But before we speak of traps and stratagems, moving pieces around the board, other manoeuvres. First was an wanted intrusion, when a student from the BHM course burst through the door. “What are you doing in my room?” I demanded. He claimed ignorance, that it was a teaching room, but I ordered him to leave. But clearly the entry code to the room is known, which makes it insecure.
Next came the entirely expected news that Deepak, erstwhile Romeo, was withdrawing from the production, leading to some waspish communication over WhatsApp. But actually, the news was something of a relief, as I was able to offer the role to someone who promises to be far more reliable and committed: Anup, formerly Paris, who took the role immediately and gratefully. And as Paris was filled by another promotion, all is well… for the time being, at any rate.
And so to Chess Club, my one day a week respite from R4J. It did get off to a slow start, because today was suddenly declared a national holiday… at 9.30, when people were at school, college, work, or on their way there, because of the death last night of some former politician. And so people were sent home. Bizarre, dysfunctional country.
So chess club was only two, one of them Anup, the new Romeo, the other Sadik, a boy I did not know. They played each other, and it was a typical juvenile game, lots of mistakes, much greater focus on taking pieces than threatening the king. And ending, predictably, with Anup reduced to just his king. And still he wanted to play on.
I then played Sadik, and I suppose my story was that I had been lulled into a false sense of confidence, for Sadik was much improved, and beat me. So we played again, and I thrashed him. At this point, we had to stop, for there were a series of small ceremony ies to inaugurate Sports Club, a student-led body (though overseen by Aparna) which organises teams, tournaments, matches. There was much handing out of special t-shirts, plus lots and lots of photos (of course); then a special slot for the inauguration of chess club, at which I had to give a little speech about chess. All in all, a warm and positive occasion; it reminds one why one likes to spend time with nice, positive, funny young people.
