The Twist from Wimbledon

Ramu had only two passions; sports and the ever troubling subject of male –female relation. He could play almost all games, was the member of the college tennis, table tennis, badminton and athletics team and he was good at studies too. His second passion landed him in touble quite a few times and his education advised him to sublimate his sexual energy by concentrating more on sports. Living in Malappurm, Kerala, India and holding such high ambitions. No wonder, he was ridiculed my many when he opened his mind in front of them.

But Wimbledon tennis had entered his conscious and subconscious mind ever since he watched the Wimbledon on television in 1998. From that time onwards his only daydream was about winning the Wimbledon men’s singles title against all odds.

But one has to come to terms with realities. Ramu had to settle for a bank clerk’s job after graduation. He did not stop practicing the tennis game, and he also practiced pole vaulting at the district sports council.

Ramu’s world of petty shops, shabby hotels, a job that he got at the age of twenty five, was miles apart from the glittering world of the Wimbledon tennis championship in London. Even at this age of thirty, he dreams that he will become a Wimbledon champion one day. He could not participate in the district championship because of studies and work. But now Ramu became a little realistic; he gave up the thoughts of the singles crown. He dreamt that he would win the doubles and the mixed doubles, with European partners. If Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi can win titles at 38 and 39, why cannot he?

His passion for sports was so much that he spent a considerably large amount to buy a fiber glass pole to practice pole vaulting. He kept the pole and his tennis racquets near his bed while sleeping. The practice wall at the university stadium had often one player to hit onto it. He was very much radiant whenever he hit a topspin backhand crosscourt perfectly. No coach, not at all rich, aged very much, but he did not kill his dream.

He was still day dreaming, and he calculated; Wimbledon is international, the all India championship is national, the third level below is the state and beneath it, the district. ‘I will start from the district level and that is only four places below Wimbledon. To be a champion of my district is a great achievement now’. He continued to practice hard.

Just one month away from the tournament, when he reached the court, he saw the presence of some girls. He learned that they were the students of the university. A very voluptuous looking girl caught his attention. Then…

Ramu’s second passion was still hot in his veins. He was just controlling it all the while, but now his mind began to sway. He approached Geetha and said, ‘Nice to meet you girls here. Practicing with boys will help you improve’. Geetha smiles and they began to play.

Back home, he began to think; ‘I have a job, I am good looking and I am now getting old. It is a sad thing that I may not be able to win an international tournament, but has time come to change my thoughts? Geetha is very beautiful and if I could marry her, both us can lead a very happy life.’

At the tournament, Ramu played mixed doubles with Geetha and won . But in singles he was outplayed by a much younger college boy.

Babu had got along with Geetha easily and he opened his mind. Geetha laughed and said, ‘Now you seem to know the reality. I will be ready to live with you if you shun all your unrealistic dreams. We cannot fulfill all our dreams.’

They united and on the first night, Ramu was still unsure about his decision to stop thinking about sport too much. But now when Geetha entered the room and when they spent the night in utmost joy, he forgot everything and disillusionment dawned upon him. He decided to be only a Malappuram man with modest expectations, content with a beautiful life partner. Bothe of them accepted tennis as their best daily exercise, and Wimbledon became the best treat on television every year.

When that gal comes and smiles at me
I lose all my cares and I win, I win
The most precious thing in this mundane world,
Unless we renounce the world