Voyage Two – World Cup on Wheels – Part 3
Who wants his name to be tossed in sizzling cauldron of scandal and to be fried with spices of rumours, leg pulling, and ridicules?
Me ? No way.Please.. In my street, I was measured as a straight boy. More than the image conscious, I was shy, yes, painfully shy. And surely, it would be talk of the street if I even thought of doing so.You know, there were different face readers, mind readers, heart readers moving around in those days with magnifying glass in hand. Probably, it would cross the boundary of the street and might fill the whole sector. No, I won't do it. I would be content with my transistor.What was amiss with the radio commentary? All my
friends were doing the same thing, i.e., "listening"rather than "watching and listening". And just to watchthe match , why should I go to 'her' house ?
Me ? No way.Please.. In my street, I was measured as a straight boy. More than the image conscious, I was shy, yes, painfully shy. And surely, it would be talk of the street if I even thought of doing so.You know, there were different face readers, mind readers, heart readers moving around in those days with magnifying glass in hand. Probably, it would cross the boundary of the street and might fill the whole sector. No, I won't do it. I would be content with my transistor.What was amiss with the radio commentary? All my
friends were doing the same thing, i.e., "listening"rather than "watching and listening". And just to watchthe match , why should I go to 'her' house ?
'Her'? 'Her'?? Ok, ok, stop sniffing like bull dog.Please stop scratching your claws on floor. I'll tell you everything. Believe me. Please ...Please don't show me the teeth... and no, don't jump on me .I would tell you whatever you hanker after...
You demand to know who was 'she'? She was a girl. My classmate in primary school and my sister's fast friend.
Was she beautiful ? Beautiful ?? She was stunningly beautiful. Probably the most orgeous girl in the whole sector. To add 'Ghee' in fire, her younger sister was more dazzling. Almost three times, if I endeavor to quantify and compare an intangible entity known as beauty.
Let us throw spotlight on the problem. They were the only family in the street 22 of sector 2, Bhilai which had TV
.Yes, those sisters did not have any brother, otherwise, things were uncomplicated for me and my friends. That implied that my sister could go and watch the match if she wished (but she was not interested) ,but I could not.
Guys, I was talking about one day of June of 1983 -almost twenty five years back. No sir, No way I could go to the twin tower's house to watch the match and hand over the tin of red Asian Paints on platter to my friends. My transistor was good enough to listen the blow by blow account of trashing of India in the hands of Lloyd and company.
===============================================================
You can investigate, open the old log books, collect the data, sample and analyse it by any tools. It is my claim that June 25 1983 is the date of birth of most of the black and white TV. "Date of Birth" does not mean the date of manufacturing. That implies, when a TV, wrapped in brown box, carried in open van and rickshaw, passes through the barrage of envious eyes of neighbours and reaches to the proud owner's drawing room.
Was she beautiful ? Beautiful ?? She was stunningly beautiful. Probably the most orgeous girl in the whole sector. To add 'Ghee' in fire, her younger sister was more dazzling. Almost three times, if I endeavor to quantify and compare an intangible entity known as beauty.
Let us throw spotlight on the problem. They were the only family in the street 22 of sector 2, Bhilai which had TV
.Yes, those sisters did not have any brother, otherwise, things were uncomplicated for me and my friends. That implied that my sister could go and watch the match if she wished (but she was not interested) ,but I could not.
Guys, I was talking about one day of June of 1983 -almost twenty five years back. No sir, No way I could go to the twin tower's house to watch the match and hand over the tin of red Asian Paints on platter to my friends. My transistor was good enough to listen the blow by blow account of trashing of India in the hands of Lloyd and company.
===============================================================
You can investigate, open the old log books, collect the data, sample and analyse it by any tools. It is my claim that June 25 1983 is the date of birth of most of the black and white TV. "Date of Birth" does not mean the date of manufacturing. That implies, when a TV, wrapped in brown box, carried in open van and rickshaw, passes through the barrage of envious eyes of neighbours and reaches to the proud owner's drawing room.
Well, TV might be not rare in Delhi or surrounding areas. But for a township like Bhilai, where only limited National Network Programs were showed up and rest of the little time was devoted to variety of local program, the necessity of TV was never felt till then.
By the way, let me clarify.My claim was for black and white TV. That might not be true for colour TV.In India, mostly, the first TV was ipso facto black and white, which on some later date was replaced by colour television. And those, who directly purchased color television were not fervent sports aficionado like Godamkar uncle.
Godamkar uncle's son , Rajnish, was my good friend.Ironically, Godamkar uncle was next door neighbour of the only TV owner in the street.
On June 25 morning, I was chit-chatting with Rajnish ,standing at his gate.A rickshaw entered the street.Yes,it was the TV.In front of that, Godamkar uncle was coming on bicycle. He was directing the rickshaw wala to the house.On the rickshaw, a delivery man was sitting ,holding the TV box carefully.It should not be jolted.Otherwise, some component inside could be disturbed.
"TV aaya re".Some of my friends, watching from their window, shouted.They came out running, to find out, whose door that rickshaw was going to stop.The TV reached to Godamkar uncle's drawing room and unpacked.
Wow, it was Phillips.
"I thought if I have to buy, then buy the quality one."Godamkar uncle was boasting.
"TV aaya re".Some of my friends, watching from their window, shouted.They came out running, to find out, whose door that rickshaw was going to stop.The TV reached to Godamkar uncle's drawing room and unpacked.
Wow, it was Phillips.
"I thought if I have to buy, then buy the quality one."Godamkar uncle was boasting.
And the TV delivery boy ?He was desperate.to sell his expertise.
"Sir, just hundred. Give me hundred.I'll do all the fittings."
"You can go now." Godamkar uncle raised his fingers towards gate.
"Ok sir, just seventy five.... I'll do everything.Fitting, Antena adjustment, Color, contrast -all the settings. Give me seventy five. All included"
"I said your work is over.Well done.You must leave now."Godamkar uncle was scanning through the manual.
"Ok sir, just fifty....Last ....Just listen to me .You know if your adjustment is not correct, you would always get hazy,dancing picture and will suffer headache and swelling eyes and likely to visit to doctor.Just fifty sir.You have spent thousands in purchasing the elephant. Just spend fifty for a peg to tie it. You know, TV is a delicate item.You do the wrong fitting and picture tube will blow up"
"Enough.Do you know whom you are trying to fool ?" He indicated me , "See, he is an engineer. I am a Chargeman, dealing with a lots of machine daily.Understand you
delivery man ? If you want" He pulled out a five rupee crumpled note from his pocket, "take this and have some sweets."
"Sir, just hundred. Give me hundred.I'll do all the fittings."
"You can go now." Godamkar uncle raised his fingers towards gate.
"Ok sir, just seventy five.... I'll do everything.Fitting, Antena adjustment, Color, contrast -all the settings. Give me seventy five. All included"
"I said your work is over.Well done.You must leave now."Godamkar uncle was scanning through the manual.
"Ok sir, just fifty....Last ....Just listen to me .You know if your adjustment is not correct, you would always get hazy,dancing picture and will suffer headache and swelling eyes and likely to visit to doctor.Just fifty sir.You have spent thousands in purchasing the elephant. Just spend fifty for a peg to tie it. You know, TV is a delicate item.You do the wrong fitting and picture tube will blow up"
"Enough.Do you know whom you are trying to fool ?" He indicated me , "See, he is an engineer. I am a Chargeman, dealing with a lots of machine daily.Understand you
delivery man ? If you want" He pulled out a five rupee crumpled note from his pocket, "take this and have some sweets."
Minutes later, me and Rajneesh went to the roof, fixed the antenna. Then we kept on slowly rotating the mast and constantly asking ,"Uncle, is it clear now ? Should we
rotate a little more ? What, the earlier position was better ? Ok, now , we are rotating slowly..."
Till then, the sole TV owner of TV, the Divisional Engineer , was strolling in his garden and watching with bemused and envious eyes, the disintegrating of his monopoly
, hammered by his own neighbor.
=======================================================================
Want to listen the fascinating story of three contingent of supporters ? There you go ...
rotate a little more ? What, the earlier position was better ? Ok, now , we are rotating slowly..."
Till then, the sole TV owner of TV, the Divisional Engineer , was strolling in his garden and watching with bemused and envious eyes, the disintegrating of his monopoly
, hammered by his own neighbor.
=======================================================================
Want to listen the fascinating story of three contingent of supporters ? There you go ...
West Indian supporters knew long back that their team would eventually play in the Final. They had purchased the tickets month back and just waiting for the big day, oiling and tightening their musical instruments,keeping their best beer in refrigerator, ready for the day. They were pretty relaxed while walking idly to the stadium..
England supporters were crestfallen. They also had bought the ticket in the anticipation that England would reach to the Final. If not England, they would settle for Australia West Indies grand Final. When "Dev's Devils"brought wind out of England campaign in semis, first they pillaried the groundsman. Then they professed that the Final between West Indies and India "would be a crashing bore'. The stupefying result deflated English ego but what to say about their certitude? So, those, who bought tickets in advance, were standing near stadium and reselling their tickets at much discounted prices.
And Indians ? Not many had bought the tickets in advance. Many of them even reached near the stadium in the hope of getting tickets from sky or somewhere. When they heard of the story that lot many Englishmen were selling their tickets near the stadium, they thronged there in large number and virtually snatched the tickets from their hands. Many of them even tried to coax and persuade to other Englishmen near the gate to sell their ticket and go to the bar instead for better merriment.
=============================================================
All these things were not shown on Rajneesh's
television. The thing , which displayed on the screen , was, it seemed to be a green pitch .(Don't ask me, how could I make it out in black and white TV.The commentator said
and I believed it.).
The impetus was with Indian team, but in front of them, it was insurmountable West Indies.
West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. That was a tradition in those days when strong team won the toss. That way, they could finish the match early and go for their celebration.Otherwise, just imagine what would happen if the weak team, batting second, would not try to win and play the complete sixty overs !
