🏏 Auction day at my uncle's place, 14 people and one 12 year old expert

I wasn't planning anything for auction day. I just wanted to check my phone between meetings. Then my uncle called at 5 and said, come, everyone's here. I went straight from the office. There were 14 people in his hall, 1 TV, and a plate of mirchi bajji already half finished. My cousin Anas, who's 12, was sitting on the floor with a notebook and a pencil behind his ear. Anas had been practising for weeks. He had a list of who each team should buy. Every time my uncle said a name, Anas said, no, they have a full overseas slot. My uncle said, who is the adult in this house? Anas said, the one who's correct. The whole hall went quiet for 2 seconds and then everybody was laughing. My father never says anything during cricket. That night he stood up to defend a team's spending. He said, you don't understand, you build for 3 seasons, not for 1 night. My aunt told him he'd supported that team for 6 years and they'd won nothing. That argument went on longer than the bidding for the player, and it was louder. I stayed till almost midnight with work at 9 the next morning. I've no regrets. The team I support came out of it with a squad nobody in our family agrees on. Some say smart build, some say confused. The group chat has 214 unread messages as of today. Anas has already started a list for next year. My uncle pretends not to be listening.

I skipped auction day completely this time and my WhatsApp family group went mad anyway. To me it's 3 hours of men reading a list. The season is where the fun is. But your uncle's hall sounds nice. 14 people and mirchi bajji is worth more than any bid. Next year I might show up just for the food and the arguments. Is there a spare seat?

Your cousin Anas sounds like my little brother. He corrects our father on everything cricket. Last year he stood up in the middle of dinner and said, that's not how the rule works. Dad checked on his phone. Anas was right. Dad didn't speak for 10 minutes. I love that your father came alive for it. Mine only does that for property talk.