PART : 4(a)
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Nupur went to JN Stadium, it was the main sports complex. She brought a ticket and arranged herself on the front row seat.
Games started with colours, songs, flowers???.a gorgeous beginning. Nupur was very proud to be an Indian. She was too engrossed in celebration, that she forgot why she was here.
Its afternoon now.
Nupur feel hungry. She went to nearest food counter and placed her order.
She is waiting, someone tapped on her shoulder. She turned back??.its Sheena.
"hey babes, how are you? Long time, huh!" Sheena smile.
"yeah, nice to meet you Sheena. How are you?" Nupur smile back. She never reserved any grange to anyone except one.
"so, babes, tum kahan baithi ho? Press box me toh nahi dekha?"
"mujhe entry pass nahi mila, toh galary me hun." Nupur took her foods from counter.
"GALARY???? OH MY GODDDDD!!!" Sheena making her face in disgust, "don't call yourself a journalist Nupur. Galary is only for public, not for journalist?.it was so down market." She took her order form counter, shrugging her shoulder, "waise jiski jaise aukad, iss me hum kya kar sakte hai!" she went to nearby table, join with a guy.
Nupur shock her head and turn, and immediately bump with someone. Her food packet fell on the ground.
"ohh, sorry sir, maine dekha nahi." Nupur quickly apologies.
"its ok, Nupur. Maine bhi nahi dekha, me too sorry."
Nupur look up with surprised, "arrey JD sir, aap???!!!" she was so happy to see him, "how are you sir?"
"I am fine Nupur. Tum yahan kaise? Game dekhne ayi ho?" JD smile, then his eyes fall on her hanging ID card, "oh, toh Ms.Bhushan yahan journalist hai. Very nice. I am proud of you."
Nupur smile, "thank you sir."
"kavi kavi humara bhi interview liya karo. Main bhi famous hona chahta hun." JD chuckle.
"bilkul sir, don't worry." Nupur smile, then come to the point, "sir, mere pass entry pass nahi hai, bahut muskil ho raha hai, kya aap kuch kar sakte hai?"
JD think a bit, "ok, don't worry child. I'll surely do something. This is my card, call me after day end." He handed his card with an assuring smile.
Nupur sighted in relief, "thank you sir."
Nupur walking towards galary, she can't afford to miss any single moment of games, only for her RV sir. She loves him dearly. Nupur turn back for second and notice JD sir chatting with Sheena, he was showing something in his mobile and Sheena nodding in affirmation.
Nupur finished her food quickly as an electronic board shows, 800M. RACE FOR MEN.
She is trying to typed every name of participants on her laptop. There was two from China, four form Kenya & Thailand, then USA, England and other countries, then India. Nupur stopped writing, when saw the name, Mayank Sharma.
Nupur feels the name Mayank Sharma piercing her heart; the memory of that night coming in front of her, a lonely tear escaping corner of her eyes. She quickly removed, set up her mind, Mayank Sharma only a participant and she's doing her job. RV sir always said, never mixed up your personal and professional life.
Nupur start typing again, Mayank Sharma & Adhiraj Banerjee are represent for India in that particular race.
Game start. Every participants are taking their positions on the track. They standing one after another for shape of the track. Nupur looking for Mayank and spotted him in 7th position. He warming up his body. Adhiraj on 10th position.
"Bhagban karen who koi bhi medal na jite." Nupur muttered, then immediately stacks out her tongue as soon as she realized her mistakes "sorry, sorry God. Please Mayank koi medal jeet jaye."
Yeh tu kya keh rahi hai, Nupur? Mayank medal jitega? Tujhe yaad nahi usne tere saath kya kia tha? Phir bhi tu aisa sochti hai?
Kyun nahi sochu. Who India ke liye participate kar raha hai aur main ek Indian hun. Mera farz hai usse support karna.
Farz, my foot. Ab tu ek journalist hai, tere paas power hai uske against likhne ka.
Nahi, power ka misuse nahi karna chahiye. Yeh galat hai.
Aur jo usne kia tha who galat nahi tha?
Haan, galat tha, paar iska matlab yeh nahi ke main bhi wohi kaun jo usne kia hai.
Soch le! Agar who jeet gaya, toh tujhe uska interview lena padega! Le payegi?
Who....main....ummm.....haan....main.....
Ab kyun stammer kar rahi hai? Tu usse darti hai, yeh maan le.
Nahi, main usse nahi darti. Agar who jeet gaya, toh main uska interview jarur lungi, RV sir ke liye.
Dekhte hai!!!
Hmm, dekh lena.
Nupur brushed away her thoughts from her mind and concentrate into race.
They positioned on their own spots?..with a gunshot, ten bodies just sprigged out from spots, like arrows are out from bow. Unknowingly Nupur's eyes are fixing on Mayank. He is running, but still in 7th position.
"comeon Mayank, faaaastttt...." Nupur muttered.
She knows, its only second lap, final lap ll tougher and every seconds llb mattered. Mayank increase his speed, now he crossed two guy??..he is now on 4th position. Adhiraj also increase his speed, he is crossing 6th position.
Whole stadium shouting??public ware cheering for their country, but all sound was cover under a roar - MAY-YANK ADHI-RAJ MAY-YANK ADHI-RAJ
Nupur was too excited, nervous, constantly praying to God.
Final lap, Mayank was fully concentrate on finishing line, he is now 2nd position??.only the Kenyan guy in front???.Adhiraj was behind Mayank.
The stadium like breaking in cheers........Nupur glancing the board, difference between Mayank and Navas is 0.5 second.
"it's a huge difference Mayankkkk. Please cover it." Nupur grabbed her scarf tightly in tension.
Few meters left........0.2 second difference.
MAY-YANK ADHI-RAJ MAY-YANK ADHI-RAJ
They running almost together, like mirror.............still 0. 2 sec. difference.
Before few centimeter of finishing line, suddenly Mayank increase his speed and stepped on the most desire line??fraction of second before Navas.
The stadium roaring. Nupur was also jumping in joy, but nervous very next moment. The electronic board still not showing the winner's name. after few seconds, the showing.
Difference between the Kenyan guy Navas and Mayank, only 0.1 second.
Mayank Sharma won the gold medal for India. Nupur literally jumping into joy.... India won another medal, Adhiraj finished in 3rd position.
Both boys running on the track, they wrapped themselves with national flag. They roaming all the track. Today is a BIG day for India.
Nupur call RV, "sir, hum jeet gaye.......YAYYYY sir, hum jeet gaya, gold & bronze dono. Sir, I am so happy, so so so happy." she is literally jumping?..happiness flowing down form her cheek.
"ok, ok, stop screaming Nupur, mera kaan phat jayega." RV chuckled. He also very happy for this news, but still he is a magazine owner, "Nupur don't forgot your job. You are a journalist, so at first you should collect all information if possible.OK!Aur possible ho to interview lene ki koshish karna. Ok.bye."
"ok, sir, bye." Nupur cut the call.
Ab toh Mayank ka interview lena padega! By god. Yeh din bhi dekhna tha! She shaking her head, ab kya karun??? Idea!
She's dialing JD's number.
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