Play
Umpiring
in the Carrom World Championship 1991
written and directed
by Arif Naqvi
(for 1st. World Cup at Luton, U.K. in 2001)
Caste:
Anil Kumar Umpire
Babu I.C.F. Secretary General
Sheila Devi Umpire
Kidwai Umpire
Boy Son of Anil Kumar
Girl Daughter of Anil Kumar
Mrs. Kumar Wife of Anil Kumar
Young Lady
Masseur
German player
Dutch player
Manager of the German Team
Chief Umpire
An official
Assistant Umpire
Few other umpires organisers guests and spectators i.e. Ashok Sharma, Krishan Sharma, Martin Meyer, Bashir Ahmed, Harry Darnhofer etc.
First Scene
( Office of the All India Carrom Federation)
Umpires are being instructed how to conduct matches during the World Championship.
Anil Kumar: But Sir, if any player pockets all his coins...
Secy. General: Not coins, Carrommen!
Anil Kumar: I mean Carrommen...
Sheila Devi: Why Carrommen? This is discrimination, injustice, sheer discrimination to
women. Women are always discriminated. Even Carrom should be men`s monopoly.
Kidwai: Should we call them Carromwomen?
Sheila Devi: Kidwai, don?t twist...
Secy. General: No, no, you cannot change it. The term is given by the ICF Congress at Male.
The decision is final. You may bring amendment in the Laws of Carrom , in the next Congress.
Sheila Devi: Sir, you always make changes, discriminating the women. That is why there are very few top women players.
Kidwai: Sheila Devi, we have Queen in Carrom. We don?t have King, or Maharaja.
Sheila Devi: Even that too seems to be too much for you.
Secy. General: Please don?t give such colour. Don?t fight.
Anil Kumar: Sir, you may call man, woman, Mr., Mrs., Lord , lady, Monsieur, Femme, Mademoiselle,Khatoon, Janab, Srimati, Sriman ??.. Whatever you may like. But my question was different. I simply wanted to know if a player has pocketed all his Mr or Mrs, Sri or Sriman why dont you call it century any more?
Secy. General: No, no, no, not Century, not hundred. It is slam.
Anil Kumar: Slam means...
Kidwai: Grand Slam or Royal Slam...
Secy. General: No, no, not Royal or Grand Slam. Days of Maharajas and kings have gone. It is simply White Slam and Black Slam.
You should not create confusion.
Have you not passed the International Umpires Examination?
Look you are umpire, umpire. Arn´t you ? Your task is umpiring according to the Rules of the I.C.F. and not to argue.
Anil Kumar: You are right Sir. You are the Secretary General of the I.C.F., but when I passed the examination at that time there were no men running on the Carromboard...
Kidwai: We had a game of 29 points. There was no limit of boards. The Queen had 5 points. She was counted up to 23 points.
Secy General: But in those days International Tournaments were not taking place.
Sheila Devi: We still give 5 points for pocketing Queen.
Anil Kumar: No madam, the days of monarchy have gone. Now the importance of
Queen is reduced to 3 points only.
Secy. General: Sheila Devi, you are International Umpire. You must know the new Rules!
Sheila Devi: How do I know Sir, you are changing the rules every day.
Anil Kumar: The game is losing the charm. In our days, when I was U.P. Champion, players were not allowed to hit the opponent´s coin, I mean Carrommen, directly. Nor you could hit directly if the piece was on your base line or under base line or on the arrow of your side.
That was the game. That was the art. Now you have made it so easy. You have even permitted thumbing. Bachchon ka khel kardiya hai.( You have made it a children`s game). And you want to make it an Olympic game.
Secy. General: OK. Mr. Kumar, then show me if you can easily pocket such Carromman.
I am putting it under your baseline near the border. Now try.
And now I will show you how difficult but nice shots are possible by thumbing also.
(Demonstrates few shots.)
