All the beautiful daughters of Mara by Ashok Aatreya (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📕

placing the breakfast on the table finishing... and without talking to anyone in the home... he went directly to vilas house. He was bit normal and told Vilas that he would reach before the time in the match and they postpone the match... they would win the shield... both the young players shook hands and within no time, all the other members of cricket team gathered and every body started crying and jumping in happy mood.
"What happened to you Anand...? His close friend Vilas enquired.
"Oh, nothing it is the tension of my physics practical classes which I am not attending regularly - Anand told him a lie.
"But for that, you were so serious?
"Because I left two important practical classes.... they would not be repeated? Anand told...
"O.K. lets play cricket today, we will meet the principal for your extra practical classes. Vilas assured him like a senior sportsman. He was the nephew of the principal of his college...
They laughed together. The match was certainly to be played then. There was no question of any postponement ... but... And that "but" for Anand, was a big BUT. Sonal had forbid him to see her home in future after the yesterday noon incident... and there was a challenge and pressure of his team before him as a cricketer... to go to Goberiya field...! What to do, what not to do... Anand was in a state of "to be or not to be...! Between the unfortunate incident and his promise to play cricket for his team....! Both were in conflicting terms. Anand was feeling himself quite unable to solve the puzzle, but the match was definitely to be played...!
Against his promise, Anand did not reach Goberiya field before the cricket match started .By sheer chance Anand's team won the toss and they decided to bat first. That was necessary because Anand was not only a good bats man but the opener bowler of their team. He had the capacity to change the trend of the game and after his captain Vilas, Anand was the only hero of his cricket lovers, as well as the audience specially of girls & ladies. His not reaching in time, worried Vilas and his team, but since he had promised they thought he would definitely there. His position in the batting order was at two down but as a middle batsman he always scored good run and made his team to reach a comfortable position and even, by bad luck, any awkward situation arrived, he would compensate and recover his team's position, then & there by his brilliant bowling for which he was number one in his city.
After the toss the game started. The pavilion end was the side of Sonals house. Very close to that there were three khejari and one peepal tree under the shades the players and audience of cricket game witnessed, enjoyed and participated in the most popular game of city youngsters.
Unfortunately in the very first over the opening batsman returned to pavilion without opening the account and the second over also proved fatal taking the most precious wicket of the captain Vilas…The beginning was not only devastating but it created terror among the players of Goberiya side..The Sikka’s open attack and the way the bowling was offensive, almost made the picture clear before every one that the game was decided in the favour of the guest team.
Anand had not yet come… his position in the bating was in the second down and the anxiety among the players as well in the audience was creating nervousness…They never thought that such a bad condition can arrive in the very beginning… at least Vilas was such a strong batsman that his going back to pavilion in duck was out of anybody’s mind…but that happened…and the entire team was on the mercy of Anand who was not there …Nobody knew what happened to him..?Why he did not come…he promised to his captain that he would reach before starting the match …but he had not reached even when their position was in doldrums…
Sonal in her heart also felt bad. If Anand was not participating in the cricket-match, she was responsible for that…Anand was not coming to play at the crucial hour when his team required him badly. She again and again thought of yesterday noon incident. She was partly responsible for the happening. The situation was out of control for both of them…her coming out of bathroom in such an exciting posture could create anything…and Anand was no exception…what he did with her was not un-natural in those odd hours and when no one was there. except herself…rather it was she who invited him to act in such a manner…and that developed overwhelming desire in him for her…his youth inside him insisted him for the advancement…he was aroused…because of her inviting gestures…she was since long thinking to call him for tuition with definitely some hidden intention of fulfilling her own amorous desires...rather Anand un necessarily became a guinea pig
Sonal was feeling a sort of guilt in her...as she was solely responsible for Anand’s not turning to his most favorable cricket game… and at the time when he was in great demand…when his team needed him badly…Sonal was out of her bounds…and immediately called for Ganesh the extra-player of Goberiya team and told him to go to Anand requesting from her side that he must come without delay to save his team…Ganesh took the message of Sonal to Anand…delivered it…and to everyone’s surprise Anand was there …as if he was waiting for that moment in his life…He joined his falling team and scored a century in the remaining overs and made the position of his team very strong…
With his inner zeal and unknown enthusiasm his bowling attack on the opposite team was also marvelous that sent the entire team of Sikka Masjid out in ninety runs…God only knew what motivational factor was working all this behind..? The Sikkas rolled out due to the terror created by Anand both in bating and bowling…Perhaps Anand only knew who was behind his forceful performance.
Every one took him in arms. Vilas was the happiest person...even the players from the opposite team commended his contribution…after their victory the audience was thrilled. They clapped for Anand and danced… It was a real good cricket they enjoyed in their life...

