Some things could be foreseen.

I know there will be ups and downs, I know that I can't perform well all the time, my health will deteriorate, my stamina will go down with age and in the worst scenario, I turn abysmal. This is nothing peculiar but a trick the time plays on you. Everything but not what I am looking at right now.

.

_

" Why is there is media blockade right outside our home?" Karn enters the living space with a somber face as he points his thumb in the direction of our main door.

" There is police intervention too. I called in the security detail too." I extend my hand which held to phone towards him which he picks up with an expression of skepticism. His face turns from puzzled to confused and at last furious.

" What fresh hell is this? This is bullshit." He bellows holding the phone tightly as his knuckles turn white.

" I woke up and this is what I see first in the morning. I have many calls from Mohan uncle, the board, and all my teammates. The weird thing is that I feel this all is a dream and the worst nightmare." I whisper the last part.

" You listen to me. We are getting ready and going to the board. We are getting out of this mess you hear me. We have no play in this." Karn points his index finger at me resolutely.

" I .. don't.....God! I don't know what awaits there." I scrub my face vigorously.

" We won't know if you decide to plant your ass on the armchair." Karn cocks his head looking at me intensely.

" I do not want to face any cameras at least today. This is not a good day for me ...." I speak through clenched teeth.

" We can take the back door. There is no one there but only if you hurry." We both rush to our respective rooms.

" Yellow doesn't suit you." This is the first thing he says when he sees me at the back door. As usual, he is dressed impeccably in a suit, watch, and shoes that reflect the sunlight.

"You are seriously saying this." I ask him solemnly.

"I cannot just pass by and ignore it."He shrugs his shoulders indifferently looking straight with a blank face. One of the rarest times when he assumes the position of an elder of the house and. Karn's face is camouflage hiding all his emotions.

" Thanks for the support." A bend down and look up to his face to which he grimaces. He throws his hand across my opposite shoulder and locks me in a chokehold.

" Can't breathe....zzzz... " I say in between my laughs as I try to pull away from his hand from my neck.

" As if I would fall for that." He scoffs and tightens his hold.No I am not choking because he does it with perfection owing to the practice of years. I struggle against his hold because I have spent my energy laughing.

" Let's go." He says after getting a clearance from the security. We walk through the back garden to a small back door where a car waits for us. Out of the blue, a camera is shoved right into my face and I jump backward at the sudden intrusion. I was about to lift my arm to encapsulate the lens but Karn grips my wrist and pushes me inside the car.

" You are seriously in dire need of some entertainment in your life." Karn grimaces in annoyance.

"What was I supposed to do?"I widen my arms innocently.

" I don't know but anything else than some animosity." He waves his left hand in the air.

"I would remember to smile for all those who are waiting outside the board building." I reply with an extra sarcastic tone which earns me a hard slap on the shoulder.

" Oww.... " I say rubbing my shoulder and then paying him back in the same way.

By the time we reached the building, it was swamped by media people, security detail, and police.

" Any chance our parents left us an invisible cloak ." I say staring at the crowd. My weak attempt at lightening the mood.

" We are born muggles." Karn places his hand on my neck making me turn around to look at him.

" You have your truth with you. You can do this, you are not alone. I would fight every legal battle for you to be on the field. I promise." He speaks slowly making sure every word gets into my brain, not that I did not know it before.

" Let's just get it over with." I exclaim with newfound confidence and zeal.

_________________________________________

My strides are determined and confident. I can feel the eyes on me but I pay no heed to them. The gravity of the situation falls heavily on my shoulders now that I am a few minutes away from what awaits me.

The absurdity of the allegations makes me want to laugh out in hysterics and the very next moment makes me want to claw my eyes out.

" Why did I think that it is going to be a ground floor building?" Karn leans into my ear as he whispers.

" I think you forgot that it is the headquarter of the biggest cricket board in the world and you tend to generalize everything." Karn straightened his posture.

" I think it must have been the case." He coughs twice.

" Think? Nice... " I tilt my head playfully at him.

He has never been here and now that he is here for the first time I cannot help but wonder that it is just the worst scenario.

" All the best." He claps my shoulder, motivating me as we reach the meeting room.

" What the worst that could happen?" That's an intrusive thought that clouds my mind.

" Umm...nothing much just lifetime ban." He bobs his head looking for better words.

" Yeah! Not going to happen." I speak solemnly with newfound zeal and push open the door to the meeting room where 10 pairs of eyes fall onto me.