Secy. General: Friends, please stop discussion. In three days the World Championship has
to start. You have come here from different parts of India to conduct the matches. Players from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and India will be here, in this Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. And you are fighting on Rules, ...if the Carrommen are male or female.
Kidwai: Take them as common. Call them as persons. Afterall terms such as Spokesperson are very common these days.
Secy. General: Please study the International Laws of Carrom properly
(distributes the booklets).
You are International Umpires, Referees for the World Championship. You are the most important Umpires in the history of Carrom. You will be officiating the matches in the First World Championship.
Anil Kumar: OK. Sir, but now let us play Carrom. We have been discussing the whole day. During the World Championship we will have no chance. We will have to watch others playing. Let us atleast play today.
Sheila Devi: Let us have doubles. Mr. Babu you should be my partner.
Anil Kumar: I take Mr. Sharma. Kidwai, you do umpiring.
Kidwai: Why should I? You be umpire. Let me play.
(Players take their sides. The Carrommen are arranged on the board. Powder is spread on the Carromboard and the game starts.)
(First Scene ends)
Second Scene
(A park near the house of Umpire Anil Kumar.)
(Anil Kumar is sitting comfortably on a bench. Some people are walking. Anil doesn´t take notice of them. He is reading the International Laws of Carrom)
Anil Kumar: Umpire shall mean an official appointed to supervise and/or control a
Match.
Chief Referee shall mean mmmmmmmm.
Cannon, Cannon, Cannon means placing a C/M, (as if a Chief Minister) ...within the Outer Circle...Why outer Circle?...Let it be...) near another Carrommen..., (no Carrom man) and or Queen in such a way that there is space and the existing C/M faces the general direction of a pocket.
(repeats)
(A boy and a girl come)
Boy: Daddy, daddy, Mama is calling. We are waiting for lunch.
Anil Kumar: Hsh....( asks him not to disturb)
Girl: Papa, you have not taken even breakfast. Mama is making Puri...Come!
Anil Kumar: Go, go...I am coming. And look, send Mohan to drycleaning. He should bring my blazer. I need it for umpiring.
(Children go back. Anil continues reading the International Laws of Carrom, making gestures. A beautiful woman comes walking, stops near Anil Kumar, puts lipstick on her lips, looks her face in a small mirror and comes closer to Anil Kumar).
Woman: Excuse me. What is the time?
Anil Kumar: (Without paying much attention) Two (2 O.Clock).
(The woman goes away)
(Anil Kumar continues reading the International Laws of Carrom)
(Mrs.Kumar comes)
Mrs. Kumar: We have been waiting for lunch. The food is now cold. What the hell you are doing here. No breakfast. No lunch. Only siting in the park?
Chipu is weeping. you promised her to show film today. Amitabh Bachchan`s film. Children are waiting.
Now close this book. Come!
Anil Kumar: My dear in two days we have World Championship. I have to conduct matches, international matches and you want to go to cinema. There are top players coming from Switzerland, Germany, U.K. and Holland
and you want to see Amitabh Bachchan.
(Gives money)
Take this money. You can take the children to cinema...
Mrs. Kumar: My God...what a madness! No I am not going without you. Who will drive. Please come soon. We are waiting.
(Mrs. Kumar goes)
Anil Kumar: (Continues reading)
A player shall be liable to lose if he smokes or smells foul while at play due to intoxicating drinks and or is under the influence of drugs....
Masseur: Malish (Massage), Tel-Malish (oil massage), Champi.....
( Malishwala comes closer to Anil Kumar looks at him and goes to the other corner of the park)
Anil Kumar: (continues reading)...disturbs and distracts the attention of the opponent. (with gestures)...while at play more than twice, despite umpires warning...
Masseur: Malish, Tel-malish, Champi...(Malishwala comes again)
(Anil Kumar calls him and asks him to massage his head and shoulders, but continues reading the International Laws of Carrom)
(While doing massage the Malishwala begins to sing)
Masseur: Malish, Tel-malish, Champi
Sir jo tera chakraye, ya dil duba jaye
Aja piyare pas hamare, kahe ghabraye, kahe ghabraye
Malish, Tel-malish .....
