End of an era

"Are you out of your mind? Why do you have to go back home this weekend? Its Sachin's final test! We have always watched cricket together and it will not be any different this time. This test match is going to be special and YOU are not going anywhere!" said Nikhil, who was very irritated hearing that his friend Vijay will be going to Chennai the coming weekend when Sachin is about to play his final international match at Wankhede. He continued, "Talk to your parents, tell them you have an assignment to complete at the lab here and you cannot come. C'mon bro! I am sure you won't regret this." Vijay sighed and gave a brief nod. "Yes! Yes! This is going to be awesome!" Nikhil's face glowed as bright as the sun. As the boys paid me and stood up to leave, I looked around my shop and searched for a small radio set which I have been safeguarding for the past 20 years. I finally found it and tried to switch it on, later did I realise its antenna was missing. That Murphy radio set was special to me for two things; one that it was gifted to me by my late father and two, I heard Sachin Tendulkar play on this radio for the first time. I wish I could have watched him play live. As a cricket enthusiast, all that joy and happiness of India winning a crucial game has been given to me majorly by the God. I still remember the match against England when he scored 119*. He was a 17-year old, wearing Sunil Gavaskar's pads with high hopes on him to end the match as a draw, which he eventually did. In 2004, I remember there was a great debate whether Sachin would return to the international scene as he suffered from the famous Tennis Elbow. He was tagged, "Endulkar" but the nation believed he would return and continue his long journey. I remember those days and nights when I was glued to my television watching the Maestro play some brilliant innings. To highlight some would be the glorious 98 v Pakistan at Centurion in 2003, 241* v Australia at SCG in 2004 and who would forget how he raised the roof by scoring that breathtaking 200* against South Africa at Gwalior in the summer of 2010? It took 40 years for any batsman to record a double hundred in an one-day international and fittingly the "Little Master" was the man to do so.
Sachin Tendulkar- an Indian cricket fan's answer for the love of the game, life and everything surrounding the 22 yards. There is a great sense of confidence when you realise that Sachin is there in the team and will be playing, irrespective of what he does or how he performs. There is a voluntary feeling within you that Sachin is there, so everything will be alright. He has carried the burden of a billion people for the past 24 years and given them everything to believe in Indian Cricket.
My eyes want to watch Sachin play one last time this Friday, at Mumbai. I want to yell, cheer, cry for my GOD and give him a beautiful farewell for all he has done for his country. I can now feel the fire burning in my heart and soul to watch Sachin weave his wand one last time. I know I will curse myself if I miss this opportunity, so I decide to depart on my journey to watch my cricketing legend play which will quench my thirst as I cannot leave behind the memories and beautiful moments he has gifted our nation without showering him back with love and respect when he plays his final test against West Indies.  The road to Wankhede starts from here.

Stressing stress-busters

"Our truck met with an accident. No cigarette stock will be arriving for atleast two days from now", said the dealer through phone as I opened the shop. Cold sweat ran down my spine. "I have stock to manage till today evening. What am I supposed to do after that? This month has been crucial", I thought as I ripped each packet of milk and poured them in a vessel. The weather was hot. It was not very surprising, considering it was Tamil Nadu.

Hours passed and it was quarter after eleven. The college students were writing their exams and it was their practice to smoke some cigarettes after they finish.

"Dude! I am surely failing! You?", "I might pass", "You see this question? I knew the answer and I wrote it too, but for a different question! How stupid am I?", "I wrote pretty well, I will pass"; these were the random murmurs and discussions I heard after the end of every exam for the past one week. I kept aside three-fourth of my stock for them. They trusted me everyday as the dealer of their "stress buster".

In not less than fifteen minutes, there was a huge crowd outside my shop. I had to deal fast to clear the crowd and simultaneously remember to take money from them for the cigarettes or tea or any snack they bought, as some do not care to pay. As I told you, this month was crucial. As I saw Farhan coming towards the shop, I got an idea. He seemed happy, maybe because he would have written his exam well.

"Anna, one Classic Miles cigarette", he ordered, as he placed the coins on the table. When I gave him his cigarette, I enquired " How did you write? Will you pass?". With the cigarette in his mouth, he muttered, "Super!" and flashed a thumbs up. He continued to talk to his friends while I dealt more cigarettes until I was left with just two packs.

"Should I ask him? Can I ask him?" I thought. Farhan has been my customer and friend for a long time now. He came to college from the town everyday on his bike. I treated him like family  and have often advised him to quit smoking. One day, he said, " I buy cigarettes only from you, so you have to shut down your shop if I must quit". I stopped advicing since that day.

"Farhan!" I called. As he turned, I signalled him to come. "Tell me, Anna. What happened?" asked Farhan as he stubbed his cigarette on the floor.

"I am out of cigarettes, Farhan. I will give you money and an address, can you pick up 2 cartons of Classic Miles cigarette from there? I will pay for the petrol too". He looked at his watch and asked, "Where is this shop? If it is at the beginning of the town, I can pick it up because I have to drop Gopal there and come back here".

"THANK GOD!", I thought. "Yes! It is at the bus stop! Can you please do this for me?" I requested. He asked for the address and the money and within minutes, Farhan had left on his bike. I felt relieved, thanks to Farhan.

