Avi

Avi is in his sixth standard. I am not sure how old Avi is. His younger brother is also in sixth standard and he is about 11 years old. Avi is a smart kid - the first time I saw him, he got John lennon right in the 6th question (of the twenty questions game). When I was in my 6th standard, the only john I knew was .... I actually didn't know any John! He also had this book "The dancing Wuli masters" in his hand that he said he was reading, a book someone described 'is over his head'.

Like every other saturday, I met up with Avi, Senthil, Neel and Ashish to catch up with the week's events. We decided after much deliberation to play a game of Ludo and considering our number, I paired up with Avi. He was the strategist, the ruse while I was the words. He would decide which coin to move, whom to hit, whom to pardon while I just had to make sure I roll the dice and get the number he wants. Everytime, we got a coin home, I would do my favorite samba step (which is too intricate to put in words) and he would laugh and clap.

In between, we shared a biscuit within ourselves. Just moments after he had a part of the biscuit, his face became red and he looked on the verge of a convulsion. I freaked out, got him a glass of water and asked him whether he was ok - he managed to nod and after sometime smiled, and acted as if nothing ever happened. Half an hour later, the game got over. We won. I raised my hands towards him for a fiver and immediately realized my blunder. Stuck in his sides, were his hands like broken wings extending not farther than the hand-rest of his wheel chair. Just as I was about to apologise, he laughed without guile, told me how stupid i am to have asked him to give him a fiver and asked me to join him in another game. I was his winning charm. He was much more to me.

I am not sure how old Avi is. But he's much much more elder than me.