Sonal was speechless…her eyes closed…her heart was dancing. She had seen a real Anand that day…Anand her hero…she could not stop herself congratulating him for the extra-ordinary brilliance and Dexter he had shown to turn the loosing battle into the historic victory for his team. Coming forward and taking the due advantage of the occasion she even invited Anand to come her home next day…for a cup of tea…something still exciting was there in Sonal’s home. Anand accepted the invitation…

16/ SLEEPLESS NIGHT
It was a sleepless night for Anand but with the changed meaning…
Sonal had called him for tea the very next day of his triumph of his cricket team. Was there still cooking something in her mind… and the gap of these two days might have changed her mind about the incident of the previous noon …In case she had told anything to N.M ?
All that mis- happening …and N.M might be interested to talk to him…the same fat and strong P.T.I. teacher who allowed them to play in the Goberiyafield and helped them to the extent of getting free cricket-kit from his school games room, just to encourage cricket at his personal cost… his mind immediately reacted to his own stream of ideas.. In the yesterday game Anand did not see Sonal’s husband…was he not in the city or might have gone to Shivbari with his friends to enjoy Bhang (intoxicant)
He also thought of his prospective tea time. Morning was fixed for tea at his home. N.M mostly goes late to his job. Rather N.M tells everone that the government job is a pension with a facility of full pay, allowances and increments… Anand was in his thoughts, was peddling his bicycle with deadly slow speed…not in a hurry to reach Sonal’s house today as compared to that scorching mid-day time when everything had gone out of his mind. He knew no boundaries…he was perhaps under some influence of ghost who had taken a ride on him and made him a victim of his vicious designs…when Sonal told him not to come again. It was because His act was such…not at all noble. It was not expected of him…as he belonged to a highly respected family…where her father- in-law had served as elephant keeper…! Was anything of the kind could be expected from Guru’s family. No…never..! But it happened …how …only god known perhaps…Anand reached Sonal’s home…little late then never..!
And to his surprise…Sonal was waiting for him outside her home. She was washed collecting clothes from string. He sourced the bicycle bell to call her attention, and both of them smiled. She was in parrot-green sari with a matching blouse…beautiful Mogra fresh flower on her serpent coiled hair style. Was her husband in the home? He asked himself- just kept his bicycle under the shelter of the Khejari tree…it was a shady tree. The pavilion of his players…Anand thought for a while… he will apologize for his shameful act of previous day and will not take tea but say thanks ,goodbye and go back to his earlier ways of pretending of practical class? No sooner did he pre meditate all this in his mind, Sonal’s husband Nandumaharaj came out from inside the house and told him to enjoy tea and Rasgulla’s (sweets) with his Bhabhi (Sonal) in his absence since he was going for some urgent meeting in the Inspector of schools. He took his left hand in his two folded hands in a rushing way and in a joking mood congratulated him for his yesterday’s wonderful game…he again told him almost running that if Anand sat for an hour he might come back and join him in the second round of tea…and before Anand wanted to tell him anything…he just left…waving his heavy hairy hand…as if giving Anand a green signal of still exploring some hidden treasure-trove to the best of his advantage.
‘Come Anand.why are you late today? I have been waiting for you since morning…our first tea time is around 8.30…when my husband leaves for his school…’-Sonal told him.
‘Yes I also got up late…Bhabhi.I have only come for an apology…I really feel extremely sorry for what I did …day before…You will please excuse me …I will not take tea today…I have my practical class early …I have to leave I’ll come next time …any other day…Bhabhi I only want to hear from you that you have pardoned me for the misdeed. ’Anand expressed his guilt in a very broken and dull way.
Sonal smiled in a very soft manner…and with a slight flash in her eyes she told Anand—-‘O.K…Please relax now…I have invited you for tea…and your P.T.I Guruji wanted that you should be greeted with Rasgulla…he personally brought from the market for you Anand…Please Relax…now I have nothing in my mind…Anand now feel normal. Forget everything…like I have forgotten…come inside. I have prepared tea…Your yesterday batting and bowling been great…three wonderful six, uncounted boundaries and bowling…? I have never seen you playing like this… Anand I have become your permanent fan’… Sonal became little bit emotional…then suddenly she took her another stand….She told him-‘I will only pardon you when you will accept to come to teach me English everyday…I have already taken permission for that from your Guruji…’
Anand and Sonal settled in the drawing room…On the left side of the wall there was a painting depicting Omer