FF: Unexpected: updated 06_27_09 - Page 6

Part Four: The Lucky Charm

It was the last match of my high school football career, last match as a captain. We had an unbelievable winning streak this year and I wanted to end on a high note. May be I am putting too much pressure on myself. Our opponent today was a good team and the fact that we never had a win against them in the last 3 years didn't help my raging anxiety. I ran my fingers through my hair for the millionth time and kept pacing back and forth in front of the locker room. The game was scheduled to start in about an hour. I needed to calm myself somehow! I was the captain of the team and had to lead from front! A skipper could never show any sign of vulnerability!

My team mates were coming to the locker room one by one. We locked hands in our secret handshakes. Suddenly my jaws dropped! The five feet tiny fragile Creep Gyp was waddling behind two six foot tall team mates! The long frilly skirt was sweeping the floor as she walked forward, the janitor would have less work tonight! She wore an extra large T shirt with our school logo! Gosh with her high powered glasses and her weird dresses on her tiny frame, she did creep me out sometimes!

Her face seemed determined and she tried her best to hold her chin up and tried to deceive everybody around that she wasn't nervous and it didn't take everything in her to come here. She was an open book--much to her dismay! I smiled shaking my head. But what was she doing here? The last thing I needed right now was talk to her, as if my edginess for the coming match wasn't enough. What could she possibly want?

For a second I thought of hiding in the locker room and evade her. But then I realized Divya might not even realize this was a men's locker room and might happily waltz in there making things much worse. I'd better get rid of her as soon as I can before my team mates started their smirks and slurs. She always was a topic of hilarity among guys! Once when we were going through a bad streak of losses, someone suggested we should ask Creep Gyp to perform some sort of voodoo to bring us luck or make our opponent have diarrhea before the match! Yes, I knew it's insensitive, but could one really blame them? No one knew how sweet and innocent she was, her exterior portrayed her as a weirdo who possibly practiced witchcraft at leisure! She would have been perfect for Sybill Trelawney's role in Harry Potter!

I got lost in my thoughts. "Hey Amar, what are you thinking? Are you okay" I found Divya holding my upper arm as she shook me out of my trance.

She again called me by my first name! Hmm. I felt a little annoyed. More awkward actually! I didn't want my friends to see me talking to her and make fun of her. "Divya, what are you doing here?" I couldn't conceal the harshness in my voice! She looked down, the smile in her face faded. Gosh I didn't mean to hurt her! I looked at my watch, I didn't have time or the mindset right now to amend things or pacify her. I couldn't see her eyes behind those glasses. Why do I fall into these weird situations whenever I am alone with her!

I looked down. She was a whole foot shorter. I held her shoulder with both my hands and leaned down so that my face was in front of hers, "Listen Divz, the game starts in 40 minutes. I will talk to you later okay?"

I rested my forehead against hers, "Wish us luck Divz, I need it badly today." I whispered. My tension, frustration and anxiety that were bundled up inside came out with the sigh that followed.

She held my hand and smiled "We are going to beat the crap out of this team." It sounded really funny coming out of the most fragile being I know. Suddenly the cat became the tiger! But her spirit affected me. "We will win by a LARGE margin. Trust me. Just play your natural game AB. I know you can do it." Her assurance, no matter how childish or nave instilled hope and reverted all of my lost confidence. It was strange but I felt calm and composed and really felt we would win if we tried hard enough! All the weakness of the opponent and all our plausible strategies started to take clear form in my head. I grinned widely.

She squeezed my hand and I squeezed back. "In that case we have to win" I winked at her and her pale lips curled into an amazing smile. "Thanks Divya. I got to go. Cheer for us. You will watch the game, right?"

"Uh huh." She beamed. "I never missed your games AB". She brought out something from her pocket and started tying it around my hand.

"What is it Divz?" I was quite surprised.

"It's a bracelet for good luck. I sculpted the charm myself. I hope you like it." I was astonished. My eyes travelled from the bracelet to her face. Is she blushing? I was at a loss for words.

"Amar, bro, the coach is calling you." I heard Tom yelling from inside.

"The Creep Gyp is casting her spell on our captain, may be she has a crush on him. Someone save him!!"

"Don't worry, our skipper would never fall for a weirdo like her"

My jaws clenched and arms rolled into a fist. I closed my eyes to compose myself and wrecked my brains to find something to say to Divya. The malicious comments continued amidst laughter and squeaks.

"Thank God she goes to our school, other wise we would have been doomed--her voodoo would have definitely made us lose the game!" The eruption of laughter after that snide remark rocked the dressing room.

"Divya, ignore" I looked down, she wasn't in front of me anymore. I saw her running away down the hall. "those comments" I finished my sentence in a whisper. I looked down at my new possession. It was a very nice leather bracelet, the leather strings braided nicely in three bands, some bronze and silver beads and a single charm, about half inch long were attached to it. The little wood sculpture of a mermaid was marvelous; I was awestruck at the detailed work. I loved it already. I didn't know she was into miniature sculpting. No wonder mom loved her for her artistic abilities, always encouraged her. In many ways she was more close to her than both Nabila and I. She even gave her a key to our house--free access for life!

A part of me wanted to find her and apologize for the rudeness of my teammates but a part of me assured me that I could always talk to her later. I had a crucial match starting in less than 20 minutes and definitely Divya would want me to win. I smiled to myself and went inside the locker room.

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