This date, that year!

Seems just like yesterday, not so long ago, when I first saw him standing in front of me. Smiling innocently, asking for my name, he sure knew how to make me feel the most special girl! I could feel myself lost in his eyes. That moment stood still. I wanted time to freeze. And it did freeze. In pictures.

I know life may change. But nothing will ever change this moment for me. It has been engraved in my heart forever. Standing so close to me, I could feel his aura surrounding me. Enveloping me with love! While my heart is racing, and my palms are sweating, all I could manage to do was smile, like never before. A smile that came instantly from a content heart.

My wish from 16 years had finally come true. My first love was in front of me. I could feel weak in my knees and my heart melt. Romantics were coming true! Though he will never know how I feel, I know deep in my heart that it will not even matter. Love is far beyond feelings! And I can prove it too. Just a few moments with him and my life had changed. I had accomplished the dream! I had done the unthinkable. I had met him. And I could not ask for more in this life from him.

I will always be in love with this man and nothing can change that. I will never get him and I know that. But just about time, I cherish and relive this moment now, just for a while... As I go back to my dreams, I wish to see you again and again! :)

A love story.....

I was on my death bed with my mom and dad next to me. I was in some pain and I knew my end was near. But I had that one last wish in my mind; I knew it had to be fulfilled before I leave. 

I took courage from my inner self to express what my last wish was. I could not tell it to my mom-dad as I knew they would not understand. So I asked my “friends” to help me. 

The forces of the nature were on my side. It worked. They helped. My last wish was about to come true.

As I lying on my bed waiting for him, thinking about him, I realized how much he meant to me. Why was he the only thought in my mind at this time? All my pain and suffering were left behind and I was just waiting to get a glimpse of him. In my life I had practiced and preached "love does not exist." And yet, in my last moments of life, I understood "this is exactly what love is." 

So what is this love? It is when you are going to breathe your last and yet, you have eyes open to see him. It is when he can never be yours, but you still want to be known by his name. It is when you want to hold his hands forever and be gone in his arms. It is when you know what the sacrifice of Meera bai was. It also made me realize that we do not need the other person's agreement on love. Love is, all by itself. 

Love needs no names, no relations. My inner-self told me "your heart is always filled with love; you just need to see it." And here I stay still and agree. As every moment passed by, I knew he was coming closer to me. He was going to be in front of me and will stay there till I could see. 

And then he entered my room. I saw him walk towards me, standing tall, with a confused but calm look. I smiled and he returned the smirk. He remembered me? Or no? It didn't matter then. I knew he was here for me and only me. He was going to be with me till the time I was going to breathe. 

I stretched out my hand in struggle. Only to meet his hands. He recognized my efforts and came closer to me. He held my hand with both of his hands and comforted me. His touch made me feel the warmth I had never experienced before. The touch soothed my pain and made me relieved. I felt the gush on my cheeks and the smile grew. 

I speak, "I knew you would come to me. You have always been mine and I have always been your follower. Today, when I see you, I want to tell how much I love you. You mean the world to me and nothing else matters. I have realized that this love is the probably the most genuine kind. I searched for definitions and examples all around me; but I failed to see within me. This “love” was always with me, in me. It involved nothing else but feelings." And then, I feel the tears rolling down and words failing to come out. So I stop and stare at that one person I have only and truly loved. 

He looked and ran his hand on my forehead. He probably knew the intent. He did not say a word but, his eyes told me everything.

And I see myself leaving my body. As I wanted it to be; holding his hands, in his arms. My soul never felt so ecstatic before. It was probably dancing with joy! And as it left, my soul saw my face and it had the best smile ever. 

Yes! died with a smile. That is how it was meant to be. Tears rolled down his cheeks too, touched my hands and fell on the bed. I was so happy. I was overjoyed with my accomplishment in life. I told him how much I loved him. And that was the end of my love story.... 

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{I saw this dream the other day. The man who I was waiting for, was none other than Rahul Dravid (anyone would have guessed). But the dream was so real in front of me. I woke up smiling and I knew, I had to share this!}

What does Sachin Tendulkar mean?

GOD as they call him, he is the gem of his sport; he has been the backbone of Cricket in India. We can't even begin to imagine how many kids have dreamt about him while going to sleep every night and have woken up to become a cricketer...

He is the reason why people watch cricket; he is the reason why people play cricket; he is the reason why those 10 players strived so hard to win that World Cup after 28 years. 

To support those words, here are some quick numbers about Sachin: ODI first:

Highest runs in ODI: 18000+. The next best is Ponting with 13000+ runs. Do you think any1 will ever reach that foot? 

It is the sheer dedication of this 1 man that he has managed to sore this height. 

Highest runs in the series: Sachin Tendulkar 673 runs in ICC World Cup 2003. Yeah! We didn't win it but Master Blaster performed his very best. This also shows that Cricket is a team game. Even if 1 player is the best, entire team is responsible for its win. Retirement of the Cricket Wonder is not the solution for poor performance of the team.

