"Nishant, please stand up."

- "......."

- "NISHANT!!!"

- "Yes sir!"

- "Could you please explain what I taught just now to the entire class?"

- "Uhh....umm....N-No Sir."

- "Oh come on Nishant, atleast now focus on your studies. Don't forget you are in class 12 now! Badminton is no more going to make your career."

- "Ok sir."

I sat down. The whole class laughed at me. If it would have happened just a year before, I would have died out of embarassment. But now, it doesn't matter anything to me.

I have accepted my fate. I know that without any friends, the last year of my school life would probably be the worst year of my school life as well. I don't even know what kind of future will I experience, nevertheless, darkness would most probably prevail there because, apart from badminton, I am not good at anything else. I don't play badminton anymore now. I am Nishant Arora, probably the most useless student of New Delhi.

The dispersal bell rang. Eventually my classmates started hanging out among themselves and some of those school couples started matured talks and discussion about timings of their next dates and stuff.

But to me, these things are of least importance. I try to ignore looking at them, not in order to avoid jealousy, but to not to remember about the past. Whenever I compare my golden past to the dark present, my head starts paining and I experience such a breathing problem, as if my lungs are gonna burst out!

It gradually became my habit to release those frustrations and pain by crying; crying in a very secret and safe place, where nobody goes anymore now, after the school. The place is none other than an old hallroom building, which was once used as an indoor badminton practice area. It was the place where I got fascinated by the game of badminton for the very first, when I was just 7 years old. From that very point, I started taking interest in badminton and practicing it with my father. That's where my journey had begun almost 10 years ago. And now, that journey has ended with a very dreadful conclusion.

Anyways, just like any other day, I went there. As soon as I entered the building, I felt the presence of someone. I started hearing some hard sounds, which I recognised as nothing but shuttlecock smashes. But the smashes made such hard sounds, it seemed like someone was expressing his/her anger through it. I slowly walked to the corridor and entered the main hallroom.

As soon as I entered, I was surprised by seeing that those strong smashing shuttlecock sounds were made by - a girl. Suddenly, she stopped practicing and looked at me, making an eye-contact for quite a sometime. Then she spoke," Why are you here now?" I came back to my normal senses as soon as possible and replied," I was just passing by when I suddenly heard such strong shuttlecock smashing sounds." She smiled; raising an eyebrow, she questioned,"Are the smashes that loud?"

- "Ofcourse they are. With such an accuracy and concentration you were smashing them, it seems like you have practiced badminton for a long time."

- "Thank you, Senior."

- "Senior??"

- "Yes. You are Nishant Arora of class 12 right?"

- "Y-Yes. But how do you know me?"

- "Well, I study in the same school as yours, you know. I have seen you play badminton many times. Don't know why you quit it, but I have heard some rumours about your 'match fixing' case. Is it true?"

- "No, it's not."

- "Even I don't think that it would be true. I have seen, in your eyes, the respect and honesty towards badminton. I don't think you will ever cheat there. Anyway, can you please guide me for the upcoming Inter-School Women's Badminton Competition Final?"

To be honest, I didn't ever wanted to get to badminton. But with such a trust and hope she requested me, I was helpless. I cannot refuse her. Therefore I asked, "What about your coach?"

- "I am having some personal problems with him nowadays. He is trying to change my technique of playing the game."

- "Oh, I see."

- " Ok so that's it. Meet me here tomorrow after the school. Bye."

She went away with such a speed, I couldn't get to say anything. I just thought, what did just happened here. I came here to cry, but I met an unknown girl, who was asking me to guide her for badminton. And I couldn't even refuse it.

Why did it happen with me? Is it because there is still some twist left in my life to experience?

The next day, after the school, I went to that hallroom building. I waited for her, the girl whose name I don't even know, in front of that building. After a few minutes, I saw her coming. Not coming, she was running towards me; as if somebody was chasing her.

She came and stopped in front of me, breathing heavily. I asked,"What happened? Is everything alright?". Using her hand gesture, she told me to wait for her reply. She looked behind herself and tried to see as farthest as she could. Then she held my hand and quickly took me inside the building.