Tel mera hai muski, ganj rahe na khuski
jiske sir par hath phira dun, Chamke qismat uski
Sun Sun Sun, are beta sun,
Is Champi men bare bare gun
Lakh dukhon ki ek dawa hai, kiyon na aazmaye
Sir jo tera chakraye.......
Malish, Tel-malish...
Leader ho ya public, naokar ho ya malik
Apne age sabhi jhuke hain, kiya raja kiya sainik
Sun, sun, sun, are beta sun, is Champi men bare bare gun
Lakh dukhon ki ek dawa hai, kiyon na aazmaye
Sir jo tera chakraye...........
Malish ...........
(Second scene ends)
Third Scene
(The First Round of the 1st. World Championship is about to finish. Only two players- a German and a Dutch are left in the hall playing on a board. Umpire Anil Kumar is conducting the match. Another referee is assisting with the timer in his hand. Chief Referee is sitting on a distance in front of his desk. Some Carrom officials are watching.
Umpire Anil Kumar takes the toss. Cleans the board with a brush.)
Umpire: First Round of the First World Championship. Singles Event.
First game of the match. First board. On my right hand side
Mr. Ingosoponohloz from Germany and on left Mr? ?.from Netherland.
Score zero/zero.
Mr. Ingosoponoholoz to break.
(Umpire asks German player to arrange the C/m for Break.
The player is nervous. He fails to arrange C/m properly. Umpire asks him to correct again. In spite of many attempts the player fails. Umpire doesn?t know what to do. He tries to explain the German player to properly arrange the C/m. The player doesn?t understand him.
Umpire: Break! (Calls umpire).
German Sir, the coins are not of the same size. I cannot help if there are gaps
Player: between the Pieces.
Umpire: Break! Play!
(The German player hits so hard that his striker jumps and falls down on the floor and breaks. The match stops. Umpire goes to Chief Referee and informs him about the incident.
-9-
Chief Referee: (calls) Manager of the German team! Manager of the German team. Please report immediately.
Manager: Yes Sir?
Chief Umpire: Your player has broken his striker. Have you another striker? You may give him.
Manager: Here it is.
Chief Umpire: Please get it certified first.
(The manager gives his striker)
One Official: This is heavy Sir, over weight, more that 15 grams.
Manager: It can´t be over weight. I have bought it here.
Official: No Sir, this is fifteen and half gram. It cannot be used in the match.
Manager: What the hell?I don?t have another one.
Chief Referee: OK. I am giving you my own striker. I am using it for thirty years. Please return it to me immediately after the match. Tell your player not to break it.
Manager: Ofcourse you will get it back.
(The match starts again)
Umpire: Play!
(Dutch player pockets his black C/m and touches the pocket.)
Umpire: Foul!
(One C/m is taken out and given to German player for placing. He places the penalty C/m keeping his striker in the hand.)
Umpire: Foul!
(The player looks at the face of Umpire. Also the Dutch player is upset. Umpire
asks the player to play.
Player: Sir I don?t smell foul. I have not taken alchohl or any drug. I don?t smoke even.
Umpire: No, you had the striker in the hand, while placing a penalty c/m. This is foul. OK. Play.
Dutch player: (stops) Sir, the penalty C/m is not placed.
Umpire: Foul! You didn?t demand before. Now you are disturbing.
(The German player places the penalty c/m keeping the striker on the border of the Carrom board)
Umpire: Foul! You have striker over the border of the board. This is not allowed.
(The Dutch player tries to take out the penalty C/m from the pocket:
Dutch player: Sir there is no white in the pockets. ( He takes out his own C/m and shows to umpire).
Only white is there.
Umpire: Foul! You cant touch the pockets and cant place a wrong Carromman.
(German player places a C/m of the Dutch player and asks Umpire if he has placed it correctly)
German
player: Sir, is this correct?
Umpire: Foul!
