ass leaking water then? Stay quiet," I retorted, my mind set on satisfying my craving.

Kohli was clearly worried about my condition, especially since we had an important match the next day. "Where are we going, though?" he asked.

"Rajouri Garden, Ram's Chhole Bhature," I replied, a wide smile spreading across my face and saliva already starting to pool in my mouth.

But Kohli wasn't convinced. "Bhench*, you have a match tomorrow. This won't work out well," he warned me.

But I was determined. "Fuck off, Bsdk, I've been eating these things all my life. Who knows when I'll get another chance?" I said, brushing off his concerns.

Kohli eventually gave in to my stubbornness and even offered some helpful advice to avoid the traffic police. "Hooof... fuck it. Take a right from the third alley or you'll get taken down by the police there. You remember Rajni, right? Turn in the alley to his home and take the first right there," he said, guiding me through the alleys to sneak past any potential obstacles.

We soon reached our destination and parked our bike before stepping into my favorite Chhole Bhature shop. As the familiar aroma of spices filled my senses, a rush of nostalgia washed over me. The sound of sizzling oil and the sight of fluffy bhature cooking in front of my eyes made my mouth water with anticipation.

Approaching the counter, Kohli ordered two plates of Chhole Bhature. As the dish arrived, I couldn't help but admire the vibrant colors and textures on my plate.

With the first bite, my taste buds exploded with flavors that made me close my eyes and savor the moment. The earthy and slightly tangy taste of the chhole mixed with robust spices created a perfect blend of sweet, salty, and sour flavors. The softness of the bhature combined with the texture of the chhole made each bite a delight to savor.

As I ate, memories flooded my mind, and I couldn't help but reminisce about the times my father and I shared a plate of Chhole Bhature together at this very shop. I remember the way he savored each bite and laughed as we shared stories over the meal.

But as I thought of my father, who had passed away, a wave of emotion hit me. This taste reminded me of him, and I could feel his presence with me in this moment. I remembered his love for this dish and his appreciation of the flavors and spices that made it so special.

As my eyes moistened, Kohli noticed and nudged me. "What happened? Did the spice burn your ass? I told you not to eat, Bhench*," he said. I thought he would sympathize with me, but since this was something personal to me and not many people knew about it, I didn't blame him. Still, his remark made me feel a little itchy. He was asking for a beating. I was having a moment there, and he had to mess it up.

"Nothing's wrong. I've eaten much spicier things than this. Want to bet on who can eat more chhole?" I said, in the heat of the moment. Forgetting that I had a match tomorrow, I ate three full plates. In total, I devoured six Bhaturas, six servings of chhole, three spicy chillies, three bite-sized pickled mangoes, and two glasses of Raita.

"I'll pay you after the match," I said to Kohli as I started strolling near the parking space to speed up my digestion. Kohli had to agree since I was the first to suggest it.

I was overjoyed that I had satisfied my cravings, but my pleasure quickly turned into pain as I felt something brewing in my stomach. It started churning, and I could feel something rising up and moving around in my chest. Gas. I tried to accelerate my metabolism to digest it all quickly and get rid of it, but it only made things worse.

"Bhench*, stop the bike!" I yelled, unable to bear the discomfort any longer.

Kohli pulled over, concern etched on his face as I jumped off the bike. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"My ass is gonna explode. My stomach's all messed up, and I feel gassy," I replied, wiping cold sweat from my forehead.

"I told you not to eat stuff like this, Bhench*. I knew it would end badly," Kohli said with a hint of seriousness in his voice.

"Give me your phone," I demanded, taking it from him and dialing the number of my all-time doctor. My mom.

Trrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

"Hello?" my mother answered.

"Mummy, Namaste. I don't have much time to talk. I need your help," I said, trying to sound serious.

"What's happened? Where are you? Is Virat with you? Are you okay? Should I come to your hotel?" My mother's worried questions poured out.

"Calm down, Mummy. Virat's with me. I'm fine, but I've got gas, that's all. It's hurting my stomach, nothing serious," I reassured her, trying to calm her nerves.

"What did you eat?" she demanded.

"Nothing much. Just eggs for breakfast and Dal with Roti. I ate nothing wrong. I have a match tomorrow. I'm just feeling a little bloated, that's all. Nothing serious, so I called to ask for something to solve it," I replied, hiding my little adventure.

"Hmm, drink some hing (Asafoetida) water. It will help with the gas. Soak some methi (fenugreek seeds) in water overnight and drink the water on an empty stomach the next morning. And eat a small piece of ginger root before meals," my mother suggested some remedies.

We talked briefly about some other things before I ended the call and went to the general store to buy methi and hing.

After my eventful morning, I returned to my hotel room and immediately tried out the remedies my mother had suggested. While I wasn't fully recovered, the methi water worked wonders the next morning. I won't go into detail, but let's just say it was like an orchestra inside my stomach.

Despite still feeling some gas moving inside me, I knew I couldn't sit out on match day because of something as trivial as this. I had trained hard for this moment, and I was not going to let a little bloating stand in my way.

It was a sight to behold as both teams lined up for their national anthems, the stadium alive with anticipation. And with the toss won by England, they elected to field first, ready to show their prowess on the pitch.

The players took their positions, the crowd hushed with excitement, as the opening duo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag strode out to begin their partnership. As for me, I felt right at home on this field, so familiar with its every inch that even the birds that perched around it were old acquaintances.

A quick glance at the pitch gave me some insights. The center had a visible grass covering while the batters' front foot on both ends was dry. It was clear that the black soil pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium would play low and slow, favoring the spinners once again. The pacers could get some initial help with the new ball, but it was the spinners who would likely dominate throughout the match.

The stage was set for an exciting contest between bat and ball, and I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

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Thank you all for your support. The next batch of chapters will be delayed by at least two weeks. I appreciate your patience. To compensate, I've included a 1900-word chapter. Happy reading!