An Open Letter

This comes at a time when, under hushed tones, sections of the media are baying for your blood...People who have never held a cricket bat are calling you out to hang up your boots out of a misplaced sense of media marketing and "breaking-news". And they seem to be doing it without any remorse, thinking only of the TRP ratings for their channels.

Suddenly, everyone has forgotten all that you have brought to us. For a very few, playing to win matches for your country is one aspect but you have given us much more. You have shown that qualities like pride, hope, courage and, dedication do really exist and have tried to encourage us to inculcate them in our daily lives. Each time you step onto the field, to represent your country, you have shown us that these qualities can be applied beyond the boundary ropes, in our lives. I can only think of our brave soldiers, besides you, who invoke these qualities as they stake claim to our security by offering their lives. Sadly, most of us are not made aware of the sacrifices they make to protect our sovereign integrity. So, we have to make do with you...

Suddenly, everyone appears to be questioning your integrity for a new "headline" to pop up every few minutes. Panic buttons are being pressed, one moment, the media claims that the team has let millions down while the very next moment, individuals like you are being singled out. Have they forgotten the number of times you have bailed the team out in the past? Have they forgotten the immense discipline you have displayed while making so many personal sacrifices for the team?

Suddenly, people want to infuse brash, callous. young blood into the team at your expense. Do they not realize the depth of the void this would create? Do they not realize, for these modern-age players, to carry your mantle forward, they need tutelage from you? Do they not realize, for all the combined laurels you have brought to the game and country, you have earned the right to call it a day and ride into the sunset?

A few of us would like to remember you for the humility and grace with which you have conducted yourself. We have tried to ape your game sometimes in our colony games but on most other counts, we have tried to live our existence based on the ideals and values you have set, for respect, charm, discipline are qualities not learnt or developed, but are in-built into the Indian middle-class strata of the Seventies and Eighties. The few of us cannot see ourselves identifying with the current "next-generation" of players and perhaps, no amount of their valour can change this view.

Amidst all this furore for your heads, you have maintained dignified silence. Please consider this earnest request to throw in your towels because the cynical world does not need you. It does not recognize the purity and innocence of your selfless services. This gentleman's game, which you have held so closely to your hearts is vanishing and as it's last dying breed of custodians, it will only be prudent for you to do the same. Retract from all of us into the darkness...for the remaining few of us, will accept this with a heavy heart. We may or may not have succeeded in emulating some your qualities in our lives but we are ready to acknowledge this our personal shortcoming to thank you for all you have done for us....

With utmost respect...

The Dark Knight

This is the first time I am writing about Rahul Dravid. There have been countless articles written about him and boy, what articles they have been! Two stand out in my opinion. One can be found here and the other similarly titled one here. I have attempted (albeit, only an attempt) to draw some inspiration from them for this one.

The fourth test match between India and England is in progress at The Oval as I pen this. The post-tea session on the fourth day to be exact. After spending around five hours at the middle, he had seen it all. The entire Indian team collapsed in front of him in the first inning. After carrying his bat, he was soon to walk out to open once again in the second inning. All in a space of around ten minutes!

Much has been written about Dravid. Some very poignant, some philosophical, some statistical, some euphoric and some motivating. For fifteen years, he has been my symbol for hope. When I needed to put in that extra hour of studies, I thought of Dravid. In all my failures, I thought of Dravid. After hard earned success, I thought of Dravid. When all else has gone against me, I think of Dravid...

To me, he is the pinnacle of struggle. He is the pinnacle of mastering that struggle. He is the unsung hero. When the night is dark, Dravid sticks his neck out and waits for the Light. When in the midst of the storm, Dravid waits for the calm. When the opposition attacks, Dravid waits. When all else is lost, Dravid waits...

Much like the pensioner who waits for the red tape to sanction his money, like the anxious man who waits for the birth of his child, like the school kids who wait for their exam results, like the Indian citizen who waits for the end of corruption, we all wait like Dravid. To me that's why Dravid is so special. His heroics so clearly relate to the struggle we undergo in our daily lives. We might succeed, we might fail, but, we wait. We can dream of emulating a Sachin Tendulkar but we can hope to live like Rahul Dravid. And to me, that is the greatest tribute I can pay to the man!