Most runs in a calendar year: Sachin Tendulkar's name is in the list 6 times. Of course, he is leading this table too: 1894 runs in 1998 and another 5 different years too... In fact, he has most hundreds in a calendar year too: 9 hundreds in 1998.

How did he manage to do this? We are talking about a human being who has sacrificed his entire life for this game. He is the best in this business and that has come through his immense hard work and talent.

Most runs in an innings: Just until Sehwag's 219, Sachin paaji was leading this too with 200* runs for a very long time. He has 3 such incidences which no other player has. PS: Both Indian senior batsmen are leading the table.

No other player has even played 458 ODI matches and yet got the strike rate of 86.22. In fact, he has played most consecutive matches for a team: 185 and has won highest number of MOM awards: 62; and also, most MOS awards too: 15.

Maximum number of FIFTIES: 95! And yet, no1 is even close to Sachin paaji... No need to even mention that this man has most hundreds in his career and 1 or 2 more won't affect the record either. If that is not all, Sachin Tendulkar also has maximum 100s against Team Australia. So any1 feels Sachin paaji can't face those bowlers and Australian pitches, get a reality check done guys... He has 9 100s against Australia!

And he is the same guy who got out the maximum number of times in the “nervous nineties”. Well, let me ask: How many of get depressed when we score a mark less or miss our ranks because of that 1 mark? 

With Sachin paaji it has happened 18 times and he is still going strong. He has not cried, he has not given up and he shall never do it. Learn from him while you can... Because someday when you'll want to, he won't be seen so close...

Maximum number of FOURS: 1991. The 2nd highest is Jayasuriya with 1500. In fact, he also has hit highest number of FOURS in an innings: 25 (in the same match when he scored 200*) It is time for critics to shut-up!

Sachin Tendulkar is the fastest to reach 10000 runs; and fastest to reach 13000 runs. And after that,only player to reach 14k, 15k, 16k, 17k, and 18k runs..! No1 is even in the vicinity of that number!

Let's talk Tests:

He has played 188 Test matches for India and scored 15000+ runs with 51 100s and 65 50s: All the number of course, being the highest in the history of Test Cricket. He is the fastest player to reach 12000 runs in Test and since then, the only player to reach 15000. But that's not all; he also has maximum number of 90s in his Test career: 10 (shared with S Waugh and R Dravid).

This is the man we are talking about. Every cricinfo record page has his name mentioned. Most of the times, he is leading the table while otherwise, he is just around the top 5. Every Indian is proud to have a man who is worshipped across the world for his skills, talent and dedication. 

We are talking about a person who is so dedicated to his career that he has spent his 22 precious years of life in 1 job. Can you find and name any other player who has shown same amount of commitment?

So today, when I see and read articles blaming him, questioning his efficiency, I feel ashamed that people have forgotten of what he has done to the game. I can name people for whom Cricket = Sachin, who proudly say that they'll stop watching Cricket once Sachin retires. This is the impact this 1 man has on all of us. 

There are kids who idolize Sachin and pray to him before going to practice. I am sure 90% of us have Sachin photo somewhere in our rooms. Not only in Cricket, has he also inspired us to be good human beings in real life. He has told us that while talent will take u to acme of success, it is humility and compassion that will help u stay there..

We have never heard of Sachin paaji involved in any controversy. He has always let his game and performance do the talking for him. A soft-spoken human being, a calm natured person and an equally cool-headed next-door guy; Every1 wants to meet him once, see him without a screen in between. 

I have been a fan too. I have been a supporter too. I have been a privileged girl too. I have met him on his home-ground in the practice net and also played alongside him. He spoke just a line to me and that line changed my world. I have learnt a biggest lesson of my life from him and I am going to take that lesson with me forever. The lesson of keeping feet deeply rooted in ground while flying in the winds of success. Success comes to every1 but a very few can retain it. And how do people retain it, is what Sachin Tendulkar is....

Even if Sachin paaji retires tomorrow, his deeds, his words and his life will stand as a moral support and inspiration to 1000s like me. Tomorrow still there will be kids who will want to be the next paaji and keep playing just like him. Dear fellow cricket lovers, before questioning his talents and his retirements, pause for a while and think. U maybe right but trust me, that man knows the game a lot more than all of us combined. He knows it perfectly well what has to be done next. After all, he has carried Indian Cricket on his shoulders for 22 years and is still the strongest of all...

Let us not stand and point fingers; let us unite and support him and the entire Indian Team.As there will be many who’ll join you in the celebrations of victory; but there are very few who’ll hold your hand strong when you fall… Decide which category you want to be…???

-       A proud Indian

-       A Dravidian

-       An ardent Sachin worshipper

-       An zealous Cricket lover

Inspiration!

Each time something goes wrong, I see this picture.
It reminds me of how hard work can over all negatives and lead you to victory! 
I have seen them play bad, lose the match and upset and criticized. 
Then, I have seen them play together, efforts and create a history!
Whats your story?