A bike trip to..???

Manali. That’s what a friend told me. “We’re planning to ride to Manali. Chalega?” I wanted to go but due to the fact that I own a dilapidated Discover 125, I declined. I love Laajwanti (or Laajo, my bike) and I have never ridden her at more than 60kph. AK Hangal can run faster than that on NH1. I just can’t do this to her.

Couple of more factors – I want to ride to Ladakh, and I need a new bike (for the same). I finalized on RE-TBTS (ok, Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twin Spark). Had a test ride, and loved it. More importantly, wife loved it. Now the only thing to do is to buy it, for that I am waiting for money to fall off the trees.

So when I was offered a friend’s TBTS for the ride, I agreed instantly. It will be the best test ride one could ever get. My brother, Peeyush (yeah, with a double ‘e’), also came to Delhi for a visit without a clue of what going to happen to his itinerary (I convinced him to join the ride). In the end, things took an unfortunate turn – we were not able to find a bike for Peeyush, and the TBTS promised to me was not delivered. I guess the guy was having second thoughts about giving his bike to someone else, I don’t blame him.

Majboori ka naam Gandhiji, literally. Jeetender Singh Gandhi, a friend of mine, offered to give me his Avenger, it was a little old but looked sturdy, so I took the offer.

D-day - 9^th Dec

We were supposed to leave at 10pm. During the day, I and Peeyush went to Karolbagh for some final shopping for warm clothes and bike spare parts. He was not at all in favor of riding to Manali, kept pestering me about the dangers, the possible fog and the cold, not to mention that NH1 has a hundred diversions between Panipat and Ambala. I smiled wondering what would happen when he comes to know about it.

At 10:15pm, finally, all of us left my apartment for the journey. There were four of us:

• NJ on his P220F
• Shivam on his P150
• I and Peeyush on Avenger 180

We decided Sukhdev dhaba at Murthal to be our meeting point – it would have been quite difficult to ride alongside each other in Delhi traffic – and dine there. It took us around an hour to get out of Delhi and reach the border. As soon as we crossed over into Sonipat, fog hit us. Visibility was less than ten meters, first my helmet visor fogged out within five minutes, then my glasses in the next five minutes. I was out of tears in the next ten minutes. I could hear Peeyush reciting Hamuman Chalisa behind me. It took us an hour to reach Sukhdev dhaba, fifteen kilometers away.

Peeyush, Shivam and me

We took our time there, had some rum, ate leisurely, wasting as much time as we can. We all knew that there was at least six hours to morning light – we can’t stay there for six hours, and as the fog was getting worse, it was dangerous to ride further. It was then someone proposed about an alternate destination – Shimla. We decided to finalize our location once we reach Ambala.

The first leg

The next five hours were absolute hell. NJ was riding at front because he had the best headlights, Shivam was sweeping because he had hazard lights, and we were in the middle because we had none. The fog got worse but luckily, we found a mini-truck, with lots of loud and vulgar luminescent stickers pasted on its back, cruising at around sixty, and followed it till Karnal. Then I heard a weird sound coming from the rear tire, as if it was rubbing against something. During the next butt-break, I mentioned this problem to everybody. NJ didn’t found anything wrong when he test drove for a couple of hundred meters, so he offered to ride on the Avenger. Next thing I knew, I was riding his Pulsar. Peeyush was riding pillion with Shivam and NJ on my bike. NJ got separated from us after Karnal toll plaza and rode ahead. For the next three hours, I followed Shivam’s hazard lights – come what may – at speeds ranging from fifteen to fifty kph. The diversions went from bad to worse. We avoided a fall off the road at one of those. Stopping every hour for butt-breaks, we noticed the eerie silence and darkness all around us. Every minute passed with me regretting my decision to ride in this weather.

It was pure relief when I saw a signage declaring Ambala eighteen kilometers away (due to road construction, most of the overhead signages were removed from the highway). I called for a butt-break and luckily during our stop we got a call from NJ informing us that he has reached Ambala Cantt railway station and asked us to come there. We left the desolate place with renewed enegy, reaching Ambala after thirty odd minutes. It was six in the morning. Eight hours. Fuck.