I have taken utmost care not to bring any statistical data into this. Nor any comparison. This is an article dedicated to Rahul Dravid and only him. It is my view on the amount of sacrifices he has made for the cause of the country. It is my view on how he is the backbone for the Indian team. It is my view on how he has always been the backstage artist for many a theatrical masterpiece. It is my view on how his on-field valor has scripted my pre and post-adolescent life.

Amidst all this contemplation and thought, Rahul Dravid takes guard and waits....

Cool Comfort

I have now realized that being cool and feeling cool are completely different things. I know of a good set of close friends, who, wholly fit into the "being cool" category. Having said that, I can say with certainty that, these good people will swear by their grave that being cool is not one of my traits. Believe you me, I have tried. But I'm just not cut out for it and I have made my peace with that!

But, feeling cool....that's an entirely different thing. There have been plenty of occasions in my life where I have felt cool, as if all the problems were lifted off my shoulders. And, for a fleeting moment, I made my place in my own limelight!

I shall attempt to, in this blog, take you through this journey which pretty much spans across my life thus far. Don't be surprised if you call some of my own, yours too!

-> Elevated to drinking coffee or tea instead of Bournvita
-> Wearing full trousers to school
-> First bicycle gang with friends
-> Lead actor in neighbourhood play (still fancy the lead actress :))
-> First dinner using fork and knife
-> Use of a tie outside of school
-> Cheering by classmates during farewell party speech in college
-> First cricket bat
-> First air-guitar imitation
-> First travel by air
-> First pair of shades (yes, those free ones with Rasna!)
-> Standing in front of the riders' seat on a scooter
-> First shave (and the stinging after-shave)
-> Coloured clothes to school on birthdays
-> Use of pocket money at school during "snacks-break" (I used to get Rs.50 per month then)
-> Use of ink pens at school
-> Bunking classes in college
-> Owning my first car/bike
-> Strip-club experience at Las Vegas
-> First beer

As you can infer, most of these "feeling cool" experiences (for me) have occurred during school/college days. Perhaps, that's why I look back fondly over those years. As we grow older, such instances to cherish diminish, as we get entangled in the web of life....

Driven By Cars

Well, this post has taken five and a half years in the making. This one, I am particularly proud of, not because of the content but the memories this brings me.

It is a well known fact that there is an affinity between men and cars. A bond that defies logic, a desire that fills many a heart, an adrenalin pump that surpasses expectations. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to drive a bevy of beauties, women who respond to the slightest touch without a whine but more to the tunes of a grunt. Carnal pleasures aside, a bug called Wanderlust propelled these desires to ecstatic levels.

Over the past few years, I have taken many a road trip, burning miles and fuel to conjure up some classic journeys with good company. As a trusted ally, the car was the fulcrum of these trips. Over these trips, the joyous occasions and memories that were spent inside the vehicle all became an attribute to the vehicle, and the trip itself. It is difficult to explain how much of the burden of long haul trips the car has withstood, giving me only pleasures and comfort. Much of the success of these trips can be strung straight to the car and a part of me desired that the car could have been with us longer than the trip itself. To add to this, my own vehicle had been a brother-in-arm on many solitary journeys either in the heat of the day or the cool of the night. Somehow, a good car always produced good trips which, in turn produced great memories which, in turn strengthened the bonds of friendship. Oh what a perfect full circle! This actually overshadows the desire to try new vehicles each trip, which believe you me, coming from a guy is a testament to the magnificence of the car!

To this day, aside from my vehicle, three more cars come right to mind when I recall some memorable trips.

BMW 325i: Well, what can I say about this car that has not been already said by many? My first car ever and boy what a machine she was! A true driver's car combined with some kick-in-the-nuts German sturdiness! I have clocked more than 35000 miles spanning across 5 years and not once has there been complaints from her end. She has sheltered some of my most introspective moments all the while engulfing me with the warmth of the orange light emanating from the instrument dials that has duly given her a face. A five year relationship truly platonic! Thank you, Maya!

1) Toyota Sienna LE/XLE: Three words come to mind...Oh my God! Rental agencies call this a mini-van. I prefer to call it mini-memory. It is quite amazing that we have used this car over a couple of road trips fit for a king! This car has accompanied us across the stretch of America (well, almost). We have clocked close to 7000 miles across different road trips on this one and every bit of it has been wonderful to say the least. This car has taken us via Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and California. Spacious interiors, good sound system and a comfortable ride were some physical highlights. I fall short of words when it comes to mental highlights.....