" Good morning." I say loudly with a smile.

I take my seat in the farthest corner after everyone greets me. Whenever I have met anyone from the board I got a welcoming smile and words of praise but today was not that day. I can imagine their predicament. A player was into a fixing scandal, the name of the team would be in the air and the board will be left to clean the mess.

" I would like to start with a thank you for reaching here in a short time.

I am very well aware that some of you had to leave something crucial but we are standing in the most unfortunate situation." The president moves some papers around before throwing a paper in the center of the table.

" The news broke very early this morning and tomorrow it will be plastered in all the newspapers."

He further adds solemnly looking at me.

It dawns me at this very moment that no matter how much you did in your past or how much you give but a single thing can put everything to shame. One word, the phrase can bring you to taste dirt and make your admires look at you with contempt.

" I would proceed by asking you to say your side of the story." He gestures me to carry on but my mouth feels like someone has put sand over it.

" I am not going to say that I am being framed because that would never help my case but I have in on my conscience that never I would stoop so low and engage in such tactics. I read the story I can surely inform you that I'd had some wine but even after being under the influence which I was not. I never had any sort of conversation or accord with anyone."

The room is eerie silent and the only thing that can be heard is my rash breath.

In situations like these words do not explain your side immaculately without any proof.

" There are new provisions to deal with such instances. The board holds international goodwill, the faith of the people. We would leave no scope for anyone to sky our name nor let anyone blame us for inaction." The remaining members nod their heads in affirmation.

" I assure you my full cooperation and honesty." The president nods his head and goes back to sorting out papers.

" This is how it is going to go .... there would be an initial month of inspection. This would involve evidence collection, testimonials, and more digging into the matter further.

With the new amended aspect, a Judge would be called in by the board and he would be responsible for everything. The board will assign a lawyer who would assist the Judge further and making him well versed with the case. They both will accompany you to the site of accusation and have personal interaction. If the probe of this aforementioned month is hazy and suspicious then the board will assemble again to further grant their decision based on what the Judge's decision."

( Note - This is not mentioned or the normal course of investigation. The Judge aspect is purely fictional, it does not happen in real life. The real course of investigation and Judiciary are very different than it is given in the book. The bcci headquarters are in Mumbai, not in Delhi. All of this is purely fictional. Do not consider any of it real or serious. )

That judge would have the power to crush my career with a stroke of a pen, one sign, and its all over.

" When does it start?" I somewhere squirm in my chair.

" Today. The initial process has already begun and you would be called in to be presented before the judge tomorrow."

That was fast.

" I would be here tomorrow." I move into my chair again because of the president's scrutinizing gaze.

" I am still wondering why would you ever do that? Out of all the players why would you resort to this. I am not throwing accusations nor I am supporting you in any way but you are a suspect until proven." He asks as he plants his chin on his folded fingers.

" Sir, you are rewarded with trips, gifts, and cash on winning the man of the match, and a trophy that feeling is inexplicable. Also, Varun got a free trip to Caribbean island, and if you would have seen my face when he rubbed on my face trust me you would have pleaded not guilty for me within a second." I widen my arms to further accentuate my point. This earned me a few snickers from around the table and the president bends his head low shaking his head but his mirth quite visible.

" Unfortunately I was not present at the incident otherwise we would not be here." He says playfully.

" Kismat." I shrug indifferently but a smile makes its way onto my lips.

" I wish you the best and strength throughout because guilty or not it does takes a toll on your mind." He says sincerely standing up.

" Thank you, it means a lot." I mimic his motion.

The room begins to get vacant leaving me with thoughts that are depressing and disturbing to the very core.

" No...no...NO.Dodon't go there.. wherever you are wandering in your mind." I hear fast approaching steps and Karn appears on the chair on my right.

" Being alone is not the smartest decision." I murmur, rotating the chair towards the wall at my back.

The wall of laurel.Lifesize portraits of world cup winning captains, international record holders, legends of the game.

" I wish one day, I hope I am there on this wall even if its a passport size picture." I say looking at a picture of Kapil Dev which was placed right in the center.

" Have you seen your scores and the records you are breaking incessantly?" Karn scoffs.

" Everything will just be worth the hard work and patience when you have a cup in your hand." He further adds winking at me.

" Amen." I say giving him a side glance.

" So what's the update?"

" A judge is going to look into this matter alongside a lawyer for one month that is the initial time frame and then whatever they decided well whatever the Judge decides would happen." I shrug indifferently.

