Melissa

Darjeeling is a small town about 7000 feet from sea level.Most of the ordinary people here work in the world-famous tea gardens.The rest are engaged in the booming tourism industry.Few hill stations in india are as idyllic and picturesque as Darjeeling.People from all over india and beyond visit this wonderful town to enjoy its unique sights and unmatched scenery.However the locals are themselves crazy about cricket.In particular the Camellia Cup.
There are two main families in 'Darj' as the fashionable locals call it.The tea gardens to the north belong to the Banerjees.While those on the southern slopes are the property of the Chatterjees.Every year on Christmas the two families play a cricket match between themselves for the Camellia Cup.For the last ten years the Chatterjees have won this trophy.This year the Banerjees are determined to snatch it from them.The seniormost member of the Banerjee family,Ian Banerjee has an idea but he has not discussed it with anyone.It is an unwritten rule in the tournament that no ladies are allowed to take part in it.However Ian's daughter Melissa Banerjee who is studying to be a doctor in Bombay has turned out to be fine cricketer.Nothing can stop Ian Banerjee from playing Melissa but the unarticulated rules are the most difficult to break,always.He has written to Melissa in Bombay but everyone knows that she has pneumonia and cannot come.Thus the 'C' team is expected to triumph over the 'B' team as always.
It is Christmas today.In india it is quite pleasant on this day.The captains of the B and C team go out to toss.C team wins and decides to bat.B team has a new wicketkeeper whose face is covered in a white floppy hat.The keeper is quite athletic and works very hard on the field.But the C team is in a dangerous mood.They hit the B team all over the park.At the end of the allotted 50 overs the C team has amassed 350 runs.The B team has a disastrous start.The two openers are lost within a space of 20 runs.Thirty more runs are scored and three more wickets tumble.Then the wicketkeeper comes in to bat.This batsman takes charge right away.The bowlers are hit rather mercilessly.At the end of 48 overs six runs are required by the Banerjees to lay claim to the coveted Camellia Cup.The bowler,who is a spinner tosses the ball up.The wicketkeeper-batsman comes out of the crease and hoists the ball for maximum.As this happens the floppy hat falls off.A beautiful lady with waist-length hair is revealed.This is Ian Banerjee's very own trump card-his daughter Melissa Banerjee.