a thoughtful Cricketer..

Mahendra Singh Dhoni... I was in Intermediate when I heard his name for the first time. It was lunch break and one of my friends reached me to inform “Dhoni has scored an unbeaten 148 against Pakistan”. Right from the days when I started watching cricket, I had a strong feeling that India badly needed a wicket keeper batsman to form a well structured team. So, when I heard about his 148, I was bit happier as it came out from the bat of a wicket keeper. But when I watched the way he scored his 148, it was a huge disappointment for me. Most of his cricketing shots lacked technique. I felt he is not going to be with Indian cricket team for long because of his unorthodox batting style. Few months later, it was a match against Srilanka and he had broken an all time record as a wicket keeper batsman by scoring 183. And this time when I watched his play, it triggered my dislike towards high scoring games. His batting style resembled a street player. His easy way of batting never made me feel that it was an international game. However, two years passed with his huge sixes clearing the stands. I liked few of them, and slowly I started counting the number of sixes which he had hit; assuming he will reach the top of the chart very soon. Later I turned out to be a huge fan of his sixes.

.. It was one of the days in 2007, when India lost to Bangladesh in the world cup. My eyes were almost filled with tears looking at down headed Indian team. It was 3am in the morning and all I could do was close my eyes to accept the fact. But with that defeat, I should say the entire Indian cricket has taken its new form because Dhoni was made as a captain.

His first victory... I don't think anyone had any hopes on Indian team when they left to South Africa to play the first ever International T20 world cup. But Dhoni has made his mark with inexperienced team and brought back the respect to the Indian cricket. Like many others, even I couldn't judge his leadership immediately. Around 6 months later, I was in a bus with my friend returning back from college. We were getting SMS updates about the final match played between India and Australia. Half of the bus was waiting for the final message and I received it in no time. India defeated Australia in Australia and that too in the best of 3 finals. I was very happy with the news and felt India has found a great captain. After going home, I watched highlights and during the presentation ceremony, he called Piyush Chawla, the youngest of the team, to receive the cup. That was the time I really felt he has not only got power to lead but also has great thoughts.

... From then on, I started observing him and never found the old Dhoni in him. He changed his way of slog hitting, realised the importance of he being there at the crease and improved himself as a match winner. He has a genius cricketing brain in him. India had won few great matches under his ca­­­ptaincy. Apart from cricket, the way he has given farewell to Kumble and Ganguly was highly appreciable. I enjoyed with his idea when he asked Ganguly to lead the team for last few overs of Ganguly’s cricketing career. I heard Sreesanth saying about Symond’s runout appeal: “Dhoni has told me that it is not the correct way of making someone out, so I took back my appeal”. I was moved when Dhoni accepted to recall England’s Ian Bell from dressing room when he was misjudged. His ideas, thoughts and his implementations made me proud as a cricket lover.

Dhoni finishes off in style... Entire Indian cricket fans filled their emotions in heart and punched the air when Ravi Shastri uttered those words explaining the moments of Indian World cup victory on 2^nd April 2011. I thank Dhoni for all the memories and especially for fulfilling the Indian world cup dream. Though cricket is a team sport and credit goes to the entire team, the way he led the team was outstanding. Recently, when India came back from England without even winning a single game, one of my friends had told me “I still respect Dhoni, because he gave us world cup”. If I had to say anything about him, I’ll just say... Dhoni is a thoughtful cricketer which India has ever got.

Happy mother's day :)

Nearly 20 years ago, those were my early schooling days, I don't exactly remember whether my mom used to come to school to take me back home or I used to go by other means, but one incident which I could pull out from my memories is - “after coming back from school, I used to sit on the bed and mom used to ask me what all happened in the day while removing my shoes.. and I think I used to answer to all her questions happily.”

Few years later, I guess I was in my 3^rd standard. That day I went to medical shop to buy a sachet of cough syrup. The cost of it was just 1.25 paisa. I also bought a chocolate and ate it quickly before going back home. After reaching my place, due to my innocence, I told “the cost written on the sachet was 1.25 paisa, but the shop owner took 1.75 paisa.” That statement made a huge impact on my life's next one hour. My father easily understood that I was telling a lie and asked me few questions which I didn't had answers to bluff. So he pulled out tape-recorder's wire and had given me a hard touch with it for telling a lie. I cried for long time, and then my mom took me into her hands, smiled and said “You should have kept quiet. What is the need to say when you have already eaten it??”

