Focusing on Jassi

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Votes: 50
Comments: 30

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The Team India lost the ICC ODI World Cup and all were down with it but now they were again pumped up as the T20 World Cup is there and the team is now in New York adjusting to the environment and the pitch of the ground.

It was a nice sunny day and the team did their basic warm ups and then they did some team bonding activities and played some team bonding games. The lot was all happy enjoying each other's company but at the same time all focused on their collective goal.. The T20 World Cup

Jassi took some balls and then started doing bowling practice even though today they were not gonna do any cricket related practice. They were coming after IPL so team bonding was the main focus. Jassi too participated in that properly but when they took a break, he went to practice his variations.

Harry: Jassi.. what are you doing?

Jassi: Practice Harry

Harry: That I can see but why?

Jassi: Why not?

Harry: Because we have just taken a break and you too need a break. What's so tough in that?

Jassi: Harry.. don't irritate me now please

Harry: Till this time I was serious but now I'll irritate you. You just wait and watch.

Saying so he started taking the balls Jassi has practiced and threw them to others who normally started playing with them. Harry then went to music system they have kept and started the songs which Jassi hates.. The rap songs. Jassi was glaring at Harry who just shrugged his shoulders. Jassi huffed and sat with others taking rest making Harry smiled widely as his plan worked and Jassi didn't do anything in over.

Rohit, Virat and Rahul sir too have noticed that but thought it as a normal banter of Harry and Jassi. Harry himself took it like that only but little did they know they all were wrong. This Jassi was not their kiddo and someone's best friend.

On the next day, the team started with practice and RohiRat and Sky were taking on all 3 fast bowlers Jassi, Arshdeep and Siraj one by one in nets. Harry and Shivam were practicing with Kul and Axar and Jaddu with Yuzi. Rahul sir was observing everything. Everyone was looking in good shape except one person and that was none other than their Trump Card.. Their main weapon.. One and only Jasprit Bumrah. Rahul sir asked them all to have a break after an hour.

Rohit: Jassi.. kya baat hai? Balls aisi kyu aa rahi hai?

Virat: Exactly. Main bhi yahi puchhane wala tha. Jassi.. Even I who don't hit sixes much was able to hit 3 consecutive sixes in your bowling

Harry: Is your body okay? Any injury, stiffness or something?

Jassi: I am fine. Bas..

Jassi started thinking of a well accepted excuse but his heart was beating way too much faster as he was about to lie to them to whom he can never lie.

RohiRat (with raised eyebrows): Bas??

Jassi: Bas.. rhythm.. Haan rhythm nahi aa raha bhaiya.

He said quite fumbling and all looked at him suspeciously.

Harry: Are you sure? Because I don't think you need any rhythm to ball a Yorker as you can even bowl it in sleep.

Virat: I second that

Rohit: I third that

Rahul sir: I fourth that Jas

All looked at him with surprised expression that how come he too was talking in their language but whom they were joking, that guys has changed a lot just to make them all opening upto him with whatever thoughts they were having in their minds. But here all were failing in reading Jassi.

Jassi (looking down): Nothing bhaiya. Just new place.. rhythm nahi aa raha

None was convinced but they thought to give him sometime to open up by himself. They could see he was in quite tension but what they just couldn't figure out. They all could see a familiar tension on Jassi's face but were unable to identify it.

Jassi just used to do practice a lot but he was not looking good. He was over exerting himself but outcome was nothing. It continued for 2 days more. They all asked him in different way but were unable to make him speak.

Rohit asked Sanjana about it but even she didn't know anything. But hearing about Jassi's weird behaviour, she too started getting tensed but Rohit assured her and decided to have A Man to Man talk with Jassi.

Virat and Rohit were discussing about some stretegy when Harry barged into the room. RohiRat looked at him with raised eyebrows.

Harry: I want my Jassi back. I don't know what you both will do but I want him back.

Saying so he just went from there. RohiRat sighed.

Virat: I guess it's time to have some man to man talk with our silent kiddo.

Rohit agreed and they both went to Jassi's room only to find it pitch dark. Rohit turned on the lights. RohiRat were shocked to see Jassi sitting on the floor, looking constantly at a picture of Angad in his hand. They both went to him and sat at each side of him.

