To you

Hectic would not completely cover what last week was. But when the pace of everyday shifts to the fifth gear, very rarely sometimes someone or some event make you pause, get a breather and join the lanes again.
This post is for the one whose small ways make a big difference to my everyday life..

I have never really thanked you for everything that you do for me.. for never making me feel you are helping me..for letting me take you for granted.. I'm at an awe when I think that you could take so much trouble to help me..I'm not even your friend..you dont even talk to me. But you would be there for me whenever I need you. I no more worry what happens if I cant handle the stuff at work as much of it is still new to me, for I know you would see me through it, without ever taking the credit or making me feel you had to take trouble because I can't handle it... It's amazing how you make my each day a better one. You know, I've always thought with pride that I could go to the world's end to do anything for those people who matter to me. you did it all for someone who does not matter to you. I'm amazed that pure goodness can still be found.
I'm glad I met you and I'm sure I can learn much more from you.
Thanks for being there.

Mirror mirror on the wall

Off late I've seen my strong interest in cricket come back to me. I've been one of that generation of cricket loving Indians whose happiest moments were somehow connected with the happy times of Men in Blue. But some how it has never been possible for me to displace them from their hero status that fast. That could probably because my baptism to cricket watching was carried out by a chubby 16 year old. And over the last 18 or so years I have watched that chubby 16 year old grow from might to might, take on the world create and break records with the ease only he can. I saw him win laurels. I saw him being addressed as 'God'. I saw TV channels climbing TRPs just by squeezing his name into news. I saw adjectives overflowing. But he remained the same. Modest and grounded.Then I saw his home crowd boo him. I saw his effigies and posters being burnt. I saw people screaming for his blood. I saw self proclaimed cricket statisticians and ex- cricketers hired by TV channels dissect his ability and personality. I saw the pressure on him to prove them wrong. I saw him fight the demons alone. The sixteen year old who faced Waqar Younis with a broken nose the young man who stood tall amidst the desert storm, wore back braces and got india so close to a victory in scrotching chennai heat , the ultimate team man who bowled his life out after his captain gifted him a declaration at 194 at Pakistan..... the media, cricket lovers and the country conveniently forgot many more things and wrote off the game's best boy. As ViV Richards said'ungrateful India' went on to say he should give up the game.
But Sachin Tendulkar came back. I would never say like a phoenix for I dare beleive Tendulkar eas never ever finished. But still he remained the same. Modest and grounded never screaming from roof tops... or asking questions to mirrors. Probably Sachin Tendulkar is far too sure about himself that he doesn't really want to ask questions to mirrors. Well, with all due respect, the copy right of the title of this post and the few lines below goes to Ian Chappel. But I'm taking the liberty to ask the mirror a question that Ian Chappell himself asked barely months ago.
Mirror mirror on the wall
Who is the greatest cricketer of all
Sachin Tendulkar forever.
Mr Chappell, I hope you heard the mirror too. But honestly it would be so not like Sachin Tendulkar if this article ends without this. I know you are used to the fact that Tendulkar does not let people down. But I'm sorry he let YOU down.

Tendulkar still a sellable brand.

