A day I can never forget.
A day when my dream came true.
A day when time stopped still in the madhyama world.
A day when I met Sachin Tendulkar !
Yes, THAT day!! how can I ever describe it ! that's the day when 25 became the most beautiful number and Hotel Maurya Sheraton , Delhi , became the most sacred place in the whole of India ! for that's the day and place on which I finally got proof that Sachin Tendulkar wasnt a myth . that he actually existed , in flesh blood and bones . that there actually was somebody who could change millions of lives everyday .our dictionary doesn't have words enough to describe what all happened to me that day !
There I was impatiently waiting for Him to come . fidgeting all around , unmindful of hunger, thirst or fatigue . not believing it all was actually happening . not believing that in a few moments Sachin himself would be in front of me .not believing that I could be so very blessed ! that's when there was some commotion in the main entrance of at mighty hotel .i rushed as I have never rushed...
There he was , clad casually in a red T- shirt , blue jeans and goggles , an aura of power and peace emanating from him . he looked magical ! I stood rooted to the spot . couldn't move an inch . my voice died in my throat . the only thing I did was to look at his serene face . looking at him strangely filled me with immense calm and wonder . sense prevailed. I thought to myself " madhi , this is the one chance you have , go forward ". But my legs didn't want to move ! I stood transfixed .somehow though, I made a move. I thought, could it be this easy, just one more step and I will be standing alongside my idol ? I took that one step, it was the most laborious step I have ever taken . but then no other step changed my the way this one did , so it was more than worth it !! ...I was next to him...I still don't remember what I said , I only know that mumbled for his autograph... he was holding a bouquet ...he smiled...oh god , he smiled ....he stopped next to me ...he was looking at me ....HE WAS LOOKING AT ME !!!! ... he gave the bouquet to someone else ...had a look at my Sachin diary , signed it and went ahead ...I don't know whether I said thank you or not...I probably didn't , couldn't .....
I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me. I wanted him to know how my whole life and personality had been determined by his presence. I wanted to show him how much more than a great cricketer he was .i wanted him to know how looking at him made me feel blessed to be living and how I pray to god everyday for his happiness and peace . I wanted him to know that I learnt my biggest lesson, of being courageous enough to dream, from him ....i wanted to hold him ...to say thank you ....
but I couldn't say anything .not one single word... I just stood there , feeling him beside me, blessed to be breathing from the same air as him , watching at his hand trace our his signature and then watching him go away ! everyday since then , whenever I am sad or depressed , the thought of this amazing day fills me up with hope and happiness !! I get faith that as long as somebody like him is around , there is hope for this crazy world. I get reassured that if ever I feel that life isn't worth living I will only have to remember those few hours spent at Maurya Sheraton , to know how good dividends one can get paid to be alive .I hope others like me are also bestowed upon with such an honour and that they are sensible enough to value it . but more than any of this , I feel peaceful , serene , calm and happy from the very roots of my heart . I feel alive !!
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