(The German player tries to remove a hair from the board. Umpire declares foul)
Umpire: Foul!
German
player: Scheiße!
Umpire: Yes please.? What you mean?
Dutch player: Sir, he says Scheiße!
Umpire: Scheiße, Scheiße, Scheiße. What you mean?
Dutch player: Scheiße means schit.
Umpire: Abusive word. Very bad word. Foul!
(Umpire tries to take out a C/m but the pockets are empty. Secy.General of the ICF goes to umpire)
Secy. General: Mr. Umpire, which board is this? Three hours have gone. Public is gone. It is now 2 O´clock in the morning. The hall is to be closed. In few hours the new round of the matches will be starting. Please try to finish soon.
Umpire: First game, first board?!
German
Manager: Mr. Babu?one should not be so strict. The Rules are new to players.
Secy. General: Please don?t tell me. I have nothing to do with umpiring. You may officially protest.
The protest must be written, signed by Manager or Captain and submitted to Chief Referee along with fees.
Mr. Manager we all want to make this World Championship successful. Our International Federation is very young. It has been established only in
1988. You were one of those who have established it. Your country should give maximum cooperation. Only then we can make it a strong Federation and carrom can
become an olympic discipline. This all depends on your cooperation. Therefore please don?t argue unnecessarily. Don?t be upset. Follow strictly the rules. In Olympics also the rules are followed very strictly.
German
Manager: My God! Every thing so formal?
Anil Kumar: This is World Championship Sir, not a friendly match!
Secy. General: (to Umpire) Don?t be very strict Mr. Anil Kumar. They are new players.
(The match starts again)
Umpire: Play! Double-Due.
OK. Continue playing.
(The Dutch player touches the C/m.
Umpire: Go on playing. Please continue.
(The German player crosses arrow with his elbow. The Dutch player points out the foul. )
Umpire: Go on playing. Play, play. Please continue.
(The second umpire is sleeping. Chief Referee is snoring. Few umpires are sleeping on the floor. A sweeper is cleaning the floor. Umpire Anil Kumar is tired and almost sleeping. Only the dutch and the German players are active.)
Umpire. Play. Go on. Continue. Don?t stop.
German
player: Sorry Sir, my striker has fallen in the pocket.
Umpire: Go on playing.
Dutch player: I have pocketed my last C/m leaving the Queen on the board.
Umpire: Go on, continue playing. (sleeps on his chair)
German
player: There is no black Carrommen left on the board. (shouts) I have won.
(Umpire falls down from his seat, gets up and declares in confusion)
Umpire: No black carrommen on the board. Five white Carrommen and queen on the board.
India wins against Sri Lanka first board, first game and first match.
( Umpire shakes hands with both players)
(End )
A Carrom board
Short story
by Arif naqvi
"Scheisse"!
The plate was broken into pieces. With a small piece of cloth in her hand
she was drying the plate when it sliped down and broke into pieces. This
was a very dear plate to her. Every time after washing it she kept it very
carefully in the cupboard like an ornament. And when guests praised her
Meissen-China-set, she told them proudly:
"Yes, we got this set on our marraige. Those days it was not so expensive.
Now its price has gone up many times."
Meissen-China-sets, which were produced in a small town Meissen near
Dresden, were considered to be white gold in the eastern part of Germany
Only rich people could afford them. Therefore Monika was specially proud
on her tea set and used it only on specious occasions. But now she was
feeling as if she has lost her most precious and dearest thing.
"Scheisse!" came once again on Monikas lips. Putting aside the cloth, she
bent down on the floor and collected the broken pieces of the plate. She put
them into a plastic bag and began other pots drying. After keeping them
carefully into the cupboard she went to the balcony and stared into the
atmosphere. After a while she went again to the kitchen, opened the plastic
bag, took out a piece of the broken plate and rubed it gently like a mother
embracing her wounded son and rubing gently his head. Tears came out of
her eyes and spread on the cheeks. Ten year old memories became fresh.