A lot has been spoken, words invited and uninvited, largely unwelcomed. Guess it is time to stop. Stupid comments, third grade emails, hurting public displays of hatred...we-mere spectators have done significantly nothing other than making bad worse.
We had a bad world cup campaign, we are hurt, disappointed, yes we are... if we-we the mere spectetors are what do you think the guys who played would be.
I wonder if in a remote corner of his mind Sachin Tendulkar would be wondering if it was he who ever asked us-mere spectators, to crown him as GOD, now that we spending every bit our time and energy to correct him or rather harrass him.
No friends, Sachin Tendulkar never claimed he is GOD, never said he is the modern edition of Don, or that he is better than Ponting, Lara,or X, Y,Z. Just to remind you,for a change we mere spectetors didn't say that either, he claimed it and claimed it with complete rights. Now if someone could command so much respect, could dedicate more than half of his life to India's most popular sport, could give 1.1 billion the most exhilirating victories (do we-mere spectators still remember some of that atleast?), if he knew when to be aggressive and when to be anchoring,he would know when to stop and start playing. If Ian chapell did not advise what shots Sachin Tendulkar should have played in his 300 odd matches, if Ian Chappell did not reccomend Sir Don to comment on Tendulkar's batting prowess, if Ian chappel does not have one equivalent performance record, if not once did Ian Chappell had to single-handedly carry the responsibilities of a whole team , a whole country, and if Ian Chappell did not have the misfortune of being dissected by we-mere spectators on every other day, appologies, but Mr chappell you do not qualify to criticise the guy.
Sachin Tendulkar cannot be finished as yet, see even after his team, our team has exited the world cup he is still a major reason for the high TRP ratings for some channels which we-mere spectators wouldn't give a look at otherwise. Sachin Tendulkar cannot be finished, he cannot be finished as long as he keeps bringing bread to a handful of people who find it easier to sell his blood, the same people who fed on his fame a fortnight ago.Thanks Chappell. you gave us the best, you reminded us that Sachin Tendulkar is still a sellable brand.
Guys, we all have broken dreams, failed tests, bad days or years perhaps...don't we? Then why cant he have them too, why? because he is Sachin Tendulkar?
Well, then because he is Sachin Tendulkar let us give him his due... let us
for God's sake give him his batting slot back.and then let us give him his crowns back. Let us have the phenom back. Til then let us stop the opinion polls to decide if Tendulkar is finished...let us end the chat shows to test if he still has it in him...let us stop making money pointing fingers at him. Let us stop using him to steal the limelite.
Let us do something better for a change.... let us for now..simply spare Sachin.

Chk this one out....

I've always loved cool stuff like this.... and ya this is quite a bit like me...

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About love

Love actaually is all around, as they said
In the arrival terminal of an airport.... in the departure terminals too
in the small thoughtful acts of a friend, in the unending concern of a mother, in the stern but loving words of a father, in the smiles that brightens a stranger's day....
In the dreams that are far too big and the struggles to acheive them, love is all around....the hand to hold always... the shoulder to lean on...the sorrows wiped of in a smile...it's all the love that is alla around us...In the small fights between friends, in the little arguements that are forgiven and forgotten, love is all around us in a lot many ways....in the dreams that you make and the compromises you make, the tuning up you do for someone, love is all around when you settle down for the second best, when you chase the best....
But how do you find it? from broken conversations, predictions, assumptions and intutions... where do one find if there is a place for love?
If love is actually all around, there should also be a way to get to it??

holiday blues

Saturday.... mildly snowing morning....no music in the background....
standing near the patio windows and watching the world just waking up
two all packed up trolleys....two confirmed e-tickets for the next day and returntickets for the month after....
The mobile hums a sweet tune....'yes, mom everything is fine, we'll see u tomorrow'
back to the window....lost in thoughts....

Waking up to switch of the alarm.... realising that it is six in the morning and time to get going... and ya, it is not mildly snowing.... a storm is on since previous night....

Vaccation is two months far away....

Wins and Losses

I know you,
But then I don't
I thought I knew
But I think I didn't
Why all this
But why not
Should I or should not I
But then will you or won't you
There was no love lost
But there is no hatred left
You won't win, You would lose
But then,
Will I win?

Happy 2007

Another year has gone by
And another season has changed
but the feel is still the same
the lights and the joy
and the happiness that comes
when christmas is near by
The gifts of tomorrows
lie underneath the christmas tree
waiting to opened with smiles and glee
I was standing by the window....
looking on to the fture....
and I still am....
My gifts are underneath the christmas tree
waiting to be opened with smiles and glee
In the walks of life
As another year falls by
I look back and smile
And think of all the joy
I wipe away a tear or two
and pray for a better tomorrow....
and I walk to the christmas tree
and pick up today....
and look at the pile of the gifts
and wonder what's next....
Before I turn back and look
What's mine for now....
and my 364 gifts are waiting uderneath the christmas tree
Waiting to be opened with smiles and glee
I would take them one by one
And enjoy the best way I can
For they are the blessings from heaven above
wrapped and put aside for me and only me
and as I ponder about the next one
I still wish to have my one
and fill it with some smiles
and color it with some dreams
and write them into my memory book
For special is each day
and will always be
and all I want is a bright new day
With hopes and joy
and hands to hold all the way....

Wishing you a newyear full of happiness and togetherness
And hoping that you always have a shoulder to lean on to
And you see the light guiding you
Happy 2007