August 18, 2007

“Jane, not like this, not like this, hit the shuttle with power, do some tricks, either hit a smash or a dropping.” My games teacher kept on telling me how to play badminton as we were practicing on one of the playgrounds of our school. The net was hanging in front of my face. “Come on! Jane, buck up, your service is poor, the shuttle should go to the end of the court.” My teacher’s voice kept on insisting me to play the best. As the badminton tournament drew nearer. I became much more nervous. The “day of judgment” for me was just two days away. Days and days of practice had made me tired.

On the day of the match, we were asked to arrive at the school at 5:00 am so that we can reach Lahore in time. I woke up a little before five and saw the sky was as black as coal and was foggy outside. I gathered up my courage and finally managed to get out of bed. I dressed up at the speed of lightning. I couldn’t eat my breakfast which was waiting for me. Then my father drove me to school; the school bus was to take us to Lahore. When I reached there, everybody was waiting for me. My father gave me best wishes; I got the strength and felt that my spirit rose. I went boldly up to my teachers and said that I was ready.

We boarded the bus and the long journey began; I didn’t enjoy the bus ride a bit as something was continuously disturbing me. I kept on looking at my teacher and asking: “What will happen?” I could sense that my teachers were also thinking about this as it wasn’t a simple tournament -- it was “Intra-regional Badminton Tournament”. The journey seemed to be a long one, the bus didn’t stop anywhere and it looked like the bus was swallowing the road as we moved forward.

When we reached Lahore, we directly went to the place where the tournament was to be held. There were two courts with two nets, one for boys and one for girls. The opponents of different teams were playing. After sitting for a while, our turn came. The rule was that one team was supposed to have three players; if two players won then the team moved to the semi-final. I was to go in the second turn. As the captain of the team, I was much more nervous. When the first player of our team went I could hear my teacher instructing her on what to do next. She didn’t play well and lost, partly because her opponent was a strong and tall girl. My turn came; I sighed and went to the court where many faces turned towards me. My teacher patted my back giving me the courage I so desperately needed. I jogged towards the court to warm myself, inside me my thumping heart was missing a beat, my blood didn’t stop running swift and there were a thousand questions racing in my brain. The referee called me and my opponent.

I was scared by the look of my opponent, my mouth fell open and my mind burst with a thought. How could she! She is definitely not my competitor, she looks so talented! I noticed that she wasn't a bit worried or anxious, probably because she saw that her opponent was a small girl. The referee blew the whistle, our match started. She did her service as she won the toss, it was the first sign of my bad luck that I lost the toss and I thought that this bad luck will remain with me till this nerve-wracking match ends.

She didn’t serve well but was good in picking up the shuttle. I continuously had my service and gained points but in the middle of the match, the girl seemed to come to her senses and was playing wonderfully. She recovered her points and was gaining more. I thought that this would be the end of me. My teacher’s words of encouragement were endlessly echoing in my ears. Sweat was rolling down my face. I was covered with sweat. I played badly but as the match was about to end I couldn’t believe my luck; I recovered all the points and was even three points ahead of her. My spirit rose, when the results were announced, lo and behold I won the match! I stood in front of my teachers, with the racket resting in my hands, still not realising that this thing is happening to me.

My teacher hugged me and said: “You did well, excellent” My teacher was very happy. The third participant went and suffered the same situation as I had suffered. With God’s help she won. And it dawned on us that we were really going in the semi-final. On the way back home I was really very thrilled for the next game and the bus was filled with our excited shouts “Hoorah! Bravo!”