"Done! My god, too much tension near the bus stop. Later I realised, it was because of a car-bike accident." said Farhan, as he handed me the two cartons of cigarettes. He had come back within an hour, just at the right time.

"Thank you! Oh! Anyone got hurt?", I asked him as I opened the cartons. "I do not know, I did not stop to check" he said, as he zipped his bag close. "Here, take!" I offered Farhan the last pack which had 2 cigarettes. He had agreed to help at the right time. He laughed and took them. "Thanks Anna! See you tomorrow!" he said and left.

You inspired me- Part II

"How was your sleep? You are awake just in time for dinner", I told a partially awake Veer. I continued, "Did you know? You sleep talk. A lot."
"I know, my friends have taken videos of it. They would show it to me the next morning and laugh about it. I am used to it as a fact, now", he replied as he washed his face and continued, "I guess I am not troubling you by staying here tonight?", asked Veer with a smile on his face. He was very young. What was he doing here, all alone? Is he lost? His mysterious eyes and smile made me think, otherwise. I had to ask him.
I served him rice and pickle. I looked up to check the time, it was 9pm. "Are you not eating?" he asked me. "I had my dinner while you were asleep. Do you want all the rice?", I asked him, as he looked quite thin for a young man of his age. He nodded. "What brings you here, Veer? Where are your parents? Are you alone, or lost?" I asked him as I cleared the rice from my bowl to his plate. I passed the pickle jar to him. "I am travelling from Kerala to Mysore Hills. I left Kerala, 3 weeks back and I am travelling on foot. Its all for the beauty of nature and the peace it gives you, which humans cannot. I travel and when I feel the need of some rest, I stop-by to stay with localites of the place. Like currently, for example, you. You would be amazed to realise the trip has not been harsh on me. Yet", he chuckled. I continued staring at him, as I expected him to continue talking. When I realised he has finished, I asked, "Nature gives you peace which humans cannot? On what basis are you telling me that?". He continued eating, and he seemed to enjoy the food. He asked for more pickle, as he spoke,"Well, I have my own reasons. I destroyed every evidence of my existence in Kerala, when I left. My name is Veer. Veer Deol. And, this definitely is not my real name. *chuckles* My dad was a businessman who believed in extreme comfort and fighting with my mom regularly. When I was in college, they divorced each other to live alone. Those were the worst days of my life as questions of custody of me and my brother were raised. I decided to live alone and independently, I was mentally upset. My brother stayed with my dad while my mom shifted to Mumbai and married an another man. I was not at peace, not one bit. My brother used to frequently call me telling how drunk my dad got the earlier night. I pitied my brother and I loved him. I wanted him to break free and live his life, rather than disturb himself with my dad's issues. I decided to leave Kerala for a peaceful existence. I did not want anyone to know where I was leaving, so I burned my passport and ID card. I took all the cash I required for the travel and decided never to come back. I started walking, and here I am in front of you. I want to live in Mysore, and experience the nature and our heritage. I want to be alone", he said, as he stood up to wash the plate. I sat there, amazed by the courage this young man had.
"Are you sure about all this? I mean, walking all the way till Mysore would be tiring and exhaustive. Have you decided where to live? Have you decided how to go? Being very clueless can be dangerous." I told him, as he returned after cleaning and wiping his hands. I thought he would have a plan. A guy who can leave everything behind must have a plan. But what he said next, denied it.
"Do you see this?", he said and showed me a bruised knee. It was aided, yet it looked bad. "I left Kerala on a bike. Half way out of Thirussur, I met with an accident. I decided to walk as I was not ready to spend my money on repairing the bike. It made my travel better, if you ask me. I admired everything on my way. I admired the never-ending lines on the black-tar roads, as it made me wonder how it was managed to be  painted so straight, even though a road surfacing marker machine was used. I admired the greenery, which I felt as I walked. Greenery is the best scenery. indeed. The colours used by the nature were so inspiring and beautiful that I could not take my eyes off them. I admired every person I met on my way and I am very sure, as each of them were as different than the other. So much humanity still rests in the deeper parts of our nation, which we refuse to consider in the whole picture. This is what I wanted to see. We all say we our humanity is falling apart, but then, even a bit of pure faith can help us save it," he said that and he stared at me. I agreed to his point and gave a brief nod. I understood, we ourselves should be and must be blamed for the actions for tension are initiated by us. "I can understand your boldness, Veer. If you are doing this for you, I suggest you continue. Never give a chance to regret." He smiled. "You can sleep in the same room, I will sleep in the backyard. Are you feeling cold?", I asked him as I saw his rubbing his hands for heat. "I would smoke some cigarettes if you have." I laughed, "I have a shop, son! Come."
He took a chair, sat against the fence and smoked his cigarettes. "Goodnight! By the way, I was thinking. Do you want an extra hand to help you at your chores at the shop? I mean, I can work here for sometime if you want to. I don't mind." I looked at him and I smiled. He had already made a huge impression on me. "I will think about it. But then, you need to sleep now. I will talk to you tomorrow morning. Take care!" I told him and walked to my backyard to sleep. I need to clean this place for an additional person to stay here, for sometime now.