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It was a cool winter’s night. The whole village was 

indoors. Everyone, except Usman. He sat there, in front 

of the pond where rain water was collected. Thinking, 

was he being stupid trying to follow his dream when 

everybody told him he couldn’t make it. Harsh wind was 

biting on his face which further depressed him. The sky 

wasn't clear and even the small hope he got from 

moonlight, wasn’t there today. The surrounding was 

getting gloomier by the minute. He didn’t want to stay 

here, but he couldn’t get himself to go home even. After 

his failure today, he no longer had the courage to face 

others. He no longer had the courage to bear taunts 

and insult. His mind was telling him now to give up on 

his dreams, to forget all about it and move on. Yet his 

heart won’t listen to it. Cricket was his passion, the only 

thing he

oved and the only profession he ever wanted. He 

couldn’t give up on it, yet it didn’t seem like he had a 

choice.

Usman had always been crazy when it came to cricket, 

especially bowling. He had always imagined himself as a 

fast bowler playing for the national team. He belonged to 

a small village where there weren’t any facilities, not 

even a proper ground was available. It wasn’t as if he 

was not good in studies, he always scored quite good 

grades and even managed to get scholarship at collage 

but he took studies as mere formality. People always told 

him that you are wasting your time in cricket and that 

you would be better off as an Engineer or a Doctor, 

Cricket just isn’t your thing.

But Usman’s self-belief wouldn’t let him listen to anyone. 

He had a goal in his mind and he was willing to do 

anything to achieve it. As luck would turn out, while 

Usman was in college, a district level tournament was 

held in search of young talented players for the national 

team. Usman was obviously chosen to represent his 

village. But this just wasn’t his day. In his very first 

match his team lost due to his expensive and wicket less 

overs. He was a disgrace to his village. He had let them 

all down. But above all, this defeat had made him rethink 

of his dream. It no longer looked like a goal. Just an 

imaginary world, where he could remain for some time in 

his mind, which took him away from the harsh reality. 

This dream had become like a drug. It made him happy 

for some time but when 

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