The son of a BEST bus conductor has been selected for Indian Under-19 cricket team for the Youth Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Vaidehi Ankolekar could not be prouder of 18-year-old Atharva, who she has raised single-handedly after his father Vinod, died in 2010. Atharva was then nine years old.
The left-arm spinner is in the second year of junior college (Commerce) at the Rizvi College of Arts, Science and Commerce. As the news of his selection spread on Wednesday, his mother received around 40,000 congratulatory text messages.
"I have received messages from other BEST staffers and relatives. I am really grateful to all of them; it's a proud moment for me," says Ankolekar. "My husband Vinod was a conductor in BEST and the only earning member in the family. His death left me helpless and I began giving tuition at my home with my friend's help. Later, I was luckily given my husband's job. I grateful to BEST, because of it, I could fulfil my son's dream."
Vaidehi is posted at Marol Bus depot, and her daily route is on Bus Number 186 (Agarkar Chowk to Vihar Lake) and 340 (Ghatkopar Station to Agarkar Chowk). "I am missing my father the most right now," said Atharva, "When I was a baby, he would place a cricket bat in the cot next to me. As I grew, whenever I performed well, he would give me gifts such as bats, gloves and helmets to play the sport. I miss all that. Now, I will work hard and play for Team India.
One of Atharva's defining moments came in 2010, which indicated he was on the right track. In a practice match in Mumbai, he took the Master Blaster's wicket. Sachin Tendulkar rewarded him with a pair of autographed gloves.
