Bench'warmer

This is from years ago. It was one inter-school sports tournament and I was representing my school in Kho Kho (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kho_kho). The place was couple of hours away by bus in the summer heat that feels scorching only years later now when I don't even step out much (forget about playing). If i have to, I over-pack myself with hydrating drinks or eatables that to me is an amusing irony.

Going back to the D-Day then, I had woken up early. I was in my tweens but had looked at myself as a fighter in the mirror while brushing my teeth. I had a good breakfast and had asked my parents to wish my team well. We reached the venue and I kept my chin high as we walked towards the kho-kho court. This gait was to scare any other team that was looking at us (or i assumed so) by my sheer confidence. The umpire blew the whistle and the teams huddled together. I settled myself on the bench. I was part of the team, but in the extras. My cheer was shrill, I wanted to shoo away the other teams still.

The competition was tough, and we were into the deciding point when a player from my team got injured. Our coach signaled at me to hit the court now. I vividly remember how I felt and how I played in those last few seconds, for my team. Our team lost but my coach told me how proud she was of me. If I look at the outcome of that day, nothing special had happened for me or for my team. But the memory is very special that makes me fall in love with the schoolgirl that I was over and over again. It is part of my becoming. Do you know more of me now as I share this story about myself? And do you have a similar story that you are proud of? Do share even if you have been an extra player.