Monday, July 8, 2019

Battlefield



Battlefield
The grand-aunt from India is visiting and has all the time in the world. Dad is working from home today and can spare half an hour. So how about a game of – sorry, not cerebral chess but the much humbler snakes and ladders? Kids are happy and the game starts immediately.
The kids are seven and five years old. The younger one is indicted as a full-fledged player for the first time overruling the smirking elder one’s objections. The young one could never resist the temptation of skipping snakes or fudging the houses to grab a ladder. Her elder brother would never have allowed her to play but he was told she was not a serious contender and it would be best to ignore her. So was tolerated. Now things have changed. She has become rather adept at the game.
The kids and their father have all the luck. The grand-aunt is a plodder but very patient. She seems to enjoy the journey more. The elder one takes pot shots at her and she does not mind. He himself is burning with competitive spirit.
In their enthusiasm to reach ‘heaven’ – the top house of 100, the kids are over- eager to grab the dice. After missing their turn a few times, the elders make a rule: whoever plays the dice out of turn, must move back five houses.
N goes up quickly but also slides down fast. S steadily goes ahead without once resorting to cheating. N fumes. However, S plays out of turn.
“Move back five places.” N orders her. This is the chance he is waiting for.  S does not want to go back. Seeing her face, the grand-aunt takes pity on her.
“This is the first time. So I am letting you off with a warning. You must allow each player to play and take his own time.”
S nods her head meekly. N is furious.
“A rule is a rule. She has to come back.”
“Come on N. She is a small girl. We will let her off with a warning.”
“NO!”
The grand-aunt is being partial! S is allowed to continue.
“That is unfair. I am quitting.”
Instead of capitulating, the grand-aunt merely says,
“Okay. We will call you once this game is over.”
N has to step aside. He does so most reluctantly. He had not bargained for his own removal. He does not go away but stands nearby wearing an injured expression and watching every move of S like a hawk. Her progress continues. The grand-aunt does not mind.
N edges closer. He can barely suppress his fury.
He leans towards S. “Cheater!”
“I am not!” says S in a small voice.
“N, she did not cheat. She did not ask for a concession. I allowed her to play.”
N does not care for any lame explanations.
“Stinker” he hisses.
“I am not.” S says softly. The poor thing is used to placating N even when – which is most of the time – he is in the wrong.
The dice is cast twice. N comes closer to the game.
“Pooper!” he shouts with venom in his voice.
“I am not.” S maintains.
The grand-aunt suppresses her mirth with difficulty and the game continues.
This is too much! N attacks S and whacks her. She is ready. Both wrestle. In any such game of physical power, S can beat N hollow.
The grand-aunt is rolling over with laughter. Kids’ father has no patience with these tactics. He warns them once and then goes away. The kids are a bit scared of him.
The grand-aunt controls herself and gives a call for the next game. Quickly N and S end their fight. They are eager to find out who will win the next game.
                       *********************************

2 comments:

AJ said...

Nice!

The third person narrative feels a bit heavy and stilted in the beginning but the piece ends on a light and amusing note.

Just one thing - this is a public blog so perhaps things like names should be disguised a bit...

Vasudha said...

Point taken and changes made.

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