Semi-final jeetne ke baad school ka pura atmosphere hi change ho gaya tha.
Agli subah jaise hi main class me enter hua, sabki nazar meri taraf thi. Kuch juniors corridor me milte hi excited hokar bole:
"Bhai, kal ke last 2 sixes toh legendary the!"
Kuch log clap kar rahe the, kuch match ke last over ke baare me pooch rahe the. Main smile karta hua apni seat par baith gaya, lekin andar se ek ajeeb sa pressure already start ho chuka tha.
Semi-final jeetne ki खुशी alag thi, par dimag me ek hi line baar baar repeat ho rahi thi:
Ab bas ek match aur… final.
Lekin ye sirf cricket ka final nahi tha.
12th ka pressure bhi ab har din badh raha tha.
Class start hote hi Physics sir aaye. Unhone attendance li aur seedha board par "Boards Preparation" likh diya.
Phir class ki taraf dekhkar bole:
"Cricket, fun, school events sab apni jagah hain. Lekin jo student ab serious nahi hoga, result ke din regret karega."
Ye line seedha dil me lagi.
Mujhe instantly 11th ke wo marks yaad aa gaye jahan maine promise kiya tha ki 12th me careless nahi rahunga.
Peeche baitha Ranveer dheere se mere kaan ke paas bola:
"Bhai final bhi jeetna hai aur boards bhi nikalne hain."
Uski baat sunke main bas halki si smile de paya.
Sach to ye tha ki ab mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha tha ki kis pressure ko pehle handle karun.
📚 School Ka Load
Lunch break me bhi sab final ki baat kar rahe the.
Kaun opening karega, kaun bowling start karega, opponent school ke players kaise hain — sab discuss ho raha tha.
Lekin ussi beech Maths teacher ne aakar bola:
"Kal unit test bhi hai. Jo absent ya unprepared hoga uske marks internal me cut honge."
Bas, ye sunte hi dimag fir heavy ho gaya.
Ek taraf final ka pressure, dusri taraf test.
Notebook kholo to cricket yaad aata, bat uthao to boards yaad aate.
Ye 12th ki life ka sabse tough part lag raha tha.
🏠 Ghar Ka Tension
Ghar pahunchte hi mummy ne poocha:
"Padhaai kaisi chal rahi hai?"
Maine normal face bana kar bola:
"Theek hai."
Papa ne seedha bola:
"12th hai, marks matter karte hain. Cricket se naam mil jayega, par future marks se banega."
Unki baat sahi thi, aur isiliye thoda pressure aur badh gaya.
Mujhe pichla result yaad aaya jahan ek subject me fail hua tha.
Wo disappointment abhi bhi kahin na kahin andar baithi hui thi.
Maine decide kiya:
Aaj raat thoda padhai, fir match mindset.
📝 Test Ka Din
Agli subah Chemistry ka surprise test lag gaya.
Paper haath me aate hi pehle 3 questions easy lage.
Confidence aaya.
Lekin beech ka ek numerical dekhte hi ek second ke liye mind blank sa ho gaya.
Mujhe wo first exam wala scene yaad aaya jahan paper dekhte hi hosh udd gaye the.
Lekin is baar maine khud ko sambhala.
Deep breath li.
Jo aata tha usse perfect likha.
Jo nahi aata tha usme logic lagaya.
Paper average gaya, par ek baat clear thi:
Is baar main pressure me toot nahi raha tha.
🏏 Final Practice Session
School ke baad hum seedha ground gaye.
Ranveer already nets me tha.
Usne mujhe dekhkar bat hawa me ghumate hue bola:
"Kal trophy humari hogi."
Practice session unusually intense tha.
Fast bowlers yorkers daal rahe the.
Spinners rough areas target kar rahe the.
Main opener practice par extra focus kar raha tha.
Pichli baar first ball duck hua tha.
Us memory ko final me repeat nahi hone dena tha.
Humne catching drills bhi ki.
Ek sharp catch meri taraf aaya, maine dive lagakar pakad liya.
Ranveer chillaya:
"Yahi energy kal chahiye!"
Uski voice me confidence tha.
🌙 The Night Before Final
Raat ko room me akela tha.
Desk par books khuli hui thi.
Side me bat rakha tha.
Ek second ke liye laga jaise meri life do alag directions me ja rahi ho:
Ek side 12th boards
Dusri side cricket final
Mummy room me aayi aur paani rakhte hue boli:
"Tension mat le. Bas apna best dena."
Unki line sunke thoda relief mila.
Main bed par leta, par neend nahi aa rahi thi.
Har 5 minute me ek naya thought:
"Agar final me first ball out ho gaya toh?"
"Agar kal viva bhi hua toh?"
"Agar padhai aur cricket dono me pressure aa gaya toh?"
Lekin phir maine khud se kaha:
"Pressure se bhagna nahi, usko beat karna hai."
📱 Ranveer Ka Message
Phone vibrate hua.
Ranveer ka text tha:
"Kal toss kuch bhi ho, pressure unke side bhejna."
Phir ek aur line:
"Aur opener, first ball dekh ke 😭🏏"
Main has pada.
Uske message ne pura mood light kar diya.
🌅 Final Morning
Subah alarm usual se pehle baj gaya.
Dil fast beat kar raha tha.
Aaj final ka din tha.
Uniform ready.
Bat ready.
Shoes polished.
Lekin phone khola to school group me ek message pinned tha:
"Aaj practical viva bhi hoga."
Mera heartbeat aur fast ho gaya.
Final + Viva + 12th pressure
Mirror ke saamne khud ko dekha aur dheere se bola:
"Aaj ka din meri story badal sakta hai."
🔥 Ending Suspense
Ground ke bahar poori team ready khadi thi.
Opponent school ke players bhi aa chuke the.
Trophy side table par shine kar rahi thi.
Ranveer coin pakde hue meri taraf dekhkar bola:
"Ready opener?"
Maine bat tight pakdi aur bas itna kaha:
"Aaj pressure ko result me badalna hai."
Aur usi moment school bell bhi baji…
Ek taraf final match
Ek taraf practical viva
Aaj sach me decide hona tha:
Main pressure me tootunga… ya pressure ko hara dunga.
To be continued… 🏏📚🔥