Chapter 1: New Year’s Eve

Chapter 1: New Year's Eve in New Delhi

DATE: 31/12/2024

PASCHIM VIHAR, NEW DELHI

The city of New Delhi was celebrating New Year's Eve. Streets were adorned with lights, and the air was filled with laughter, music, and bursts of fireworks. In the bustling neighborhood of Paschim Vihar, the festive spirit was palpable, and families gathered for New Year's Eve.

Amidst the festivities, Rana Singh sat alone in his apartment. He had been living here since 2014, after being kicked out of his family home by his father at the age of 24. The apartment, bought with a fixed deposit left by his late maternal grandfather, guaranteed his basic livelihood. It was a two-floor apartment in Paschim Vihar, with the lower floor rented out as a shop, providing him with a steady income of at least 50,000 INR a month.

Despite this financial stability, Rana felt unfulfilled and trapped by his past failures. The money allowed him to live comfortably, but it did little to fill the void left by his unfulfilled dreams and broken relationships with his parents.

As he sipped his beer, he looked around the dimly lit room, the weight of memories pressing down on him. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, settling on the framed posters of cricket legends lining the walls. Each poster was a reminder of what could have been.

"You could have been one of them," a voice in his head whispered, echoing the disappointment he often felt from his father.

With New Year's Eve coming tomorrow—a day that should have been filled with joy and celebration—Rana, whose family had disowned him and whose friends had left him, found it a painful and lonely day. To escape the silence, he had bought some alcohol, hoping to drown out the noise of his regrets.

He remembered that he was not always the same person living this life. He was born into a successful Rajput family. His father, Rudra Pratap Singh, had been born in Udaipur, later moving to Delhi, where he became an IAS officer in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India. He later married Rana's mother.

His mother, Ravita Solanki, hailed from Gujarat and came to Delhi to take the UPSC exam. She later became an IRS officer under the Department of Finance of the Government of India.

As his mind wandered, Rana recalled the days when he and his father would sit together in their living room, eyes glued to the television to watch cricket matches. His father was a stern man, but cricket brought out a different side of him. During matches, he would cheer for Team India with infectious enthusiasm, a brief glimpse of the warmth that was otherwise rare.

He remembered the thrill of watching the 1999 World Cup, the excitement of each boundary, and the tension of every close call.

"Rana, just focus on the game," his father's voice echoed in his mind. The memory was bittersweet, a reminder of their shared passion that had turned sour over the years.

The Indian team had a mixed campaign that year:

India vs South Africa: India lost by 4 wickets.India vs Zimbabwe: India lost by 3 runs.India vs Kenya: India won by 94 runs.India vs Sri Lanka: India won by 157 runs.India vs England: India won by 63 runs.

Later in the Super Six:

India vs Australia: India lost by 77 runs.India vs Pakistan: India won by 47 runs.India vs New Zealand: India lost by 5 wickets.

India won four out of their eight matches but failed to advance to the semifinals. Despite some standout performances, such as Sourav Ganguly's 183 against Sri Lanka and Rahul Dravid's consistent batting, the team couldn't maintain the momentum needed to progress further.

The disappointment of the World Cup mirrored Rana's own struggles, as both he and the team faced the harsh realities of unmet expectations and unfulfilled potential. He recalled the significant changes in Indian cricket since 1999, including Anil Kumble's historic feat of taking all ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan—a moment that had inspired many young cricketers.

"This is history in the making, son," his father had said, his eyes shining with admiration. Those moments were rare glimpses of warmth and connection in an otherwise strained relationship.

Later, the controversial run-out of Sachin Tendulkar in the Asian Test Championship against Pakistan had sparked a riot, highlighting the intense emotions cricket evoked in the country.

These memories were bittersweet for Rana, reminding him of the times he had watched matches with his father before their relationship soured. As he sipped his beer, he reflected on how cricket had evolved over the years. The introduction of T20 cricket had revolutionized the game, making it faster and more exciting. The Indian Premier League (IPL) had become a global phenomenon, bringing together players from around the world and changing the landscape of Indian cricket.

Cricket had been the common ground between father and son, a bridge that temporarily closed the gap between them. But as Rana grew older and made cricket his career, their differences widened, and those moments became fewer and fewer.

Now, sitting alone in his apartment, Rana felt a pang of nostalgia and regret. He missed those days with his father, the excitement, and the simple joy of watching a game together.

Rana's memories also drifted to his own attempts at playing cricket. As a young boy, he had dreamed of becoming a cricketer, inspired by past cricketing legends. To become great, he spent countless hours practicing on the local ground, perfecting his batting and bowling skills.

"Why didn't I fight harder?" he thought again, his heart tightening.

However, his father had different expectations. Rudra Pratap Singh valued academic success above all else and believed that cricket was only a distraction that wouldn't provide financial stability. The more Rana pursued cricket, the more his father disapproved.

Rudra's harsh words and constant pressure to excel academically created a rift between them. The shared love for cricket that had once brought them together now became a source of tension and disappointment. His failures on the field were seen as personal failures by his father, leading to harsh words and growing resentment.

This distance had widened as Rana struggled to find his place in cricket, feeling the weight of his father's disapproval with every misstep. Lack of proper training and access to professional coaching had also hindered Rana's cricketing career. Unlike many of his peers who attended cricket academies and received guidance from experienced coaches, Rana had to rely on self-practice and occasional tips from local players.

The absence of structured training meant he never fully developed the technical skills and strategic understanding to excel at higher levels. His father's refusal to support his cricketing ambitions financially further limited his opportunities to improve.

"What if I had the right support?" he pondered, imagining himself playing in the IPL, representing his country, and making his father proud. But these were just dreams, and the reality was far more painful. He had to live with the choices he had made and the opportunities he had missed.

The night grew darker, and the sounds of celebration outside grew louder. Rana felt more isolated than ever. He glanced at the dusty cricket kit in the corner of the room, the equipment he had abandoned years ago.

The night grew colder, and Rana felt a deep sense of loneliness. He knew he needed to make changes in his life, but he didn't know where to start. The memories of his father, the unfulfilled dreams, and the missed opportunities weighed heavily on him.

His thoughts turned to his mother, Ravita Solanki. She had always been a source of comfort and support, but her demanding career often kept her away from home. She had tried to mediate between Rana and his father, but her efforts were often in vain. The tension between father and son was too deep, and her presence, though comforting, could not bridge the gap.

Rana remembered the few times his mother had attended his cricket matches. She would cheer for him from the sidelines, her face beaming with pride. Those moments were precious to Rana, but they were fleeting. His father's disapproval overshadowed any joy he felt from his mother's support. The pressure to excel academically and the constant criticism from his father took a toll on Rana, leading to his eventual decision to give up cricket.

As the night wore on, Rana's thoughts became more introspective. He wondered if he had made the right choices in life. He questioned whether he could have done more to pursue his dreams or if he had been too quick to give up. The weight of these thoughts was heavy, and the alcohol did little to numb the pain.

Rana remembered how the Indian team had bounced back from the disappointment of the 1999 World Cup. They had worked hard to improve, learning from their mistakes and building a stronger team.

"Why can't I do the same?" he thought, but he felt stuck, unable to move forward or let go of the past.

Outside, laughter erupted again, and he glanced at the window, watching families celebrate. A small boy with a cricket bat ran by, laughter spilling from his lips. For a moment, Rana felt a flicker of hope, a reminder of the joy cricket once brought him.

He knew he needed to make changes in his life, but the path forward felt obscured by the shadows of his past.