1998

We were a decent team. A goodish squad with a fair amount of talent up front and a defence that could hold its own against any attack. Our opposition, Don Bosco High School, one of the favourites to lift the cup; man to man comparison and they were couple of notches better than most of us. But you see with football you can eliminate all of that with just one word, Passion.

August 1998. This was gonna be the last year for me in school before moving on to college. For years I had been the talent but this year was gonna be different. Its easy to just be the talent and score goals and revel in the popularity that comes with it. But this year I was the senior and people looked up to me for inspiration. We had been without a decent coach for 2 years now and it was upto a few of us to guide the rest. I was venturing into unchartered territory.We had 3 good strikers and I wasn't in the mood to rest any of us. I decided to play myself in the position just behind the 2 strikers. A surprising decision to push myself back but it was to pay dividends later on. I knew by doing so I was exposing the midfield and it was upto me to fill that gap. Haah! You see if you've been a striker all your life, its extremely painful to get back helping out when all you really wanna do is make runs off the last man. I was no different but today I would have to control that urge and play for the team.

Into the first half and they were all over us. They worked their passes elegantly and I wasn't doing a good job of this new role. Our midfield was non existent and I was largely to blame for that. They ran all over us and before we knew it the scoreline read 0-2. A first half to forget. I was disgusted with myself but I couldn't show. The team was down and the guy supposed to lift them up was filled with disgust himself. I swallowed the disgust and pepped up the team. I was determined to lead them by example on the field.

The second half started off much the same way but in the fifth minute (thereabouts) I won a tackle and that got us going. We strung some passes and got the ball into the final third of the field. The winger blasted the ball wide off the goal but that was the first sign of life in the team. A little later we were back with the possession and this time we played the one-two's to get the ball through to Parag (striker) who struck the ball goalwards. The goalkeeper saved it but fumbled the ball, Parag was there to side-foot it past the goalkeeper. 1-2! Not the most good looking of goals but we weren't complaining. We were back and I could see the spirit running through the team. The midfield was beginning to win most of the tackles, we kept losing the ball in the final third but we doggedly persisted and kept winning back the ball. I attempted an audacious chip into the path of the 2nd striker who slotted in the ball from close range. 2-2! The team erupted. 12 minutes left to go and we had made the most remarkable of all comebacks. The match wasn't done just as yet. Don Bosco was pegged back and they no longer looked like the force they were a few minutes back. They made one good attack and our defence was upto the task. The ball was cleared past the half-line and I was there to collect it. I dribbled past one of them and was now into the last line of their defence. From 30 yards I took a shot. It sailed through into the left hand top corner of the goal. 3-2! You know how in those typical bollywood movies time stops right there. It did to me too. No, seriously! That moment got stuck into my memory so distinctly that I can replay it even today. I ran back to the defence celebrating like a guy possessed. The comeback was truly complete. We had won a near impossible match and had made it to the semis.

That second half truly demonstrates what passion does to us. Now when I look back I do feel that second half makes me get up and get going every time I need that little bit extra. We had done the school proud but more than anything it provided me with one of the most cherished moments of my school life. Personally I cherish that moment way more than coming second in school but then that's just me.

It's all good. :)

Happy

7 pm. I watched the movie. It was bold but it was real. It was sweet. At the end of it, I was a happy guy. I prepared dinner and it felt good. Sometimes in life you don't need to dig deep to find the stuff, it's right there in front of you.

You can keep it simple ... if you want to.

Mid - March Bliss!

Pune was fantastic. I expected nothing less and got nothing less. Just 2 weeks and I cramped in about a month's worth of of living. No wonder this past one month seems to have lasted an eternity.

I am one of the blessed few to have the privilege of being a Punekar I wouldn't do half as justice to describing the essence of the term as Ashish does but I am very much that and this trip just re-instated my faith. Only a Punekar will understand this and I really don't care to explain much either. I experienced my past life again and it's all I needed to re-affirm where my future will be. I've a bunch load of people to thank for such an amazing trip but the truth is, that's always the case when I go back.

I celebrated my birthday in Pune after what seems like eternity; it was the most random party ever. Me and Rahul have, on more than one instance, had the opportunity to form really hybrid groups but this party beat them all. My friends (the ones that were officially part of the party), the entire Gokhale hostel, two Americans, two Mexicans and one German made up the numbers. How did we get together is an entire story in itself but nevertheless kickass night. That was followed by Holi and our dear old friend Nikhil was greeted with a good old fashioned Bakra to Pune. To my surprise the bloke took it really well and I am really proud of the bugger. A big thank you to all the characters especially Ms. Radhika Kale aka Shreya Teegala and es es Ashish Kulkarni. I had tears in my eyes, fantastic performance! You literally had your two minutes of fame :)

Pune seems to be growing by the minute literally. I am alright with all the developments but Pune Central in Model Colony broke my heart. It's like a dagger right through the heart of the city. Those dumb idiots! The pain factor associated with the city seems to be gradually greying out.

I'm back to Portland and back to the grind. Portland, in many ways, reminds me of Pune and thank God for that. I am gonna make the most of my stay in Portland. There is still plenty of stuff to be done here. It's Friday night, I feel a tad lonely but writing this post has kept me in good spirits.

... And I finally saw Binoy trying to make his way back. Finally it's started :)
I be.