Chapter 4

Parth got up early in the morning. It was sunday, so he had to reach in the court for the basketball practice at sharp 9 o'clock. Today, there was no need to ask permission. He went in the balcony, he saw Isla got off a car in the compound  holding Rocky in her arm. 

" Oh!she took him for the walk. Nice" he thought. 

She was about to enter the house, noticed Parth looking at her from his balcony. " Good morning Parth " she said. 

" Good morning Isla. " Parth replied her back. She got inside. 

Parth went inside, freshened up,took bath, put on trouser and loose t-shirt . He came downstairs. 

" Parth, have your breakfast first, then only you can leave for playing. " Lily stopped him and put a plate of breakfast on the table. 

Parth finished his breakfast and moved out. When he came out of his gate, he saw Ryan, wearing t-shirt and trouser, holding a basketball, got inside a car standing in front of his building. The car droved off. 

" Oh! He is also going to play basketball. " he saw him going and thought. 

Today, it was sunday, so the practice venue was different. He had to go sport complex for the practice. It was little far from his house. He took a taxi and reached there within fifteen minutes. 

"Parth.. Parth. " Darshan ran to him from behind and said, " wait for me please. "Parth stopped there waiting for him. Darsh reached to him. 

" All those schools and colleges who have participated  in the competition came to practice here. " Darsh said, " we got a chance to observe them playing and bring some improvement in our technique if needed."

" Is it so? All the competitors are here".Parth   wondered and looked around  the complex. Darsh was right. There were 4-5 basketball courts occupied by groups of different schools and colleges. 

Suddenly, his eyes clapped on Ryan. He looked at him playing. He tossed the ball in the air. One of the players of his dribbled and passed the ball to another member. Ryan grabbed the ball and flied the ball in the basket. He did all this so fast and perfectly. Parth couldn't stop himself from watching him playing more. 

" Parth, will you practice or you"ll just watch others playing only. " his captain said. 

" Sorry, i'm coming." he said and ran to his team. 

" He seems very expert in basketball. " he thought, " I should ask him to give training for few days. But, he is also one the competitors. Why would he give me training? "

In between, he was watching him playing many times. He was getting distracted because of this. 

" Focus on your practice Parth. What happened to you today? Why are you getting distract? If it happens again, i'll replace you." captain warned him. 

" I'm really sorry."he apologized him with folded hands. After two hours, one by one group left the ground and went home. Only his team and Ryan's team left. They're not practicing now, sitting at a place and observing them playing. 

Darsh dribbled the ball and passed it to Parth. He couldn't grab it and ball went out of the line. Ryan and his team started laughing at him. Parth got embarrassed. 

" Parth, don't mind them. You just focus on your practice. " one of the members  of his team tapped his back and said. 

" We'll surely win over this team. " Ryan said loudly. Parth listened him but didn't react anything. He kept playing. 

They also left the court and went home. Only his team left there. They practiced for an hour. " Come on guys. It's enough for today. "his captain said, wiping the sweat on his face, " next Sunday, we"ll practice little long and harder."

" I won't go now. I wanna practice an hour more. You guys can leave. " Parth took the ball in his hand and said. 

" Don't take them seriously Parth.You doing your best" Darsh put his hand on his shoulder and motivated him. 

" Let him practice, Darsh if he wants. " captain said, " Don't forget to bring the ball tomorrow in the school. "turned his face to Parth and warned him. 

" Okay, i"ll not forget to bring it tomorrow. " Parth assured him. Everybody left the court and went home. Only Parth left in the court. He practiced really hard for an hour. Ryan's words were echoing in his mind. But he took those words as an inspiration, not let himself down. 

Around three o'clock, he returned home. He knocked the door. Lily came and opened the door for him. 

" See yourself. You are completely wet from sweat. " Lily said while closing the gate, " Go and take bath. Till then i"ll heat the food for you. 

" Okay" Parth said and went upstairs in his room. He sat on his bed. He was so tired, didn't have enough energy to take bath. He rested on the bed for ten minutes then took bath. He came downstairs and started eating the food. 

" Where is grandma and pa?" Parth asked. 

" They went to market with mummy. "Lily replied and sat on a chair, watching something in her phone. Parth completed his food and sat near his sister. She was watching a movie. She told him to watch the movie but he was not in good mood and he was very tired also. 

" No, i want to sleep, feeling very tiredness. " he said and moved to his room. 

He was laying on his bed and thinking about those comment and laugh. " How rude he is? " he thought, " he should learn some etiquette from his sister. She is so sweet, kind and friendly too. "

He felt asleep after sometime. When he woke up, it was completely dark outside. He looked at the clock, " Oops! It's seven o'clock. I slept so long and nobody came to wake me up. "he mumbled and rushed to the downstairs. 

He saw his grandma, pa, Lily and mummy were sitting in a room and playing ludo. 

" Oh! You woke up Smiley. Come here and help me in playing. " his grandma smiled looking at him and said. 

Parth went to them and sat near his grandma. They played ludo, enjoyed a lot. Parth was feeling refreshed now.   

Around nine o'clock, they had their dinner together. Tomorrow Parth has school band his mummy has to go office. So, they went to sleep, saying " good night" to one another.