My earliest memories of cricket are associated with the single track near the Gujarat University medical center. We played cricket there, loving the open air and the feel of sunshine on our shoulders.
We were teenagers: Ajay, Virasat, Ankit, Abhay, Mehul, Kaushal, Babbi, Babloo, Rajesh, Ellision, Jogin, Amar, Dikesh, Vikas, Rajan, Sumit, and so many others. Our common interest in cricket created friendships and brotherhoods. We longed to break free of school, and the rule was to enjoy cricket outdoors instead of being cooped up in a room listening to boring lectures.
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We wanted to move our bodies instead of the sedentary way of life imposed by a defunct examination system which emphasized rote learning. I was appointed the errand boy, fetching snacks and beverages for our players. Sometimes, the dry and dusty heat beat us up like a security guard armed with a bamboo stick, but we played on despite the odds.
Passing strangers in vehicles would stare at us like we were crazy, but we did not care and carried on anyway. We would chase stray animals who dared to interfere with our routine. Shoo.
Over the years, we have not stayed in touch, and we have drifted apart. But the nostalgia remains of those days when we played cricket on a single track in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
