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[Vatsal]

Indian Cricket team meeting:

All the kids were making lot of noise. Of course it would
be wrong to say that everyone was making noise. Sachin,
who was sitting on the first bench, was very quiet as
usual. Only 2 minutes were left for sir to arrive.

At sharp 9, John sir enters the class. Everyone take his
place.

"Good morning everybody", Sir said.

"Good morning Sir", everyone said. Every one except
Harbhajan. He was still learning English. "Sat Sri Akaal
Sirji". No need to tell who said this.

"Ok, today we are going to learn about team spirit", Sir
said. "What is timspi rit". Well, it was Harbhajan
again! Sir many times felt that he should have completed
his English classes before joining this course. In fact
some times he felt like joining Punjabi classes, so that
he could communicate with Bhaji!!

"Beta, it is not timspi rit. It is Team Spirit" he said,
trying to control his frustration.

"Ok bo! ys, so let's learn something about team spirit.
Hey, Parthiv, how many times I have told you not to put
your thumb in your mouth. Now you are in big boys. So
act like a big kid. And how will you keep wickets if you
put your thumb in mouth"

Parthiv doesn't pay any attention.

"PARTHIV", Sir shouts.

"Parthiv, take the thumb out." Sachin says in his too
gentle voice. Parthiv immediately takes the thumb out and
says - "I will always listen to you. SachinDada, You are
my role model"

Sachin gives a TVS Victor smile.

"Grrrrrr.... I am the only DADA in this team! DO YOU
UNDERSTAND?" Sourav dada shouts from the last bench!

"Boys, don't fight. Today we are going to learn about
team spirit. Harbhajan! Why are you slapping Rahul?"

"Sir, he calls me 'Sardar'"

"But you are a Sardar, right?"

"Sir, but he says - I can bowl well only at 12 o'clock.
And since 12o'clock is lunch time, I will never bowl we! ll"
- Bhaji said very angrily.

"Rahul, I always thought you were a quiet guy like
Sachin."

"But Sir, he calls me 'Tortoise' because I score slowly."

"But, they all call u Wall for your perfect defence,
right? And you should be proud of it" "I was sir. But
now I am not, because they sing a song - 'Rahul Dravid the
Wall, Can't hit a single ball'"

"Sourav, you are the captain of the side, you should make
sure that boys don't fight with each other."

"I tried, but they don't listen to me. Some of them still
listen to Sachin only." Sourav said dejectedly.

"Guys, no more fights. So we are going to learn about
team spirit. Team spirit is - playing for the team and
not for yourself. Can anyone give me one example of team
spirit?"

Everybody remained silent and as usual started looking
down. "Ok, Nehra, give me a good example of team spirit"

"Sir.. I don't know any. But I know a good example of
la! ck of team spirit"

"Ok, ok, tell me that."

"When Sourav comes near his hundred, he forgets the team's
requirement and plays slowly. That is a good example of
lack of tam spirit" The whole class laughs.

"Grrrr.... In next match Ajit will play in your place.
And you will be the water boy" Roars Sourav.

"This type of fighting is not good for our team. Anil,
you are a senior member of the side. You should take care
of the boys. ANIL!!! Why are you looking at the board,
look at me."

Some children say "Dhapanya, Dhapanya". Everyone laughs.

"Sir, I forgot my lenses today."

"So you should always keep your spects with you."

"But sir, then these people call me 'Dhapanya'. Now I
wear lenses, so I am not Dhapanya right?"

"Is it? Then why do you call me 'jaadya' even though I
have lost my weight" Said angry Dinesh Mongia.

Now Ajit joins the fight. " And you call me 'Diwali
Dasara' because I giv! e too many runs"

Dinesh defends himself, "I said that because you called me
'Navajyot Singh Sidhhu' when I said something without
thinking."

"Enough of this!!" Said frustrated John Right. "Guys,
one thing we have learned today and that is - there is no
team spirit in our side. By the way, no matter what
happens, you should not call anyone 'Navajyot Singh
Siddhu'. That hurts. Now we have learned what team
spirit is not. Let us now see what team spirit is?"

"Sir I have a shooting for TVS Victor" Sachin said.

"And I have to go for Coca Cola" - Said Sehwag.

"Hero Honda for me" Sourav.

"Jam jam Jammy " said Rahul.

One by one every one left the classroom.

Only sir and Parthiv Patel were left. Parthiv was waiting
for his mom to pick him up. He still has his thumb in his
mouth. Sir has anyway given up on this side. "Parthiv, I
am going to teacher's room. Don't go anywhere. Your mom
will come in fe! w minutes. And don't forget to take your
water bag home."

Dejected sir went to the teachers' room, called the peon
and told him to bring a VRS form!!!