chapter 3 :- Club

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After 15 minutes, both father and son got in the car, ready to go. After seating in the car, the father asked, "Rohan, are you sure about this? You understand that there are a lot of competitors in this game. Your success rate is almost 0.05%, still, do you want to try?"

After a while, Rohan replied, "Yes, I am sure about this because I have confidence in myself."

The father let out a sigh. While driving, both of them were silent. Rohan was thinking of his past life. It's not that Rohan wants to act childish, but somehow he can't control his feelings. Rohan was slightly embarrassed when he thought about what he did back then. 'I am 23 years old and I still cry?'

While Rohan was embarrassed, his father was puzzled. He knows Rohan was not the kind of person to reply back to anyone, but today he acted very differently. However, the father only thought for a moment and then brushed off this feeling, saying to himself, 'Rohan has grown up.'

As they both lost themselves in thought, they reached Shivaji Park Sports Club. After parking the car, both of them got out and approached the club's door. They arrived at the front gate of the club and saw the sign "Matunga Sports Club." At the entrance, there was a receptionist. When the receptionist asked them, "Hello, sir, what can I do for you?" the father said, "Hello, ma'am, my son would like to join the brigade club, so I would like to meet a coach." When the receptionist heard that they were here for the club to join, she smiled and said, "Okay, please wait a minute. I will just call a coach here."

After waiting for about 5 minutes, a middle-aged man walked into the room. He was probably around 40-45 years old. He had an air around him that made him look like a friendly neighbor. After entering the room, the first thing he did was ask the receptionist for a glass of water, then he walked towards the father and son duo. When he got closer, he introduced himself, saying, "Hello, my name is Sanjay Gill. I am the coach of SSP (Shivaji Park Gymkhana) under 15 years. We have a total of 3 coaches, but I am the head coach here. So, how can I help you today, sir?"

Then Rohan's father asked, "Hello, good evening. This is my son, and he wants to join the club. I want to ask about the formalities to join the club. Is there any age requirement for joining a club?"

The coach replied, "Well, there are no requirements for joining the club. You just have to buy a kit for the play." After that, he looked back at Rohan and asked, "Hello, Rohan, I heard your father said you want to join the cricket club? But let me tell you, this is not going to be the fairy tale you often hear on the news. It's going to be very tough to succeed in this field. Are you sure you want to play cricket?"

Rohan said confidently, "Yes, I want to play cricket. I know my chances are very low, but I believe in myself. I have great confidence that I will definitely succeed in my dreams."

The coach chuckled in his heart and thought to himself, "Boy, you don't know the dark truth in this world. I have seen at least 50-60 young people like you in my career, but in the end, they all gave up. I will see how long you can hold on." But he did not say this to the boy. Instead, he turned to look at the father and told him, "Well, you can join next Saturday morning at 7:00 am. Practice will be on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There will also be a practice match every month, and you can get the sports kit from the sports center tomorrow."

The father asked, "How much will it cost for a sports kit, and what should I buy?"

The coach replied, "For a complete cricket kit, there is the helmet, batting gloves, batting leg pads, abdo guard, arm guard, thigh guard, chest guard, and groin guard. If you count your shoes and the kit bag as well, it comes to 10 items. The total price will be between 5000 and 10,000. So, be prepared for it."

The father took a deep breath and said, "Okay, we will prepare it by Saturday." Then he looked at his son and said, "Son, let's go."

The coach watched the father and son walk away and said to himself, "Boy, you don't know how much your father has struggled to fulfill this dream of yours. Be sure to make them proud."

And so, as the sun began its descent, Rohan and his father walked away from the club center, the echoes of their conversation still resonating in the air. The weight of their shared decision hung in the silence between them, a decision that would shape Rohan's future in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

The coach's words lingered in Rohan's mind, a reminder of the challenges that awaited him on the cricket field. He was aware of the odds stacked against him, but his determination burned brighter than ever. His father's support was a constant source of strength, and he was ready to prove himself.

As they walked side by side, the city's sounds surrounded them, a symphony of life and opportunity. The journey ahead was uncertain, but Rohan's heart was filled with hope. He knew that this was just the beginning, a single step on a path that would lead him closer to his dreams.

With each passing moment, the unspoken understanding between father and son deepened. No words were needed to convey their mutual commitment, their shared belief that this journey was worth taking. Rohan's father had seen the fire in his son's eyes, the same fire that had once burned within him when he had dared to dream.

As they reached their home, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city. The sky painted in hues of orange and pink seemed to mirror the vibrancy of Rohan's aspirations. The chapter ended with a sense of anticipation, a promise of challenges and triumphs that awaited them both.

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(Note: I've made the suggested edits for clarity and grammar. Feel free to make any further changes or corrections as needed.)