Team India Zindabaad !!

What has IPL given to the Indian cricket team ? It has given an injured Sehwag, players whose capabilities are blown out of proportions based on their performances against the minnows of domestic circuit and an over confident team. It was really pathetic to see team India playing. The performance was poor, miserable, wretched. I am falling short of adejectives here. After having defeated Bangladesh and Ireland in the first round of the world cup, India lost their real games. And rightly speaking, a team which could not achieve a target of 154 didn't really deserve to go to the semi final round. The team failed in every department. The Indian pacers never looked in a position to contain the oppositions' batsmen in any of the games. And the batsmen made heroes out of pacers like Stuart Broad and for that matter Pollard in game against West Indies. And their treatment to the short pictched deliveries was really shocking. However due credit should also be given to the English pacers for continuously bowling that short pitched length and coming up with good bouncers in nearly every over, something which their Indian counterparts failed to do. Except for Yuvraj and Yusuf Pathan, the Indian batting line up looked rusted. Ravindra Jadeja was unable to accelerate the innings at a time when it was really needed. He was even unable to rotate the strike. And the pressure developed led to Gambhir giving away his wicket. I am sure that an 'elderly member' like Sachin would have done a much better job. All the pre tournament suppositions as to how the South African IPL experience would help the Indian players to get accustomed to the similar conditions in England just failed. Dhoni in particular didn't look like remotely like a batsman he used to be when he started his international career. It seems that too much of cricket really has done some harm to him. But as our dear Mahi says in that Aircel advertisement, its the time to move on.

Why we hate Australia ?

First of all this is not meant to be a hate speech as a reaction to the recent instances of attacks on the Indians in Australia. Although I do condemn what has happened there and think that people should now get out of their illusion of superiority. But this is not what I want to write about. I am here talking about the Australian cricket team. After their ouster from the T20 world cup, I was happy. I was ecstatic. After seeing the result, there was a punch in the air and some brief shouting. And I am sure that most of us were wanting it really badly.

So why do we hate this Australian cricket team ? Why do we want to see them getting defeated ? Why does that dismal and disarrayed face of Ponting gives you that immense satisfaction that all those who hate that team must have felt ? A reasonable argument is that it is because its a team that has won 3 World cups, has dominated test cricket like anything, has produced some of the most finest players in cricket and that they are the most potent challenge to India's rise to the top in the world cricket.

But is this the reason that we go till the extent of celebrating their failures ? I think that there is more to it than this. I think that this hatred is the accumulation of all those moments when we have seen them resorting to anything to win that one match, the moments when we have seen them disgracing some of the most graceful and elegant cricketers, their incapability to accept the their defeat to and to allow their opponents to savour their moments of glory. You see their arrogance. You see them sledging the players, you see them tussling with the umpires. I don't say that other teams don't resort to these things. They do but not as often and as regularly as Australians. And I also don't say that I don't like sledging. I like it for the fact that it has added the spice and that X-factor to that yesteryear's game of the gentlemen. But I don't like it when I see Andrew Symonds sledging young Manish Pandey in an IPL match or when I see Michael Slater sledging Dravid for asking for a re look at a catch where the ball did touch the ground. Its the moment like these that fills you with hatred against them. I don't hate their guts. I just hate their attitude. And now when they are out it really doesn't matter to me as to who wins the title. Although I would always vouch for the Indian side. So best of luck to the Indian side. And I do hope that we get to see some breath taking close games, something for which T20 is renowned.

Dor

Exquisite. Thats what I would say if I have to give the review of Dor in 1 word. Simple, beautiful, elegant and moving. Its a movie which carries you along with it. When I see movie like this I really feel that there is so much potential in the Indian cinema which is yet to be realized. In the times when most of the movies present you with exotic foreign locations and story with which you just cant relate, here is a movie which takes you to the valleys of Himachal and the deserts of Rajasthan and has a story which is very much original and refresing and makes a great use of the Indian settings. The story is about two women Meera (Ayesha Takia) and Zeenat(Gul Panag) whose lives intersect because of an incident which makes it necessary for Zeenat to find Meera. And to top that only thing that Zeenat has to find the whereabouts of Meera is a photograph. But that is just the first half of the movie. The best part of the movie starts when Zeenat finds Meera. Thats where you see the contrast between a confident and unwavering Zeenat and a shy, suppressed and dogmatic Meera who by the action of the destiny is holding the dor controlling Zeenat's life. You see the predicaments of Zeenat. You see the fight that Zeenat and Meera are fighting with themselves. You see Zeenat helping Meera to come out of the cobweb created by Meera herself and her family. The interpersonal relationship between Meera and Zeenat has been depicted beautifully by Nagesh Kukunoor. Gul Panag and Ayesha Takia look stunningly beautiful in their simple looks and have played their characters superbly and Shreyas Talpade is really refreshing. Its a movie which was hailed as one of the best movies of 2006 and is surely a must watch.

