“Did we win Ramya?”

“No sir.”

“WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN?!”

Throwing the papers in hand, the Deputy Head yelled at her.

“Sir, we have identified the problem and~”

“You are going to sought it and by that time the investors and sponsors will eat our head! And for so called media will start spreading ‘Tax-payers money is being wasted’ and how do you intend to answer them, Madam?!”

With a sarcastic smile on his face, the Chairman of the Board glared at her. Unable to meet eye to eye, Ramya lowered her head. Suddenly, she lift her head and made eye contact with the Chairman.

“Sir, can I ask you few questions?”

“Sure, MADAM!”

“First question, SIR: when was our U19 team at its prime?”

“Quite some years back. Around 2024-25.”

“Second, when was our main team at its prime?”

“From the start of 2028 till 2031.”

“Great. Who was the captain of the U19 team in its prime?”

“G S Subramanyam.”

“And the main team from 2028 till 2031?”

“G S Subramanyam.”

“Why did he quit?”

“Lack of humanity, LACK OF HUMANITY IN THE TEAM!!!”

Shouting at the top of his voice, the Chairman stood up from his seat and swiftly walked towards Ramya and stopped right before her. He lowered his head to meet eyes with her. The whole room fell silent.

“What are you trying to convey?”

“That how that day our ‘BOARD’ *clap* lacked humanity, today the team lack coaches with technical and practical knowledge, SIR!”

“So?”

“This is January of 2050. I request time till February of 2051 when the Asian Games timetable will be out.”

“THAT IS NOT MY QUESTION! I am asking who will fill the holes, MADAM?!”

“Garuda, Garuda Subramanyam. Raghu has started to his place. He will bring him back, for the rise of the Golden era of Indian Volleyball.”

“Are you sane? I don’t believe he will come back after the words I used at him.”

“Why will he not come SIR? He is that Bengal Tiger who is waiting for an apology. AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY. He will come back for sure.”

The Chairman bursts out in laughter and pulls a nearby chair and sits on it. He chugs some water and continues laughing. The whole Board got scared. They came to the Chairman and tried calming him down but the Chairman continued laughing. The Chairman pointed Ramya. She came close and kneeled down.

“I have seen many stubborn people in my career but, Garuda ranked number one.”

“Why are you telling that to me sir?”

“From today, that idiot is number two. You are number one.”

“I don’t get it. What stubbornness did I show?”

“You showed me that stubbornness. That one which wants her words to taken in consideration. You might feel that it is your job but remember one thing. Remember one thing that was stubbornness for the passion of your duty.”

“I still didn’t get you, sir?”

“When only your passion and duty makes you forget the position in which you stand, that day you have successfully become stubborn.”

“I got it, sir.”

“You got it, but still you didn’t get ‘him’, madam. Get him and then see me. I gran you time till February of 2051. Not more or less. Go for it, beti.”

“Thank you sir.”

Ramya stands up and wipes her eyes. She walks past the long conference table to the exit door. She opens the door and walks back to her chamber. She dials a number in her work telephone.

“*click*. Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Raghu, we have time till Feb of 2051.”

“Got it.”

“Where are you right now?”
“The train has crossed Bellampali station. Another 5 hours to Hyderabad, 1 hour to hotel, 1 night sleep and then 45 minutes cab drive to his house.”

“Quite some time.”

“Yep. Bye.”