There were a few people scattered around the stadium. The inter school athletics competition is not the most glamorous of the events in the city. The people present were mostly the parents of the children participating or the teachers accompanying the students. Sprinkled in the midst were a handful of enthusiastic organizers. The play ground, where the track and field events were to take place, was actually an hockey field which was also sporadically used as a football field. There was no grass on the track, as most wilted away during the scorching summer. It was the beginning of the autumn and weather was quite pleasant for the time of the year. Ungainly dark clouds were visible at a distance, but at present there was a mild sunshine accompanied with a cool breeze. The conditions were perfect for the races. There was then a loud message in the speaker, "Under -12 800 m will commence in 20 minutes at track 2." The announcement led to a minor commotion and created a bit of excitement as 800 m is one of the most popular events. The track for the 800 m event is two rounds of 400 m each.
"Good luck son, make your father proud!" exclaimed a visibly exited father to his son, Satish. Satish was nodding his head. He was the runner up in last year's competition and his father badly wanted him to win this time around. Next year he would have compete in the under 14s and the competition would be a lot harder than under 12s. His father was quiet confident that his son would win the competition. He was a full 2 seconds faster than last year. His father, being a track and field athlete in his younger days was also his coach. "Remember to always breath in with your nose at the beginning. As you hit the top speed you may use your mouth to breath, but mostly stick to the nose", continued his father. He had a long list of last minute advises for his son. Dressed in his running gear, the boy was quite confident himself.
The youngsters lined up at track 2. There were 8 students competing. Satish was the oldest of them all. His father was feeling proud looking at his son make a perfect crouch start position. With the start of the race only a few seconds away, both father and son could feel the adrenaline pumping. THREE TWO ONE and GO!! The father got off his seat and started clapping. Satish had made the near perfect start. He had the perfect poise and balance and was leaving others trailing in his wake. "Come on!!" his father was shouting punching his fist. He knew that the race was his son's to lose from here on. The first 250 m was near perfect and his on had a good 10 m on his nearest competitor.
But suddenly one of the boys, who was in the 4th position suddenly moved up a gear and was coasting past others. The father could sense that his son had a potential threat. By 400 m the distance between the boys reduced to less than a meter. And slowly but surely the other boy was gaining the upper hand. But his son would not give up without a fight. The two boys were giving it all out there. There could be only one winner. It was only the last 100 m left and the other boy started to overtake, inspite of the best of Satish's effort. His father was all disappointed. He knew Satish had almost no chance as the momentum was with the other boy. He could not take another second prize. But he was nonetheless proud of satish's effort. He did not give up with out a fight. He was praying all heavens for a miracle to happen.
And the miracle almost did happen. The unkempt track had a small bump and the other boy tripped on it and rolled over on to the side of the field. The father could not believe what he was seeing. He almost prayed for this to happen and it happened. To his amazement and the bewilderment of the onlookers he started cheering the fall. Satish would be the champion. Its his race now. He had already started celebrating. "And the winner is David" shouted the voice in the microphone. Shocked, the father returned to his senses and tried to make sense of what had just happened!! As the other boy fell off the track, the first person to go to his aid was Satish!!
"Good luck son, make your father proud!" exclaimed a visibly exited father to his son, Satish. Satish was nodding his head. He was the runner up in last year's competition and his father badly wanted him to win this time around. Next year he would have compete in the under 14s and the competition would be a lot harder than under 12s. His father was quiet confident that his son would win the competition. He was a full 2 seconds faster than last year. His father, being a track and field athlete in his younger days was also his coach. "Remember to always breath in with your nose at the beginning. As you hit the top speed you may use your mouth to breath, but mostly stick to the nose", continued his father. He had a long list of last minute advises for his son. Dressed in his running gear, the boy was quite confident himself.
The youngsters lined up at track 2. There were 8 students competing. Satish was the oldest of them all. His father was feeling proud looking at his son make a perfect crouch start position. With the start of the race only a few seconds away, both father and son could feel the adrenaline pumping. THREE TWO ONE and GO!! The father got off his seat and started clapping. Satish had made the near perfect start. He had the perfect poise and balance and was leaving others trailing in his wake. "Come on!!" his father was shouting punching his fist. He knew that the race was his son's to lose from here on. The first 250 m was near perfect and his on had a good 10 m on his nearest competitor.
But suddenly one of the boys, who was in the 4th position suddenly moved up a gear and was coasting past others. The father could sense that his son had a potential threat. By 400 m the distance between the boys reduced to less than a meter. And slowly but surely the other boy was gaining the upper hand. But his son would not give up without a fight. The two boys were giving it all out there. There could be only one winner. It was only the last 100 m left and the other boy started to overtake, inspite of the best of Satish's effort. His father was all disappointed. He knew Satish had almost no chance as the momentum was with the other boy. He could not take another second prize. But he was nonetheless proud of satish's effort. He did not give up with out a fight. He was praying all heavens for a miracle to happen.
And the miracle almost did happen. The unkempt track had a small bump and the other boy tripped on it and rolled over on to the side of the field. The father could not believe what he was seeing. He almost prayed for this to happen and it happened. To his amazement and the bewilderment of the onlookers he started cheering the fall. Satish would be the champion. Its his race now. He had already started celebrating. "And the winner is David" shouted the voice in the microphone. Shocked, the father returned to his senses and tried to make sense of what had just happened!! As the other boy fell off the track, the first person to go to his aid was Satish!!