Lloyd had applied all their best bowlers for the match – Roberts, Holding, Garner and Marshall.All of tem were capable of opening the bowling.From India’s side, Gavaskar and Srikkanth opened the innings.
Gavaskar facing Roberts.First run cam in the form of misfield at squareleg.India opened the account.
There, I saw, the predicament of Gavaskar.Roberts and Garner started the bowling for West Indies.Both were fast, fiery fast… Technically correct batsman he was, Gavaskar was just leaving outside the off stump balls.He blocked the incoming delivery.He was beaten sometimes.In that process, he scored just two runs in two overs.
“Don’t worry.” Godamkar uncle assure us.”He will just see these bowlers through then he will open up.”
But uncle, when those bowlers stop, another two fearsome bowlers, Marshall and Holding were just waiting and etching theirfury.If he kept on ‘seeing’ those bowlers, then 48 overs would be consumed just like that.
That was the third over.It reminded me his infamous 36 not out in 60 overs in very first match of the world cup, which India played in 1975.Probably, Gavaskar was also feeling the heat.He waved his bat for an outgoing delivery.Dujon tossed the ball in air in delight and it was all over for him.
That was really pity to see him going back to the pavilion .He started his carrer against the West Indian in 1971.That time, he emerged as nemesis for West Indian. Now, after twelve years, West Indians were not even celebrating his dismissals as they should have.
Baba Mohinder Amarnath came to the crease.
The battle of Srikkanth and Roberts was the interesting one.
If you were watching the match on TV, even after almost twenty five years, you must remember the “fast and faster bouncer.”
Srikkanth was handling rough with smooth handle. He was fearless in driving , cutting and pulling.The score board was ticking on nicely. Godamkar uncle , cutting ‘supari’ with ‘sarouta’ preparing pan after pan, chewing it , kept on appreciating Srikkanth batting,”Wah Wah”.
West Indian fast bowlers , always etching to pepper such a batsman, resorted to short deliveries.Roberts sent a bouncer to Srikkanth coolly took the position and hammered it for four.Indian crowd went berserk.
Commentator was calm.He informed to the world the great secrete,”Actually, Roberts has two bouncers.One quick and another, quicker one.The one he just sent down was former.”That thrilled everyone.We all sitting on the edge of sofa watching on the TV, showing two men out on the fence in anticipation.We knew what was going to follow the “quick” bouncer. Roberts started his run up, speed increased , reached to the crease and here came the quicker one.It even puzzled Srikkanth and he pulled forehead level ball for a six !The stadium erupted with deafening noise.
“I think, Roberts has three bouncer.Quick, Qicker , Quikest.” It was Godamkar uncle’s comment.”Just wait and see the quickest one is coming and it will land outside of the stadium.”
No, the quickest one never came.But Srikkanth was not quiet.He went on one knee and smashed the bowler through square leg for another four.
On the other side, there was Baba Mohinder Amarnath.Always calm , but effective.West Indian bowlers unleashed the fury on him.The faster they came and short pitched, Mohinder coolly hammered and milked easily.
Suddenly, against the run of the play, Srikkanth got out.Marshall got him LBW.
Morose Godamkar uncle muttered,”Why they have LBW rules when nothing is clear?” He asked me,”How can you tell that the ball will hit the stump ?If ball is swinging, it can go over the stump or miss the off stump.How can an umpire judge it standing twenty two yards away ? absolutely rubbish rule.”
Yeshpal Sharma joined Mohinder and both were playing nicely.Suddenly , just before lunch , match took an unexpected turn.First, “the silent death” Holding (the nickname was given , because when he was running on his runup, his footsteps were never heard by even the umpire and non striker batsman).consumed Amarnath.And the part time, innocuous looking Larry Gomes, snubbed Yashpal Sharma.The scoreboard was reading 100 for four.It was lunch and I would like to go home, just fr a break.
=============================================================
All these things were not shown on Rajneesh's
television. The thing , which displayed on the screen , was, it seemed to be a green pitch .(Don't ask me, how could I make it out in black and white TV.The commentator said
and I believed it.).
The impetus was with Indian team, but in front of them, it was insurmountable West Indies.
West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. That was a tradition in those days when strong team won the toss. That way, they could finish the match early and go for their celebration.Otherwise, just imagine what would happen if the weak team, batting second, would not try to win and play the complete sixty overs !
Lloyd had applied all their best bowlers for the match – Roberts, Holding, Garner and Marshall.All of tem were capable of opening the bowling.From India’s side, Gavaskar and Srikkanth opened the innings.
Gavaskar facing Roberts.First run cam in the form of misfield at squareleg.India opened the account.
There, I saw, the predicament of Gavaskar.Roberts and Garner started the bowling for West Indies.Both were fast, fiery fast… Technically correct batsman he was, Gavaskar was just leaving outside the off stump balls.He blocked the incoming delivery.He was beaten sometimes.In that process, he scored just two runs in two overs.
“Don’t worry.” Godamkar uncle assure us.”He will just see these bowlers through then he will open up.”
But uncle, when those bowlers stop, another two fearsome bowlers, Marshall and Holding were just waiting and etching theirfury.If he kept on ‘seeing’ those bowlers, then 48 overs would be consumed just like that.
That was the third over.It reminded me his infamous 36 not out in 60 overs in very first match of the world cup, which India played in 1975.Probably, Gavaskar was also feeling the heat.He waved his bat for an outgoing delivery.Dujon tossed the ball in air in delight and it was all over for him.
That was really pity to see him going back to the pavilion .He started his carrer against the West Indian in 1971.That time, he emerged as nemesis for West Indian. Now, after twelve years, West Indians were not even celebrating his dismissals as they should have.
Baba Mohinder Amarnath came to the crease.
The battle of Srikkanth and Roberts was the interesting one.
If you were watching the match on TV, even after almost twenty five years, you must remember the “fast and faster bouncer.”
Srikkanth was handling rough with smooth handle. He was fearless in driving , cutting and pulling.The score board was ticking on nicely. Godamkar uncle , cutting ‘supari’ with ‘sarouta’ preparing pan after pan, chewing it , kept on appreciating Srikkanth batting,”Wah Wah”.
West Indian fast bowlers , always etching to pepper such a batsman, resorted to short deliveries.Roberts sent a bouncer to Srikkanth coolly took the position and hammered it for four.Indian crowd went berserk.
Commentator was calm.He informed to the world the great secrete,”Actually, Roberts has two bouncers.One quick and another, quicker one.The one he just sent down was former.”That thrilled everyone.We all sitting on the edge of sofa watching on the TV, showing two men out on the fence in anticipation.We knew what was going to follow the “quick” bouncer. Roberts started his run up, speed increased , reached to the crease and here came the quicker one.It even puzzled Srikkanth and he pulled forehead level ball for a six !The stadium erupted with deafening noise.
“I think, Roberts has three bouncer.Quick, Qicker , Quikest.” It was Godamkar uncle’s comment.”Just wait and see the quickest one is coming and it will land outside of the stadium.”
No, the quickest one never came.But Srikkanth was not quiet.He went on one knee and smashed the bowler through square leg for another four.
On the other side, there was Baba Mohinder Amarnath.Always calm , but effective.West Indian bowlers unleashed the fury on him.The faster they came and short pitched, Mohinder coolly hammered and milked easily.
Suddenly, against the run of the play, Srikkanth got out.Marshall got him LBW.
Morose Godamkar uncle muttered,”Why they have LBW rules when nothing is clear?” He asked me,”How can you tell that the ball will hit the stump ?If ball is swinging, it can go over the stump or miss the off stump.How can an umpire judge it standing twenty two yards away ? absolutely rubbish rule.”
Yeshpal Sharma joined Mohinder and both were playing nicely.Suddenly , just before lunch , match took an unexpected turn.First, “the silent death” Holding (the nickname was given , because when he was running on his runup, his footsteps were never heard by even the umpire and non striker batsman).consumed Amarnath.And the part time, innocuous looking Larry Gomes, snubbed Yashpal Sharma.The scoreboard was reading 100 for four.It was lunch and I would like to go home, just fr a break.
"We have to go the cloth shop." Babuji announced,"We need to give some clothes t be stitched for you."
"I have sufficient Babuji." I said,"I don't need any new clothes."
"No, you don't.You are in engineering college now. Not in the school anymore. You should dress properly."
"Can we go tomorrow?" I reluctantly asked.
"We are going NOW. No tomorrow or the day after.Do I need to get ‘Muhurt’for that ?" He asked.
I was speechless.
"Ok, tell me, what important work you are doing ?"
Again I was speechless.
"Do you think lightening struck twice at the same place? Do you think everyday is Sunday ? Do you think you can cook twice in the same wooden pot ?" He declared,"No, be realistic.India is not going to beat West Indies twice.That happened once and you guys should be content and proud and satisfied with that.No, nothing against Kapil and his team. They have done tremendous job. But be realistic and get back to the business."
I still did not say anything.
"Come on.We are not going to spend the whole day in the shop.We will buy the cloth, you give the measurement and then we are back."
But going out with Babuji was never as simple as he thought. Even though, we went to Sector Six market, which was a little away from our sector, but every now and then, someone or other would say,"Are Thakur saab." And they would shake hands , chitchat and then Babuji would say, "Aur Doctor saab, baki sab thik?".The we we would go about ten steps and another fellow would bump into,"Are Thakur saab.Aaj yahan kahan?" My patience was waning. After we bought the clothes from "DCM Cloth centre" and I stood up in front of tailor for my measurement, I had a sigh of relief.Now, I could go back to my 'business'.
But suddenly another shop keeper bumped into 'Thakur saab'.He happened to Babujis school friend.He dragged Babuji to his shop and ordered the 'sharbat'. And there, I sneaked away stealthily. I know Babuji wuld not care or mind or be anxious for me. After all, I was not a kid .I have spent so many years in those bazaar and streets.I won't be lost.
"I have sufficient Babuji." I said,"I don't need any new clothes."
"No, you don't.You are in engineering college now. Not in the school anymore. You should dress properly."
"Can we go tomorrow?" I reluctantly asked.