Destinations

Ambala is NJ’s hometown. He hasn’t told his parents about this trip. He would have been shouted at/cried at/emotionally blackmailed to death. So naturally he disguised himself (there was no need to, as we were already covered from head to toe in two to five layers of clothing). He took us to a chai shop to relax and to pass out another hour of darkness left. Manali was now out of question – it would take at least twelve hours of riding to reach there (provided all went well). Shimla was considered, but it would be swarming with terrorists, oops, tourists. Finally we decided on Chail, a quaint, little town near Shimla. At seven, we quit the chai shop and decided to have breakfast – the famous poori-sabzi of Ambala. At eight, after those yummy pooris, we left NJ’s hometown, destination – Chail.

Stage two

Riding on Ambala-Chandigarh expressway was fun. Although there was fog, but at least there was daylight. The problem with the rear tire persisted – it was annoying. Took right from Zirakpur towards Panchkula. Last time I was here, it was a nightmare with diversions full of traffic jams. This time the road was an absolutely amazing four lane highway. En route, we stopped at a mechanic and rectified the problem with the bike – it turned out to be a loose chain. Also, I changed the engine oil and the spark plugs. Then began the part we’ve all been waiting for – the mountains. I was riding slowly till now while NJ and Shivam were cruising throughout, now I’ll show them how to ride in the mountains. After a kilometer, I fell down. Negotiating a turn and a stupid driver backing his car, I braked hard and, being new to the technology of disc brakes, couldn’t control the bike and fell sideways. Thankfully, everyone was ahead of me so nobody saw me falling off. Rested for a couple of minutes and then took off again.

Riding in mountains is completely different from riding in plains. For a start, you need to be extra alert. Second, maneuvering the bends at optimum speed is difficult. I always went very slowly on bends and then when I started to accelerate, another one came. Third, beware of vehicles with number plates starting with HP. They drive at maniacal speeds adamant to crush anyone who comes in front of them. Cars and jeeps are bad enough, but Gods have mercy on you if it’s a truck or bus.

We reached Dharampur. By now, our butts were starting to burn. The Interior Ministry of Large Intestine was creating tremendous pressure – not helping at all. It actually helped in creating a fuck-you attitude inside myself towards every driver coming my way. Suddenly, in search of a decent toilet, I was riding at speeds in excess of sixty kph. The HP-ism of drivers disappeared when I blew horns in return and refused to side away for oncoming vehicles. The next twenty kilometers to Solan passed away in a blur. I spotted a Domino’s in Solan and wondered if it had a toilet. I waited for other three to come (they were left far behind as I sped away on my quest). To my surprise, they arrived after fifteen minutes – I went that far ahead of them.

We all needed a butt-break, we all were hungry, we decided to check if there’s a toilet in there and if yes, eat.

The final push

After jamming the sewers of Solan, I ate the worst pizza of my life. Came out of the eatery and had the following conversation with the guard:

Me: “Bhaiya ye Chail ke liye kidhar se jayenge?”

Guard: “Seedhe jaiye, fir Kandaghat se right le lena.”

Me: “Kitni duur padega?”

Guard: “15 kilometer duur Kandaghat hai, wahaan se 5-7 kilometer Chail hai.”

A wave of relief sped through all of us – just twenty odd kilometers left! Few meters after starting, we noticed a milestone declaring Kandaghat seventeen kilometers away – fair enough. But when Kandaghat was less than a kilometer away, and I can see the right turn to Solan, my eyes found another signage indicating Chail at thirty kilometers! We all cursed the guard in the same breath. We took a butt-break below the signage for five minutes, and prepared ourselves for the final push.

Road from there was narrow single lane. Extra care was required at a time when we had been riding for almost seventeen hours.  Butts were literally on fire now; we had to take breaks at almost every twenty minutes.                     

Saala, abhi bahut duur jana hai.

The bikes

Spot NJ (Hint: look for a dog)

Bhikhaari

 Chail was only seven kilometers away when disaster struck. I was riding pillion with NJ (Peeyush was riding my bike), when I asked him to stop to let others catch us. The truth was, I needed another butt-break (funny how every time I asked for it, NJ obliged promptly). We smelled something burning after getting off the bike. To our horror, the smell was coming from the bike. Almost at the same time, Shivam came and stopped when he saw us. We noticed the same smell coming from his bike too. The road from Sadhupul, thirteen kilometer before Chail, was a constant steep uphill climb. The P220 performed brilliantly on that stretch, accelerating easily on steep slopes, with two men onboard, but eventually got heated up. Five minutes later, we heard the engine of the Avenger, Peeyush’s face carrying expressions of frustration, fatigue and fear.

