I was cozily sitting in my bus back to Blore when I noticed this guy next to me all glued to his phone on a Chess game. I instantly jumped into my memory lane and cycled back few years. to the time I first learned chess from my uncle who happen to be a popular chess master back home. Not quite sure, but I was probably 14 back then, I was sitting on the floor in the hall room, silently watching him bring on his chess board. Cant really call it a board as it was actually a chess mat, all rolled up. My eyes glued to the board and all wide open, I ran my fingers gently along the pieces, examining one by one, very closely as he set up the board. He held up the pieces and remarked very proudly, This is the Pawn, there are 8 of them in both colors, This is the knight, there are two of them and the list went on. He introduced me to the rest of the members of the royal army, the Rooks, Bishops, Queen and finally the King as he quietly set them up in their positions gently on the board. I was quite fascinated by cross on the top of the King who stood so high and tall, so majestic. Then he went on explaining the rules as his friend sat down to play with him. He showed me how the different pieces moved across the board. It was one of the most beautiful games Ive ever seen till date. For a moment, I dropped myself to a magical world of two kingdoms, fighting for supremacy, equal in strength. I was on a battle ground, and there will be bloodshed, any moment. The war began, and right in front of my eyes, the black and white pieces charged towards each other, so aggressive, falling by the dozen as the game unfurled before me. Pawns were mercilessly sacrificed to save the knights and in turn knights were humble to face slaughter and certain death for their mighty king. The king did not move, neither did he utter, he merely watched everything silently, almost complacent, surrounded securely by his fortress of devoted subjects who were ready to die, as the Pawns in front of the battlefield continued to fall. The fallen white and black Pawns were tossed carelessly aside as the war intensified, their bodies lay scattered around the board. The white Rook was overthrown by a mere Pawn, he was thrown aside of the board where he lay still, eyes glued on the other Rook which is still fighting. The other Rook with one quick move brought down the white Pawn, I saw the Pawn fall slowly, face first to the ground and the thud resounded through the battlefield. The Rook outside the board watched with a smile as the white Pawn fell, he was avenged, quivered in pain, he closed his eyes... I gazed my eyes on the first lady, I saw the Queen, a smart and powerful woman who had sworn to protect her husband. A husband who was lazy, and unfit to be a warrior, who could only move one block. He stayed in the fortress build around Knights and Pawns, just anxiously watching the battle from top. As his piece in front fought and fell, he shifted uneasily, taking a step any direction he pleased as the enemy got closer. The Queen stood by his side, gearing up for her battle, getting ready as the fortress shrunk every minute. She could move in any direction, for any length with her unmatched skill. Her heart was breaking as she watched her soldiers die.There were few pieces left on the battlefield, the queen bravely took her place in front of her trembling husband. He stood still behind her, as the enemy got closer. The queen lunged forward, striking the head off the white bishop that seemed to be getting too close. The King heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly, a voice eschoed through the battle field, Checkmate!. The Queen turned around in horror as the white Rook and Knight let out an resounding evil laugh. The king looked at her helplessly as the Rook tipped him off, letting him fall off the board, the war was all over! The white King seemed delighted. Looking around at the new land he had conquered. He looked briskly at the bodies that lay at his feet, the ones that were sacrificed for his victory, the Knights, the Pawns, his Queen. He scanned the barren chessboard, his eyes traveling towards the fallen Black King. It seemed like he was lost in deep, peaceful sleep. A shock wave of jealousy traveled through him as he stood alone on the cold, lonely battlefield, suddenly craving the luxury of an everlasting sleep. He looked around silently, uncertain who had really won the war. The half and hour war was over, my uncle picked up the the fallen Pawns, Knights, Kings and dropped them into one box. I wondered how they looked so peaceful, the different sized pieces, lying on top of each other, the blacks and whites, together, so oblivious to the war, the bloodshed, and loss.... International Chess Day | Saturday, 20th July.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:27:37 +0000
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