"We are going NOW. No tomorrow or the day after.Do I need to get ‘Muhurt’for that ?" He asked.
I was speechless.
"Ok, tell me, what important work you are doing ?"
Again I was speechless.
"Do you think lightening struck twice at the same place? Do you think everyday is Sunday ? Do you think you can cook twice in the same wooden pot ?" He declared,"No, be realistic.India is not going to beat West Indies twice.That happened once and you guys should be content and proud and satisfied with that.No, nothing against Kapil and his team. They have done tremendous job. But be realistic and get back to the business."
I still did not say anything.
"Come on.We are not going to spend the whole day in the shop.We will buy the cloth, you give the measurement and then we are back."
But going out with Babuji was never as simple as he thought. Even though, we went to Sector Six market, which was a little away from our sector, but every now and then, someone or other would say,"Are Thakur saab." And they would shake hands , chitchat and then Babuji would say, "Aur Doctor saab, baki sab thik?".The we we would go about ten steps and another fellow would bump into,"Are Thakur saab.Aaj yahan kahan?" My patience was waning. After we bought the clothes from "DCM Cloth centre" and I stood up in front of tailor for my measurement, I had a sigh of relief.Now, I could go back to my 'business'.
But suddenly another shop keeper bumped into 'Thakur saab'.He happened to Babujis school friend.He dragged Babuji to his shop and ordered the 'sharbat'. And there, I sneaked away stealthily. I know Babuji wuld not care or mind or be anxious for me. After all, I was not a kid .I have spent so many years in those bazaar and streets.I won't be lost.
That was a TV shop. The shopkeeper had kept half a dozen of black and white and two colour TV on display - different brand, different sizes.But in all those screens, I saw half a dozens Marshall(s) were coming on their run up, but whom they were bowling to ? They were bowling to half a dozen respective Madanlal(s).Madanlal ? I looked closely to each of the screensYes, Madanlal was playing.What happened to other players ?.It was rather shocking.Patil, Kapil, Kirti Azad , Binny all gone ?
Who was playing ? Madanalal and Kirmani… What was the score ? Over ended and score board appeared…..155/8 .I tried to read score board but it looked so full. Patil made 27 with no four but one six.It seemed he just got out.
“After the Zimbabwe match, we always thought Kapil will play .But he flattered to deceive” someone commented. The crowd, which was watching the match was getting impatient and irritated .Slowly, it was thinning and vapourising .”Apna kaam karo yaar.Aaj to vaise bhi harna tha.” Another commented. Kapil made 15 in 8 balls with three fours. But was that not the way he always played? Why to blame him? Kirti Azad made zero and Roger Binny made two.
All of a sudden, mosquitoes attacked on the TV , I mean all the TVs.The dealer came out, watched the screen, immediately call the mechanic th check up the antenna. Suddenly message appeared on the screen,”Rukavat ke liye khed hai.Sorry for interruption.”
As such , the dealer was irritated, since India was doing badly.Now, it irritated him further.He howled to the crowd,”Why are you crowding here ? Are you interested to buy the TV ? If yes, please step inside.If no, then please excuse us and go back to your business.”
And the crowd disappeared in a jiffy as if it was never there. Suddenly someone tapped me from behind.It was Babuji.
In those days, when you bought a TV, and it was an occasion , like the match , you expected a lot of guests in the house.
I again went to Rajneesh’s house and saw the guests coming, discussing about the match.When they came to know that India just scored 183, they shook hands with uncle and asked permission to leave.Godamkar uncle was full of confident.Are baithiye abhi.Kya hua 183 hai to?Abhi unke bhi giraate hain…bas do overs to dekh kar jaiye.”
It was an innings break.Thanks to some stubborn batting for last last wicket by Sandhu and Kirmani, India scored 183.The extra of 20 runs was forth highest , after Srikkanth(38), Patil(27) and Mohinder (26).
With so many visitors at the innings break , only one visitor accepted Godamkar uncle’s request of ‘two overs’.
What happened in two overs ?
Kapil picked up the ball. Hey , just look at the field. Just see, how many fielders were stationed at attacking position vis-a-vis those, who were marshalling the boundary ?That was really amazing that Kapil set up attacking fields right from the beginning. His intention was clear. India did not have enough runs on the board to defend. It could win the match only by attack. It had nothing to lose.and fielders ? Just see their body language ? No shoulder dropping, no disappointment on the face.They were all brimming with energy.
Kapil started the over.Greeneidge took a single and Heyens deposited the ball to cover boundary….Four runs…No problem.Five without loss…
Out of Godamkar uncle’s requested quota of two overs, fifty percent had gone without any significant happeneing. Sandhu started his first over.
There came the “Banana ball”, the most precious delivery Sandhu delivered in his whole Cricketing career.
Greeidge was cool.There were plenty of overs spared to get meager 183.No need to panic. He did the right thing to shoulder arms for a delivery started a foot and a half from outside the off stump, As if it was a guided missile , it swung late and strike top of the off stump.
Unbelieveable…..Gadamkar uncle was ecstatic. We were all thrilled Greenidge was out. I could still remember the replay and after that Kapil marshalling his men and arranging the field for the newcomer who, for those who don’t know him , was ‘Gabbar Singh’ of West Indian batting line up.
“After the Zimbabwe match, we always thought Kapil will play .But he flattered to deceive” someone commented. The crowd, which was watching the match was getting impatient and irritated .Slowly, it was thinning and vapourising .”Apna kaam karo yaar.Aaj to vaise bhi harna tha.” Another commented. Kapil made 15 in 8 balls with three fours. But was that not the way he always played? Why to blame him? Kirti Azad made zero and Roger Binny made two.
All of a sudden, mosquitoes attacked on the TV , I mean all the TVs.The dealer came out, watched the screen, immediately call the mechanic th check up the antenna. Suddenly message appeared on the screen,”Rukavat ke liye khed hai.Sorry for interruption.”
As such , the dealer was irritated, since India was doing badly.Now, it irritated him further.He howled to the crowd,”Why are you crowding here ? Are you interested to buy the TV ? If yes, please step inside.If no, then please excuse us and go back to your business.”
And the crowd disappeared in a jiffy as if it was never there. Suddenly someone tapped me from behind.It was Babuji.
In those days, when you bought a TV, and it was an occasion , like the match , you expected a lot of guests in the house.
I again went to Rajneesh’s house and saw the guests coming, discussing about the match.When they came to know that India just scored 183, they shook hands with uncle and asked permission to leave.Godamkar uncle was full of confident.Are baithiye abhi.Kya hua 183 hai to?Abhi unke bhi giraate hain…bas do overs to dekh kar jaiye.”
It was an innings break.Thanks to some stubborn batting for last last wicket by Sandhu and Kirmani, India scored 183.The extra of 20 runs was forth highest , after Srikkanth(38), Patil(27) and Mohinder (26).
With so many visitors at the innings break , only one visitor accepted Godamkar uncle’s request of ‘two overs’.
What happened in two overs ?
Kapil picked up the ball. Hey , just look at the field. Just see, how many fielders were stationed at attacking position vis-a-vis those, who were marshalling the boundary ?That was really amazing that Kapil set up attacking fields right from the beginning. His intention was clear. India did not have enough runs on the board to defend. It could win the match only by attack. It had nothing to lose.and fielders ? Just see their body language ? No shoulder dropping, no disappointment on the face.They were all brimming with energy.
Kapil started the over.Greeneidge took a single and Heyens deposited the ball to cover boundary….Four runs…No problem.Five without loss…
Out of Godamkar uncle’s requested quota of two overs, fifty percent had gone without any significant happeneing. Sandhu started his first over.
There came the “Banana ball”, the most precious delivery Sandhu delivered in his whole Cricketing career.
Greeidge was cool.There were plenty of overs spared to get meager 183.No need to panic. He did the right thing to shoulder arms for a delivery started a foot and a half from outside the off stump, As if it was a guided missile , it swung late and strike top of the off stump.
Unbelieveable…..Gadamkar uncle was ecstatic. We were all thrilled Greenidge was out. I could still remember the replay and after that Kapil marshalling his men and arranging the field for the newcomer who, for those who don’t know him , was ‘Gabbar Singh’ of West Indian batting line up.
Yes sir, I am not joking. His on field aura was so menacing and frightening that it could match only with Gabbar Singh. Always unshaved, chewing gum, twirling the bat, head slightly inclined, looking at the bowler with utmost disdain. How many times we had seen him with baited breath in those years? He never tried to or had to throw his weight around, as he straightway occupied the centre stage whenever he came out of the hut.
He was maverick, mercurial Vivian Richards.
It took just one ball to show his intention. That ball was dispatched to midwicket for four.
“He was playing like that he wanted to finish the match in thirty overs .” Kapil had said that in post match conference, Even if he did not say, anyone could judge his intentions .Next over from Kapil Dev, he hammered another two boundaries.
Suddenly, once again mosquitoes attacked the TV.
Godamkar uncle was puzzled.He asked Rajneesh,”Go and check the antenna.”
It was dark.Me and Rajneesh climbed to the roof in jiffy. Suddenly Godamkar uncle called us, “Come down.It is again linkage failure.”
We came down.The announcer was showing regrets.
As such, it was 8-40 and news time.The spinning globe was appearing on screen.
I rushed to home. That was the last time, I saw the final match on TV.
It was Madanlal’s over when Richards hit three fours in succession.
There was a small cabin in the courtyard where I locked myself. The study table, on which I spent many hours solving the sums of Co Ordinate Geometry and Trigonometry in school days, I kept the transistor and was listening the happening on the Lord’s ground. Madanlal was bowling to Richards. The same Madanlal, for which Richards had commented few days back, ”The way he ran and jump, I thought I’ll face the searing pace of Holding or Garner. But I have to wait for his ball..”
First ball, Richards smashed it through Mid Wicket for four runs.
I thought I heard a tap on the door.
Sister was calling me for the dinner, ”Everyone is waiting .”She said.
He was maverick, mercurial Vivian Richards.
It took just one ball to show his intention. That ball was dispatched to midwicket for four.
