Batsman with an overseas hunderd

As a kid playing cricket fanatically, making it to the state team, and subsequently to the top echelons of national team used to be a constant dream across my childhood. Getting selected was so overestimated that I even made plans to settle in Sri-Lanka after someone told me that it was just as big as the state I represented – and hence my chances of making it to National team there, might be higher. J

Watching cricket on television was never limited to just the live telecast, its repeat version or the special shows. It extended to re-playing  - that one shot, taking that one catch or bowling that Yorker which you loved over and over again in one’s mind – of course with oneself as a protagonist!
As understanding of the game increased, the childlike fanaticism gave way to a bit matured – though still mad – love for the game. And then the inevitable happened – with advancing age, stage, number of subjects and end-term exams my association with cricket ended. Like the love affair of tender age, it was destined to die pre-maturely – and was perhaps even visible clearly to all except me.
Years post that saw sporadic but short lived interactions with the game. A match or two every six months, either for the college, class or just with friends on weekends. There was, of course a high point again when during MBA our class won an interclass championship! A few strokes from that tournament are still so vivid in my mind as if they were played yesterday. Years of job proved to be rather like draught. Few exciting moments from net sessions done over the weekends, one lost match – where I had hit a straight six, and quite a few dropped catches that I can’t forget.
At a point when India’s performance abroad was really under scanner from all corners, performance outside the subcontinent stood out as a yardstick that truly differentiated true batting talents from bullies of flat tracks.   Fast forward to present – I moved to Denver for work, after spending first few weekends in shopping for groceries, visiting parks, library etc. I finally found a contact detail for a local cricket club. From last week, after submitting its registration form and receiving acknowledgment for it life has changed a bit. US is not a cricket friendly country, or at least the city where I live, it seems not to be very popular – no sport shop sells a cricket bat or equipment, only a few store managers even recognized it. Cricket Season’s start is at least- four months away and I am not yet even on that team – still an idea that I could possibly – get to play a match and then go on to make an overseas hundred warms a heart in a unique sort of way!!
Dream usually starts with a fall of wicket after which I would walk out to bat, with team a bit under pressure. Slowly but surely runs start coming in, square cuts stand out and the end is always filled with a couple of lofted shots!
None of the particulars from above mentioned dream, starting from my presence in this country to be actually able to play the games and performing the way I would like to, are anywhere close to reality right now. At a time of writing this they are just figments of my imagination. Yet it has been one of the favorite indulgences, to think of it!!
Well-aware that these games, if at all I play, will have no record anywhere except for that in my mind and perhaps that too would only remain selective in really long term – thinking about it actively excites me, motivates me to run 30 minutes a day and most importantly helps me go to sleep with smiling face. J

Do you have any similar experience, where things that are visibly trivial – as trivial as an unrecorded, yet to be played cricket match in a city where hardly anyone plays this game, mean so much to you that they make a part of some of your most favorite dreams?

Visit to a park

As long as the eyes could see, there was no human being in sight. Noise of dogs barking and a signboard saying “Beware of dogs” made me feel a bit nervous about entering this park. Lawns were well manicured and surroundings suggested that this was not as desolate a place as it looked at first sight. Just then I saw a couple walking towards the entrance and thought that probably there are more people on the other side of this long lane and I should go in and visit this marvelous looking but eerily quiet Park.
I read the rules of visiting the park very carefully, in a foreign country, especially on a first visit, one is – in many ways – like an infant trying to figure out the ways of world! And a bit conscious not to be on the wrong side of rules. For example, it is always better to check if taking photos is allowed or prohibited – before the impulse of taking a new selfie for DP in FB takes over the mind! After reading the rules and ensuring that I was in no way going to overstep on any of them in any way, I entered the park.
Trees standing guard on either sides of the lane gave it a unique sort of beauty which only natural surroundings can offer. Hills afar and trees nearby, two of most constant and steady of nature’s creations reminded me of all that is still constant in this seemingly dynamic life. The quiet environment of the garden soon turned from intimidating to soothing one, as walked on. After a long walk, of about 15-20 minutes, a playground appeared.  Sight of swings, slides, kids playing ball brought with it a sense of joy and helped me relate to this park instantly, somewhat similar to the ways a sportsman relates to a new ground after realizing its parallels with one that he is used to play at.
When a US citizen visiting Gandhi Ashram became my friend there, he once told me that here if people look at other people for a few seconds; they might take it as hostile behavior. Driven by this advice I deliberately did not stop by and watch kids play there instead I walked on taking satisfaction in similarities that kids have across countries!
On the way, I saw a couple coming with three huge dogs between two of them. Scared as I am of dogs, I climbed up till the top of the slope of sideline in order to make way for all 5 of them! “I am very scared of dogs” I said defensively. “They are fine” said the man, “At least, that’s what everyone says until they bite!” added his wife and all of us shared a good laugh! J
There was a drainage carrying wastewater of the park, and something was written on its inside, it caught my eye as I walked by – on a closer look – I realized what was written there! And it made me smile.



