Anecdote 3
Present day:
“Arrey, ek aur wicket gira, kya chal raha hai yaar” Gautam complained as the family gathered to watch the highly awaited cricket match of the season.
Raavi got up to head to the kitchen and get some snacks for the family. When Raavi was in the kitchen, she heard the family cheering as Virat Kohli hit a six.
Raavi came back with a tray, she placed the tray on the table and went to sit next to Shiva who was sitting on the floor tensed, biting his nails in anticipation.
Just as she sat down, Virat Kohli’s wicket was taken.
“Aeey, Maami ki behen ki beti. Tu na kitchen mein jaa, phir waapis aa, aise hi ghoom ti rehna. Tu yahan baitegi na, wickets hi girenge” Shiva said as he nudged Raavi to get up, move around and come back.
“Shiva, what nonsense, tum aise superstitions ko maante ho kya?” Rishita asked him.
“Haan Bhabhi, cricket ke time pe Shiva sab maanta hai. Bachpan se.” Krish explained to her.
“Ay Panauti, tu abhi bhi baiti hai, jaa kitchen ka chakkar laga, phir waapis aa. Tab dhekh, chaar run milenge.” Shiva said
“Shiva, jab Raavi yahan thi, tab bhi boundary mila, aur tum usse bad luck kyun keh rahi ho? Yeh kaisa logic hai?” Rishita asked him.
“Bhabhi yeh toh…” Shiva began to explain but Raavi cut him off.
“Panauti mat bula mujhe Shiva!” Raavi said as she was getting up. “Good luck charm hoon main. Good luck charm! Nahi yaad hai tera woh 9th standard waala game?”
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Shiva was in class 9 and Raavi was in class 7.
Shiva played as an opening batsman for his school’s cricket team. That year was the first year in the past 10 years, Shiva and his school’s team had qualified for the inter school matches.
It was the semi finals match and Shiva’s team had to win this match at any cost to qualify for the finals.
Shiva was under a lot of pressure as the team had to chase around 70 runs in the next 10 overs and they had lost a couple of wickets already.
There was a break after 10 overs, and Shiva walked to his brothers who were sitting with Raavi and a couple of other friends cheering for him. Shiva grabbed a bottle of water to hydrate.
Dev, Krish and all his other friends began giving tips to Shiva on how Shiva should continue the innings. All that talk did not calm Shiva at all and Shiva was known to be an aggressive batsman.
Raavi got up from her seat, went to Shiva and gave him his trishul locket asking him to wear it. Shiva had removed the locket and placed it on the seat next to Krish as it would come in the way while playing.
Shiva was already tense and lashed out at Raavi for coming to the game as he considered her to be bad luck. Raavi said she would go away from the ground but asked him to wear his locket and she said that the locket was his good luck charm which he should never let go of.
Shiva somehow did feel better after wearing the locket.
He began walking back to the pitch and he saw Raavi walking away from the ground. He ran to her asking her to stay back and watch the match.
He said he wanted to prove to her that the team would win the match even if Raavi, the personification of bad luck, was present on the ground.
Shiva went back to the game with a clearer mind and his team did win the match.
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Present day:
“Haan theek hai theek hai, nahi hai tu panauti” Shiva said as he pulled Raavi back down to sit next to him.
“Kya bhai!!! Ek aur wicket gira” Dev said and he sighed as Raavi was sitting back down.
Everyone looked at Raavi at once.
“Bhabhi, shayad Shiva sahi keh raha tha, aap kitchen mein jao na” Krish requested Raavi
Raavi was about to get up, but Shiva pulled her back down again.
“Oye baith, kitne time se kitchen mein thi, tu bhi match dhekh. Ayy Krish, yeh srif game hai, aur yeh chipkali poori India team ke liye nahi, sirf meri zindagi mein panauti hai '' Shiva said as he held on to his locket.
Shiva would call Raavi panauti but he knew deep down, that she was, is and will forever be his good luck charm.