2) Nissan Altima 2.5S: Again, a wonderful machine that is very close to the heart and wonderful to drive. This has taken us across the length and breadth of California over multiple trips amidst some great company and unforgettable times. Quite peppy despite it's size, great high quality interiors, large boot-size, quality sound system are some highlights.

3) Mazda 6: This machine was part of recent trip with friends and family thrown in. This car pretty much came out of the factory when we rented this. And, what a christening it received! We had clocked almost 3500 miles across 10 days over a wonderful wonderful trip. This was very special since it was driven by only two people for the entire duration of the trip. Again, very spacious interiors, smooth engine and a fantastic audio system were some highlights.

Having given due credit to the above special four vehicles, here's a full list of ALL the cars (and events in them!) I have driven over the past five and a half years.

1) Dodge Neon -My first drive in the States, in Texas
2) Suzuki Grand Vitara -My driving test
3) Pontiac Grand Prix -First freeway drive
4) Toyota Corolla
5) Nissan Sentra -Had only 8 miles on it when I rented this one! The newest car I have driven
6) Hyundai Sonata -First drive in Minnesota
7) Honda Civic -Friend's first love
8) Toyota Camry LE
9) Honda Accord GLX
10) Lexus SC400 -First drive in Seattle. Again, friend's first love
11) Mazda 3 -Seattle again, first female friend's car I drove
12) Subaru Outback
13) Pontiac G6 -Driven during my interview time with Qualcomm
14) Chevrolet Impala -First car after a full time job
15) Volvo XC90 -First drive in New Jersey
16) Ford Focus -Last car driven after graduating Masters
17) Acura TSX
18) BMW 530i -First stick shift in the States
19) BMW 135i
20) Chrysler Pacifica -First drive in California
21) Infinity G37 S -First all guy road trip!
22) Ford Fusion
23) Volkswagen 2.5 Rabbit -First Mark Knopfler's concert
24) Ford Escape
25) BMW Z4 -First to clock 100 mph
26) Hyundai Santa Fe
27) Toyota Sienna LE/XLE
28) Mini Cooper S-Zippiest car I drove
29) Honda S2000
30) Nissan Altima
31) BMW 328i
32) BMW 335i
33) GMC Yukon
34) Volkswagen Jetta -Car with the best road trip mileage
35) Infinity G35
36) Mercedes Benz E-Class -First super luxury car
37) Mazda 6
38) Toyota Prius -First Hybrid
39) Ford Mustang -Beast of a machine. Last car driven in USA
40) Lexus IS250 -Smooth as silk
41) VW Golf GTI -Wolf in Sheep's clothing
42) BMW 325i - Maya-My only love

Memories

New beginnings, and old memories often go hand in hand. I have been hit by an idea and will try to give it form in this entry.

Every human being undergoes change in life, be it professional, personal or spiritual. Some get the gift of all three. Some try to fight with just one. In the end it all boils down to acceptance and dealing.

I'm not very fond of change. Mainly because it shuts down the current state of being, a state of happiness and opens up a state of surprise, a state of unknown. More than anything it merges the present into the past, turning it to memories.

Everyone has memories, good and unpleasant. One might remember incidents dating to their childhood while others may be content with the recently concluded past. I do not have any fond memories of growing up, of my school life. Back then, I was trying so hard to fit into the classroom to ignore the lessons life had to teach outside of it. Back then, I was surviving to stay afloat when I should have ventured to find out how deep the water was.

Over the years, I have striven to develop maturity, not only to understand the bigger picture of life but try to delve into philosophical aspects of my existence. Over the years, I have experienced love and tried (and still trying!) to understand it. Over the years, I have been tempered by events that test character. Over the years, I have tried to break away from the cocoon of comfort to dive into the unknown.

Today, as I try to paste an identity on myself, I can only define myself by the events that have occurred in my life and how they serve as memories. To that end, as I close my eyes only two periods in my life come to mind. First- my estranged, albeit glorious days during undergraduate studies and Second -my time in an unknown land whilst groping in the dark for my destiny. I, still have not found my destiny but am hoping to unite with it sometime during this lifetime.

