Left Vicky

 

How odd a person can be? I always try to think about what was wrong with me. This is my story when I was growing up in an orthodox school where right-handers were always considered right and left-handers were left alone. The embarrassing handshakes, raising the hands to answer a question, opening a door, and even eating, everything I do was considered weird because of my reflex. My left-hand pops up immediately. Naturally, everyone around me took one arm's distance. I was always left alone.

My right had a mind of its own. I tried. At home, I tried to insert my left hand in my pocket and use my right hand for everything. I started with writing, it came worse. Then I tried to eat, the food took its own time to reach my mouth. I wore my watch in my right hand; time was wasted in adjusting it with my left hand. After a lot of struggle, I was getting used to my right hand. But, one more habit got in place. I had to place my left hand in my pocket most of the time. People thought I got some weird body condition. Finally, I gave it to my left hand again.

Here is a thing about right-handers, they have a pattern. They follow the traditional way and like the right way of seeing things. The room for creative enhancement makes them uneasy. Just like the way they felt about me. It's psychological wiring in the brain. It makes them move in the expected route. Though they have a small porting of the left hand backing them, they consciously avoid it. They even consider it unholy.

Things went as usual for me. I was always left alone in school activities. I never gave up on trying. Here is a thing about left-handers; they are natural, open, and unexpected. It's their wiring in the brain. And my efforts finally paid off. The day came where they had to pick me. Not because of choice, they had no one else for the cricket team.

Here is how it happened. It was another normal day of school, suddenly the PE teacher walked in. One of their players was down with fever. He had to choose a new candidate just to show the count. As soon as he announced the news, several right hands popped up in the air. As usual, my left hand popped up in the air. Another turned back and gave me a look. I ignored them and looked at the PE teacher with a bright smile. I don't know what went to his mind, he chose me.

I was shocked. Not just me, the entire classroom gets shocked. Finally, someone picked me. I was not worried about the match, just the idea of getting picked for something made me happy. That was the day I had them walk. The proud walk of the chosen one, I raised my chest, exhaled, and walked towards him. All the eyes were on me. I was expecting some glimmer and happiness in their look. All I got was a cold stare from them. This was not the first time I was getting this. I ignored them and followed for the match.

A lot of mixed feelings entered my head. How a left-hand batsman can hit the ball? How can I throw the ball? How can I catch it? Will my right hand respond to me? How will I run between the wickets? After a storm of questions, I met the team. They were taller than me. Then I met an old friend, it was the bench. This time I was not left alone. I was with ten different members. I was happy.

The ground was filled with harsh sunlight, opponent school kids and their team on one side and the other side me with my team. The principal approached us for the toss; we won and chose to chase.

The captain aligned the other ten players in a strategic position and placed me far away from the line. The match started and the heat turned up. The game was steaming with heavy hits, amazing dives, and precise wickets. Halfway through the match, I realized one thing. I was not a part of this. The ball never reached me. It was like they almost forgot that I was there. I was invisible to them. I was left alone.

After few hours, our star baller got a wicket. They were jumping in joy. The opposite school team was silent. The score was moderate and the wickets were less. When we thought it was going to be an easy win, then a tall guy walked in with his shiny bat. The silent opponent school team cheered with high spirits. The batsman got settled in the crease and started his play.

My school team got startled and confused. They have never faced anyone like him. He was a left-hand batsman. When the other batsmen were playing with their right hand, everything went right. But, this left-hander disturbed their flow and morale.  He exactly knew where to hit and how to tackle the ball. Bowler after bowler tried different tricks, some tried to spin, a few tried to swing and a few tried fastball. Nothing worked on him. Every single ball gave him runs and one fine hit finally came towards me.

Who knew my reflex would work here. My left hand automatically got the ball and threw it to the bowler. All this effort from before finally came into action. Looking at me everything came back to the team. This odd situation required an odd solution and I was the odd one. The captain thought of giving an over to me. I have never bowled in life. The team was tensed and the opposite team was confused. They have never seen a left-hand bowler in their life. No one could anticipate what was going to happen. The batsman was in a state of a mix-up.

He took a minute to settle down. Even my captain couldn't place the fielders accordingly. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes to calm down. The exhilarating feeling subsided. Sweat was trickling down my head. I completely gave in to my left hand and let it take care of me.

The whistle blew, the batsman got ready. I tossed the ball between my hands, flexed my body, and ran. After reaching the crease, I released the ball with a twist; it went out of the line. The batsman thought it was going wide and got easy. My teammates got restless. As my ball pitched out of the line, it turned and twisted in. The batsman got confused and couldn't react. Before he could lift his bat, the ball came in and hit the middle stump.

When the stump fell, the entire ground was silent. No one could believe what happened there. They dropped their jaw and got stuck with shock. The silence broke when the umpire blew the whistle and signaled out. Our school audience shouted with joy. My teammates ran in lifted me and shouted my name. This was all new to me. I was in shock, from that moment my invisibility was gone and I was visible to everyone. This was only because of my left hand.

Because of my over, my team quickly chased the score and won the match. After that match, I became left Vicky.  I found new confidence in myself and never tried to change. When I became myself, things came to me. Though it took me a while, things fell in line.

From that day, even today, my school still talks about the stories of my left hand to my juniors. Gradually more people like me emerged. The usage of left-handers became unique and the stigma got broken.

New things are always tough to accept and being ourselves might keep us away from others but with an open mind and self-confidence, we can accept anything and let others see our true soul.