6
The Great Coorg Hockey Festival
The Match Day
The morning mist still hugged the Coorg hills when Bopu hopped into Chomani mama’s (Kaveri’s father) jeep. Beside him sat Bollu, tail wagging like a mini windmill. “Today’s the final match!” Bopu beamed. “And you, Bollu, better not chase any hockey balls!” Bollu barked twice — almost like a promise. Kaveri, munching on a piece of jaggery, rolled her eyes. “Last time you said that, Bollu knocked over a referee!” Bopu grinned. “That was... tactical distraction!” Kaveri smirked, “Hope he doesn’t try the same with the food stalls this time!” As they reached the sprawling grounds of the Coorg Hockey Festival, drums echoed, cheers soared, and colourful flags fluttered in the wind. Thousands of people had gathered, and the energy buzzed like a honeybee hive. “Smells like Pandi Curry!” Bopu sniffed the air, eyes twinkling. Bollu woofed, nose twitching toward the food stalls. Kaveri whispered, “Bet five rupees, Bollu steals someone’s chicken wing.”
A Spicy Misadventure
Bopu, Kaveri, and Bollu weaved through the stalls stacked with steaming plates of Kadambuttu, Pandi Curry, Baimbale Curry, and Chilli Pork. Bopu bit into a crispy chilli-laced pork roll. “Woooo! This is volcano-level spicy!” Bopu shouted, steam almost coming out of his ears. Kaveri giggled, “Want me to call the fire brigade?” Bollu, not wanting to be left behind, licked his share of spicy sausage. “AAARRRROOOOO!” Bollu let out a long howling burp. All three sprinted — mouths on fire — straight to the water dispenser. “Move! Emergency!” Bopu yelled, cupping water in his palms. Bollu shoved his snout into a bucket nearby and slurped like a tractor engine. Kaveri cackled, “Next time, Bollu, try vanilla ice cream!” “Note to self,” Bopu gasped, “Kodava food needs a fire extinguisher.”
The Match of the Year
They found a spot on the grassy knoll, overlooking the field where two local teams battled it out in the Coorg Hockey Final. The air smelled of mud, sweat, and glory. “Come on, Makkanda Warriors!” Bopu shouted, punching the air. Bollu barked at every whistle, ears flapping with excitement. Kaveri waved a mini flag and said, “If they win, Bopu owes me a barbie!” Suddenly, a diving save by the goalie turned the match! The crowd exploded like fireworks. Vuvuzelas roared. Flags waved. Bopu held Bollu close. “This is better than any cricket match, Bollu!” Kaveri added, “Especially since no one's cheating by bringing dogs onto the pitch!” Bollu growled softly — either in agreement or because he spotted a chicken leg under the table nearby. The final minutes were a nail-biter. Then — BAM! — the Makkanda Warriors scored the winning goal in the last ten seconds. The crowd went wild! Bopu jumped up, “YESSSS! That’s how Coorg plays hockey!” But then... he looked around. “Bollu?” he called. No answer.
Where’s Bollu?
Bopu searched through the crowd, heart thudding. “Bollu! Where are you, boy?!” Kaveri helped too, checking under benches and poking behind the snack carts. “I told you not to let him near the stalls,” she said, half-worried, half-teasing. Bopu checked near the first-aid tent. Tears welled up. “Bolluuu!” he cried. Suddenly, a soft whimper came from beneath the main dais. Bopu dropped to his knees and peeked in. There, curled up next to a basket of flower garlands, was Bollu - covered in confetti, his tail wagging sheepishly. “Bollu!” Bopu pulled him into a hug. “You scared the soul out of me!” Kaveri squatted beside them, teasing. Bollu gave Bopu a big, wet, spicy-sausage-flavoured lick on the cheek. “You missed the last goal, you goof!” Bopu laughed through tears. Bollu just barked - as if to say, "Found some shade and sausages!"
Homeward Bound
As the evening sun dipped behind the hills, Bopu, Kaveri, and Bollu climbed into the back of Uncle Chomani’s old green Jeep. “You three look like you fought the match yourselves!” Uncle chuckled, adjusting his cap. Bollu lay on Bopu’s lap, snoring softly, legs twitching — perhaps dreaming of chasing hockey balls or food stalls. Kaveri poked Bopu’s shoulder. “Next time, I play too. And don’t say girls can’t dribble!” Bopu grinned. “You dribble more sarcasm than the ball!” Kaveri stuck out her tongue. Bopu looked at the stars peeking out. “Today was perfect,” he whispered. “Spicy, noisy, a little scary — but perfect.” Suddenly, a tiny burp escaped Bollu again. Bopu giggled, “Still tasting the pandi curry, huh?” As the Jeep rumbled through the winding roads of the Coorg valley, the three leaned into each other - friends, mischief-makers, and festival champions of the day.