See Five Sicily.

Act One:
In the theoretical Winter of 1989 at Madurai, Vel remembered vividly the nine-year-old-mediocre-self learning the game of chess. The regular knowing of another game. It was a mere coincidence, he learnt it. There wasn't much to it apart from saying 'I know to play chess'.

At the same time, in another unassuming town Rajapalayam, 85km Southwest of Madurai,  Sri was completing his school and preparing to enter college to study Physical Education. Perceived as another arguably ordinary major in college. When he went to the college, he didn't know that he and his field of study is going to changes lives. Many lives. Forever.

Four years later, the magician Sri joined the school as Physical Education teacher in which Vel was studying eighth standard. Sri believed in Vel equally like many of his other students and nurtured the chess skills of Vel. Later he would go on to inspire the whole school to play it. It had become a little movement among schools and talking point among many parents in the town and popular in the district.

Act Two:
1.e4 c5. On that sunny afternoon, Vel replied the opponent with Sicilian defence in the hut classroom of the school where the district chess competition was being held. Everyone including Vel himself knew that he was a substandard player paired against a reputed one. At the end of the middle game, Vel placed a knight fork for the two 'reputed' white rooks. Such a move was considered half won during those times showing such dominance on the opponent. The advantageous exchange-up was soon nullified to losing the pawns.

If that was a fork, in the next game, Vel was paired against the top seed and was chasing the top seed's king to take his Bishop to enforce a stalemate. It was indeed a thorough spectacular series of moves.

Hours later. After the games, Vel came out crying. He had lost both the games. Sri took him to the petty shop and bought him a chilled locally made Cola, paying from his thin wallet and consoled him.

Act Three:
Since then. Even after many years, Vel never knew why he cried, which was mistaken for losing. But it was just that he found himself. He never thought that he could do something like that until that day.

Be it finding himself, or be it the inspiration called Sri, or be it the Cola, Vel's life changed forever. He was even offered his college admission for his average chess skills. It was one of the many lives which was changed by Sri.

It all started with the Sicilian defence.
c5.

Vishy
6 Mar 2017.
dreamvis.blogspot.com