It was a pleasant winter night. The mountains of Thyringia forest were
looking white. Fine silvery snow was falling from the sky . The trees and
mountains were covered with snow and became white. Young boys and
girls had formed snow men and throwing snow balls on each other. People
dressed in colourful winter tracs ran with Skis, losing their balance, falling
on the snow,raising again and sliding on the slopes, giving others a
chance to laugh.
Monika and Peter were studying those days in an engineering college of
Berlin. They loved each other since childhood. Their parents never objected
on their affair. When they told them about their intension of going in winter
holidays to a hilly towen of Thyringia, they even gave them money for winter
shoes and skis. And now they were enjoying the most interesting holidays
of their life in Oberhof.
Monika collected some snow from the ground, made a big ball of it, threw it
on Peter and laughed like a child. Peter removed the snow from his face, also
collected some snow, rushed towards Monika and rubbed it on her face.
Then he changed the direction of his skis, which were tied under his feet,
pressed the sticks, which he was holding in his hands, on the ground and
quickly disappeared from there. After a while he turned the direction of his
skis and sliding fast on the slope reached to Monika. She received him with
open arms. Both of them could not maintain balance. They lost the grip on
their sticks and falling down on the slope rolled down to a distance.
While returning to the guest house their bodies were shivering from cold.
The teeth were grinding, blood was freezing and the snow, which had
penetrated into the gloves had melted and paining the fingeers. Peter closed
Monika again and again into his arms pressing and ribbing her back and
arms with his thick hands. Both of them rubbed each others hands, hopped
and sprang and ran towards the guest house, in order to warm themselves
up. Monika was no more interested in the snow covered milky mountains
shining behind her nor in the gentle silver snow falling from the sky nor in the
people running and falling on snow.
After reaching to the guest house peter took out a bottle of Brandy poured it
into a glass and offered it to Monika:
"Take this. This will help against cold". Then he took the bottle to his mouth.
They changed their dresses and sat down near a heater. Peter took another
pag of Brandy and sitting on the floor put his head on Monika´s lap and
closed his eyes. Gently kept Monika´s fingers playing with his hairs.
"Moni, let us marry!" Said Peter in a dreaming voice.
"With a bore like you?"
Peter sprang from his place. Holding Monika´s face in his hands he said:
"A better husband you won´t get!"
"Why not my prince. How handsome you are: Tall like a camel, broad like an
elephant, a long goblet-shaped neck of a crane, nose as beautiful and
bending as a beak of a parrot and the shining gray eyes of a cat and white
sparkling teeth of a mouse."
"And you? You look more beautiful than a little white mouse." Darling, only
an idiot will marry you."
"Yes, an idiot will marry me."
Both laughed loudly and embraced each other. The night became more
beautiful.
Few months later they were married. It was an ideal pair. Every one admired
them. They were always together - in cinema, in theatre, in disco, on picnic,
every where. Whenever they attended a party made it thrilled with jokes and
laughters.They always took care of each others interest. After completing
education Peter was employed in a factory as engineer. While Monika got
the job as a Secretary in an office. The office provided her a cheap flat also.
And the parents gave them money to decorate it. They were enjoying now a
very pleasant life.
One day when Monika informed Peter that she is going to become mother,
his joy knew no bonds. That night he took so much alchohol, that he could
not go to work next morning and remained lying whole day on the bed.
They made numerous plans, bought a car, video camera, pram. He
brought every day lots of fruits and insisted that Monika should eat them in
order to get energy. Sometimes they disputed if it will be a son or daughter,
look like mother or father, with eyes brown or blue, hairs dark or blond.
Many names were suggested, but each of them was imperfect and led to
long discussions. And when they could not decide they laughed louder and
took each other into arms.
Gradually lost monika interest in outings. She was not going any more to
restaurant or bars. She had no interest in visiting friends and relatives. Peter
also asked her seldome to accompoany him to a party. After the office
hours he mostly went alone to his friends and untill mid night spents time in
a restaurant or pub. Now he was drinking more beer. Friends used to remark
on his large belly. Monika never complained Peter for his absence. She was
concerned of the on comming Peter, lost for hours in thoughts and dreams.