Peeyush: “Abe gaadi kharaab ho gai hai..!!”

NJ: “Kya hua?”

Peeyush: “Ajeeb si aawaz aa rahi hai. Aur kitna bhi race do, aage hi nai badh rahi.”

He was having the same problem – bike heated up, refusing to accelerate. We decided to wait until they all cooled down. It was frustrating to wait so close to our destination.

Not in a deep thought...trying to find mobile connection

In a deep thought...waiting...for the bikes to cool down

It took nearly half an hour for the bikes to cool down. We carried on.

Chail

Riding slowly, not putting too much pressure on the bikes, we reached Chail in another thirty minutes. Search for the hotel will have to wait. First, search for a liquor shop. We found one – bought some and started searching for a hotel. It took nearly two hours until we found a suitable hotel – light was fading and the temperature was dropping faster than drunken girls in stilettos. We crashed on the bed; I was afraid I’d fall asleep so I didn’t close my eyes. After an hour I dragged everybody to the restaurant for food and drinks. The restaurant had a terrace where a bonfire could be arranged. We decided to keep indoors – it was freezing out there. A Punjabi group – couple of sardars, couple of pseudo-sardars (dyed-gelled-spiked hair, manicured stubble) and some girls started the bonfire. An hour later, they were regretting their decision, but were too proud to show it. Occasionally, we went outside on the terrace and despite of five layers of clothing, I was shivering. GPS showed the temperature as minus two degrees. There was also a lunar eclipse in progress, which we watched mesmerized. After a couple of hours, we called it a day and went to sleep. Dozed off immediately.

Something clicked inside my stomach and my digestive system went for a toss. I had to wake up three times in the night and go to the loo. They shouldn’t put toilet jet streams in hill stations - my ass froze.

Next morning, everyone woke up late. After some bakar session and some breakfast, we decided to decide today’s itinerary. There was a national park nearby, but no one wanted to go there in this cold. Winter is the mating season for most animals – a wild gay dog could easily take NJ for a ride. We decided to Chail palace a miss – why would a person from Delhi (or Rajasthan) come so far to visit a palace? We then decided to go to the world’s highest cricket ground. It took another hour to get ready and go out. Bikes were freezing cold from the night; we could still se our butt-prints on the seats. It was another very steep climb to the cricket ground. But it was closed. We were only able to take some pictures.

While riding down, we saw directions to a temple and decided to go there – thank the Gods for our safe journey (and ask for some more of it). It was actually a temple complex with many mandirs of all the major Gods and Goddesses. Spent some time there and came back to the main market for lunch. It took two hours for the cook of the restaurant (who was also the owner), in the market, to prepare our lunch – it was pathetic nevertheless.

In the evening, we dared to arrange the bonfire – it wasn’t as chilly as the previous night.

Had some drinks and crashed to bed early – for an early start to home tomorrow.

The return - 12th Dec

We started at around 8:30am from the hotel. The ride back was quick – going down – and uneventful. My toes began hurting from cold wind – I feared frostbite – ridiculous. Within two hours, we crossed Solan, and two hours later we were back on the plains. I got separated from the group and was riding ahead of others. Our meeting point was a food joint in Karnal – Savoy Greens. We reached there at around four in the evening, had a late lunch and started for Delhi.

We rode leisurely from thereon and reached Delhi border by eight, punched the air and had a beer to celebrate. Dropped Peeyush at metro station and reached home at nine.

I couldn’t recognize my face in the mirror – windswept, dried tears, hair glued to the skull after four days of riding – I needed a long bath. At dinner I realized how tired I was. It was an effort to keep my eyes open. Slept like a baby.

Gyaan

1.      Always wear protective gears while riding – helmet, knee pads (none of us had those), gloves, etc.

2.      Never get frustrated when people, upon seeing your riding gear, start asking questions, however foolish. Always answer them politely. Most of them are locals, and drunk. Try not to get beaten up.