“He was playing like that he wanted to finish the match in thirty overs .” Kapil had said that in post match conference, Even if he did not say, anyone could judge his intentions .Next over from Kapil Dev, he hammered another two boundaries.
Suddenly, once again mosquitoes attacked the TV.
Godamkar uncle was puzzled.He asked Rajneesh,”Go and check the antenna.”
It was dark.Me and Rajneesh climbed to the roof in jiffy. Suddenly Godamkar uncle called us, “Come down.It is again linkage failure.”
We came down.The announcer was showing regrets.
As such, it was 8-40 and news time.The spinning globe was appearing on screen.
I rushed to home. That was the last time, I saw the final match on TV.
It was Madanlal’s over when Richards hit three fours in succession.
There was a small cabin in the courtyard where I locked myself. The study table, on which I spent many hours solving the sums of Co Ordinate Geometry and Trigonometry in school days, I kept the transistor and was listening the happening on the Lord’s ground. Madanlal was bowling to Richards. The same Madanlal, for which Richards had commented few days back, ”The way he ran and jump, I thought I’ll face the searing pace of Holding or Garner. But I have to wait for his ball..”
First ball, Richards smashed it through Mid Wicket for four runs.
I thought I heard a tap on the door.
Sister was calling me for the dinner, ”Everyone is waiting .”She said.
‘Everyone’ meant, Babuji and my elder brother, who was in Jabalpur Engineering College.
Going for a dinner had some process attached to that I had to wash hands and legs, wipe them with towel and then go and join them.I got up from the chair, locked the door of the cabin.
Rchards pulled Madanlal over Sqaure Leg for another four..
I went to the bathroom, I was washing my legs .Damn, Richards drove another ball through extra cover and it was another four.
In those days, we did not have anything like dining table. There was a dining space. We had to sit on a very low wooden seat, barely three inches above the ground. As a classical Indian gentle man, we had to sit on it cross legged. The transistor was kept in the middle.
Dinner also meant that you could not listen to ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ or any program other than the news. It was prime time news time – 8:45 (Paune Nou).Babuji wanted to listen and made us listen nothing but ‘Akashwani’ news, both Hindi and English. But that day, still I kept the B.B.C. commentary on. I was getting irritated and it was an act of rebellion –‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ however symbolic it might be I wanted to keep the commentary on till last moment.But God, please. Richards should not hit another boundary.
God not only obliged my prayer but did something more which change the mood of everyone.
We started the dinner. The moment I broke the first Roti , Hayenes got out.
For a moment, I thought, God, let the commentator amend his mistakes and tell us , it was Richards. But no, Indians got the wrong man out. Anyway, wicket was a wicket – significantly, it came as against the run of the play. The scoreboard had already touched fifty in no time.
Well, God was just smiling ! The turn of Richards also came in a space of two overs. .
New comer Lloyd pulled up the muscle and just out Haynes was summoned to run for him.
Richards lifted the ball over Mid Wicket. Commentator was describing that Patil was running from Square Leg.Before he could reach the ball.The ball hang in the air, not to touch the ground. And the commentator shouted,”Richards out.Caught Kapil Dev bowled Madanlal.”
I was jubilant. Everyone was excited. Everyone was trying to be calm and hide the emotion.Remember, we were at dinner table.But where did Kapil come from ? Commentator was telling Patil ran from Square leg? Even if you see the replay of the catch today, Kapil came from Widish mid on and would not be in frame till the last moment.
Ironically, Richards was calling for two runs to Hayenes who was running for Lloyd. He might have anticipated that the ball would not go to boundary , but he never thought that Kapil would pluck it off from thin air.
Going for a dinner had some process attached to that I had to wash hands and legs, wipe them with towel and then go and join them.I got up from the chair, locked the door of the cabin.
Rchards pulled Madanlal over Sqaure Leg for another four..
I went to the bathroom, I was washing my legs .Damn, Richards drove another ball through extra cover and it was another four.
In those days, we did not have anything like dining table. There was a dining space. We had to sit on a very low wooden seat, barely three inches above the ground. As a classical Indian gentle man, we had to sit on it cross legged. The transistor was kept in the middle.
Dinner also meant that you could not listen to ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ or any program other than the news. It was prime time news time – 8:45 (Paune Nou).Babuji wanted to listen and made us listen nothing but ‘Akashwani’ news, both Hindi and English. But that day, still I kept the B.B.C. commentary on. I was getting irritated and it was an act of rebellion –‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ however symbolic it might be I wanted to keep the commentary on till last moment.But God, please. Richards should not hit another boundary.
God not only obliged my prayer but did something more which change the mood of everyone.
We started the dinner. The moment I broke the first Roti , Hayenes got out.
For a moment, I thought, God, let the commentator amend his mistakes and tell us , it was Richards. But no, Indians got the wrong man out. Anyway, wicket was a wicket – significantly, it came as against the run of the play. The scoreboard had already touched fifty in no time.
Well, God was just smiling ! The turn of Richards also came in a space of two overs. .
New comer Lloyd pulled up the muscle and just out Haynes was summoned to run for him.
Richards lifted the ball over Mid Wicket. Commentator was describing that Patil was running from Square Leg.Before he could reach the ball.The ball hang in the air, not to touch the ground. And the commentator shouted,”Richards out.Caught Kapil Dev bowled Madanlal.”
I was jubilant. Everyone was excited. Everyone was trying to be calm and hide the emotion.Remember, we were at dinner table.But where did Kapil come from ? Commentator was telling Patil ran from Square leg? Even if you see the replay of the catch today, Kapil came from Widish mid on and would not be in frame till the last moment.
Ironically, Richards was calling for two runs to Hayenes who was running for Lloyd. He might have anticipated that the ball would not go to boundary , but he never thought that Kapil would pluck it off from thin air.
Anyway, I was so thrilled that like an obedient boy I picked up the transistor , changed the band and trying to find Akashwaani Raipur.
Babuji said,”It is ok.Just let me listen to the headlines. Then you guys can continue with commentary.”
It was just two minutes to nine. Devki Nanadan Pandey,the news reader ,in his booming voice, told us the weather report, “Garaj ke saath chhinte” and then announced,”Ant main mukhya samachar ek baar fir…”…And hello, what had happened! Normally, the sports news in headlines were either omitted or told as forth and last head lines. That day, just getting out of Richards made him to rearrange the news order and sports news – yes, in those days, Cricket was just a sports – jumped into two notched up and read as a second headlines.
After that, it was six time “Tuk, Tuk Tuk” and English news started. Khamala Singh ( or Kamla Singh or Gamala Singh, sorry, I would never know her name) started the news and yes, sports news was at second slot.
“Enough”, surprisingly, it came from Babuji, “Go back to B.B.C.”
==============================================================
And it seemed that our dinner had charmed to tilt the balance of luck in favor of India.
The wicket of Richards galvanized the despondent Indian team..They were pouncing on the ball.Lloyd had pulled his groin muscles and he was playing with a runner.Suddenly Indians chocked all the outlets of run flow and Madan and Binny, with their constrained talent as compare to flamboyance of West Indian bowlers, bound both the batsmen. On the other hand, West Indians tottered , lurched , staggered ,wobbled at that hour West Indies had to suffer further smack of intrigue. The tension mounted to such a magnitude that the person, having ocean like patience , Gomes, poked the ball outside the off stump and Gavaskar accepted the catch with a infinite gratitude.
Babuji said,”It is ok.Just let me listen to the headlines. Then you guys can continue with commentary.”
It was just two minutes to nine. Devki Nanadan Pandey,the news reader ,in his booming voice, told us the weather report, “Garaj ke saath chhinte” and then announced,”Ant main mukhya samachar ek baar fir…”…And hello, what had happened! Normally, the sports news in headlines were either omitted or told as forth and last head lines. That day, just getting out of Richards made him to rearrange the news order and sports news – yes, in those days, Cricket was just a sports – jumped into two notched up and read as a second headlines.
After that, it was six time “Tuk, Tuk Tuk” and English news started. Khamala Singh ( or Kamla Singh or Gamala Singh, sorry, I would never know her name) started the news and yes, sports news was at second slot.
“Enough”, surprisingly, it came from Babuji, “Go back to B.B.C.”
==============================================================
And it seemed that our dinner had charmed to tilt the balance of luck in favor of India.
The wicket of Richards galvanized the despondent Indian team..They were pouncing on the ball.Lloyd had pulled his groin muscles and he was playing with a runner.Suddenly Indians chocked all the outlets of run flow and Madan and Binny, with their constrained talent as compare to flamboyance of West Indian bowlers, bound both the batsmen. On the other hand, West Indians tottered , lurched , staggered ,wobbled at that hour West Indies had to suffer further smack of intrigue. The tension mounted to such a magnitude that the person, having ocean like patience , Gomes, poked the ball outside the off stump and Gavaskar accepted the catch with a infinite gratitude.
The agony of Lloyd came to an end. His foot work were frozen due to cramp..He charged Roger Binny's ball through the extra cover and Kapil picked a straightforward catch.Both the wickets fell on 66
.Slowly, India clawed his way back to the match.
More drama to be unfolded.....
I never ate such a delicious dinner in my entire Life. I mean,how many times to you have the best batsmen of the mightiest team to be part of your repast ? I wanted it to last as long as possible. Others were about to finish and I was barely half way through. I had to catch up...But listen ... wait..Dujon was almost run out by a direct throw from Srikkanth , but umpire thought otherwise. There were no third umpires to be referred in those days , otherwise he was in deep trouble. I was hurriedly gulping , then suddenly Baccus was out.Oh boy, they were not allowing me to finish my dinner.This time, it was Sandhu's turn to strike. Baccus tried to slash a widish delivery and Kirmani took the catch almost in front of first slip.
The World champions were slumped to 76 for six.
Voice of America might be regretting at that time, since , when Richards was playing, moved by sheer anticipation, they had already declared West Indies winning the World Cup third consecutive time.
.Slowly, India clawed his way back to the match.
More drama to be unfolded.....