I was very innocent during my childhood days. But when I got aware of many things in school, I started bringing out my mom's innocence. I still remember, one day I asked her a question “Which is bigger? India or Andhra Pradesh?” and the reply was her innocent smile. When we are kids, we learn from our mom, but when we grow up we make fun of her innocence. And I'm sure, at that point of time, every mom feels happy as her kids are turning out to be smarter than her.

After my 5^th standard, I always had a trouble with mathematics. I somehow used to manage in every exam. It was in my 8^th standard, I had done with my half yearly maths exam and came back home with a disappointing look. My mom sensed it, and asked me “Didn't do well?” Before I could answer her, I started crying and told her “I will fail this time for sure.” She smiled and said “These are just half yearly exams. It is not a problem even though if you fail”. I got my energy back for science :P

Till my schooling, I was always a mom's pet. I used to share most of my life's happenings. But when I got exposed to outside world, I slowly changed my way. I have seen few ups and downs, but I used to share only the things which make her happy. She always knows me as a winner but she doesn't know me as a loser. Day by day, I had shown a change in myself, but she managed to show the same level of love irrespective of my change. I think this is where a mom's love differs from all other's love :)

Now, after joining TCS, I got used to work. I started eating less. And slowly I got used to hunger. She understood it, so everyday she stays awake till I reach home from office, and feeds me with her hand so that I will eat more. I seriously can't give the same love back to her, all I could do is make her happy. If making her happy can be defined as showing love, then I can hide many things to show my love. Thank you is a meaningless word if I had to use it for my mom :)

Respect women. Help Orphans. Happy mother's day to all mothers :)

the best part of life..

Many years ago, a day during my childhood summer days; I was at my grandma's place. In villages, we generally see old ladies gathering at one place to spend some of their time discussing several issues. The same thing happened that day. During their discussions, I heard one of my grandma stating a line in telugu - “Intiko samasya”. It means every house owns a problem with it. I don't know what made her use that statement, and I was not enough old to analyse it. However, that line got fixed in my mind.

Years passed, I was into college life, where I got chance to meet different people. Initially, every person I met looked very happy to me. But when I got closer enough, I started hearing about problems which they were facing. At any point of time, almost every person whom I was talking to was holding a small problem with them. People, including me, used to get degraded very often. I had no clue what was going on and how to get over. After looking at all these, slowly I got changed in the way I look at people. Now, when I meet a new person, I started to observe whether he or she has any problem. And my observation made me to re-state my grandma's statement as -”Manishiko samasya”, which means every person owns a problem.

Recently, one early morning, I went to vidyanagar to meet one guy. Unfortunately that guy didn't pick my call and I was made to wait in the bus stop for nearly two hours. During my time there, I saw an uncle who sat very close to me. He was reading newspaper and was talking to other uncle. He looked very energetic with his talks. Out of every ten lines he spoke, six lines made me smile. I really enjoyed their conversation for around fifteen minutes until the other uncle left the place. After listening to him, I felt he is the happiest person. Few minutes passed, the same uncle looked at me and asked about where do I work. I answered. Few more questions and answers passed between us. Later, I don't know what made him to.. but he started saying about his elder son. He told many things related to his son – his irresponsible behavior, no planning for his career, etc. He told how he and his wife were suffering every day because of their son. The same energetic uncle looked very innocent at that time. The same happiest uncle looked as a person with many problems rolling in his mind. He asked me “what should I do now??” Silence was my only answer. But when he was leaving, I told him - “Today's biggest problem will look small tomorrow.” I didn't have any hope for that uncle while making that statement. But I just made it.

Though I made that line all of a sudden without any initial thinking, I feel what I stated was very true. If we are facing a problem today, the intensity of it will be higher. We search ways to overcome it. And during this search, we really grow as a person. Problems are life's default style of making you as a better person. Never regret if you have a problem. Try all the possible ways to overcome it, prove your worth, and if it still exists, believe in the fact that - “the best part of life is.. as time passes, things fade..!!”