As I sat there in the cafeteria, finishing my lunch, I heard a fellow from the next table exclaim, "Abey Tendulkar 78 pe khel raha hai!"
Suddenly all my other tasks took a back seat, and I ran and went to the TV. There was Sachin, facing Rest of India in the Irani Trophy match, the crowd gathered to see the master in the twilight of his career. All around me people came and went just eyeing the score, busy with their daily activities.
But for me the world stood still. It was this one chance, to witness something I may not be free to witness again. As the batsman crosses the three digit mark, takes off his helmet and looks heavenwards, its one of the best feelings for a fan.
So I stood there, patiently. I kept waiting, knowing that I had no choice but to see this through. My feet had planted themselves in the ground, they would not easily move. I was adamant. I had just missed a paddle sweep off Bhajji, I was not going to miss anything else.
As soon as he Ojha for back to back 4s, I knew I was getting a treat today. Around me people just chuckled at the highlights.
Then suddenly, the cynics started flocking around. "He should give youngsters the chance to play. Why is he taking their place?" a man exclaimed. Though not many agreed to this point, they just scowled and went along their way. They probably knew better than to give that statement any decent rebuttal. A few moments later, another guy went on to say "He'll be out in no time."
Good, they are at the first step. I thought. Denial.
Suddenly he missed a delivery and a stumping appeal was put forth. The third umpire's counsel was called into question. While my heart skipped a beat, thinking the man's curse came true, I knew that Sachin's experience won't let him throw his wicket so easily. And just as I was sure, he had put his foot behind the line before any damage was dealt.
"Jaane de yaar. He'll need half an hour at least to get there." another one of the gems told his friends. Again most people went on with their day. But I couldn't move. I knew I had to stand there.
RoI took the new ball. Sachin managed a single in the first over with it. Sreesanth was called into the attack. For a moment, I was petrified. Not him, if he gets the wicket, his arrogant smirking will definitely spoil my day.
Sreesanth then bowled a short ball. Sachin tried to duck, but it caught him on the shoulder.
"Ab toh iska career barbaad ho jayega. Ab to isse kabhi team mein nahi lenge." one of the hecklers proclaimed. Yeah right, like Sachin would ever resort, or for that matter need to resort, to dirty politics for having Sreesanth axed.
Somewhere the cynics thought they were winning. They showed how the master was getting slow, how he had lost his sharpness. And then it happened. Vintage Tendulkar! A drive on the offside, that looked as though it came out of a cricket textbook. Everyone around me went quiet. He had reached to 99*. Now surely he could do it off the next ball.
The next ball went awkwardly behind on the legside, and though he ran 2 with his heart, we were all waiting to see the umpire. Even the umpire seemed to hesitate, lifting his leg half 2-3 times, he finally gave a leg bye. People groaned and started moving again. Its ok, I thought, we are supposed to wait more.
The next over passed without that one single run. And even those who had waited in the nineties started leaving. But I just knew I had to stay.
Sreesanth came in to bowl the next over. And finally the event we had been waiting for happened. With a single, the master had scored the ton. 81st First Class someone said, but for me it didn't mean that much. Every new Sachin ton made the news for some sort of record. There was a scattered applause, but for me the real celebration was happening in my mind. I took my leave, not waiting to see him raise his bat.
I went back to my desk after that. I felt a harmony deep in me, the world seemed a bit brighter to me for the rest of the day.
"Tendulkar scored a ton." I told my team members.
"Hmmm..." one them said quietly "that man still has a lot of cricket in him. Shame many are blind to that."
That made me a bit happier. People still had faith in their little master.
Suddenly all my other tasks took a back seat, and I ran and went to the TV. There was Sachin, facing Rest of India in the Irani Trophy match, the crowd gathered to see the master in the twilight of his career. All around me people came and went just eyeing the score, busy with their daily activities.
But for me the world stood still. It was this one chance, to witness something I may not be free to witness again. As the batsman crosses the three digit mark, takes off his helmet and looks heavenwards, its one of the best feelings for a fan.
So I stood there, patiently. I kept waiting, knowing that I had no choice but to see this through. My feet had planted themselves in the ground, they would not easily move. I was adamant. I had just missed a paddle sweep off Bhajji, I was not going to miss anything else.
As soon as he Ojha for back to back 4s, I knew I was getting a treat today. Around me people just chuckled at the highlights.
Then suddenly, the cynics started flocking around. "He should give youngsters the chance to play. Why is he taking their place?" a man exclaimed. Though not many agreed to this point, they just scowled and went along their way. They probably knew better than to give that statement any decent rebuttal. A few moments later, another guy went on to say "He'll be out in no time."
Good, they are at the first step. I thought. Denial.
Suddenly he missed a delivery and a stumping appeal was put forth. The third umpire's counsel was called into question. While my heart skipped a beat, thinking the man's curse came true, I knew that Sachin's experience won't let him throw his wicket so easily. And just as I was sure, he had put his foot behind the line before any damage was dealt.
"Jaane de yaar. He'll need half an hour at least to get there." another one of the gems told his friends. Again most people went on with their day. But I couldn't move. I knew I had to stand there.
RoI took the new ball. Sachin managed a single in the first over with it. Sreesanth was called into the attack. For a moment, I was petrified. Not him, if he gets the wicket, his arrogant smirking will definitely spoil my day.
Sreesanth then bowled a short ball. Sachin tried to duck, but it caught him on the shoulder.
"Ab toh iska career barbaad ho jayega. Ab to isse kabhi team mein nahi lenge." one of the hecklers proclaimed. Yeah right, like Sachin would ever resort, or for that matter need to resort, to dirty politics for having Sreesanth axed.
Somewhere the cynics thought they were winning. They showed how the master was getting slow, how he had lost his sharpness. And then it happened. Vintage Tendulkar! A drive on the offside, that looked as though it came out of a cricket textbook. Everyone around me went quiet. He had reached to 99*. Now surely he could do it off the next ball.
The next ball went awkwardly behind on the legside, and though he ran 2 with his heart, we were all waiting to see the umpire. Even the umpire seemed to hesitate, lifting his leg half 2-3 times, he finally gave a leg bye. People groaned and started moving again. Its ok, I thought, we are supposed to wait more.
The next over passed without that one single run. And even those who had waited in the nineties started leaving. But I just knew I had to stay.
Sreesanth came in to bowl the next over. And finally the event we had been waiting for happened. With a single, the master had scored the ton. 81st First Class someone said, but for me it didn't mean that much. Every new Sachin ton made the news for some sort of record. There was a scattered applause, but for me the real celebration was happening in my mind. I took my leave, not waiting to see him raise his bat.
I went back to my desk after that. I felt a harmony deep in me, the world seemed a bit brighter to me for the rest of the day.
"Tendulkar scored a ton." I told my team members.
"Hmmm..." one them said quietly "that man still has a lot of cricket in him. Shame many are blind to that."
That made me a bit happier. People still had faith in their little master.
