A trophy to win

We had to win the interschool sports tournament to honour Miss Rajani’s memory. But how could we do it, if the new games teacher wouldn’t train us?

Miss Rajani, our games teacher, passed away suddenly. We were shocked, upset and sad. She was our favourite teacher.

“Remember, at the last interschool sports, Miss Rajani made us promise that we would get the rolling trophy this year also and then keep it in our school forever?” said Reema.

“Yes,” I said. “We must do this for her.”

So, all charged up, we went for our games period. We heard a shrill whistle. Stunned, we looked back and saw a man. We gaped. He was thin and tall and had a giant moustache that curved down and fell off his chin.

“My name Mr. Gopal,” he said. “I am your PE teacher.”

A sob caught in my throat and I said, “Miss Rajani, please come back.” But, of course, she didn’t; because death, as we all knew, was final.

The games period was awful. He did not let us play basketball or cricket. Instead, he made us pick up stones in the playground. When we asked him about playing cricket and basketball, he said he would think about it.