3.      While riding in fog, it’s a good idea to find a big vehicle – a bus or a truck doing decent speed - and follow it. However, maintain a good distance between it and yourself. These vehicles are most prone to accidents. It will help you avoid getting pasted on their backsides.

4.      Carry medicines, however short the distance or duration. I didn’t carry any, which let the mutiny in my digestive system get worse.

5.      Avoid braking hard on mountain roads. Rely on reducing speed by lowering the gears.

6.      Negotiate. Hotel prices, road-side mechanics, speed.

Acknowledgements

1.      God – for the safe journey.

2.      Wife - for the support and encouragement.

3.      Parents - for not freaking out. 

4.      Co-riders – for the fun.

5.      Jeetender Singh Gandhi – for letting me borrow his bike.

  

Books and Movies

If you count the number of movies that have been based on books, number one, either you are insane or you have absolutely no work at your job and, number two, you are going to spend a lot of time doing this activity – such is the huge number.

It’s not difficult to understand why – books have been around centuries (or millennia) before the movies. Also, people like to see their imagination taking shape – we always wondered what Hogwarts looked like or how magnificent the city of Gondor is. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Most of them are utterly forgettable (remember Bride and Prejudice?), but some are true masterpieces. Chronologically (strictly), I want to list some of those movies which have had a lasting impression on me.

The Godfather

I remember the aghast, torn look on my cousin’s face when I told him that I’ve read the Godfather and it’s a brilliant book. “Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho…wo book nai..granth hai…granth!!” were his exact words. A friend of mine, who was a die-hard fan of Amitabh Bachchan, tells me one day, “Abe bachchanwa to nakal karta hai…Al Pacino ki…Godfather dekho…samajh mein aa jayega”. Two of the several millions who are mesmerized by this phenomenon. The story of an underworld don and his family, their relationships interwoven with tactics, deceit, loyalty and politics of this highly flammable and violent world. The metamorphosis and rise of a simple all-American man to a don. The book captivates you, you refuse to let it down, you want to finish it then and there. The movie, fascinating – classic. And Al Pacino, you do wonder if bachchanwa really tries to imitate him.

The impact: When you see all those gangsters, wearing a suit, and a hat, and a muffler over the neck, and a cigar or pipe in mouth, and a gruffy voice, it all came from Don Vito Corleone.

The moment: Michael goes to hospital to visit his father, notices that the police security is absent, and realizes the conspiracy to assassinate his father (again). He stands in front of the hospital with an aide. The tension you feel while reading or watching is tangible. Also, you can feel his helplessness when the corrupt police officer punches him and the relief when his family’s consigliere arrives with private guards.

The line: “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Harry Potter Series

An orphan living with his aunt and uncle, who treat him like a street dog, is unaware that he is the most famous boy in the world…and he’s a wizard. What follows is history. JK Rowling would never have realized that this imaginary kid and his world will start a following that will be bigger than the Star Wars and the James Bonds…combined. Those seven books, and eight movies, fascinated the whole world for more than a decade. There are many things, in favor of this series, which make a difference, which make it stand apart. The imagination of the author – Hogwarts, Quidditch, or the brilliant characterizations which enable you to practically know what the particular character is thinking, or the progressive change in the language of the books or the direction of the movies keeping the age of the fans in mind. But the thing that really clinches it is really simple. The secret world of magic. Wizards and witches. Harry, Hermione and Ron. Quidditch. Albus Percivel Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. And ofcourse, Hogwarts.

The impact: A whole generation brainwashed.

The moment: There are many. Harry accidently freeing a python on his cousin, his first Quidditch match, His first encounter which Voldemort, Dumbledore’s death. Or maybe the climax, where he explains and proves Tom Riddle a moron, which the movie desperately failed to show us.

The line: "EXPECTO…PATRONUM..!!!" 

Lord of the Rings

Watching the first movie was a disappointment. Brilliant though it was, I absolutely hated waiting for sequels. It was in college when I realized the fan following this series had. Curiosity got the better of me when a local multiplex announced the screening of the whole saga upon the release of the final part, and I watched all the three movies in one go. I remember having trouble coming to terms with the real world when I got out of the multiplex – the buses, the cars, the McDonalds. Not a single horse in sight? Not a single sword glinting?