She didnt even bother if Peter has come late or was without food and had
a bad mood.
After the birth of the baby they distanced from each other further. They
always found a fault with partner and querrelled on little things. Peter was
now seldome to be seen at home in the evening and when he asked Monika
to accompany him to some party she refused flatly.
Today was the tenth anniversary of their marraige. Peter had come earlier at
home. He had brought a bouquet of ten Roses and a beautiful present.
Monika had prepared a cacke. But after taking coffee Peter had gone to his
friends leaving Monika alone to wash the pots and look after the child. And
now at the loss of the plate she was feeling as if thousand year old ties have
broken in a jerk.
"Scheisse!" Came on Monika´s lips again. She wanted to throw the piece
of the broken plate on Peter´s head, but he was already gone and now
drinking beer in a pub. Next day also her mood was off. She was ready to
querrel with Peter. But her girl friend Maria had come with her hsuband and
inviting them to join in swimming at a near by Sports and Recreation Centre.
Monika and Peter could not resist. It a was Sunday and they had no excuse.
They enjoyed swimming in the swimming pool, tried to brown their bodies
at solarium, took icecream in the bar of swimming pool and went round the
Sports Centre, watching different indoor games. While they were walking
thorough a big hall at the first floor of the centre they saw some people
playing a strange game. Monika stopped near a board. The young boys
sitting on the two sides of the board facing each other took no notice of her.
Their fingers were moving on the board. It was a wooden flat and square
board, about 1x1 sq. meter big, with a whole with net on every corner. In the
centre of the boards there was a small circle surrounded by a bigger circle
and on four sides of the playing surface two parrallel black ines and red
circles were drawn and several small round and flat wooden pieces were
lying on the playing surface of the board.
"What is this game?" Monika asked a young boy.
"Carrom! An Asian game." He answered gently and turned his face towards
the board.
The young boy put a red piece in the central circle, which was marked red.
Then he arranged one by one two white pieces to make a white Y around
the red piece. Then he put three black´ pieces between each gaps of the Y
making three small black Vs and inserted one white piece between each
black V. Thus a beautiful flower was formed in the centre of the board. With
the help of his all ten fingers he tightened the wooden flower, gave a slight
turn to his girdle, took a little bigger round plastic piece in his right hand,
olaced it on his base line, made an angle and with the tip of his first finger
made a stroke. The striker hit the opponent border and then hit the pieces.
Two white pieces travelled straight to the pockets on the corners. One by
one he pocketed two more white pieces. The next piece didnt go to the
pocket. Now his opponent was trying to pocket his black pieces. Monika
was watching their game keenly. Also Peter, Ralf and Maria were
fascinated.
The young boy who was pocketing the black pieces also pocketed the red
one and then one of his black pieces and shouted:
"Confirm! Queen cover!"
"Queen?" Monika asked astonishingly.
"Yes Madam, the red one is called Queen." The young boy replied.
"Is there no king?"
"Who cares for males, Fraulein, all love Queen. That is why the pieces are
arranged arround the queen." He laughed loud.
"Play your shot. Your are taking time." The other boy was getting bored
from their conversation. Peter, Maria and Ralf had moved towards other
boards. Monika also left the place.
Next day when Peter didn´t turn up straight from office and Tony had slept,
went Monika to the Sports Centre. She collected the Carrom pieces and
striker from the counter and took place in front of a Carrom board in a
corner near the glass window, playing alone. Soon her thumb started paining.
Every time when she tried to strike, her nails pierced the thumb and pained
and striker went to a wrong direction. She got bored and wanted to leave the
place, as the young boy, whom she had seen there a day before, came to her
and said:
"Fraulein, don´t put your nail on the thumb, place it on the board, on the
playing surface, on the side of your thub. Then you will be able to pocket it
and have no pain and enjoy the game."
