Maya (as we Xavier?s basketball team members call u!), the moment I think of you, I am reminded of your smiling naughty face… ever youthful and full of mischief! I dunno what all went on in your mind. You were an altogether different person in and out of the basketball court. The prankster Maya in the showers, making life hell for Pareek (banna!), and the reliable guard calling out for the ball?.?chal mukherji?. pass de!? when the game is on. Sorry man, I forgot your player number (maybe 13 or 6!)
Memories…. though I was not such a close friend of yours, I do have lots of memories of times we spent together. I still remember the basketball tournaments we played together. I still remember our team’s journey from district-levels in small villages like Rainwal and Bassi to the CBSE Nationals in Chennai. Our victory song “Govind jai jai Gopal jai jai” by Kulashekhar which we sang after every match we won. The passion to win and to overpower other teams that we all shared! The heated arguments I had with you on the court and how we were normal friends after the game. The loads of mastee we used to do on our tournament trips. The tense moments in the matches against giant teams, Hari Mohan sir shouting from outside….. But you were keeping your cool. You know, I used to wonder at times how you managed to be so fearless in front of those opponents, and indeed your confidence was an inspiration for the whole team. It was a pleasure playing basketball for Xavier’s with you.
My mother, your Mukherji ma’am, also has some memories with you to share. She remembers how you used to have fun in class. She always used to wonder how you could finish a 3-hour English paper in 1 and a half hour or less and still manage to secure such good grades (her’s used to be very lengthy and tough papers for others!). Also how a naughty, troublemaker turned into a decent obedient son when your father came for the parent-teacher meetings. Maya– your Mukherji ma’am finds you one of the brightest students she ever taught!
I am one of those numerous people whom you touched with your simple yet emphatic ways. I really wish those days are back and we all (You, Farooqui, Samvit, Khandu, Bharat, Tubby,Nimish, Bhaskar, Patni, Pareek(banna!) and me) play basketball as a team and cheer ?GO XAVIER?S?.