I never ate such a delicious dinner in my entire Life. I mean,how many times to you have the best batsmen of the mightiest team to be part of your repast ? I wanted it to last as long as possible. Others were about to finish and I was barely half way through. I had to catch up...But listen ... wait..Dujon was almost run out by a direct throw from Srikkanth , but umpire thought otherwise. There were no third umpires to be referred in those days , otherwise he was in deep trouble. I was hurriedly gulping , then suddenly Baccus was out.Oh boy, they were not allowing me to finish my dinner.This time, it was Sandhu's turn to strike. Baccus tried to slash a widish delivery and Kirmani took the catch almost in front of first slip.
The World champions were slumped to 76 for six.
Voice of America might be regretting at that time, since , when Richards was playing, moved by sheer anticipation, they had already declared West Indies winning the World Cup third consecutive time.
"Where are you lost ? Finish your dinner fast. You believe that if you stay here for sometimes more India is going to win the match ?Are you dreaming that you are bowling for India from dinning space and responsible for all the dismissal in this half an hour? Nice lessons from Engineering college..."It was difficult to conceal your intentions from Babuji.
===============================================================
Really, if you followed the match that night -you know,my good luck charm was left at the dinning place. West Indies kept on nudging the runs, here and there.Marshall and Dujon, both were playing coolly. To my disappointment, Dujon pulled Sandhu's
ball for a six. They crossed hundred mark.The partnership was crystallizing in some menacing shape.The unfinished task, which were to be accomplished by Richards,
Greenidge and Lloyd, were being done by Marshall and Dujon.I could understand the psyche of Marshall He was so sure of winning the cup that during the innings break, he
had even booked a new BMW for himself.He was making it sure that he had money to fill up the gas in his new BMW.
I was alone, sitting at the porch of the house. All other family members were asleep. I was just looking down the street. The two TV owner neighbours were still awake.I could see their drawing room light wavering.That was - tube lights fused with TV light.That means, transmission had resumed.However, I did not have any desire to go back to Rajneesh house .
The match was slipping away slowly from India's grasp. Marshall and Dujon were inching towards a victory, which , to my opinion, did not come automatically to them.They had to earn it.
But wait .... Shhhhhh ...
Oh yes.I could hear loud shout on Godamkar uncle's TV and in next second, radio commentators confirmed it.
Dujon was bowled by Amarnath. Yes, it was innocuous looking inswinger from Mohinder.Dujon shouldered arms.The ball hit the gloves and the hit the stump.
Thank God for the seventh wicket.
And in a space of one over, Amarnath claimed Marshal also. Gavaskar made his presence felt.He held the catch at slip.
No, now I decided not to change my sitting posture. Mosquitoes were feasting on my blood and I had to get up and adjust the position of the chair. But no, I would not get up and do anything which could disturb the god luck charm of India.
===============================================================
Really, if you followed the match that night -you know,my good luck charm was left at the dinning place. West Indies kept on nudging the runs, here and there.Marshall and Dujon, both were playing coolly. To my disappointment, Dujon pulled Sandhu's
ball for a six. They crossed hundred mark.The partnership was crystallizing in some menacing shape.The unfinished task, which were to be accomplished by Richards,
Greenidge and Lloyd, were being done by Marshall and Dujon.I could understand the psyche of Marshall He was so sure of winning the cup that during the innings break, he
had even booked a new BMW for himself.He was making it sure that he had money to fill up the gas in his new BMW.
I was alone, sitting at the porch of the house. All other family members were asleep. I was just looking down the street. The two TV owner neighbours were still awake.I could see their drawing room light wavering.That was - tube lights fused with TV light.That means, transmission had resumed.However, I did not have any desire to go back to Rajneesh house .
The match was slipping away slowly from India's grasp. Marshall and Dujon were inching towards a victory, which , to my opinion, did not come automatically to them.They had to earn it.
But wait .... Shhhhhh ...
Oh yes.I could hear loud shout on Godamkar uncle's TV and in next second, radio commentators confirmed it.
Dujon was bowled by Amarnath. Yes, it was innocuous looking inswinger from Mohinder.Dujon shouldered arms.The ball hit the gloves and the hit the stump.
Thank God for the seventh wicket.
And in a space of one over, Amarnath claimed Marshal also. Gavaskar made his presence felt.He held the catch at slip.
No, now I decided not to change my sitting posture. Mosquitoes were feasting on my blood and I had to get up and adjust the position of the chair. But no, I would not get up and do anything which could disturb the god luck charm of India.
And Kapil's ball rapped on Roberts pad. Kapil jumped into the air, appealed and umpire endorsed. Roberts was LBW.
India was just one wicket away from the victory. Kapil was impatient to claim the wicket. But Garner and Holding hold the fort valiantly like last brave soldiers. Kapil applied Madan and Binny also.But those two survived and pushed the score nicely.The runs put by India on the scoreboard was so inadequate that even a small partnership like that looked intimidating. Madan even finished his quota and hence,bowling assignment of the Third World Cup.
Kapil called back Mohinder again.
The ball rapped on the pad and all of a sudden, all the lights were on. Those , who were listening the commentary , were on the streets.
It was simply amazing.Ten minutes back, the street was sleeping like a ghost.Now it looked like the night of Holi.I could hear the drum beats and shouting from distant and
near.No, probably, it was Deewali. I did not know, how the guys had acquired the fire crackers in June and from where. But all those questions were irrelevant.I was still listening the commentary.Suddenly Babuji came, half in the sleep.
"What is this noise ? Halla Gulla ? " He asked.
"India has won the World Cup." I announced.
"Oh Really ? Kapil and his team did it.Fantastic.",He was happy, "So these guys are celebrating. I got it. But what are you doing ?"He asked.
"Listening."
"Listening what ?"
"Comentory." I replied.
"But you said India won it. I thought the match was over."
"Yes, it is over. I am just listening the score card" I said.
"Do you think that the scorecard will change overnight?" He asked.
"No."
"Is it fixed in time ?" He wanted to make it sure.
"Yes , I think so."
"Then switch off the transistor, come inside and sleep.You can read score card tomorrow in news paper.Nothing is going to change runs,scored,fall of the wicket, bowling analysis .... No body will dare to touch it.... come and sleep. By the way, you were following the match whole day , still you need score card to be read..."
===============================================================
Effusive,Hailing, Heralding,Applouding, Gloat Over ....
Call me dumb, if that was precisely what I was waiting impatiently since the rise of morning stars at my gate.
That was very early morning.Waiting , waiting waiting.
"Waiting for the newspaper ?" Babuji asked.
"Yes", I admitted.But why ? for those highly ornated words, which were dried since long in India, specially in sporting arena ?Yes, , I have gone nuts...
.
"Hey, do something constructive." He handed me the milk container ,"Go and get the milk. Have you gone crazy?Waiting for the news paper, just to read four line "Stop Press News" or at the most, reporting of first half of the match ?You followed it throughout
yesterday. You must be knowing much more than that.Early morning ... Newspaper ..uh..and they say it is the best time to connect to God..."
Reluctantly, swiveling the aluminum container in hand, I headed for the public milk booth.
Contrary to my imagination, there were lot many guys at the milk booth.They kept their containers in one long queue, and themselves formed the group of three ,four or more guys and chatting.That was the best pastime while waiting for Milk van, to vent their
frustrations, to share the joy and whatever those "Nav Ras " suggests , except ,off course "Shringar". Yes, romance was simply inapposite.
Usually, uncles formed their own group, chitchatting about their growing sons and their career path. Aunts and young girls, they normally form another group. My childhood friends formed another group., We used to converse about sports, film and what else ? No, if something required whispering or chuckling, we used to go away further , keeping one eye on the path where milk van would appear eventually to restore the order. That day, casting away the convention of seniority and juniority, uncles and teenage boys seemed to mingle. They
were talking about a single topic, I know, you know and everyone knows.
"Hey Vijay.Did you see the match last night ?"
"No", I replied,"I rather listened." That was a partial truth but yes, a better answer at that moment.
"Oh boy.You don't know what have you missed?I saw it on TV .All the action, till Door Darshan dropped the shutters. You know, there was an uncle at the corner of street 4 Thorough gentleman... he allowed us to stand in lawn and kept this drawing room window open. Well, how can he allow such a crowd to let in the drawing room ? It was not possible.However, we saw everything from his lawn. The lawn was packed to the nines and you know, I am a little short and I stood a little behind. I had to stand on my toes constantly. See , it is still aching. But yes, it was worth. Each wicket tumbled and guys would rejoice in the lawn ... No, no, no whistling , see it was a gentleman's house with young daughter...Remember the man
followed Roberts and gave him advice... How funny ... and who was lying on the ground when the match was over. ?Was he Holding ? No someone else ..and awesome Kapil shook the Champaign bottle and what a shower it was...Srikkanth was smoking. Mohinder took out his red handkerchief from his pocket and waved it like a victory
flag."
"Wait a minute." I interrupted jealously, "Was it black and white or coloured TV?"
"Black and white.Why?"
"Then How do you know it was red handkerchief ?" I
tried to nail him.
"Oh boy.The whole world knows about his lucky red handkerchief, poking out of his pocket all the times. The whole world, except you."
=======================================================================
Contrary to Babuji's remark, it was not four liner
"Stop Press" or just half baked report of Indian innings.It was a full fledged , half a page , front page topmost priority headlines news .Just imagine, out of the total six pages, the half a page news weighing heavily, pushing all the news to be shrunk or consigned to back pages. I didn't have any clue, how did they arrange so quickly, the photograph of Kapil, brimming with the trophy.
Babuji came from bath.
"So, what was the final score " He asked.
"It has not changed since last night.Frozen in the time" I replied." That is on the newspaper."
"No, I don't have time to go through the whole score card. I have to go for the meeting and I know, everyone will be talking about it.Just tell me briefly. What was the score? Who hit the century?"
"Babuji, you know , it was a low scoring match Just 183 and 140.How can you expect a century?"
"Ok, Ok.I got it .It was low scoring match. Now, then how many 'ducks' ?That will be interesting ."
"Just one."
