One Last Time !!

There was a bounce in his step as he parked his car and walked to the airport building. It was two years since they last spoke. For him, it was almost as if time had stood still in these last two years. It was only in the last 15 days, when he knew they would be seeing each other that he started to live again. As he entered the arrival lounge, there were a cocktail of emotions running through his mind. For the major part of 2 years he never ever believed they would be seeing each other again but here he was in the airport, waiting for the flight to arrive, the flight which would bring his life back to him, so that he can start to live again. As he scanned the arrival/departure schedule his eyes focused on the flight details. There it was, flight number AI 144. ETA was 23.30. 45 more minutes he thought as he glanced at his watch. If only he could fast forward the next 40 minutes. He knew there was nothing much he could do but wait for the moment.

He grabbed a cup of cold coffee and settled down in the row of seats facing the arrival gate. As he sipped his coffee and glanced around the lounge he could not help but notice the plethora of emotions that were on display. A smile drifted across his face as he saw a young boy race across the lounge, oblivious of the crowd around him.  He could see the overriding emotions etched on the face of the guy who looked like he was travelling abroad for further studies. He also noticed the tinge of sadness in the eyes of the mother and a sense of pride in the eyes of the father who were there to bid adieu to their son.  Sitting in front of him was an old man who looked nervous. The old man told him that he was waiting to meet his son who was coming home after a gap of five years and he could not wait any longer to see him. Standing next to him was a gunman. He was the personal security of a politician and was waiting to whisk him away from the crowd to the safe confines of his well-guarded vehicle.  At the far end of the lounge, he saw a couple who were huddled together, in a world of their own. The girl just could not stop the tears filling her eyes even as the boy kept wiping the tears of her cheeks. Just the thought of separation was enough to make them realise the pain that would accompany it.

As he watched them he could not help but think of the moments they spent together. Their telephone conversations for long hours into the night, the weekend meetings that they never ever missed, the bus rides to and from college every day, the little talk in college corridors in between classes, the bike rides on borrowed bikes. He could still remember the group lunches they had in college and the way they still felt as if they were the only two people in the room. He remembered the movie plans which they made, and how they had to also get their friends so that parents did not question them at home. The sudden Sunday surprise visits to her home to meet her for just those ten minutes. The way she smiled from the balcony when he waved her goodbye, the way she smiled every single day, as soon as he got into the bus. Those fights they had and then hours of comforting and convincing each other about that being the last time they fight.  He remembered their endless hours of chatting on every topic under the sky and then suddenly the silence. A silence which made its way unnoticed into their relationship and slowly became the only common thing between them. A silence which made craters where there were once bridges. And then the silence became all pervasive till it separated them emotionally, physically and even geographically.

The announcement on the Public address system broke his thoughts and brought him back to the present. As he glanced at his watch he realized it was 23:40. He looked up at the electronic display and noticed that the flight had landed about 10 minutes back. As he stood up and stretched himself he felt his knees tremble. The long journey back to the past had drained him emotionally. He was not really sure if he was ready for this moment.

He had got a call from an unknown number 15 days back. The moment he heard the voice on the other side he knew this was surreal. There was no way this could be happening now, after 2 years. As he tried to reply, his voice cracked. When he finally managed to put words together his fear had come alive. It was the same voice which had him mesmerizedHop for three long years. The silence that had begun two years ago had suddenly broken and there were words now. He did not know how to react. She spoke as if they had not been away from each other. There was a sense of calm to her voice as she asked him about his whereabouts – what was he doing, how has life been treating him. His replies were just a bundle of expressions put together. He was not sure if he was making sense with what he was speaking, but she kept talking. From what she spoke and what little he could make out, she was in the USA doing her MS. He knew she had been to the states. After silence became his companion he tried to find out what led to the silence between them. He spoke to his friends, her friends and their friends. All of them had words of comfort, but none of them had answers to his questions. All he managed to know was that she left to the United States to do her MS. He knew she was passionate about going abroad and there were many a times when they discussed the possibility of both of them going to the same university in America. But fate had other ideas which were not exactly in sync with their ideas.  As she spoke, she told him that she had finished her MS and was looking to start a career there. But what caught his attention was the word India which she uttered. He was not sure if he heard her right, but when she again spoke about coming to India, he was breathless. A thousand and one questions were raised in his mind – would she like to meet him, would she be able to spend some time with him and many more. But the most important thing he wanted to know was whether she was really interested to meet him. Even as all these questions kept stirring in his mind, she continued talking and then she finally said she would call him later and keep him posted about her India trip.

