Does Tolerance Teach A Lesson Or Promote The Wrong Doings :----

                       

I am not a writer of that sort who writes after too much of calculation and of that quality who  would dive deep into the ocean to fetch pearls of ocean. But one thing is certain that what ever i am going to write is something i have experienced and experiences can be both good or bad.

There used to be a time for me when every second thought in mind used to be about cricket or a cricket match with myself being the center of attraction and focus. Cricket has not only taught me, but millions of youths too, a way of life. A life full of cooperation, team work and off course life above all the barriers of caste, creed or religion.

What ever i am going to write today is one of such incidents from the big cricket tree and is a leaf out of it.

I had read somewhere in my childhood that "only if you clap for someone is when somebody will clap for you" though i was not good in anything but cricket is when i could have expected someone to clap for me. It was one of such incidents. We were done with the play in our regional cricket meet with our team being the winner. As usual on the last day of the play the prize distribution ceremony was going on. There were around hundreds of young cricketers clapping for each other, there came a time when everyone stopped clapping as they were tired of clapping continuously for around 45 minutes. Everyone stopped clapping except me. I kept on clapping for every player, coaches of respective teams and their accompanying teachers.

Besides our queue were players from the runner up team and for some obvious reasons they did not look happy with the way we beat them in the finals. After starring at me for clapping continuously, few of them started saying things. Many of the abuses and statements were so provocative that anyone else but me in my team could have got into a fight with them, but i choose to keep quiet. Then one of those guys said "abe pagal hai kya" it looked more professional to me from their perspective and i choose to react. I turned to their side, smiled at them and said "haan bhai main paagal hi too hoon". Though i did not know how would they react to it but i didn't know it will do wonders. I didn't know what made them keep quite. There was a complete silence and they did not utter a word afterwards.

After prize distribution everyone went to their respective rooms, some with sad faces and some with "hip hip furrey" slogan. I too followed my team. It was already 6 in the evening, i along with my friends planned to go for an outing as the following day we had to leave for home. I took the shower, changed my clothes and got ready. The moment I opened the door i saw those guys again at my door waiting for me, I thought i am in trouble, they had all come to take a revenge now.

Hi - i said in a firm yet terrified voice.

We are sorry - they said in tandem.

I was relaxed, it's okay - i said.

Lets walk i said, i walked with them for couple of minutes, chit chatting with them about the game and few things in the meanwhile my friends arrived and we left for outing. 

Again this was just one experience where this attitude of being tolerant worked but i am not sure if this would work everywhere.

I let you decide and give a feedback on this :) :) :).