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.