Monday, October 28, 2013

Those Tendulkaresque Moments...

2003. In two days' time I had my tenth Social Science exam. I was easily among the toppers in the 150 odd batch of students in the subject and was expected to be in the 90s atleast. But there was this minor thing on March 1st, the epic India v Pakistan match at the World Cup. A stiff target of 270 odd. My dad who had actually taken off a week or two I think to coincide with my study holidays didn't even have the heart to stop me! Both us being cricketers, atleast at a local club level, enjoyed THAT scintillating six over point and we both knew that that signalled an end of day's study for me! I, unsurprisingly to me, ended up with an 85 but Tendulkar got the 97 for me ;).

Same year. Same WC. March 23rd 2003. The final. Tenth board exams over. Time out! Everyone of my cousins had gathered at my house for the day. The pasting we got all over Johannesberg not withstanding, we still wanted to see India fight. We geared up for the chase and the first over began. That not-so-convincing pull for four. Hope. Next ball the caught and bowled. Shattered!

1998. Midnight. Damn power cuts. Sharjah. Missed the 143 during the sand storms. Sat down the next day for some glorious batting on his 25th birthday! The cup was ours. Period.

1999. Day 2. At chepauk for the India v Pakistan test. 3 balls played. Caught at point trying to play Saqlain with the spin. Disappointed. Missed the second innings marathon 136. The tears. The shame.

2001. Again at chepauk. Day 3. India vs Australia. Perfect day. The Dravid six of Gillespie over long off over the MCC stand right after tea and the Tendulkar six of Miller over D stand vividly in my memory!

Finally 2013. February. Last test at Chennai. At chepauk. Went there only for three hours of play. The perfect three hours. I enter and soon we were two down. Cometh the man. Three balls - three exquisite fours. Worth every second I spent getting fried in the chennai sun. The next day couldn't go. He couldn't make the 100 as well.

Now though I have loads and loads to write and study for my Montessori diploma, I take these few minutes to remember that one man who I grew up watching. I may not get to bid him farewell even though am in Mumbai (thanks to everyone who gets those complementary tickets), but here's to that one wonderful ray of hope even in the deepest of darkness through twenty odd years of Indian cricket. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

P.S: This blog was inspired by a Sidin Vadukut's tweet!

Monday, October 14, 2013

A Redonkulous Day

Mumbai. The previous times I had been here, my ventures out with my cousins mostly have been in private vehicles and not much of public transport. Now that I am here for a year on my own, public transport had to play an important role. Being from Chennai, I have an aversion for autos! I hardly used to use them there (save that one month in Feb 2010 which led to this post). Naturally, here too I avoid them in spite of the meters. But then there was this one day...

The day began at a nominal 6:30 am. The morning rush to get ready with some ad hoc cooking meant I left only by 8 10 am. I had to be in a Santacruz school by 9 am and I stay at Charkop, Kandivali. Had to take an auto to the station if I had any sense. Took one. Reached station by 8 25. Paid around 50. I had the necessary money though I thought I'll be short.

The station is were I had an absolute brain fade to catch a fast train rather than a slow which would take me direct to Santacruz. My reason being, already it was late, I would get something from Andheri. The plan went alright till Jogeshwari, but just past, the train was shifted to the fast line and was halted at a signal. A slow train went past. Then my train ambled to the station. Clock read 8 45. I fought my way out. Ran to the slow train platform to find the train that just came in leave. Screwed! I ran to get an auto just fed up!

The exit I took led me to a one way that went opposite to santacruz side. Wretched luck. I had only 50+ in my pocket (after finding a few hidden notes later and scrambling all coins) and I calculated that if he went round about I'm gonna be short. I ran towards SV road and managed to get an auto. With my eyes pleading with the meter, I reached my school by 9 15 @52 bucks. My directress was chill. Saved!

12 15 I leave. With only 5 bucks going to Santacruz station with no ATMs on the way was pointless. So caught an auto to Bandra, telling autowala that I need to go to an ATM if he is to be paid. He took me to the first ATM on the link road. Just as I was getting down, he braked hard and I banged my knee on the edge. I thought it was alright until I reached the ATM. Inside, as I typed to get my money, I felt a shooting pain on my knee. I touch and feel drops of blood on my off-white pyjama. The ATM on cue beeps saying no 500s only in 1000s. Without thinking I typed a 1000 and got it. The moment I stepped out I realised no autowala is going to give me a change for 1000. Damned!

So I ask him to stop at a chemist, so that I can get something for my knee and get change. The wonderful people there said no change but offered their band-aids for credit! Stunned! I haven't even seen them before. I gave them the 5 bucks I had and got two. But still no change for my 1000. I suggested to the autowala to go to a super market. He had a better idea or so I thought - petrol pump.

So we went to the Bharat Petroleum outlet on link road close to Bandra. Auto had to stop opposite side. I slowly cross the road and ask the first cashier. He says NO. Next cashier said ask someone inside. Then I go further in where a cashier is counting the collections and ask him. He said NO on the face. Flabbergasted!

I literally begged him and told him my auto was waiting and am coming straight from an ATM. He thought hard before giving me ten 100s. I thanked him and got onto the auto. Autowala then explained that petrol pump people have been conned to give change for fake notes, so the hesitation. I got to Bandra without any further hitches reached my institute. Relieved!