To say that the movies were grand is an understatement. No words can describe them. You have to actually watch them to understand the innocence of the Shire, the beauty of Rivendell, the dearth of Mordor, the power of the Rohirrim, or the grandeur of Gondor. I rest my case.

The impact: Short-lived. Like coming to terms with the normal world after coming out of the cinema.

The moment: The charge of the Rohirrim. Whether at Helm’s Deep or at Gondor. You can feel your mouth hanging open.

The line: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to."

The Bourne Series

Robert Ludlum has an obsession with details. That may be the reason why his books are evidently so long. So long that it took three movies to cover a single book. The books are perceptional – some may describe them as great works, some may shrug, and some may dub them as just an average spy novel stuff. But the movies are pure gold. For those who haven’t read the books beforehand (like myself), it’s an experience. You start with nil, just like the protagonist, who is suffering from amnesia, and you learn along with him as he learns things about himself, all alone. The USP, according to me, is how, through simple tactics, diversions and tricks, one man – the fact that he is the most lethal assassin in the world notwithstanding – takes on the might of the CIA. A few years ago, in the era of the Schwarzeneggers and the Stallones, this would have been deemed impossible.

The impact: Almost ended the era of larger-than-life action heroes. Jason Bourne was one of the first action characters who actually were confused, erratic and afraid at times. Machine guns were no longer the only option.

The moment: The scene in The Bourne Ultimatum where he directs a journalist over cell phone and helps him dodge more than a dozen government agents at a crowded Liverpool station. Mind blowing.

The lines: Bourne: "I’ll talk to someone I know. There was a girl in Paris, Nicky."

Landy: "What if I can't find her?"
Bourne: "It's easy. She's standing right next to you."      

Sarkar

I had a lot of respect for RGV (in those days), so I restrained myself from cursing him to make a remake of the Godfather. After watching the movie, I was stunned. From Frame One, where we see a yellow and black auto rickshaw framed artfully between barbed wire, the movie begins with a hapless man going to meet Sarkar, in search of retribution for his raped daughter. As he walks down the compellingly shot, dark hallways in the fantastically chosen old mansion, we sit rapt with attention, looking at a Godfather recreation - the story of Bonasera, and how Don Corleone got him vengeance. Sarkar does the same, and very interestingly. It's the same plot, but Ramu does it entirely his way. Supported by absolutely brilliant acting by the Bachchans and Kay Kay Menon, this masterpiece of a movie creates pure magic.

The impact:  Resurrected Bachchan Jr. He had Dhoom under his belt, but now everybody knew that he can act.

The moment: In jail, Sarkar and Shankar are sitting, Sarkar asks Shankar to go back to America, Shankar declines. Hardly anything is spoken between the two, but the eyes say everything…intense.

The line: “Mujhe jo sahi lagta hai wo main karta hoon…fir chahe wo samaaj ke khilaaf ho…police, kanoon ke khilaf ho…bhagwaan ke khilaaf ho…ya fir poore system ke khilaaf kyun na ho...” 

The Twilight Saga

Just when you thought that Harry Potter cannot have any competition, another book casts a spell on the whole world through its forbidden love story. Teenagers, specially the fairer sex, went swooning over this romance. One can see the appeal – a perfectly ordinary girl, falls in love with a vampire, who looks like a Greek god, behaves like a perfect gentleman, and speaks English in such a way the Queen of England would be proud of. This is every girl’s dream, and every boy’s if you vice-versa it. The obvious notwithstanding, it’s a joy to read and watch them and experience the true undying love they both have for each other. The unconditional surrender of Edward to Bella’s longing and desperation – instead of reading, you want to jump inside the story. Messer’s Mills and Boon – time to pack up?

The impact: Huge. I remember the situation with Shahrukh Khan in the late 90s – the girls adored him, the guys hated him (or pretended to hate him even if they liked him) for precisely that, and his guts. It’s the same with Twilight; the guys hate it because the girls love it. Though most of them secretly read it to takes tips from Edward Cullen.     

