"You're alright?" I kept asking him.
"I tweaked something in my left knee.Ahh... i cant move it.It hurts..."
I let him lie down on the field and examined the knee.My brother was wincing in agony.Everybody gathered around him... even the 12 yr old kid who'd tripped him unintentionally.
"We'll have to carry him off.He's not gonna walk for sure." I said,gesturing the sturdy guys to help out.Everyone was more than willing to help carry off  'The striker'.As we carried him through,he had one last look at the field.
   The next day we had a scan and the reports.He was going to be out of action for a long time.The only solace was,that he wouldnt have to undergo a surgery.But then six weeks was gonna be a long long time for him to be in a brace & under house arrest.
In the meanwhile,my team was missing my defending services too.I wasnt allowed to play coz my parents were scared i'd get injured too.So both me n my bro sat in the window every evening and saw the boys sweat it out on the field.
    Eventually,we discovered a remote,a television and mandira bedi.But she couldnt last for long !! I was shattered to see our team coming back without eating too much of barbecued chicken.
   Days went by and I stopped being at peace with myself.Playing a sport or doing something you really like,takes a lot of stress off you.Its a wonderful feeling.The earth seems angelic,everything so happy and calm,and your heart literally smiles.That feeling was gone.I just didnt feel like doing anything.Ofcourse my brother was out of action due to forces of nature and somewhat of the 12 year old kid,but i was out for no reason.And he atleast knows how to play the guitar and Fifa 07. I became withdrawn and lazy.I just hated to see my hung boots everyday at home.
The energy was gone... the big smile disappeared... there was no zing,no thrill in life!
Then one fine day i heard the soccer ball being kicked around again.The screams,the yells...
I couldnt resist it.I made the right choice.I went down and caught hold of the 12 year old kid.I told him i was gonna sue him for what he did to me and my brother!!
Everyone started laughing,but he was really scared of me. I was too... until i ran again.

P.S: Wanna thank my friends on the iland,for persisting with the comments even though i wasnt here.N my sweet li'l cousin who prompted me to write again.I feel this post does sound like one of my earlier ones.Maybe i've come a full circle.