" A judge huh. I see no problem with that. Judges are mature, smart, and quite open to the reality and facts so there is no need to worry." Still, for some reason I imagine a strict 45-year-old man giving me a disappointed glare and highly disciplined with such a sharp mouth that could leave me tongue-tied.

" Let's get out of this place before you storm your brain." Karn holds my arm to pull me up but I keep slouching. He then uses both his hands to pick me up and drag me.

" The tables have turned because it has always been me who needed to be dragged outside." He cocks his head all amused.

" I don't want to face the cameras again," I speak darkly as we reach the main glass doors.

" One of the cons of being a public man."

We maneuver through the unrestrained media with not so subtle names being called.

_______________

" Why did you bring a notepad?" I ask Karn as my brows knit together.

" I am going to write down all the incidents and then we can you know connect the dots." He draws a long line on the pad.

" Ohh ok sherlock. It was in Mumbai.... almost 2 months back right?" I scratch my head while wondering.

" How would I know?" Karn asks nonchalantly.

" I don't know...wait yes! That's your new project." I fire back.

" Still....let me google it. We need precision." He raises his brows giving me a knowing look.

" Ahhaa... 2 months it is." He places the phone back on the table and writes the date down.

" I remember dancing... " There was a lot of dancing.

" Then some wine .... I won't say I was inebriated but I was under influence ahh just a tad."

My mind races back in the past. I remember entering with Karn and then my 3 teammates and their partners were there so we started dancing.

Then some celebration wine, dance again and a small game of cricket.

" Ahh... I played cricket." I click my finger when it occurs to me quite elated but that's not the case for him because his face is somber.

" I do remember that. You hit a long shot and then broke one the main ceiling light ...imported."

The night is not too ambiguous anymore. Karn came to me with an expression of bewilderment. He kept looking at the light and the bat in my hand. He then stormed off with the bat he snatched from me and locked it in a safe in his chamber on the top floor. Fun night!

" Wait...you took money from me. Ass !" I exclaim as this new information crosses my mind.

" I did. Did you not see the new lights there? They are great and thank you for the generous contribution." He replies carelessly but I kept on staring at him with narrowed eyes.

" You can have my properties." He waves a dismissive hand towards me.

" All your properties have me as the 50 % owner in the registry." Karn has a keen interest in real estate. Where I invest in some lucrative properties for future purposes he spends it for living purposes. Though we have not moved out of this house for the past 3 years and we do not plan to.

When maa and papa welcomed me with open arms I was theirs in every sense. I was scared I would be homeless without them. I used to feel guilty in the initial days for even thinking about my biological parents because they would feel I have not accepted them by my heart. They were my parents since I hugged them the very first moment. I was their successor.

We are brothers. Whenever I have bought any property with my account the ownership would be 50- 50. Same goes when Karn buys something and he has over the top money and business. Yes, my brother is filthy rich and I am the sole user of that wealth. So if he took some money from me then surely he would have spent triple the amount on me since then.

" Well, we are at a dead end. " He gives me a wide sort of creepy smile and goes back at writing.

"Anyone who is our enemy? Hmm..."

" No." We both say it in unison.

" He or she would have not been invited." I point out.

" Any arguments or someone you disagreed with." He inquires further.

"The rest of the night is quite hazy. I umm... I am brainstorming."

" This is not working." He shakes his head in negatory.

" Did you not say you have some high -tech security, audio blah blah cameras," I remember him boasting about something like this.

" Yes." He replies looking at me puzzled.

" They are going to inspect the anyway. We have to get the footage and if we are lucky then some audio too. It could be a great help and maybe a shred of evidence in my favor." I see his eyes light up as he hastily reaches for his phone.

" Paisa wasoolll." He says with ecstasy and wide eyes.

" Haashhh.... "

_______________

My palms sweat as I rub them off continuously on my shirt. This is it.

I am meeting the Judge. I am meeting him. I push through the door only to be

Staggered back with shock as my whole body froze.

The judge lifts the head.

The darkest shade of brown eyes stares back at me.

The most beautiful face on his planet.

The judge is a 'she'.

Not 45.

Young.

And I have stopped breathing yet my heartbeat could be heard by my ears.

A charge surges through my whole body with her gaze.

The case was not going be bring me on my knees but my Judge already has.

I could hear my wicket being thrown away with a yorker.

I am out.

______________________________________