The lines:

5. It was a colossal tribute to his face that it kept my eyes away from his body.

4. Bella: "How old are you?"

    Edward: "Seventeen."

    Bella: "How long have you been seventeen?"

    Edward: "A while."

3. Her existence alone was excuse enough to justify the creation of the entire world.

2. Edward: "So the lion fell in love with the lamb."

    Bella: "What a stupid lamb."

    Edward: "What a sick, masochistic lion."          

1. I don’t…have the strength…to stay away from you anymore.

There are other movies, which should be in the list. But I may not have watched them, or may not remember them, or may not have liked them, but certainly don’t care about them. These six have a special place in my heart, because apart from the purpose of entertainment, I have learnt something or the other from each one. Shrewdness from Don Corleone, friendship from Harry, Ron, Hermione and the hobbits, giving second chances from Albus Dumbledore, hope from Gandalf, and love, unconditional, eternal love, from Edward and Bella.

Seven months

Seven months is a long time. A lot can happen in seven months. A lot did happen in the last seven months.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Chatni


Two things happened in November - I joined a new software company (lets call it Chatni Computer Systems Ltd.) and the first part of the last part of the Harry Potter movies was released.
I have always been a huge fan of Harry Potter movies. It's not because of the excellent production values, or the scintillating special effects or the fact that it is the biggest movie franchise ever. I realized the reason after reading the books. It's the story. You get transported to a not-so-completely different world. A world where anything is possible with only one explanation (if you demand one, although you never seek any in Karan Johar movies) - magic. As kids we were always fascinated with magic, but the journey through adulthood taught us that unless your name happens to be Rajnikant (Voldemort never calls Rajnikant by his name), there is very little chance of performing it. This movie was no exception - it was brilliant. Infact, I'll go a little further and call it the best among the seven. The reason being that since it is split into two parts, it follows minimum deviation from the book. After watching this movie, one can feel the agony of waiting for the second part.
On the other hand, if you are a jobless software engineer working part time cleaning toilets in a hospital full of diarrhea patients, and Chatni is the only software company in the world, and is offering you a job, go back to cleaning toilets. When meeting hours are more than working hours, when words are more important than work and when there is more paperwork in procuring a pen and pad than the whole lot of Abdulkarim Telgi's fake stamp papers put together and multiplied by a decazillion times, you start wondering if you are working in an effing government office. Don't blame me for being extremely Gollumsque, quite a few people have left this company in utter frustration. One of them started a new software company of his own and is now quite a bit successful - ever heard of a certain Narayanmurthy and Infosys?


Tooti Haddi


Come December, I was very happy about completing a highly successful month (I became the best table tennis player of all people who joined Chatni on or after eighth November) in my new company. Then I took my first leave of absence from office, because of a wet road. My bike slipped, don't know if it was water or oil on that road (felt like water, tasted like oil), and I broke my arm. Although "broke" seems a tad too much since it was just a hairline fracture, but it surely feels a lot macho. But since there was a cast, "broke" seemed justifiable. Calls were made to the office and home, lectures were given about "Why a bike?..And not a car?" and I began wondering how to do "everything" with my left hand. Three weeks it took to take the cast off, plus one more week to completely straighten my arm, and in one more week I was again the best table tennis player of all people who joined Chatni on or after eighth November.


Chakrata and Chakrata (Beta Version)


