INDO – PAK MATCHES: LET THE MATCH BE LIGHTED!!

                 I was probably one of the very few people who could predict wickets before seeing the ball being bowled. No, I had not colluded with the either of the teams to throw their wickets on my instructions. This actually meant that, before the cheer from my laptop’s speakers entered my ears, the hurrah of my hostel mates had already made it. For this I blame, ESPN for their delay in transmission of video feed over the net. 

 

                To get the root of my problem, my predictions were really a result of my tough luck. I was stuck in my room, trying to juggle two activities, simultaneously. What I failed to take into account is the fact that India Pakistan matches are always (NOTE: ALWAYS) decided, right into the final over! My liking for cricket had successfully surpassed my love-hate relationship with my project for the spring semester. Nevertheless, let me get to the point of my diary entry.

             
                An Indo-Pak cricket match is the one match made in hell. It isn’t smooth for any parties involved in the affair. No one is safe, neither the teams, nor the spectators who would go to such an extent as to devoting almost half a day in commenting on “Indo-Pak cricket match” facebook status (statuses .. to be precise). Not to forget the slew of facebook requests which flooded my inbox, asking me to join the call of “Bharat Bandh” on the 30^th of March. I vividly remember the beating my friend received on facebook for daring to suggest that Pakistan can possibly win this world cup match. My sudden desperate urges to log onto facebook had also witnessed an all-time low because of this world cup match! Surely, this match had something in it which could shake even the most laidback of fans.

              

             Let’s not even dare to forget the torments which the minds of every single player on both the sides, might be facing. I can actually empathise with the players on both the sides. Imagine playing on foreign soil, with the Prime Minister of your country in the VIP box, watching your every move. You would surely be excused to feel that in case of a mishap, your citizenship is under threat! With the Indo-Pak cricket match becoming another playground for foreign diplomacy, the situation is surely going to worsen in the coming years.

             

            Meanwhile, I just wish that ESPN resolves this issue of delay of internet video feed and which will stop me from predicting match results. This would indeed be a big relief!

Sunset times

                               

                                On a beach, at sunset time, when the wind blows into your face, you are sure to become nostalgic. You remember the days of yore when you ran around in the glistening evening sand on a beach, carefree of the world around you. Those times were times when you felt the castle you made will stand forever in time, untouched by the tides of the sea. Feeling the sea winds, caressing your wrinkled face is surely a good sensation for a person like me. But, Who am I? The answer to this can be given by none.

                                My life has been spent in cleaning the floors in a foreign destination. A strong urge had always swept in me to meet my kids, at home. But, my hands had been tied. I could never go back to my home again. The starkest reminder of home would always be the landing of the Air India flight at noon, everyday.  Before I confuse you further, let me make some facts known. I am the afternoon shift cleaner at Terminal 4 at the Ataturk Airport, Istanbul. My home is faraway in a small lagoon in the quiet city of Alleppey in India.

                              I always wished my sins can be purged in the same way the machine I used killed the bacteria on the shiny floors of the airport. But, Had I done any wrong? I had done everything I could for my family. I committed the act which I felt was right, right according to me. An act of rage is usually  succeeded by contrition, but that day, the blood on my hands showed no remorse. How could I have not done anything when the moneylender came home to demand his unlawful share of money? I still vividly remember how I climbed in haste onto the boat for Turkey,that night and behind me were my kids and my wife. They were ready to come with me to Turkey, but I couldn’t have taken them to an unknown country with unknown people. It had to be my destiny from here on. My hands were wet while climbing onto the boat, wet from wiping the tears on my wife’s face. At that moment, I couldn't distinguish between her tears. Had they been born out of the rage she saw that night or because I was leaving them? Yet, The one thing that I was sure of was the love she had for my kids and the care she would take in my absence. But, Was this the last time, that I’ll see my wife and kids? It couldn’t have been so. After years in exile, I decided to leave Turkey, once and for all.

                                The sunset can be a very satisfying scene if you are with your loved ones. The image of the glistening sand on the beach will hang back in my memories for the few days, left in my life. But the most satiating sight had to be the kids playing in front of me on the beach. They were carefree of the world around them. Building castles and wishing they could last an eternity. Those kids are my grandchildren.                                   

                

( A honest effort to put together a story ... If you like it .. comment.. If you don't...comment)