While moving through the corridor, she answered with a relieved look," I just bunked my badminton class, you know. I thought I was spotted by my coach. That's the reason I was running. But I think I was wrong."

- " You bunked your badminton class to take guidance from me??!! To be honest, I didn't expect that you would really come today."

- "But I told yesterday about it, Senior."

- " Yeah, but I thought you were just joking."

- " But still you came and waited for me. That signifies that you wanted me to come today, huh?".

I went speechless. She is very good with her choice of words. Anyways, I asked her," May I know your name please?". She replied teasingly," You surely know how to change the topic! Anyways, my name is Aisha Thakur. I am in class 10 now."

- "Ok. For how many years how you practicing badminton?"

- " From class 5."

- " Really? That means it took you only 5 years of practice to reach at this level? That's impressive!"

- " Thank you, Senior. But I think I am still not fit enough to win the final. And my coach trying to change my whole gameplan, which I was using for so many years."

- " Ok so, first of all, changing the gameplan is not a bad idea at all. Especially, if you were using the same gameplan for the past 5 years, then I think a new gameplan is needed for you to beat your opponent."

- " But I have only seven days left. How can I change it within these time. Changing the gameplan means I would also have to change my technique of playing it."

- " Not necessary."

- " Huh??"

- " I am coming to that part. Secondly, I have never coached anyone before. So, I have zero experience in it. But if you still insist, I will do it. But kindly don't bunk your badminton classes."

- "Then you have to come and guide me there along with Prakash sir."

This Prakash sir used to coach me once. He had a lot of trust and faith in me. Therefore, I agreed. It seemed like Aisha was overjoyed. She asked me," Ok so, how are we gonna start our practice today?"

I thought for a moment. Then I said," I think it would be easier to change a gameplan if we could just go through the basics."

- "Wouldn't it be a bit late?"

- " I don't think so, because there are only 7 basic fundamentals of badminton:- Grip, Stance, Footwork, Serve, Smash, Drop shot and, last but not the least, Clear or Lob. We could start with the grip and stance today."

- "Ok, Senior."

I asked her to show me, her general stance and how she grips the badminton racket. To be honest, there was not much difference between my grip and hers. Also there was a very minimal difference between her stance and mine. If this was some kind of fantasy world, I am sure this would have been called "Destined Love". But in this harsh reality, I can think of it as nothing else but just a mere coincidence.

She suddenly spoke out, "Senior, you have still not answered one of my questions."

- "Which one?"

- " How can I change my gameplan and succeed without changing the technique."

- " That's as easy as playing jumbled words. A big gameplan consists of many small gameplans. Just interchange some of the timings and orders. That's it. You are just using your old technique in a new way."

- " Sounds interesting. Would you teach me that too?"

- " Yeah, sure. But for some of the things, you will have to do on your own. I can just guide you."

- " That would be a great help, Senior."

Then, I made her practice just with the grip and the stance, in a new way, a new order but using that same old technique that she uses. After about half an hour of practice, she thanked me and went home. It was also getting dark, so I just thought of taking a short cut way.

As I was walking on my way back home, I thought about today's practice. It seemed like I was guiding own self today. She and I had so many things in common, in terms of badminton. It made me remember about my past, when I used to practice them.

For the first time, I felt a positive sensation by thinking about my past days after quiting badminton. I looked up at the sky. It was violet, just that moment before full night sky; it was the twilight period. Never in my life had I saw such a beautiful twilight sky as this violet one, I bet!

I thought about her techniques and a new gameplan for the whole night. This was my first time coaching someone, so I was a bit tensed but excited.

As a result, I got very little amount of sleep and woke up late, the next morning. I hurriedly dressed up, took my school bag and rushed downstairs. I live alone with my grandfather and, as he owns a small restaurant, therefore he keeps my breakfast and lunchbox ready on the dining table every morning and goes to the restaurant. He is also a very good chef, to be honest.

I had my breakfast as fast as possible, put the lunchbox in my bag, took my bicycle and paddled hastily towards the school. Gladly, I was not much late. I quickly parked my bicycle and went to my classroom.