Virat: He looks just like you Jas

Jassi smiled. He was well aware of the people came inside his room. He didn't need anyone to say anything, he can feel their presence.. their warmth.. he knew they were his Bhaiyas.

Rohit: Sanju ko call karke mil lo na agar bahut yaad aa rahi hai Angad ki to.

Jassi: I just had a video call an hour ago

Virat: Jas.. what's the matter?

Rohit: kuchh hua hai kya kiddo? Anu problem? If we can help you with anything, don't hesitate okay

Virat: Jassi.. is it anywhere financial problem..

Jassi: Nahi bhaiya. Aisa kuchh nahi hai

Rohit: To phir kya baat hai Jassi? Why are you exerting yourself a lot? Why?

Virat: Jassi.. aise practice karte rahoge to match ke time pe tum khud beemar pad jaoge. So you want this to happen?

Jassi shook his head in no looking down. Rohit caressed his hair and took him in a side hug. Virat hold his hand.

Virat: We are with you Jas. Just speak.

Rohit: We won't judge you kiddo. We will try to understand whatever it is. We promise okay

Jassi sighed.

Jassi: Bhaiya I am a fast bowler and we all know how short a fast bowler's career can be.. or how his fitness level can be. It's not easy to stay fit specially when you have got a back surgery. We can see that in case of Bhuvi Bhai and Harry. Harry to bichara abhi bhi kabhi kabhi hi rhythm me bowling kar pata.

Virat: But you were exception. You have recovered from your back injury and made a comeback like a champion kiddo.

Rohit: Wait.. are you having any back issue?

Jassi: No bhaiya.

Rohit: Only truth Jassi

Jassi: I am not having any physical issues bhaiya. Angad ki kasam

RohiRat finally believed him hearing this

Rohit: To phir achanak se aisi baat kyu kar rahe ho?

Jassi: Bhaiya.. Angad ke life me aane ke baad na life badal gayi hai. Ab.. ab mujhe aur motivation milta hai khud ko better karne ka

Rohit: So to hai. Kids made us a better person

Virat: Can't agree more to this

Jassi: Lekin main usko kuchh nahi de pa raha bhaiya

RohiRat frowned hearing this.

Jassi: He is here. I want to cross the line this time. I want to give him the Champion medal. I want him to know that his father was a champion and not a looser

Virat (while greeting teeth): Who told you looser?

Jassi: No one. I wanted to win the ODI world cup for him the most after the country of course. I wanted him to watch me winning the cup for the nation. Ek baar fail ho chuka hoon bhaiya aur ab Dar lagta hai bhaiya ki agar iss baar bhi main fail ho gaya to? Kya muh dikhaunga usse? Bada hoke I don't want him to feel that uske Papa bhale hi world class bowler hai lekin ek bhi World Cup nahi jeeta paye hai. I am getting more and more anxious bhaiya.

RohiRat both were able to understand the feeling Jassi was having as they both were fathers. They knew how it feels when you want to do something more for your kid.. when you wanted to gift something to your kid.

Jassi: And we are Punjabis

Rohit: Haan to?

Virat: To yeh Ro ki.. A father and A son's relationship is always slightly different. None of them express their love, care, respect or every emotion except anger for that matter very less towards each other. It's once in a while kind of thing. Kabhi kabhi to time nikal jata hai aur aap na kabhi ek dusare ko Thanks keh pate ho na sorry.

He said last line being quite emotional as he remembered his own father. He knew the place of a father in a kid's life.. the main reason he used to spend as much time as possible with his kids.

Virat cleared his throat and composed himself while wiping a tear fell from his eyes meanwhile Rohit and Jassi too did the same. They might not understand the intensity of Virat's pain when he remembered his father but they know the unsaid intensity the relation of a father and a son has.

Rohit: To aise khud ko thaka ke kaun sa world cup jeetega tu?

Rohit said diverting the topic back to  Jassi and successfully converting the over emotional atmosphere of the room to quite lighter one.

Jassi: I want to do my best bhaiya. But I am not able to.

Virat: Because you are overdoing it. Excess of anything is dangerous Jassi.