He was not sure why she called him. Did the call signal her intentions of wanting to meet him? If yes, he wondered what made her wait for two years to call him. Why did she not call him earlier or respond to his umpteen mails? Even as his mind was flooded with questions, his heart started skipping more than a few beats. May be, it was all coming back again. May be all the dreams he had of their being together were about to become a reality. Or was she playing with his emotions? He did not see a reason as to why she would do that. But one thing he was very sure about, he was still there in some corner of her mind and that made him feel ecstatic.

From that day, he started looking forward to her call. He wanted to hear her voice again. He wanted to talk to her and make plans about their visit. As days passed he could not hide his excitement. There was a spring in his step and a twinkle in his eye as he went about his job in office. And then he got a call again on a Saturday evening. This time he managed to talk and asked her what her plans were when she visited India. She was not really forthcoming about her plans and this made him a bit skeptical about the whole thing. But he was too excited to think about it and was looking forward to the day when she would finally land. She told him she was arriving next Saturday evening. Not once in her conversation did she mention about plans to meet him or spend time with him and neither did he ask.

And here he was at the airport. He did not let her know that he would be coming to the airport. He wanted to surprise her. He was not sure if there was somebody else waiting in the lounge to receive her. He looked around and was pretty sure that her parents or her sister were not there. He became more attentive, as the sea of passengers started to trickle out through the departure gate. From the corner of the eye he could see the old man hugging his son warmly and felt happy for him. The young boy who, minutes before was running all around the lounge, was kissing his father who had just come back. Even as he noticed all these, his minds were firmly focused on the departure gate scanning each and every face that walked out. And it was then he saw her. She looked more beautiful than he had imagined she would. Her short curly hair bounced of her shoulders as she walked. She held her mobile in one hand and her purse in the other. He kept staring at her even as she made her way out of the departure. He picked up the rose bouquet he bought for her and was about to walk towards her when he saw him. He came from behind and held her hand as they walked out of the departure gate. He was pushing the luggage trolley and she was leaning on to him, as they smiled and made their way out.

He quickly hid his face behind the roses he bought and watched as they walked past him, hand in hand. All he could do was to keep staring at them from behind as they made their way to the parking lot. And then, he looked around, put the bouquet down and slowly started walking back to the car park.......

P.S: This is a purely fictitious write up. Any resemblance to any character is purely coincidence.  

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275 !! That evening..that was the only number that mattered to more than a billion people.

The history books said the probability was very low !! After all only two times have chasing teams won the final ....no host country had ever lifted the trophy and the average score batting second at the Wankhede was 235 !! But if ever history taught us anything, then it is to expect the unexpected !! and i was sure i was in for a very memorable evening !!

The drama started from the toss, when the toss had to be re-tossed as there was a confusion. Eventually, Sangakkara won the toss and opted to bat. Sri Lanka's innings was once again held together by one of the worlds best batsmen, Jayawardene. His flawless 103 n.o and some lusty hitting by perera towards the end ensured the Lankans put up a strong score.

When Viru was out the second ball, most of my friends around me started talking about how beating Pakistan in the semi final was in itself a victory greater than the World Cup. Sachin showed a few glimpses of master class before he fell to Malinga. For a few people, seeing Sachin walk back to the pavilion was like seeing the trophy walking towards the Srilankan camp.

As Gauti and Kohli started consolidating the innings, the hopes were alive and kicking, especially with Yuvi still to bat. He was having an unforgettable tournament and scoring in the final to win the cup would be the icing on the cake !! When Kohli was out with still more than half the runs to get, i was even more shocked and worried to see Dhoni come out to bat. I still remember telling friends beside, that it would hardly take Muralitharan a few deliveries to get Dhoni. I was literally cursing the captain for demoting the inform Yuvi.

But, as fate would have it, Dhoni and Gauti started to build a partnership and almost unnoticed the duo brought the target closer and closer. When we were all set to get the fire crackers out, Gauti was dismissed for 97. It has to go down as one of the best innings played by an Indian. If missing a century by 3 runs can give India the world cup, i am sure Gauti wouldnt mind missing few more like that !!!

In walked Yuvi, with the game balanced and the threat of Malinga looming large. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Dhoni was his usual composed self and proved all his doubters wrong with some wonderful batting under pressure. With Yuvraj offering good support, the name on the trophy was almost being written.

And then, the moment that would forever be cherished in the minds of cricket lovers across the globe, Dhoni smashing the ball to the stands and standing still !!! India had won the World Cup after 29 years !!!

I still remember hugging my dad and crying after that six. As a fan of Indian cricket i am sure that was the moment i would cherish forever.

As i watched captain cool lift the trophy, i could feel the tears in my eyes, my hands trembling and the national anthem playing on my lips. And then the celebrations started.