He said seriously and without asking for Monika´spermission, took seat in
front of her.
"Come let us play!"
He said frankly and started arranging the pieces on the board. Monika got
up:
"Sorry, I am getting late."
She collected the pieces in a small wooden box, returned them at the counter
and came out of the Sports Centre. For weeks long she didn´t go to the
Sports Centre. Sometimes she remembered that old strange Asian game,
recalled that young boy whom she had treated so unfriendly. But she did not
dare to go there alone.
Life was moving in its normal course. Whole day in office, evenings with
the child, whashing clothes, preparing food and watching films on TV. Peter
came seldome early and when he was at home spent time in watching TV
drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. The room was full of cigarette smoke.
It was suffocating Monika. She went to the other room and opened a novel or
magazine. And when Peter didnt change his routine and failed to stop
comming late to home, Monika could not tolerate it. Her steps moved towards
the Sport Centre. Also the following night she returned late from the Sports
Centre. Peter came home at 10 O.clock in the night, but Monika was
not there. The pots were lying in the kitchen unwashed. Little Toni was
sleeping in his room. After a while peter was also sitting in the Sports Centre
in front of a Carrom board. He was placing carefully the pieces on the board
and Monika was explaining him so as if she was an expert of this game. On
a short distance the same young boy, whom he had seen there on first day,
was bussy playing Carrom with his friend, unconcerned of them. On another
table few girls were enjoying Carrom. Their laughters were disturbing others.
A year has passed. Today is the 11th anniversary of their marriage. Peter
has presented Monika a bouquet of 11 red roses. Maria, Ralf and and few
other friends are also invited. Toni is now ten year old and is running here
and there in the room. Outside the room trees are once agian covered from
silvery snow. Chidren are throwing snow balls on each other and enjoying
the white snow shover. Monika has prepared with great love Annanas and
Strawberry Cackes. Peter has opened and expensive Remmy martin bottle
and filled the glasses with alchohol. A beautiful pop music is echoing in the
room. Also today the Meissen China set has been taken out of the cupboard.
But no plate or cup is broken. After finishing Coffee, washed Monika
carefully the pots. Peter dried them with a cloth and kept them back gently in
the cupboard. Then they opened their joint present. It was a Carrom board.
All friends clapped and appreciated it.
After the dinner was over, they placed the Carromboard on a stand.
Monika and Peter sat in front of the board as partners facing each other and
Maria and Ralf on other sides as their opponents. The small wooden pieces
ran through the board. Toni tried sometime to stretch his little hand on the
board. He also wanted to play. All laughed on his innosence. Other friends
took out playing cards and started playing Skatt. For Monika this was the
most beautiful evening at home. Late ninght after the guests had gone,
collected Monika the pieces and kept the Carromboard in a corner as gently
as she puts carefully her Meissen set in the cupbord. Then she put her arms
around the neck of Peter. The lights were switched off. Monika and Peter
were dancing on a beautiful music.
Next day came Monika and Peter earlier from work. Toni had already come
from school. The Carromboard was standing on the same corner where
Monika had kept it a day before. A big pot with water was lying there. A
sponge was swimming in it and a soap was lying on the floor. Wasser spots
were visible on the board.
Toni rushed to his mother and put his arms around her neck and kissed
her cheek. As if he wanted recognition of his achievement. But seeing the
seriousness on her face, he got scared and went straight to a corner.
Peter wanted to say something, but in anger, he found no words to utter.
"Scheisse!"
Said Monika once again. She tried to dry the board with a piece of cloth,
but the spots were more visible. The lines faded. Two drops of tears fell on
the board. There was quiteness in the room.
Suddenly broke Peter´s laughter the atmosphere. Also Monika began
laughing. Life returned on the face of Toni. He came out from the corner.
Peter and Monika placed the Carromboard on a stand and with pen and
brush started correcting the lines and circles, giving it a fresh look.
(From:Urdu)
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