On our anniversary, my wife told me that we'll go out somewhere. I agreed. Just go out, have dinner. It was cheap. I was happy. Then she explained. We'll go out means we'll go out of town. I still feel those two seconds were the happiest moment of my life. So, with a lot of deliberation and no planning, we decided to go to this obscure little town in Uttarakhand called Chakrata. It was listed in "52 Weekend Getaways from Delhi" and had a picture of snow capped mountains in a distance - that means a snow view if not snow itself - which persuaded me to go there instead of a sand bowl in Rajasthan. My wife would have enjoyed the drive if somebody else would have been driving. But since it was me, and there was almost forty kilometers of mountainous roads, she was, to some extent, oblivious of the unbelievably beautiful scenery that sped past us. The reason why Chakrata is so beautiful is because it is unfucked by man. It's a cantonment area so civilian construction is prohibited, hence few hotels. There is a small market where you can spot a rare tourist. A must-do is to try momos in Chandna's. Unbelievable chutney. There is a place called Deoban some twenty kilometers away and some thousand meters above. We were not ready for it. It was snowing when we reached there, saw a frozen pond, got caught in a snowstorm and got out of there just in time. Freezing. There are miles and miles of forests and lots of walks and treks. The hotel was a British era bungalow renovated to some extent, but still beautiful. And with an excellent view of the valley and an absolutely wonderful sunrise. I told the hotel manager - I'll be back.
My office mates are lazier than a dead cow. So it took a whole month to persuade them for a trip. Destination Chakrata, quietly and discreetly suggested by yours truly. It was different now, we were the ones whining about the driving. Words like bewakoof and sala which I used while driving with wifey became Bose DK and bhen***d, respectively. A simple romantic fire became a roaring bonfire with twelve talli software engineers shouting, singing, dancing, drinking, ROFL-LMAO-LOL-ing. This time we went to a waterfall called Tiger falls which was reached by a six kilometer trek. Five years of absolutely no physical exercise and a hundred kilos of my body mass made this trek brutal. But the moment you step into the waterfall pond, you forget all the fatigue. The romance of the first and the freedom and laundai of the second one made both the trips memorable.


28 years


On second thoughts, seven months do not seem a long time when you compare it with twenty eight years. If you ask me if I have any memories of twenty eight years ago, my answer would be - only one. I remember someone shouting and running around our house (may be my dad or my uncle) shouting, "Richards Out !!!...Richards Out !!!". As I have already mentioned, it was one of my favorite moments of Indian cricket history. Hell, I don't even remember 1987. After that, thanks to Sachin Tendulkar, I started following the game. Every world cup I prayed to God to make India lift the cup. But sometimes it was a cracked pitch at Eden Gardens, or hard pitches or chilly weather of England, or humiliation by Australia, or humiliation by Bangladesh. This time, the stage was set. God's last world cup, in India, and the final in Mumbai. Sometimes its a cliche, they've got to win...and how.


Its actually eight months now. But hey, masterpieces don't depend on deadlines.
 

My favourite moments in Indian cricket (Part 2)

Some more moments of pure joy...

7. Australia’s tour of India, 2001

After sweeping test series against India (yes, it started with India), Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies, Australian juggernaut, having already broken West Indian record of 11 straight test wins, came to, according to their captain Steve Waugh, the final frontier. Things couldn’t have gone better. They pummeled India in the first test within three days. In the second test, they forced India to follow on. By the end of the third day, India was down four wickets and only Dravid and Laxman remained. On the fourth day, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamjee began their journey into Mordor. They will end up destroying the Invincible Ring. Such was the class of batting that nine bowlers were used and not a single wicket fell. Some brilliant bowling from Harbhajan and Sachin saw India registering an unbelievable win over the 16-on-the-trot-winners Australia. The Indians went to the third test match full of confidence. Sachin made a long-awaited century, unplayable bowling by Harbhajan, and a nail-biting chase by India in the fourth innings saw them win the final test match and with it, the series. Australia will have to wait some more to win a series in India.
Why I love it: Laxman became Very Very Special, Harbhajan became The Turbanator and Ganguly was promoted to Maharaja. I was studying for the chemistry exam next day and,at the same time, watching VVS and The Wall bat. At the end of the day I was sure India will be able to draw the match. That looked as a great achievement. But, the next day, after the exam, when I came to know that India actually won, I ran to my home hoping to catch at least the presentation ceremony. The comeback was nothing short of a miracle. And I, who has never seen one, will always brag about watching it live. Team India will never be the same again.


