Cricket Fever
It was Wed Sep 05 22:05:00 IST 2007. And on my roommate's insistence we walked to a Chinese restaurant near to Woodies' for dinner. Only mode we could access the live scores of then live 6th ODI between England and India was cell phone. At first I called up a friend Sanjeeva Reddy. He said said India 269 for 5 after 45th over. They need another 48 runs in 30 balls. Dhoni and Uthappa are playing. We said okay. And consensus was we are set for another disappointment.
By the time we finished soup, curiosity started biting again. So I called up Rajnish this time. He said his computer is booting he ll call me back. Oaky. This time the restaurant manager came to our help. With one hand on the receiver, he said, "Sir, Dhoni is out. India 294 for 5. 23 runs needed out of remaining 2 overs." Now beliefs turned into words. Only miracle can save the match, we agreed. I was half way through the cutlets and Vishal about 40 percent through his fired rice. Then went few dumb moments and my phone rang. It was Rajnish. It poured these words in my ear,"India needs 11 runs of the last over. Agarkar is just out. Its Utthappa and Zaheer playing"
I sipped few curious moments from the glass of Pepsi, wondering whom to call next. And I rang Reddy. He said 4 balls to go 8 runs to win. Okay. I thought of not disconnecting. But a sound came from the cash counter "Sir, 8 down. 3 balls 4 runs". So I hung up. The manager seemed to continue to stick to the phone till the end of the match. He shouted,"We won! Its a four. Its Utthappa." "Unbelievable!! Hurray!!! ", we shouted. Vishal said it will be all Utthappa all around Bangalore papers the day after. And we laughed. It later turned out to be true. The bill was passed over the counter with the amount and tip. On the way back I said at cash counter, "Thank you for your commentry!". He replied, "Welcome. And thank you for your visit!"
All memorizing that pleasant win we were on the way back. On the way, a scooter loaded with three young boys shouted at us, "India won!" We said ,"Yes!! Haayyy!!!". Again return I was greeted by my another roommate Vipul with a jumping hug and quacking shout "Chak diye phatte! AAj to maaja aagaya!!"
By the time we finished soup, curiosity started biting again. So I called up Rajnish this time. He said his computer is booting he ll call me back. Oaky. This time the restaurant manager came to our help. With one hand on the receiver, he said, "Sir, Dhoni is out. India 294 for 5. 23 runs needed out of remaining 2 overs." Now beliefs turned into words. Only miracle can save the match, we agreed. I was half way through the cutlets and Vishal about 40 percent through his fired rice. Then went few dumb moments and my phone rang. It was Rajnish. It poured these words in my ear,"India needs 11 runs of the last over. Agarkar is just out. Its Utthappa and Zaheer playing"
I sipped few curious moments from the glass of Pepsi, wondering whom to call next. And I rang Reddy. He said 4 balls to go 8 runs to win. Okay. I thought of not disconnecting. But a sound came from the cash counter "Sir, 8 down. 3 balls 4 runs". So I hung up. The manager seemed to continue to stick to the phone till the end of the match. He shouted,"We won! Its a four. Its Utthappa." "Unbelievable!! Hurray!!! ", we shouted. Vishal said it will be all Utthappa all around Bangalore papers the day after. And we laughed. It later turned out to be true. The bill was passed over the counter with the amount and tip. On the way back I said at cash counter, "Thank you for your commentry!". He replied, "Welcome. And thank you for your visit!"
All memorizing that pleasant win we were on the way back. On the way, a scooter loaded with three young boys shouted at us, "India won!" We said ,"Yes!! Haayyy!!!". Again return I was greeted by my another roommate Vipul with a jumping hug and quacking shout "Chak diye phatte! AAj to maaja aagaya!!"
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