Solitude is vicissitude

Finally, all of them left. I had wish that the moment could somehow be delayed. I just wanted the things to remain the way they are for as long as possible. It was really depressing to see off Kush and Shanu in the morning. I think today I get to know how Mummy feels every time I come back to hostel from home.

A void has come in the life. And this solitude is biting me. All I see while walking through the wing is closed rooms. I had thought that once all of them were gone, I'll start with my studies. But I really didn't feel like studying today. The wing doesn't look the same as earlier. I am missing those frequent knocks at the door, that evening phatta, those annoying gtalk buzzes, those PJs, that spending time in other's room. I am really missing my friends. I spent my noon reading the novel and playing scrabble with Saucy on facebook. In the evening five of us went for that evening stroll. And after that it was just me, Saucy and Vatshy at my room. I got the glimpse of what the life is going to be in the fifth year. I think it will take me a day or two to get accustomed to this new environment. Its really the time to move on.

Years of joy

After four years, the dream finally ended and the eyes opened. Yes, it was a dream. There were no worries, no obligations, no duties. Just some simple and plain fun. Pranks played, jokes made, people teased. There were some wake up calls every now and then. But the sleep was too pleasant to get disturbed by these small interruptions. But the dream had to end. We knew it since the beginning. But we never realized it till the end. Not till the first of us went away. A glass broke and the pieces were scattered. And then suddenly there was emptiness. The sanctuary had been disturbed. The restlessness set in. New abode had to be found.

Some relationships are like a canvas painting. One new hand of paint and the old identity is lost. Some others are like a writing on a sand at a sea shore. With each wave, the words diminish and after some time they are forgotten. But some others are like monuments. They remain intact. You cherish its beauty. You remember it every now and then. What we build over these four years was a monument. A memorabilia for the lifetime.

Over the years, things were learned, perspectives were developed. And all this while, there was an assurance that there is someone by your side. They might not always be with you. But you can feel their presence. Its soothes you, comforts you to know that there are people who matter to you and to whom you matter, people who would bail you out in the most difficult of your times.

There were times good and bad. There were parties and there were altercations. But then, that is what life is all about. And that is what we learned. We came as boys and are now leaving as men ready to face the world ahead. And at this time of separation, the hearts are heavy. But we are determined to stay in touch. The reunions are discussed and planned. But not every plan could be materialized. People do get busy in their own life. This could well be the last time we were seeing some of them. The years of joy have finally come to an end.

Empty Mind - A Devil's Workshop

Its high time I need to do something constructive. Sleeping, preparing myself for sleeping, gaming, roaming and movies are not turning out to be sufficient enough to pass 24 hours of a day. It leaves me with a hell lot of time. I have begun to think over things that I have never thought upon till now. Thoughts that are totally unrelated. And in these thoughts I am constructing an alternate universe. A universe in which I am perfect and everything is well and fine. May be I should start organizing these thoughts. Who knows that one day I may come up with my version of Alice in Wonderland.

Thesis work is long due but I am still not feeling like working on it. I have also delayed the CAT and placement preparation. I have realized that my locus of control lies outside me. I really need someone else to control my action. At home, it used to be Mummy. Now, there is no one. But I am looking for that someone.

These summers are turning out to be one of the most boring phase of my life. I am looking for some good books to read. I am also thinking of writing that short story that I have been meaning to write since eternity. I also feel like writing the next poem. I am also thinking of penning down my experiences of the past 4 years. Damn it! I am again confused. I need to direct my energy in one direction. But where to direct it ? I think, I'll decide that later. Till then, all I have is Avril and Clint Eastwood.

Catcher in the Rye

Have you ever been in a state of purposelessness. Well I have been. In fact at this very moment when I am writing this post, I am. The aims are well within the sight. But I don't have any motivation to go for them. These days I dont have any zest left for reading, writing or studying. I am facing each day as it comes, without any plan or routine. I am testing the limits of procrastination. I am trying to avoid my work and in the process I am doing things randomly. Sometimes I am reading a novel, some other time I am lying on my bed listening to my favourite playlist and some other time I am watching some random sitcom. May be its the summer that is causing this. Or may be this is me. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if things remain the way they are. Why do they have to change? Why do we have to harbour an ambition? Why do one has to become an engineer or a doctor or a banker? May be because otherwise life would be dull and boring. May be that is where the real fun lies. But I am not getting that fun. If given an option, I would just like to be a catcher in the rye.