8. India vs England, Natwest Trophy Final, Lord’s, 2002

India played pretty well in that tri-series – losing only one match before the final. But Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain made brilliant centuries in the final to take England to 325 – a record for a Lord’s final. Things looked England’s way until India started its reply. Ganguly and Sehwag batted with such arrogance that there was every chance that the record would be broken. But this did not continued for long and wickets fell quickly. When Sachin got out, India were 5 wickets down for 146. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif were more used to smashing quick runs at the end of an innings, but this time they had a major reconstruction job on their hands. And they did it in style. Nail-biting started after Yuvraj got out, but Kaif, being young and inexperienced, displayed maturity and kept his cool as if he had a hundred matches under his belt. Any of the three results were possible till the last over, it was that close a match. In the end, it was India who won the match, and the trophy.
Why I love it: It was the reaction of Sourav Ganguly that made me moist in my eyes. During the then recently concluded England's tour of India, Andrew Flintoff, after winning the last ODI in Mumbai, took off his shirt and waved it to the crowd. Everybody, including me, who witnessed that, felt utterly disrespected. But when Ganguly returned the gesture (and that too at Lord's), it signified that we Indians are no more the Mr. Nice Guys. So don't mess with us. More importantly, this win started the era where India would no longer heavily depend on the batting of Sachin Tendulkar. And no one was more happy about it than the Master himself.


9. The Small One, 2007

Nobody gave India a chance when Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly announced that they will not play in the T20 World Cup, and nobody was alarmed, because nobody gave a shit. MS Dhoni was named captain and he had a team which was vastly talented but very much inexperienced. What followed became history. India beat Pakistan in a bowl-out thriller, Yuvi hit 6 sixes against England after a spat with Flintoff (again telling the Union Jackasses that we are not Mr. Nice guys, don't mess around), won against teams like SA, Australia and Pakistan to win the cup. What was most heartening was to see this bunch of youngsters playing top quality, fearless cricket. They had nothing to lose so they never tried to prove anything, played like a unit, watching each other's back.
Why I love it: The joy, the celebrations, the experience. My roomies forced me to watch the whole final standing (according to them, India plays well when I stand and watch), which I obliged happily. The tension when Misbah took Pak very close, the O-mouths when he played the final shot in the air, the two second silence when psycho Sreesanth took the catch, the deafening shouts originating from our flat (and neighbouring ones), the victory lap and the presentation ceremony, and the streets of Noida with thousands of people shouting Chak De India and Jai Hind, these moments will remain forever in my heart.


10. India's tour of Australia, 2008

For the first time in my life I had some expectations from an Indian side going on a tour to Australia. They lost the first test, according to the tradition. The second test in Sydney was an example of how low a captain can go for a win. Despite India's loss and the whole Monkeygate affair, I felt a trickle of happiness that the mighty Australians considered India a big threat in their own den. But the real pleasure was the win at Perth. WACA was the last place on Mother Earth where I thought India could win a test match. But they did it. Sounds like a cliche - India lost the series but won the hearts. In the ODI series, Ricky Ponting was, for once, right when he said that there won't be a third final. India won the first two finals and with it, its first ODI series win in Australia since 1986.
Why I love it: My favourite moment of the tour was obviously the win in Perth. But there was one more moment in the ODI series, when in a league match Sachin hit Brett Lee for 3 fours in an over. The sheer disregard for a world class bowler, it decimated the Australian strategy and chances for a win defending that meagre total (they made 159). Those three boundaries set the pace for the Indian team which managed to win the series.

11. 200, Gwalior, 2010

Harry Potter won the Triwizard Tournament, Luke Skywalker killed the Sith lord and Frodo Baggins destroyed the ring. One can argue about if these three really deserved such a feat. But one thing no one can argue is Sachin Tendulkar making the first double century in One Day Internationals. No one was more deserving, though many thought that Sehwag or Gilchrist or Gayle would be the one to do it. A 37 year old cricketer, playing full 50 overs and half the balls in an innings, in cricketing world, is like Mother Teresa climbing Mount Everest. That innings was brilliant, that innings was astounding, that innings seemed impossible when you consider that he, a couple of years ago, was suffering from various injuries and was asked (or supposed) to retire from the game.
Why I love it: "The first person to make a double hundred in a One-day. And its the SUPERMAN from India. Take a bow Master." These words from Ravi Shastri made my day....and life.


These are the moments which tell me everyday that life never stops surprising you. Whenever I feel that I have lived my life and there cannot be anything that can make my day or cannot astonish me, I watch these clips (on youtube, ofcourse) and it restores my faith in a very old saying - "Don't count your chicks before they hatch."
Many people may not agree with some of the entries, or may want to add some more. They are welcome to do so, but as I said earlier, I, being me, don't care.