"Just one? In low scoring match ? Are you sure ? It may be misprinting."
"No, it was one and only 'duck' .I know. He was Kirti Azad "
"Kirti Azad? First name Hindu , last name Muslim ? Sounds familiar. I know only one such peson. Minister Bhagawat Jha Azad."
"You hit the point. He is son of Bhagawat Jha Azad."
"Oh really?" Babuji was delighted,"Then it will be an interesting topic to initiate the coffee discussion. Nice, now , I can handle any conversation on World Cup."
Babuji tilted his blue scooter , kicked , kicked , kicked and kicked. On forth kick, scooter started and Babuji was on his way to the college.
===============================================================
"O Tera Kya kahana?"
Well, that was the World Cup officially known as Prudential Cup Cricket 1983 , which I experienced mostly on wheels - trains, bus, bicycle, scooter.If you still have the energy and patience for my comment, I would say that it was a team effort and being the underdogs helped. Before the tournament, the world knew India had only one bowler to cop up with. But when Kapil failed, Madan and Binny fired.The same thing was true for batting. It was never a cause of worry that India’s greatest batsman Gavaskar hardly contributed. Yashpal, Srikkanth, Patil were always there shoulder the responsibility.In a team of young, experienced seasoned Mohinder perfectly blended as yeoman.
India was just one wicket away from the victory. Kapil was impatient to claim the wicket. But Garner and Holding hold the fort valiantly like last brave soldiers. Kapil applied Madan and Binny also.But those two survived and pushed the score nicely.The runs put by India on the scoreboard was so inadequate that even a small partnership like that looked intimidating. Madan even finished his quota and hence,bowling assignment of the Third World Cup.
Kapil called back Mohinder again.
The ball rapped on the pad and all of a sudden, all the lights were on. Those , who were listening the commentary , were on the streets.
It was simply amazing.Ten minutes back, the street was sleeping like a ghost.Now it looked like the night of Holi.I could hear the drum beats and shouting from distant and
near.No, probably, it was Deewali. I did not know, how the guys had acquired the fire crackers in June and from where. But all those questions were irrelevant.I was still listening the commentary.Suddenly Babuji came, half in the sleep.
"What is this noise ? Halla Gulla ? " He asked.
"India has won the World Cup." I announced.
"Oh Really ? Kapil and his team did it.Fantastic.",He was happy, "So these guys are celebrating. I got it. But what are you doing ?"He asked.
"Listening."
"Listening what ?"
"Comentory." I replied.
"But you said India won it. I thought the match was over."
"Yes, it is over. I am just listening the score card" I said.
"Do you think that the scorecard will change overnight?" He asked.
"No."
"Is it fixed in time ?" He wanted to make it sure.
"Yes , I think so."
"Then switch off the transistor, come inside and sleep.You can read score card tomorrow in news paper.Nothing is going to change runs,scored,fall of the wicket, bowling analysis .... No body will dare to touch it.... come and sleep. By the way, you were following the match whole day , still you need score card to be read..."
===============================================================
Effusive,Hailing, Heralding,Applouding, Gloat Over ....
Call me dumb, if that was precisely what I was waiting impatiently since the rise of morning stars at my gate.
That was very early morning.Waiting , waiting waiting.
"Waiting for the newspaper ?" Babuji asked.
"Yes", I admitted.But why ? for those highly ornated words, which were dried since long in India, specially in sporting arena ?Yes, , I have gone nuts...
.
"Hey, do something constructive." He handed me the milk container ,"Go and get the milk. Have you gone crazy?Waiting for the news paper, just to read four line "Stop Press News" or at the most, reporting of first half of the match ?You followed it throughout
yesterday. You must be knowing much more than that.Early morning ... Newspaper ..uh..and they say it is the best time to connect to God..."
Reluctantly, swiveling the aluminum container in hand, I headed for the public milk booth.
Contrary to my imagination, there were lot many guys at the milk booth.They kept their containers in one long queue, and themselves formed the group of three ,four or more guys and chatting.That was the best pastime while waiting for Milk van, to vent their
frustrations, to share the joy and whatever those "Nav Ras " suggests , except ,off course "Shringar". Yes, romance was simply inapposite.
Usually, uncles formed their own group, chitchatting about their growing sons and their career path. Aunts and young girls, they normally form another group. My childhood friends formed another group., We used to converse about sports, film and what else ? No, if something required whispering or chuckling, we used to go away further , keeping one eye on the path where milk van would appear eventually to restore the order. That day, casting away the convention of seniority and juniority, uncles and teenage boys seemed to mingle. They
were talking about a single topic, I know, you know and everyone knows.
"Hey Vijay.Did you see the match last night ?"
"No", I replied,"I rather listened." That was a partial truth but yes, a better answer at that moment.
"Oh boy.You don't know what have you missed?I saw it on TV .All the action, till Door Darshan dropped the shutters. You know, there was an uncle at the corner of street 4 Thorough gentleman... he allowed us to stand in lawn and kept this drawing room window open. Well, how can he allow such a crowd to let in the drawing room ? It was not possible.However, we saw everything from his lawn. The lawn was packed to the nines and you know, I am a little short and I stood a little behind. I had to stand on my toes constantly. See , it is still aching. But yes, it was worth. Each wicket tumbled and guys would rejoice in the lawn ... No, no, no whistling , see it was a gentleman's house with young daughter...Remember the man
followed Roberts and gave him advice... How funny ... and who was lying on the ground when the match was over. ?Was he Holding ? No someone else ..and awesome Kapil shook the Champaign bottle and what a shower it was...Srikkanth was smoking. Mohinder took out his red handkerchief from his pocket and waved it like a victory
flag."
"Wait a minute." I interrupted jealously, "Was it black and white or coloured TV?"
"Black and white.Why?"
"Then How do you know it was red handkerchief ?" I
tried to nail him.
"Oh boy.The whole world knows about his lucky red handkerchief, poking out of his pocket all the times. The whole world, except you."
=======================================================================
Contrary to Babuji's remark, it was not four liner
"Stop Press" or just half baked report of Indian innings.It was a full fledged , half a page , front page topmost priority headlines news .Just imagine, out of the total six pages, the half a page news weighing heavily, pushing all the news to be shrunk or consigned to back pages. I didn't have any clue, how did they arrange so quickly, the photograph of Kapil, brimming with the trophy.
Babuji came from bath.
"So, what was the final score " He asked.
"It has not changed since last night.Frozen in the time" I replied." That is on the newspaper."
"No, I don't have time to go through the whole score card. I have to go for the meeting and I know, everyone will be talking about it.Just tell me briefly. What was the score? Who hit the century?"
"Babuji, you know , it was a low scoring match Just 183 and 140.How can you expect a century?"
"Ok, Ok.I got it .It was low scoring match. Now, then how many 'ducks' ?That will be interesting ."
"Just one."
"Just one? In low scoring match ? Are you sure ? It may be misprinting."
"No, it was one and only 'duck' .I know. He was Kirti Azad "
"Kirti Azad? First name Hindu , last name Muslim ? Sounds familiar. I know only one such peson. Minister Bhagawat Jha Azad."
"You hit the point. He is son of Bhagawat Jha Azad."
"Oh really?" Babuji was delighted,"Then it will be an interesting topic to initiate the coffee discussion. Nice, now , I can handle any conversation on World Cup."
Babuji tilted his blue scooter , kicked , kicked , kicked and kicked. On forth kick, scooter started and Babuji was on his way to the college.
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"O Tera Kya kahana?"
Well, that was the World Cup officially known as Prudential Cup Cricket 1983 , which I experienced mostly on wheels - trains, bus, bicycle, scooter.If you still have the energy and patience for my comment, I would say that it was a team effort and being the underdogs helped. Before the tournament, the world knew India had only one bowler to cop up with. But when Kapil failed, Madan and Binny fired.The same thing was true for batting. It was never a cause of worry that India’s greatest batsman Gavaskar hardly contributed. Yashpal, Srikkanth, Patil were always there shoulder the responsibility.In a team of young, experienced seasoned Mohinder perfectly blended as yeoman.
.....One and a half month passed.
That was return journey from Bhilai.I could sense the change in the air. No, I am not talking about the weather. Yes, weather had changed alright. When I was coming, it was scorching, peak of summer. Now, Indian monsoon had relented the relief. You just need to turn your neck and look outside the window. The farmers of Vidarbha were ploughing. The primitive method of farming still involved ox and plough .You could make out the almost all the family , right from the baby girl to grand old man- everyone was contributing one way or the other.. That was a treat to watch.. But hey, I was not talking about change in weather.
That was return journey from Bhilai.I could sense the change in the air. No, I am not talking about the weather. Yes, weather had changed alright. When I was coming, it was scorching, peak of summer. Now, Indian monsoon had relented the relief. You just need to turn your neck and look outside the window. The farmers of Vidarbha were ploughing. The primitive method of farming still involved ox and plough .You could make out the almost all the family , right from the baby girl to grand old man- everyone was contributing one way or the other.. That was a treat to watch.. But hey, I was not talking about change in weather.
Remember my downward journey? Almost one and half month back ? The train was moving forward, the reminiscence of downward journey harked –back.
To begin with, I would like to demonstrate you how fifteen paise yellow post card said so many things in such a few words.
Here it is. The sender was some Roy - Probably Sanjay Roy You are awake? I am glad. Yes, he was the same good friend Sanjay Roy Bhopali. If I see the post mark,the date was mentioned as June 26, 1983.That fellow had mentioned even the time 0:45 hours. I received it three days later.
The content was concise, but optimum. It was something like that .
"Thakur, you must be happy now. India has won the World Cup. At last, you need not to go for 'Khokhale Kahkahe'. I'll wait for a treat of 'Patti' at our 'khoka ' from you."
Yours Truly - Sanjay Roy"
Here it is. The sender was some Roy - Probably Sanjay Roy You are awake? I am glad. Yes, he was the same good friend Sanjay Roy Bhopali. If I see the post mark,the date was mentioned as June 26, 1983.That fellow had mentioned even the time 0:45 hours. I received it three days later.
