On Friendship

I think I make a good friend. At least I’ve tried to be one. Not that I haven’t failed in this regard, but usually I try to put my best foot forward.

On the 1st Jan this year, I tried an experiment. I mailed all the people whom I considered were good friends at any point in my 31 years of life. People who were important to me, with whom I shared some very happy memories. 

I wanted to apologize for any wrong I had done as well as thank for whatever good time I had spent with them. It was an emotional mail, something people don’t usually say. Sometimes it makes you uncomfortable. I was too.

Most people replied. Some said they were happy to hear from me that they meant so much to me. Some replied just with a thanks and what was going on in their lives. Some friends just asked me if I was ok that I was writing such emotional mails.

The best came from the closest friends, with whom I have maintained contact for more than 10 years or so. They abused me for sending such stupid mails and for having lost my mind. Only a close friend can abuse you so openly and be fine with it. 

And there were some more people, who I presume, just ignored the letter. Even while writing the mail I had an inkling about who all will not reply. They read the mail but decided not revert. Some of them have grown out of the friendship, some just don’t want to be friends any more, some don’t care, and others, well, I guess they are just plain angry.

I think it was a good idea to write this mail even if it was slightly embarrassing to open the heart out. More than anything, it told me where I don’t have to concentrate my energies any more. Not because I don’t want to, but because some people don’t want me back. And even though it’s a bit disturbing and saddening, it’s fine. 

We don't like the same food.
We don't love the same person.
We don't enjoy the same movies
We don't like reading same books.
We don't listen to the same music.

How is it then that as a society we are supposed to love the same things?

A Big House
A Beautiful wife (or a handsome husband)
A big car
A fancy phone

There is something fundamentally wrong with us...and with the society

My Elegant Cricket XI

My Cricket Eleven whose video clippings I watch, just for sheer beauty and elegance.

1. Hashim Amla
2. Mark Waugh 
3. Brian Lara
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
6. Imran Khan (c)
7. Wasim Akram
8. Shane Warne
9. Michael Holding
10. Shane Bond
11. Allan Donald 

If I had to select a team that I would pay to watch, this would be it.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Sometimes I wonder that it must be terribly difficult to be rich and famous. How insecure must they be feeling while living in the constant fear of losing it all?

I don't like the movies of Karan Johar. But his public apology about casting Pakistani actors for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil made me feel like puking. How low will a person have to stoop to disown the people who worked for him? Here is a guy wanting to make millions by casting the famous Pakistani actors. And the moment he realises that his box office collections might get affected because a political party's goons threaten to sabotage its screening, he decides to publicly apologize. 

Similar was the case of Snapdeal removing Amir Khan as its brand ambassador after the "intolerance" fiasco. What are these people who sit on crores of rupees afraid of? How are they able to face themselves in the mirror? Why is it so rare to find people like Nana Patekar who actually stand for something good?

It's easy for me to say all this because I don't have my skin in the game. I have nothing to lose while shouting curses from my keyboard. Someday I might be tested and fail big time.

This post is a reminder to self to know what is the right thing to do. No matter how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise. 

An old song, which perfectly captures the mood.  

For Tony Greig

My last post was about missing the joy I derived out of Cricket because of absence of Sachin Tendulkar. Another person, who made the Cricket a delight for me was Tony Greig. For a long time, I had thought that he was an Australian, since he appeared so similar to them in many ways. Then, after few years, I learned from my father that he was a former English captain. Even later, I learned that he was actually a South African. 

There have been many great commentators. Richie Benaud sits right at the top. But I saw very less of English and Australian cricket during an impressionable age to be able to admire his voice and insights. For me, it was always Tony Greig, a constant presence in the commentary boxes of India and Sharjah. He made Cricket far more exciting than it actually was.

One can appreciate how good the commentary was only a few years back when one could hear some of the most intelligent voices in world cricket - Tony Greig, Richie Benaud, Tony Cozier etc. These days, one has to bear with the mouth pieces of BCCI - Laxman Shivaramakrishnan, Sanjay Manjrekar, and Ravi Shastri. If not for anything else, BCCI should be sued for making the viewers listen to such pathetic commentary.

Some days, I watch old Cricket clippings just to hear Tony Greig. After Sachin, it's him I miss the most. 

P.S. This absolutely gem of a tribute from Richie Benaud for Tony Greig.

Memories

Today was the first day of India v/s England test match at Wankhede. I last went to see a Cricket match 3 years ago at the same venue when Sachin played his last game. I have fond memories of those 3 days, the only instance I went to see a test match. I remember having goosebumps when he walked in to bat and my eyes getting moist when he gave his farewell speech.

There are some good, probably great batsmen out there viz. Kohli, Joe Root, KaneWilliamson, Steven Smith. Ajinkya Rahane is a delight to watch, Amla's batting is like poetry in motion and there is Alastair Cook threatening all batting records in test cricket.

I still follow Cricket. Cricinfo is always open in the internet browser where I follow the scorecard of every match that is being played. But I hardly remember anything. If you ask me against whom India played the last test series, I'll have to take few moments to tell you the answer. But, I can tell you in exact sequence the matches India played 14-15 years ago with the venue names. Sometimes, I can even recall the final scores that the teams made some 20 years back.

But I don't like watching Cricket anymore. It doesn't excite me in any way. Unless India is losing very badly or consistently, I don't care who wins or loses. I don't even check the score cards once the match is over. Virat Kohli's heroics don't cheer me up. 

Something's gone. There's no Sachin any more. 

Year So Far

I missed out on what people usually call their new year resolutions. Didn't even come close.
Another year about to end.
Full of anxiety, insecurity, and restlessness.
Learned a lot about myself.
Not really enjoyable, but learning all the same.