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Winning & Losing

 

WINNING & LOSING

 

‘’Pa, I’m leaving for school”, shouted Savio as he rushed to the school bus.

 

“Hey, wait! When is the swimming competition?”

 

“It would be afternoon, we have classes till then.”

 

“Okay, do your best!”

 

“Thanks Pa”.

Today was the BIG day, the day that decides his success in the swimming championship. He and his pa spent a minimum of two hrs everyday, working on his fitness and style. They had to make up for last years disappointment, loosing the Inter-School Swimming Championship by just 5 points. It was a huge setback for the school, which has been the winner traditionally. So this time they worked with a vengeance. The last year, they had committed a grave mistake by admitting Savio to various events. This time they decided to stick to only the important high point ones.

In no time, the meet started and the events kept rolling, on. Savio had no competition in the events he took part in, almost winning by more than a body length. But the real race was only about to start, the 200m freestyle. This required careful strategizing. It was not just sheer speed, but the control of stamina, having sufficient reserve strength to accelerate in the last turn, that determined the winner. His biggest adversary was none other than “The Black Swan”.

His real name is Joy. With a tall build and long arms that when stretched formed a V shape, he was as swift as a swan through water. He came from Gregorian Public School, a school noted for the notoriety of its students. The school had the unrivalled distinction of producing gangsters, murderers and other hoodlums year after year.

Joy had no professional training in swimming. He was a natural. Born to a poor fisherman household, he learned by swimming in the hot shallow waters of the Arabian Sea. He participated in only two events, the 200m and the 800m freestyle. Every single time he participated, he won. His principle was simple, to hold on with the pack till the second last turn and accelerate for the last laps. Everyone knew what he was going to do, but none could beat him. But this team Savio, his Pa and the coach devised a plan. As Joy was untrained, he had a less than usual jump and a very bad turn. The only way to beat him was to save enough time in these.

It was a full house meet and all the five athletes got ready for the final race. As soon as the referee blew the whistle, Savio dove in a flash. He got to the water surface early and swam to the other point. He had a fair lead from the others and now he had to stretch it. He would do it in the turn. He headed to the wall, somersaulted, dolphin kicked and pushed off the wall, a process repeated numerous times to perfection. The idea had worked, he was now more than a metre away from the rest. The target was now one more turn away . He could feel Joy pacing himself. This was the last chance for success. He pushed again hard against the wall, one more lap and he was home. Joy was inching closer, and closer. He sent a final violent stroke and a voluminous kick. This fueled him to the finishing line. He had won.

The defeat did not as much stung Joy. Even if he had won, it wouldn’t have made any difference to him. This was the last time he was participating in any type of competition. His parents had conveyed to him, albeit painfully, that they could not afford his studies any more. The catch from the sea was not adequate and they had a growing debt. He had only one more year of schooling left, but that was all right. He had resigned to his fate very early in his life. He will only be a fisherman and no miracle is going to change that.

What he saw coming home was unexplainable. A crowd had formed near his house. This meant either that the loan shark had brought his henchmen or… he didn’t want to imagine that. But then getting closer, he realized that it was not only in his home; people were everywhere, The sea shore was boiling over with a  frenetic activity. The last time he saw anything like this was 7 years ago. . He understood what was happening. Incidentally, the fishermen folk were hit by “CHAKARA”, a shoal of fish & prawns in exponential quantities.

He never believed in miracles. But this was an unforeseen phenomenon, one that could redefine his remaining life. Now he could continue and finish school, join college and become someone. He could leave this place and find his destiny.

Nord Pool clearing is a subsidiary of the big multinational investment bank, JFK International. The work there is slow during this time of the year. Trading is mainly done on agricultural products, diary products, meat & fish. It is the only clearinghouse in South Asia holding licenses for the fish derivatives market. They tend to make substantial profits both going long and short on the assets.  There is not much of a risk involved unless there is an idiosyncratic change like a sudden rich harvest or a big marine phenomenon.

As soon as the news about the “CHAKARA” hit the house, alarm bells started ringing around the traders. They would stand to lose a lot, a huge amount possibly. Reports were that a top executive had a heart attack, it seems he had just got on to a big fish contract a few days ago. For many of the young execs it would be the first time they see a red figure in the books. Until now, the robust economy meant that all risks paid dividends.

Meanwhile, Savio and friends had a big party at Uncle John’s Café, students and teachers from all classes came to congratulate him. Savio was all smiles. He was in anticipation of getting home and breaking the news to Pa. He had envisioned the sight in many dreams, his Pa’s happiness… he wanted to see it.

It was dark when he got home, The house was locked which was quite unusual. His uncle was sitting in the steps, almost expecting him.

“Uncle, what makes you come here now? Do you know where Pa and Ma are?

The man stood up, he had a gloomy face, put a shoulder over Savio.

“Hey kid, Your dad is in the hospital. He had a heart attack but don’t worry he is recuperating now.”

Savio was speechless for a moment like a lightning had struck him. With a breaking voice,” What triggered it?”

“Oh, some unexpected losses in derivatives trading, not huge but big enough for your father to get worried. Come on, lets go to the hospital”

Sitting in the car, Savio could not believe his reversal of fortune. How strange is life. One minute you are on top of the Everest and the other deep down in an abyss. The medals he had won were still adorned in his neck.

“I see you have won the championship, Congrats!”

“Thanks”.

But did he win? he was having second thoughts about it. The point is really, does anyone WIN or LOSE?