The content was concise, but optimum. It was something like that .
"Thakur, you must be happy now. India has won the World Cup. At last, you need not to go for 'Khokhale Kahkahe'. I'll wait for a treat of 'Patti' at our 'khoka ' from you."
Yours Truly - Sanjay Roy"
Did he need to write more ? Do I need to elaborate more ? Probably not. That post card described a lot.
And my room mate - Ajay Saxena ?So after Roy , you want to know about him.
Please allow me to do a little fast forward for that.
When we were back for the third semester, it was just second day when he told me , "Today, I saw 'Sun'( remember the long magazine ?) at Bunti's khoka. It has a nice king sized Kapil Dev's pin up.We will paste it in our new room."
I did not show much interest ,"Haan, Hun, Ok, Fine, no problem."
But within next two hours he bought the magazine. What was the hurry ?
"See Thakur,Bunti keepsonly one or two copies of such magazines. I didn't want that someone else would grab it .And see, that nice poster is for you. Look at it, wow ! Is the poster not nice ?"
I did now know, what to say. Normally, I would prefer some action photo - directly from the ground bowling or batting. In that photo - he was just chilling out. Both the hands behind the head, fingers entwined, blue jersey , in a relaxed mode - laughing , as always.
And my room mate - Ajay Saxena ?So after Roy , you want to know about him.
Please allow me to do a little fast forward for that.
When we were back for the third semester, it was just second day when he told me , "Today, I saw 'Sun'( remember the long magazine ?) at Bunti's khoka. It has a nice king sized Kapil Dev's pin up.We will paste it in our new room."
I did not show much interest ,"Haan, Hun, Ok, Fine, no problem."
But within next two hours he bought the magazine. What was the hurry ?
"See Thakur,Bunti keepsonly one or two copies of such magazines. I didn't want that someone else would grab it .And see, that nice poster is for you. Look at it, wow ! Is the poster not nice ?"
I did now know, what to say. Normally, I would prefer some action photo - directly from the ground bowling or batting. In that photo - he was just chilling out. Both the hands behind the head, fingers entwined, blue jersey , in a relaxed mode - laughing , as always.
After the room allotment, we got room 129.That was 'B' block ground floor, adjacent to the bathroom. The wall attached to the bathroom was slightly damp. At least, it was looking terribly ugly. The six feet long, three feet wide horizontal poster came handy. Kapil effectively hid that ugly patch of water seepage for the whole year - laughing innocently in the relaxed mood.
It was one of those tranquil days of weekend. Under the poster of Kapil, Sanjay Roy was showing us the photographs of Chandigarh and Pinjore trip. New room mate, Veenu joined us..
"But I could not see Thakur anywhere.Where is he ? "He was curious. "Ok, let me show you ." Roy laughed. He pulled out a photograph of Pinjore Garden, where Uprit , Junior and Senior Saxena was dancing on water flow. I was standing a little away on the side, transistor firmly pushed against my ears.. In fact, I did not want myself to be included in the picture .I was standing sufficiently clear from the place. But in the camera of those days, you would be getting wider picture than what you saw in view finder.
It was one of those tranquil days of weekend. Under the poster of Kapil, Sanjay Roy was showing us the photographs of Chandigarh and Pinjore trip. New room mate, Veenu joined us..
"But I could not see Thakur anywhere.Where is he ? "He was curious. "Ok, let me show you ." Roy laughed. He pulled out a photograph of Pinjore Garden, where Uprit , Junior and Senior Saxena was dancing on water flow. I was standing a little away on the side, transistor firmly pushed against my ears.. In fact, I did not want myself to be included in the picture .I was standing sufficiently clear from the place. But in the camera of those days, you would be getting wider picture than what you saw in view finder.
That day was saved for India by someone, who was laughing over our head..
Welcome back from Fast Forward. We were inside Chhattisgarh Express,
moving towards Kurukshetra. For the 'n' th time, I repeat, I could sense conspicuous change in the air.
Durg was never the same again.
Gondia was never the same again.
Nagpur was never the same again.
Bhopal was never the same again.
Delhi was never the same again.
India was never the same again.
Remember the film ? When Amitabh emerged out of the godown, it was not "The End".It was rather beginning.
Beginning of the new life of Amitabh.
Amitabh was never the same again..He was lured by glitter of money.His life was marred by glamour and risk .He did not do all the things right- most of them were dangerously wrong. But he hardly cared for anything in the pursuit of nothing. In the process of gradual transform, he steadily became more and more alienated from his family - brother and Maa. And Oh Boy, he always thought he was doing it for Maa ...
So sir, coming out of the godown was just beginning.
Beginning of the new life of Amitabh.
Amitabh was never the same again..He was lured by glitter of money.His life was marred by glamour and risk .He did not do all the things right- most of them were dangerously wrong. But he hardly cared for anything in the pursuit of nothing. In the process of gradual transform, he steadily became more and more alienated from his family - brother and Maa. And Oh Boy, he always thought he was doing it for Maa ...
So sir, coming out of the godown was just beginning.
Strangely, Bizarre enough, the same fate was mapped perfectly for Indian Cricket. It was lured and later hijacked by vulgar money and glamour. All of a sudden from the dune of sand, a megacity emerged as busy Cricketing centre - Sharjah. Like Amitabh, smugglers and outlaws were seen adulterating the very soul of Cricket. The dangerous flirt slowly blossomed to such an extent that it became increasingly difficult to retain sense of
proportion. In that process, the game gradually became alienated from its rightful followers and viewers.
Like Amitabh, Indian Cricket claimed that everything it was doing for "Maa" - the sincere followers, who ,one day came to know about ugly nexus of betting and match fixing, helplessly saw the vulgar dance of belly dancers in the field and extravaganza of fire crackers just in the name of adding "glamour".
proportion. In that process, the game gradually became alienated from its rightful followers and viewers.
Like Amitabh, Indian Cricket claimed that everything it was doing for "Maa" - the sincere followers, who ,one day came to know about ugly nexus of betting and match fixing, helplessly saw the vulgar dance of belly dancers in the field and extravaganza of fire crackers just in the name of adding "glamour".
Everything sparked by two innocuous incidence in World Cup 1983 final. N.K.P.Salve, the board president of BCCI, wanted to entertain his friends to watch the match from V.I.P. gallery. Lords officials denied the extra passes to him. Stung by that, Salve vowed to estrange the World Cup from England and decided to bring the next edition of mega event into the sub- continent. How he got it by politics and other power was a different
story.
story.
The another incidence was directly linked with acquisitiveness for hard currency. Indian team received 20,000 pounds as prize money. Industrialist Swaraj Paul pondered that it was not sufficient for the effort of his countrymen. He announced 2500 pounds on the spot to their kitty. The board decided the players to give five lakhs each and imbibed NKP Salve , drown in Champagne , announced one lakh extra - tax free.
But where was the money ? Believe me, the coffer of BCCI was not that big in those days, even though , then also, they were the richest board . Raj Singh Dungarpur persuaded Lata Mangeshkar for "Musical Nite" in Wankhede stadium. Jagmohan Dalmiya was the organizer of the event and Mr. Bindra was secretary.
There, they realized the substance of money.
What happened later, all of you guys have seen over the years. Perhaps, we would revive and recall it later. I have to pull down the shutters. Before winding up, I would like to narrate a couple of events out of many incidents which I still remember on my way back to Kurukhetra and which reflected what I meant by "change in the air"..So ,to remind you , I was in train - Chhattisgarh Express .
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Frankly, I had also changed .I was not the same devout fan of the game. At least, I lost half of the interest if not total. I felt nauseated when I saw, everyone was talking about Cricket in the compartment. I never knew that overnight, India had produced so many experts if not players. Nagpur, Bhopal , Gwalior - in all those stations the traditional toys of dolls , cars , masks, whistles, fiddles , paper fans , balloons disappeared and they
were replaced plastic bats and balls. Even playing cards, stickers, posters were showing the color of Cricket. And those stuffs were being sold as hot cakes. Bookstalls were flooded with large number of extra copies of magazines like "Sports Week" and "Sports Stars", "Khel Bharti" - covered with Cricket only. Still customers were asking for bizarre magazines ,"'Cricket Samrat' hai ?'Cricket Bharti' hai? Do you have Cricket special edition of 'Dharmyug' and 'Saptahik Hindustan'??" And believe me, the book stall guys were quick enough to supply the demand with immaculate efficiency.. Sometimes they would say," Nahin sahib, khatam ho gayi. You take 'Cricket Bazar' instead. I am sure , you won't be disappointed."
There, they realized the substance of money.
What happened later, all of you guys have seen over the years. Perhaps, we would revive and recall it later. I have to pull down the shutters. Before winding up, I would like to narrate a couple of events out of many incidents which I still remember on my way back to Kurukhetra and which reflected what I meant by "change in the air"..So ,to remind you , I was in train - Chhattisgarh Express .
===============================================================
Frankly, I had also changed .I was not the same devout fan of the game. At least, I lost half of the interest if not total. I felt nauseated when I saw, everyone was talking about Cricket in the compartment. I never knew that overnight, India had produced so many experts if not players. Nagpur, Bhopal , Gwalior - in all those stations the traditional toys of dolls , cars , masks, whistles, fiddles , paper fans , balloons disappeared and they
were replaced plastic bats and balls. Even playing cards, stickers, posters were showing the color of Cricket. And those stuffs were being sold as hot cakes. Bookstalls were flooded with large number of extra copies of magazines like "Sports Week" and "Sports Stars", "Khel Bharti" - covered with Cricket only. Still customers were asking for bizarre magazines ,"'Cricket Samrat' hai ?'Cricket Bharti' hai? Do you have Cricket special edition of 'Dharmyug' and 'Saptahik Hindustan'??" And believe me, the book stall guys were quick enough to supply the demand with immaculate efficiency.. Sometimes they would say," Nahin sahib, khatam ho gayi. You take 'Cricket Bazar' instead. I am sure , you won't be disappointed."