During the recess, i went to the school washroom and washed my face. On my way back to the classroom, I met Aisha. She looked rather serious than normal. She told me to wait near the coffee shop, after the school gets over.

As she said, I went near the coffee shop after the school. She was already there, waiting for me. As I came, she told me," Prakash sir has not came today." I replied, "So, what should we do now?"

- "Let's go on a date!"

- "WHAT???!!! A d-date?? Between you and me??!"

- "Yeah. Just a normal friendly date, not the romantic one"

- "That's called 'hang out'."

- "You can also call it that, Senior."

At first, she said it so casually that my heartbeat really stopped for a moment. But then I realised that I don't have such a good luck that a girl would ask me out for date. Nevertheless, I questioned her," What about your practice?" She replied," It's ok to take break for a day. Besides, we don't know each other that well. If there's no bonding between the coach and his disciple, we can't gain success. So, let's go somewhere."

- "But where?"

- "Let me think. Let's go to Lake Park."

- "Ok"

We left for journey to Lake Park. When we reached there, it was almost 5pm. I asked her," Wouldn't your parents mind if you are out for so long after the school?"

- "My parents are not home today. My father have gone to an office trip to London and my mother has gone to one of my aunt's house in Surat. She didn't take me with her because of the competition."

- "Oh, I see."

- "What about you?"

- "My parents had abandoned me. I live with my grandfather now."

- "OMG!! Why??!!"

- "That's a long story. It's partly related to that match fixing case."

- "Tell me. We have more than enough time. Let's go and sit on a bench near the lake."

Honestly, I didn't want to disclose it to anyone else. But I don't know why, I felt very secure and comfortable with her, and thought that I could trust and tell her everything.

Therefore, we went and sat on a bench near the lake and I started telling my story:-

"From the beginning only, my mother didn't support me for playing badminton. Although my father did support me a bit, but he thought that badminton can never make my future bright. I wished I have listened to him. When I was in class 7, I started taking badminton classes from Prakash sir. He was the first one ever to identify my talent in the game. He tried to tell my parents many times about it. But they didn't listened to him. But my grandfather understood everything and used to give the fees of that badminton coaching class every month. As a result, I never stopped playing badminton. But as I grew up, my academic marks started to deteriorate. In class 10th, I got only 71%. As a result, my parents scolded me a lot, but didn't stopped my playing, because by that time, I became well known in my locality for badminton. So, in order to keep their reputation, they didn't stopped my playing. A year later, I took part in the Inter-School Badminton Competition on behalf of my school. I did well there and qualified for the finals. In the final, me and my opponent, both had won 1 round each. The last round was the decider one. At one point, it seemed like I was winning. When the score was 11-7 in favour of me, a break was taken for side change. What I saw at that time, touched my heart. I saw that his, my opponent's, little brother came on a wheelchair to deliver the towel. After taking the towel, he smiled and told his little brother, 'Don't worry, I will win the match for you. Then, with the money, you can finally have the operation and free your legs!'. That conversation touched my heart. After that, I couldn't focus on the match and almost lost it on purpose. But my classmates, neighbours and coach thought I fixed the match. Therefore, my whole fate changed from that day, my friends started ignoring me, neighbours started talking behind me and all my reputation and respect went down to earth. Due to this, my parents had to face huge humiliation in their works. That's the reason they abandoned me. But my grandpa believed in me and therefore, kept me with him in his house."

I took a long deep breath after finishing the story and drank a lot of water. I saw her face. She was looking towards the lake, thinking something in her mind. Suddenly, she asked," What colour can you see in this lake now?"

- "Deep blue?"

- "It's indigo. Do you know what the colour 'indigo' symbolises?"

- "No, i guess."

- "It symbolises great devotion, wisdom and justice. Whatever you did in that match, I think you just portrayed the significance of indigo in your character. Don't lose hope. Everything's gonna be alright. Ok then, let's end it up here today."

After that, I walked her to her home since it was a bit dark. On my way back, I knew, whatever she told me that time, don't know if she said it from heart or not, but it surely motivated me a lot. I started to believe that my fate has begun to change a bit and I was slowly emerging towards the right track.