The Golgappa Competition

3 days back (in the hostel)

Cena (Abhinav) : Everyday when I am done with the coaching , I make my way to the Chaat Corner in the market and help myself with a plate of Golgappa .
Me : I just love Golgappas . I can eat as many as you bring in front of me .
Cena : Whatever amount it may be , you won’t be able to overtake me .
Me : Are you sure ?
Cena : Of course .
Me : Then why don’t we see it for ourself . Lets have a Golgappa Competition . Eat as many as you can . Losers to pay .
Cena : Done .

2 days back (on the way to gym)

Cena : By the way . Have you ever entered into such a competition earlier ?
Me : Yeah I have .
Cena : So ?
Me : So what ? I won . Isn’t that obvious ?
Cena : What was the number ?
Me : It took me 57 to win .
Cena (with a shocking look ) : I back off .
( I smiled . I knew he was an easy opponent )

A little later that day (in hostel)

Ashu : Harry . Why do you make so many cock and bull stories ?
Me : Which story ?
Ashu : You said you went upto 57 . That’s a white lie . When will you give up your habit of crafting stories ?
Me : If you don’t believe me , you can see it for yourself .
Ashu : Cena , don’t believe him . He is lying . You can easily defeat him . Go for it . If you lose , I will be your one-third financer .
Cena : Lets go for it then .
(At this point , I thanked Ashu for convincing Cena back to the competition)

Yesterday (in Sector 10 … our Kurukshetra)

Me : All set for competition ?
Cena : Absolutely .

Suddenly phone rang .
Abhi : Don’t start it . We are on our way . You have got an audience .

So the stage was set . Plates ready . Chaatwaala ready to fire Golgappas into our plates .
The count started . Comments and words of encouragements were coming out rapidly from the spectators ( Abhishek , Vivek , Raghav , Vibhuti , Ashu and Faraz) . The soldiers were standing steadily in the battlefield .

1…5….10….20…30….

No signs of giving up yet .  Audience was split into two corners , encouraging the contestants to live up to the situation . Counting was not to be stopped .

31…35…40….50….

Half Century . Excellent . Everyone thought that we will hit a century . But at this time , I started losing it . I knew its not long until I vomit it out .

51…55….56….57…..

I was a goner by this time . The magic number 57 strikes . I knew I won’t be able to hold it any further .

Vivek : Harry . Do you give up ?

I nodded . And the nod was followed by the vomiting . My stomach was unable to endure it . I lost the battle . Cena was celebrating . We shook hands and like a lost warrior , I made my way to the stairs of the nearest shop and helplessly , I kept looking at my friends having their own share of Golgappas . ( Hoping that atleast they would eat like Homo Sapiens . Afterall , it was loser to pay )

Cena : I never thought I could eat so much . No matter . Well tried .
Me : Yeah Yeah . Well tried indeed . Now give me the bill . (making my way to my wallet , pondering over the bill)