In my Devil's Arms

Raj won the toss and choose to possess the ball. His team's attack led by him and Solly was planned and strategic. As the girls cheered, Raj collected a good pass from Parry and manuvering the ball in between two players passed it to Solly. Solly tricked Rakesh and scored the first...

GOAL....

" Yay", shouted the girls as Salman stood and clapped too.

Raj's team led 1-0.

The game was intense. The twins were good players too. They also had good co-ordination. But mostly their attack's were cancelled by defenders led by Ro. And Maddy won't let a goal pass.

As the half time neared the lead was on.

" We need to fool him", said Rahul.

" How", asked Mohit.

" We can always demand a penalty.

" Get anyone except them to commit fowl", said Rahul.

The twins ran with the ball and tried to hit legs of opposing team. In the heat of moment one of the defenders hit them and they enforced a penalty on Raj's team.

" Damn", said Kenny.

" Go Maddy", screamed Kiara encouraging her goalkeeper as Mohit took the penalty.

He came running from right direction as he angled his leg left and BOOM hit a shot.

" Excellent save by Madhav Shashtri", said the commentator.

Mohit took the shot on right but Maddy had anticipated this.

" WOOO HOOOO..GO MADDY", screamed Kiara as other girls clapped in appreciation too.

" THAT'S MY BOY", screamed Alok." BANG ON MADDY".

Maddy saluted his dad and threw a flying kiss at Kiara.

Gaurav shook his head. " Why did they grow up", he said.

Salman smiled.

" He is eyeing your girl", Yunus said to Rakesh.

Rakesh got angrier.

At half time the lead was in favour of Raj 1-0.

" You are a hero", said Kiara to Maddy.

" So I deserve a kiss", he winked.

" Cocky and pervert though", retorted Kiara.

" We need to increase the lead", said Solly. " But he won't let either of us pass now", said Solly.

" I have a plan", said Raj.

Meanwhile

" Until Madhav Shashtri stands we can't score", said Yunus.

" Then he should not", said Rahul. " Listen I have a plan".

Second half

Rahul had the ball. He and Mohit moved forward fast.

" Keep distance", Ro said to other defender. " He will cheat. Concenterate on ball.".

As expected they did not come from Ro's direction. Confident in Maddy Ro did not leave his position.Rahul signalled Mohit as Yunus too came running forward. As half of the team entered their ' D' Parry and Ro joined Maddy at back.

As the men manuvered Yunus and Mohit two others surrounded Maddy as multiple shots were taken to goal. He saved them all. Rahul then pretending tp take a shot hit Maddy hard on knee with a strong spike shoe.

" Aaaah", Maddy wailed in pain as he sat on the ground holding his leg. Yunus took a shot to the net and....

Goal

Match was now 1-1.

" That happens when you ignore safety gear", taunted Rahul.

Raj and his friends ran to Maddy. Ro looked at he leg.

" The b*st*rd hit deliberately", said Solly.

" No fractures", said Ro as he examined. " A sprain".

" We still have around 30 minutes of game left", said Maddy.

" F*ck game and take rest", said Raj.

" At least for ten minutes", said Ro.

Grace came running with a warm sprain bandage and a cream.

BUT ALL THE BOYS SAW A MAD MAD KIARA.

Slap..

She slapped Rahul.

" YOU CHEATER. YOU COULD HAVE DAMAGED HIS LEG. YOU ARE BECOMING LIKE THE SHE- DEVIL OF THAT MOM OF YOURS", she roared.

Alok, Kenny and even Gaurav was needed to pull her back while Salman held back an equally mad Solly.

" He needs his features rearranged", said Solly.

" Solly", said Salman. " Now you need to win it my boy . For him", he pointed to Maddy.

Kiara was in tears as she came to Maddy.

" Damn you. You should consider your safety you idiot ", she said.

" Sorry", said Maddy. " But damn Kiara you made my day. What a slap!"

Kiara giggled. And so did Maddy.

" Ro I'll sit for 10 minutes ", he said.

" No hitting", said Raj as his team moved back with a spare goalkeeper.

" Its me", said Kenny. " I told him not to fight with Rahul", she said weakly.

" They proved they are their mother's sons today", scoffed Kiara.

Ro and Parry did Maddy proud as they defended the entire back side for next 20 minutes. Changing their strategies the men remained defensive for next 20 minutes.

Unbeknowst to others Ro slipped Maddy a pain killer.

" It won't hurt", he said. " Though it may worsen. If we can't handle we will call you back. Rest until then. Act in a little pain as you come back."

" Ohh he can act", whispered Parry to Solly.

" Been doing that for last 15 years", said Solly.

10 minutes of game was left

In spite of forced back to defend Raj and his team did not concede a goal. And the score remained 1-1.

" We need to attack now before Maddy rejoins", said Raj to Solly and Parry.

Rohit talked to the spare goalkeeper.

" Listen Senthil concenterate on goal, ball and yourself. As soon as you have the ball I'll run and I want a clean pass".

" You don't worry Rohit. Maddy taught me well", he said.

Yunus, Mohit and Rahul attacked together. In one such attempt Senthil caught the ball.

" ON THE MOVE", said Ro as he ran. Parry immediately leaving full back ran to the centre position. Senthil gave a clean kick to Ro who stood at the edge of D. Ro and other player between themselves passed to Parry.

Rahul with his two ace players was in the opposing team's half. By the time they got back it was too late. The centre passed the ball to Solly. He was already in opposing half. The defenders Khuranas could not stop him and Raj as they reached near the goal. Raj tricked Rakesh and bam...

" Goal", screamed the girls as the entire stadium stood on feet clapping for them.

Just five minutes of game was left.

" I feel fine", said Maddy.

He stood up in pain and hobbled to the goal post.

" I hope he does not overact", said Raj to Ro.

" He is a fighter", said Salman to Alok.

Even Gaurav clapped.

Maddy stood like an Octopus defending his goal with 8 hands for next five minutes.

In the final minutes Rahul got a corner.

The stadium waited with bated breath. A PINDROP SILENCE. Mohit gave the kick to Yunus who took a header straight to the goal as Maddy at last moment kicked it back. Rahul rebounded it again. But Parry saved at last moment . He tried to kick it out but Rahul was able to get it back. Tricking others he kicked hard on the goal empty in front of him.

LIKE A FLASH MADDY CAUGHT THE BALL. And the final hooter blew.

Maddy fell to the ground in pain as his friends raised him in the air on their shoulders.

Alok wiped his happy tears and stood clapping as a proud father. His friends hugged him to congratulate him.

" Prince Rajeev donates the money to Khurana under previliged children care", declared the club president.

Raj took the microphone speaking;

" I guess it would be fitting if Advocate Madhav Shastri does the honours".

A loud cheer followed.

Maddy supported by his father handed over the check to Prakhar and Prakriti. He got a standing ovation and was also declared the player of the match.

The girls all hugged them to congratulate Maddy getting extra hugs.

" The rascal enjoys lime light", said Ro shaking his head.

Later at night

"I hope you are done with your promise to Kenny because I am breaking his face", said Solly.

" Relax", said Raj. " He does need to treated but in different manner".

" How"?

" A tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye", said Raj.

" I like the sound of that", said Maddy.