Written message: "For good times - call xxxxxxxx"

For good time, call – and the number next to it was blackened! It reminded me of such writings seen at various public places in India, some things cut across countries and cultures – I thought to myself. Though not entirely civilized, this instilled in me a sense of confidence perhaps because of the striking similarities that we all share as human beings despite huge differences in our backgrounds!

There are a lots of other small things about this park that will stay in my memory for long time, A signboard mentioning total cost of the park was amazing, I believe it helps people realize the worth of what they, at times, take for granted!

 

As a kid in school, I used to write essay on my visit to a park- perhaps they want kids to get used to the way of worlds through their interaction of these public institutions. While visiting a foreign country, especially first time, one is just like an infant, trying to learn the ways of the world. Learning how to cross the road, how to board a train or bus, how to behave in public, how not to behave in public etc J and such visits – though immaterial in larger scheme of things go a long way in establishing one’s bond to a new place.

Frostbite

The only frost I had seen until a few days back, was one that used to gather inside the freezer of the refrigerator.  A reminder of childhood memory of scratching the sidewalls of the freezer and eating that frost despite parental advice against that, is still

very vivid in my mind.

Therefore when I first saw entire neighborhood and all roads leading to office, covered with such frost, it was overwhelming, of course. I wasn’t aware of the word frostbite – until a caring colleague cautioned me regarding it.

When checked on google frostbite is understood as “injury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold, typically affecting the nose, fingers, or toes and sometimes resulting in gangrene. It involves freezing of tissues, has four stages which vary in intensity and risk – starting from damage only to the external skin to internal and permanent damages”

At first I was negligent of the caution and treated it much the same way as we do to things that we don’t fully understand but claim to have command over, however nature prevailed and I surrendered soon. (Read just in time). Two jackets one with hood bought from a market in Denver, a sweater, muffler and cap brought from India and a set of thermals were all put in place and I was ready to fight the winter! I started taking help of colleagues who had cars to commute – instead of walking my way to work. I avoided any chance of frostbite – as best as I could.  

However, while reading a bit more on frostbite- it occurred that frostbite – in wider sense – can also include any injury that cold can cause. A deadlier variety can be considered as frostbite on our minds caused due to emotional cold.

Like stages of frostbite on skin, frostbites on mind can also have different stages – first degree called frost-nip is only affecting the outer surface of skin and usually results in itching and pain on affected areas of skin. Usually most of us suffer from this stage – total lack of empathy towards strangers is a primary symptom of such illness. Itching on mind just like the one on skin can make us susceptible to irritation and shortens attention spans. Usually appeal to internal crevices of their minds, still get registered as they are still sensitive.

Second degree known as blister – can be more severe – it leaves the affected area completely hard and blackened. It leads to permanent insensitivity to any kind of sensation.

Third and fourth stages are the most severe it can make affected areas permanently amputated. Usually it is caused by prolonged unprotected exposure to extremely cold environment. Emotionally this level of frostbite can be extremely oppressive – not only to the one inflicted – but also to the ones surrounding the patient. Irrecoverable cynicism and lack of enthusiasm to any sort of warmth are considered to be the prominent symptoms.

Get yourself enough warm clothes, keep the bon fire of passion and empathy burning within and make sure you don’t suffer from any sort of frostbite.