Name:Jeffin

Age:

Grade:

Family Situation: Father remarried. Mom is sick.Grandfather ails from heart problem. Father compelled his mother to abort three children. Jiffin has been changing schools right from his kindergarten owing to family situations.

I first met Jeffin when Ajilesh introduced me as one of his best friends. In fact it was this kid who filled me with the surprising facts of Ajilesh. As he poured out the numerous awards which Ajilesh had to his credit one by one, I strangely felt that he was happier than the champion himself. What I saw there was, a genuine friendship unfold before my eyes- a friendship that saw no jealousy or ego. I truly felt exalted for the duo.

Jeffin was the taller one. He was fair, lean, and I cannot help saying that he was one of the most handsome guys at Snehabhavan. The light blue shirt he wore made him look even cuter. With hair tidily combed up, Jeffin looked like a boy who always had an air of importance around him. He presented himself with dignity before others. But as the saying goes “Appearances are deceptive”. From the looks of it, (he had a book with him even during our small chit-chat!) I thought that Jeffin was a nerd, who was very bookish, with the slightest interest in sports and extra-curricular activities. The fact that he was just standing and talking to me, while his friends were immersed in their game of cricket, further emphasized my belief. Or so, I thought. But I was in for a surprise.

It was a bit too late before I realized that a sixer from one of the boys, playing the nations favorite sport out in the ground, was coming right onto my face. I was almost freezed that I had no time even to duck. I could even picture the nice red bruise on my face. Even as I stood there, glued to my feet, Jiffin caught the ball just inches before my face. Whew!!!

I was going to shower my savior with gratitude but I sealed my lips. He gave me a sideways wink and with the expertise that even experienced bowlers would envy, threw the bowl right at the stumps. Wow. It was then that the obsessed team noticed him standing beside me. “Jeffin chetta, va” (come jiffin chetta) they yelled out in unison. The next second, he disappeared from where he was, and was there amidst the other kids, enjoying the game.

He joined me after a couple of minutes. His face was red and he was sweating from playing in the hot sun. But, his eyes were sparkling with radiant joy (evidently from playing cricket). Touted as Yuvraj singh (Indian cricketer, who is a youth icon), Jeffin manages to secure the first row, while watching any cricket match. “It is only when he shouts out cheers for the team, that we realise he has such a strong and loud voice”Ajilesh joked.

Even while everyone is enjoying the game, Jeffin dreams of being a proud member of the renowned Indian cricket team one day.