Jassi (quite emotionally): Apko pata hai bhaiya.. when he first time kicked na.. I.. I promised him to gift the World Cup. Bina yeh soche ki main woh khel bhi raha hounga ya nahi.

Virat: Why are you talking like this Jas?

Rohit: You are all fit and fine Jassi

Jassi: Ek fast bowler ko injury ke kitne chances hote hai yeh aap dono ko batana padega kya?

RohiRat kept mum.

Jassi: When we lost the final, I was not able to look into his eyes. I felt I have let him down. I felt that I failed him bhaiya. If I again failed na, I wouldn't be able to face him bhaiya. As a father, aap apne bachche ko woh har khushi dena chahte ho jo aapne usko promise ki thi aur yaha main apna first promise tak pura nahi kar pa raha.

Rohit: Jas.. You know when Angad starts understanding things na, he will be the proudest of you amongst the entire country.

Virat: And to win the world cup and fulfill your first promise to him, you have to be in your senses first Jassi.

Jassi: I am in my senses.

Rohit: Of course not. I must say Harry is in better senses than you even after so much hate he got.

Jassi (whined): Bhaiya..

Rohit: What bhaiya? You are doing same mistakes since the time we have started practicing and you were still not able to identify the root cause for the same. Jas.. till this time, you were bowling like a father of Angad and not like the best fast bowler of India The Jasprit Bumrah

Virat: Exactly. Be that nightmare of all the batsmen in the world fear. Be The Jasprit Bumrah the entire world know. You have that in you to be the best bowler of the World Cup and win it for your country as well as your son.

Rohit: Jassi.. aise khud ko punish karke kya milega? Na tum fit reh paoge na apna promise pura kar paoge. Isse better to yeh hai ki bhale hi middle of the tournament me injury ho lekin jab tak raho tab tak samne Wale tumhe dekh ke dare. Till the time you are there, they never feel like they have won.

Virat: Apni kabiliyat pe apni taiyaari pe bharosa Karo Jassi. Things will be best. I am sure you guys will give Me and Ro the best farewell.

He said last line jokingly making Jassi shook his head at his antics.

Rohit: So..

Jassi: I got it bhaiya. Shayad main hi overthinking kar gaya lekin.. I am sorry main apne dimag se woh sab nahi nikal pa raha

Virat: It's okay Jassi. Nikalo bhi mat. Darna zaroori hota hai to make you alert about certain things.

Rohit: Our kids are our strength Jassi.. not weaknesses okay

Jassi nodded in yes.

Rohit: Now promise us that you will follow your daily schedule properly for everything be it practicing or eating, sleeping anything.

RohiRat forwarded their hands. Jassi out his each hand in each of their hands.

Jassi: Promise and thanks bhaiya for this talk.

RohiRat: Go and make Angad Proud of his father.

Jassi: I promise

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From the next onwards, there was a complete change in Jassi's body language. He was again talking to everyone.. doing Masti whenever time permits. He started focusing on hia bowling and most importantly he stopped over exerting himself. He was more determined to win the world cup now. But unknowingly has become Jassi 2.0

Within few days the Tournament started and as promised Jassi was becoming the real nightmare for the batsmen. He was not only taking wickets at the crucial moments in the match but also was conceding very less runs. He was literally bajaoing of the opposite team with his fantastic bowling.

As a result, Jassi became Player of the Match in first two matches of India and then his best performance was continued in the entire tournament and finally India won. India won the World Cup with Jassi being Player of the Tournament . Jassi has fulfilled his promise to his son. He can now look straight into his son's eyes as the first ever promise he had made to his son was now fulfilled.

Jassi dedicated this award to his son.. his biggest motivator.. He also made him wear his own Champion medal. Wearing the medal, Angad was smiling at Jassi as if he too understood that his father has fulfilled his promise. He gifted him the world cup.

29th June 2024.. A date Jassi was never gonna forget as on that day, he did not just fulfill the promise he as a part of ICT made to all ICT fans and the nation but also It fulfilled A Father's Promise to his then unborn child who was now getting this World Cup as an Advanced Birthday gift as well.

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Okay so I wanted to write an emotional one on Jassi and this plot was in my mind from so long but I wrote it quite messily.

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