So the first incident happened somewhere after Gwalior.You know, there were different types of beggars in train in those days. Someone would play 'tick tick tick' musical instrument and ask for money. Someone would come with a small kid, who would show some acrobatics and then his sister would sing a song and they would collect the money. Some kid would simply hold your legs closed the eyes and do nothing. They would be in frozen state till you threw some coins for them.
They were two brothers, barely five or six years old. They came with their father, who had 'dugdugi' in hand. One of them mimicked the bowling action of bowlers , on demand. Someone from the crowd demanded, "Madanlal" .He ran , jumped and open chasted hurled the bowl. His father collected a 'chavanni'. Someone would say, 'Mohinder', he would run slowly and sent down the ball.He had even mastered the bowling action
of Abdul Qadir ,Imran which he must have seen in any of the highlight.
They were two brothers, barely five or six years old. They came with their father, who had 'dugdugi' in hand. One of them mimicked the bowling action of bowlers , on demand. Someone from the crowd demanded, "Madanlal" .He ran , jumped and open chasted hurled the bowl. His father collected a 'chavanni'. Someone would say, 'Mohinder', he would run slowly and sent down the ball.He had even mastered the bowling action
of Abdul Qadir ,Imran which he must have seen in any of the highlight.
The other one was batting expert, as per his father.But he was not as talented as his brother. Poor fellow could not differentiate in Richards and Yashpal Sharma. Nevertheless, he also collected a lot of coins.
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From Delhi, I boarded on Kalka Express ,since Chhattisgarh was going through Saharanpur, Ambala route.
Kalka Express reached Kurukshetra at around 2.30 AM.,early morning.I never knew so many RECKERS were traveling in the train. However, when I got down, I saw so numerous faces streaming out from here and there,,which I believed, I had seen in campus.
The major problem was, how to get back from Station to RECK.Most of the times, it was tough to find rickshaw wala outside the station in V hours. If you discovered one and
mostly they would be sleeping, it was equally tough to wake them up. Even if you get them wake up, they had all the rights to refuse to go to the hostel.
This time, I was traveling alone. All other Bhilai seniors, either they went for industrial traing and coming directly from those places , or ,had already returned since final year semester was supposed to begin a week early.
There, I saw Begali , Kundu.. My strength was doubled. I called him,"Kundu".
He turned and looked back, but his gaze did not zeroed on my face. It went over it. He did not stop and kept on walking with his seniors.I went and tapped him from behind, "Hey Kundu. It's me."
That fellow did not recognize me. He asked in English, "Who are you?"
I was crestfallen ,"Kundu, I am Thakur .Recognize me ?I am your batchmate." "I don't know you." He said flatly.. What an awkward situation it was !
"Hey come on Kundu." Then I tried to convince the senior ,"Believe me sir.I am from RECK.Here is my I-card"I pulled out the I-Card.
"Gosh , it is not required." The senior smiled, "I have seen you in the college."Kundu was still unconvinced, "In which floor you are ? Who are your room mates? Where are you from ?Oh you said M.P. Can you name a batch mate from M.P. who is Bengali?"
=========================================================
From Delhi, I boarded on Kalka Express ,since Chhattisgarh was going through Saharanpur, Ambala route.
Kalka Express reached Kurukshetra at around 2.30 AM.,early morning.I never knew so many RECKERS were traveling in the train. However, when I got down, I saw so numerous faces streaming out from here and there,,which I believed, I had seen in campus.
The major problem was, how to get back from Station to RECK.Most of the times, it was tough to find rickshaw wala outside the station in V hours. If you discovered one and
mostly they would be sleeping, it was equally tough to wake them up. Even if you get them wake up, they had all the rights to refuse to go to the hostel.
This time, I was traveling alone. All other Bhilai seniors, either they went for industrial traing and coming directly from those places , or ,had already returned since final year semester was supposed to begin a week early.
There, I saw Begali , Kundu.. My strength was doubled. I called him,"Kundu".
He turned and looked back, but his gaze did not zeroed on my face. It went over it. He did not stop and kept on walking with his seniors.I went and tapped him from behind, "Hey Kundu. It's me."
That fellow did not recognize me. He asked in English, "Who are you?"
I was crestfallen ,"Kundu, I am Thakur .Recognize me ?I am your batchmate." "I don't know you." He said flatly.. What an awkward situation it was !
"Hey come on Kundu." Then I tried to convince the senior ,"Believe me sir.I am from RECK.Here is my I-card"I pulled out the I-Card.
"Gosh , it is not required." The senior smiled, "I have seen you in the college."Kundu was still unconvinced, "In which floor you are ? Who are your room mates? Where are you from ?Oh you said M.P. Can you name a batch mate from M.P. who is Bengali?"
My God...That fellow had forgotten everything in vacation or aftermath of euphoria of the World Cup? Then I met a few Orriya seniors. They were nice gentlemen
Getting the rickshaw was a common problem. It was decided that few of them would go out, leaving their luggages behind and find out the rickshaw others would wait for them.
There , in the waiting room, I consumed the last bitter dose of Cricket.
He was Orriya senior, thick specs, name I could not recall, (some Rout).He asked me ,"Have you seen the world cup matches ?"
"We don't have TV."That was not his answer, but it was not a lie either."That was terrific. When they started the World Cup campaign, no one had ever thought that they could defeat any team other than Zimbabwe."
"You are right sir." Oh God, if they were not going to get rickshaw soon, I was going to be fainted then and there.
"And they had beaten West Indies twice. Mighty West Indies.Perfect story of David and Goliath,underdogs, dark horses"
"Yeah , Yeah..", I pretended to be an earnest listener. God, how difficult it was. He went on analyzing the team performance and I could not even yawn. He said, "I am from Cuttack. They have allotted a One Day match against the upcoming tour of West Indies .See in Cuttack, India have never lost a match."
"Oh really ? " I exclaimed, wondering how many matches had been played till that day on Barabati Stadium.
Problem was, I could not yawn, I could not wink. "You know, this Indian team is a losely knit team.
Never mind, Gavaskar did not score much. He loves Cuttuck ground. He will surely score a century over there. The main strength of Indian team is fielding."
I dozed and dozed hard. So hard that when Kundu shook me , I was laying on the floor of waiting room like a drunkard.
===============================================================
In rickshaw, I was sitting with Kundu. Seniors made the arrangement that guys from same hostel would share the rickshaw so that he did not have to go to one hostel to another. .I was sitting with Kundu.Till Bramh Sarovar, neither he nor I spitted even a single word.Then suddenly he asked,"Do you like to come back to hostel Thakur?"
"Why ? I don't know. Probably, I don't like."I said.
"Exactly. You know, when I was coming out of home, I felt like a newly married daughter, who was going to her husband's house."
I was so much exaulted that probably, I would have tumbled down from rickshaw. At last, oh God, at the last lag of my journey , barely half a kilometer before the destination point, I found someone.I found someone, who was still immune to the new disease. Who
could still think about something else. Whose mind was still sterile from the germs of Cricket.
"You are right Kundu." I said only that with voice choked with emotions It was the need of the hour to buckle up my euphoria. Why ? Why do you say why?? We were passing the darkest zone near 'Pahli Patshahi' gurudwara at three O'Clock in the morning. Did you expect me to howl in delight at top of my voice ?
=============
There , in the waiting room, I consumed the last bitter dose of Cricket.
He was Orriya senior, thick specs, name I could not recall, (some Rout).He asked me ,"Have you seen the world cup matches ?"
"We don't have TV."That was not his answer, but it was not a lie either."That was terrific. When they started the World Cup campaign, no one had ever thought that they could defeat any team other than Zimbabwe."
"You are right sir." Oh God, if they were not going to get rickshaw soon, I was going to be fainted then and there.
"And they had beaten West Indies twice. Mighty West Indies.Perfect story of David and Goliath,underdogs, dark horses"
"Yeah , Yeah..", I pretended to be an earnest listener. God, how difficult it was. He went on analyzing the team performance and I could not even yawn. He said, "I am from Cuttack. They have allotted a One Day match against the upcoming tour of West Indies .See in Cuttack, India have never lost a match."
"Oh really ? " I exclaimed, wondering how many matches had been played till that day on Barabati Stadium.
Problem was, I could not yawn, I could not wink. "You know, this Indian team is a losely knit team.
Never mind, Gavaskar did not score much. He loves Cuttuck ground. He will surely score a century over there. The main strength of Indian team is fielding."
I dozed and dozed hard. So hard that when Kundu shook me , I was laying on the floor of waiting room like a drunkard.
===============================================================
In rickshaw, I was sitting with Kundu. Seniors made the arrangement that guys from same hostel would share the rickshaw so that he did not have to go to one hostel to another. .I was sitting with Kundu.Till Bramh Sarovar, neither he nor I spitted even a single word.Then suddenly he asked,"Do you like to come back to hostel Thakur?"
"Why ? I don't know. Probably, I don't like."I said.
"Exactly. You know, when I was coming out of home, I felt like a newly married daughter, who was going to her husband's house."
I was so much exaulted that probably, I would have tumbled down from rickshaw. At last, oh God, at the last lag of my journey , barely half a kilometer before the destination point, I found someone.I found someone, who was still immune to the new disease. Who
could still think about something else. Whose mind was still sterile from the germs of Cricket.
"You are right Kundu." I said only that with voice choked with emotions It was the need of the hour to buckle up my euphoria. Why ? Why do you say why?? We were passing the darkest zone near 'Pahli Patshahi' gurudwara at three O'Clock in the morning. Did you expect me to howl in delight at top of my voice ?
=============
P.S. _ When Amitabh realised and wanted to trace back to Maa, it was too late.There, I sincely wish that the fate in the film script would not match the game of Cricket.From the clutches of the politicians, mafia, film stars, alcohol sellers and last but not the least, betters and match fixers, it should come back to the sports lovers.Otherwise, all the glorious uncertainities would be looked with the microscope of suspicion,every now and then fans would feel let down, camera would follow the players for heir off the field activities .... Who knows, probably, then Hanumanji at Zakhu will listen to my prayer again.
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