Across these two periods, what has remained constant is the circle of friends. People who have identified me as an entity and people whom I have accepted as my state of being. With them, occasions have been aplenty, joy has known no bounds and memories will forever remain etched.

Today, I urge you to close your eyes and identify your memories because, they will define you. They, will string your past to your present and teach you to identify yourself for the future!

Engulfed in an Enchantment

We constantly play cat and mouse in our daily lives. Each day where dog eats and rat eats rat. We don't have time to stop and take a deep breath, fill up our lungs with air and breathe all worries and problems out. But, sometimes we resort to the dark confines of our minds to pick out memories...Memories locked up and buried deep down.....

The flight announcements for boarding were underway. I grabbed my backpack and proceeded for security checks prior to boarding. Armed with a magazine and my ipod, I tried to come to terms with a mind tired from the past journey. It was a long one. Caffeine consumed did not seem to help. They never seem to. Lazily, I stood in line and emptied my pockets of it's belongings to their routine scan and passed though the human scanner myself. The procedure was over before I realized it. I had close to an hour before boarding the aircraft. Aimlessly, I wandered around to find a seat and proceeded to read, having found one. Uninterestingly, I scanned through my ipod to find a soundtrack to relieve my weary mind. Suddenly there was a faint thud right next to my foot. I turned to see a passport case lying right next to it. Out of spontaneity, I picked up the passport case and looked up to hand it to it's owner.

She was still fumbling with the lot in her hand but stopped quickly to thank me. She proceeded to the seat opposite mine. I continued to follow her actions as she put her passport case back in the purse. She had a novel in one hand and a beverage in the other. She looked up to acknowledge me once again with a smile. I was transfixed on her. She must have been in her twenties, was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Her feet were covered in knee length boots. She had some sort of scarf loosely wrapped around her neck. Her face was resplendent with a glow indicating that she was not fatigued by her previous travel. Her reading glasses were thick rimmed and oozed some fashion sense. She had lovely blue eyes which complemented her blonde hair. Her tresses, unevenly spawned across her shoulder had twists and curves at their ends. She started reading her novel, stopping occasionally to sip her beverage. Her lips adorably tightened and closed after each sip. Frequently, her fingers swirled around her hair-locks in a beautiful waltz. She looked absolutely stunning and her actions, quite bewitching.

As I continued to observe her from head to toe, I could sense a free kindred spirit. I concluded that she was either a journalist or an environmentalist....

....She looked up to hear the announcement meant for boarding and stood up to join the growing line. I followed suit, my mind no more weary and completely transfixed on her....

My joy knew no bounds when I realized her seat was right next to mine.During the course of the journey, I learnt that she was from Sydney, Australia. She worked as a freelance journalist with a popular newspaper and was quite smitten by the wanderlust. She was heading to Goa to meet up with some friends. She was looking for some suggestions and I offered some. Our conversations were interlaced with bits and pieces of anecdotes and did not result in anything gripping. How I wished for something more!

As the plane touched down, it was time to bid adieu...To this ravishing lady who had simply stolen my breath away. We stood next to each other waiting to claim our bags. For one last time, I turned around to look at her, at her beautiful blue eyes, at those golden locks gently resting on her shoulder....For one last time, my mind heaved a huge, pitiful sigh as I walked away....

Her face turned into an image etched in my memory. It surfaces now and then to serve as a cold breeze wafting into an otherwise mundane life. It must go back now....to the deep confines, hopefully to resurface soon.....

Wishes

-> On that hot afternoon on the Mumbai local, he was there
-> On that worn out audio cassette tape, he was there
-> On the day 12th board results were announced, he was there
-> During the days of adolescence, he was there
-> Over arguments on rock and roll, he was there
-> On the Sony walkman, he was there
-> During my days away from home, he was there
-> During the days of failure, he was there
-> During the days of discovery, he was there
-> During the times of friendship, he was there
-> When I spent hours staring at the wall, he was there
-> While preparing for exams, he was there
-> After my first rejection, he was there
-> On that February evening, he was there!
-> During the days of lonely travel, he was there
-> During long drives into the night, he was there
-> In foreign lands, he was there
-> On trans-continental flights, he was there
-> In my life today, he is there

Happy birthday, Mark! You have crafted my life to the tunes of your guitar. I'm still picking up the chords.....