I celebrated as if that was my personal achievement. I jumped, cried, shouted, sang and did every crazy thing. I still remember running the length of my hall waving the Indian flag. I went and celebrated at my Uncle's place where my mom was watching the match with my cousins. And then we went around in my car, the speakers booming with ARR's Jai Ho, the Indian flag held high. It was 1 AM and the streets were full. Being hugged and congratulated by people whom we might have never met before, neither would we meet again was amazing. They were dancing, distributing sweets, singing..it was a carnival atmosphere. One year old kid wrapped in the Indian blue, children waving the flag and shouting at the top of their voices, youngsters in a frenzy, ladies on the streets at 1 AM, old people sitting in the front seat of the car, being driven around by sons and grand sons, smiling away to glory, the traffic constable holding the Indian flag and regulating traffic...every scene gave me goosebumps- then and even now as i recollect to write!!

Well, I always felt i played my part. I stuck to whatever sentiments i believed. After all it isn't always easy to sit in the same place without drinks or a loo break for 3 and half hours. And then it is also not easy to make sure the bean bag is placed in exactly the same position on the same tiles as the match before. To eat the same lunch (same menu) before every Indian match was also tough. Wearing the same clothes for every Indian match over 5 weeks without washing them was really easy, though my mom seemed to disagree. The toughest part was not to have a hair cut or shave till the final. No wonder, the day after the final, when i was back from the saloon, i looked like an addict back from rehabilitation !!!

On the first anniversary of that greatest night in Indian cricket, as i look back to that day, i am proud to say i was part of a generation which saw team India conquer the world. A fitting tribute to some of the greatest players (past and present) who played the game for the country, whose contribution can never be understood from looking at mere numbers and statistics. !!!

Jai Ho !!!

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Other Ideas !!

Life is so not happening these days !!

All i can see is days becoming dark after evening and nights becoming bright by dawn !!

I so wish my life could be put into a tape/cassette and forwarded by a few months. A few months, where i can see myself settling down in my career, saving for a rainy day and feel relaxed about where i am heading in life. If only wishes were horses..i could be galloping !!

Through all these hallucinations about life, i am starting to realize that there are actually a few alternate professions which aren't exactly career making but sound rather cool !! I feel some of these are worth taking a shot at !!

1. Chauffeur: A layman like me prefers to call him a driver rather than complicate life with complex words. Imagine being employed as a driver by a politician or a film star !! You get to drive the best and the latest cars without actually having to buy them. And its not just one but few of the latest brands. You can rev up an Audi engine one day and sit behind the wheel of a Lamborghini the next day !!! added to this is the opportunity of may be owning a benami account of the neta !!

2. Ambulance Driver: This might not exactly fetch u Tanishq diamonds or Audi engines, but then the feeling of helping somebody or even saving a life, is sometimes worth living a life. It might also not be the prettiest of jobs, in fact it might get very nasty. But then the very thought of telling my grandchildren stories of my contribution in saving a life, makes it sound good !!

3. Local Leader: Well this isnt what one can exactly call a profession, but then with the no working hours and earn more than what you imagine situation, the local Bhai chair appears a very viable option. With the Big B's, Badshah's and Vivek's of Bollywood making it look cool, i wouldnt mind taking a chance !!

4. Farmer: Not even sure if there would be any farms left for me to plough in the next few years, thanks to the concrete revolution. But imagine living in a distant village, working on my own fields, having a neat, hot lunch under the tree shade, working till evening and reaching home before sunset. No appraisal meetings, no peer pressure and no late night shifts. Thanks to technology, i can still browse, blog, talk to near and dear and thanks to DTH, watch Manchester United play !! Bliss !!

5. Auto/Cab Driver: A la Rajnikanth, earn as much or as little you want in a day. With nobody to boss you around or tell you what to do/not to do, you are a free bird. Can always bring out the philanthropist in you offering free rides to the old and the needy. An added incentive - no worries about not having a personal vehicle !!

6. Film reporter: This might not exactly be the out of the ordinary job, but mind you i am talking about reporters and not editors who have to write grammatically correct articles. Imagine being invited to a 5 star hotel on a saturday night, where a star is throwing a party cos its his third Dog's first birthday. Your taste buds are treated to the best cuisines and your eyes can glance at fine legs and deep (no not what you are thinking) pockets. Once the event is done you can start boasting to your friends about meeting the who's who of the industry (even if they hardly noticed you) !! Enviable job !!

and finally my dream of dreams

7. Cleaning Staff at Old Trafford Manchester United's Stadium- The Theatre of Dreams : All i would want is a meal a day and a place to rest. I wouldnt mind spending a few months at the ground, watching some of the best players live from close range. (Sounds a bit exaggerating but would certainly not mind to do the job for a week)

I know its been a long and maybe a senseless reading, but then being free gives you the liberty to enjoy the most absurd of thoughts and ideas !!

If you have anymore "professions" to add ..please !!

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