Cricket Mania

 So , last month The World Cup matches were held . All in India . In a cricket mad world . Where strangers on trains will eulogise on batting techniques , run scores and fielding . Where you can make instant friends , in banks , at roadside shops , at petrol pumps , just by mentioning the score of the days’ game . The usual greeting on “match days “ is “Score kitna hai ?” (What is the score ?)

That is followed by a detailed theory on the batting techniques of Kohli versus Maxwell , or Rohit Sharma’s captaincy versus Gavaskar . The older generation will sigh and lapse into “Ahh ! Those days !”

My neighbour upstairs has a three year old daughter . During the match days , their music , karaoke ,and raucous laughter is replaced with pin drop silence . In fact , there is silence all over the jungle too . Most matches finish in the hushed darkness of early evenings . The birds too , sit quietly on the tall tree branches , cock their heads and listen to the commentary , and the noise of the crowd in the background .

The jackals don’t howl , and parents forget to take their impatient kids to the park . All sit with hands cupping the faces , meals getting cold on the laps , mesmerised with the glowing screens. Till , a wicket falls , or a six or four is hit .

Then the world erupts into joyous Stone age-ish whoops . My upstairs neighbour runs across the length of the flat , screaming his lungs . Following his heavy tread , come a pitter patter of tiny feet following the parent , mildly alarmed , and a tiny voice pipes up “ Itna chillate kyun ho Papa ?” ( Why are you screaming thus Papa ) . Someone bursts crackers leftover from Diwali , someone else blows the conch shell , and someone rushes to the puja room to prostrate in front of silent deities .  The birds fly off , and the dogs bark , the pack joins in . A fall of a wicket halfway across the nation , transforms into and  a celebration across the jungle .

We are passionate about cricket . World Cup just made us go complete nuts .

Punah Musko Bhava

("Turn into a mouse again . " -Sanskrit . ) ( This tale of timeless wisdom , is culled from the Scriptures , and is my own retelling . It may have inconsistencies when compared to the Original tale ) 

Once upon a time , in a dense forest lived a sage . He had a small hut , away from most of the civilisation , for his yogic practices , penance and prayers . He had a small , bubbly mountain stream that went past his abode .

Often , he would be found half submerged in these freezing mountain waters , clad in nothing but a tiny loincloth , muttering prayers , facing the sun .

Once , while the sage was thus engaged , a bird of prey flew across the skies , overhead and dropped something into the Sage’s cupped palms , facing heavenward , in supplication .

The “thing “ squirmed , was bruised from being held in the talons of the eagle , and sneezed from cold . The sage , being a kind hearted individual , took the mouse indoors , and tended to its wounds . By the by , he became intensely attached to the rodent . Craving human company , as we all do , the sage , with his magical tantric and yogic powers , transformed the mouse into a lovely baby girl . He looked after her , like his own daughter , and taught her all the wisdom he had learnt from the universe . She grew up into a beautiful maiden with all the wisdom and manners of a Princess .

When she “came of age “ , she was asked by her doting father , the sage , as to who she would like to marry ? After giving it much studied thought , the young woman replied , “Father i would like to marry the one , who is most powerful of all .”

The sage , now a father , set out to fulfil his dear daughter’s desire .

He went to the Sun , the one who shines upon the entire earth , nourishing its soil , the harbinger of life and joy , the begin and the end of the day .

“O Sun !” the sage asked with folded hands , “You are the most powerful of all , please accept my daughter’s hand in matrimony .”

The Sun frowned ,”Who told you I am the most powerful in the land ? “
”Why , of course , you are . You are the reason for all life on earth . “

“No , I am not . Just look at this . “ At that very moment , a large black cloud moved across , infront of the sun , and blotted all sunshine from the earth . The world went silent in anticipation of a rain or storm , in the absence of the sun . Stillness and darkness and wintry cold , quickly descended on the sunless earth .

“I get what you said .” Shouted the sage , at the sun , who murmured a muffled acknowledgement behind the bank of cloud .

Then , he ran behind the racing cloud .

“Oh Cloud ! I can see how almighty you are ! You bring rain , hope and crops to feed the millions . You are the sower of seeds , nourisher of grains , can you please accept my daughter’s hand in marriage ? “

The cloud stood still for a moment , and turned its dark visage to the Sage .

“You are mistaken , O Sage , I am not the all powerful . You think I am running across the skies , of my own accord , no I am not ! The wind buffets me , here and there , everywhere . I am just following the diktats of his whim . I am nothing but just a puff of smoke . “

The Sage went chasing the wind , and found him chasing the clouds of sand in the desert .

“Oh wind ! I have heard you are the most powerful of all . You move the enormous clouds , making him weep and rain , in places you deem fit . “

“Who told you that ? The clouds ?”

The wind whistled a horrid chuckle , and sped to the northernmost corner of the enormous desert .

The Sage , having mastered the magic of Teleportation , caught up with the wind in no time .

“Sire , I have come to believe , you are the prime mover on this planet . You make things happen . You are the strongest of them all . Please accept my daughter’s hand in marriage . “

The wind stopped in its tracks , and looked back at the Sage .” I agree , Oh Brahmin ! your daughter is the comeliest maiden I have ever laid eyes on . But there is one who is mightier and loftier than me . He stops me in my tracks and is completely unmoved by me .”

“Who is he , Oh wind ? The sage cried .

“He lives right next to your hut O Sage . It is the Giriraj , the mountain .”

“Oh I see !” Exclaimed the sage as he sped back to his hut on the mountain side .

“ Oh Seer of all the worlds ! Great preserver of the Snow world , the shadow of the Universe . Please accept my daughter’s hand in marriage.”

“No, You don’t see , do you ? “

“See what my Lord ?”

“See , right now , on my right flank , away from the eyes of the populace , hidden in a corner , beneath a bush someone is consistently burrowing a hole into my side. I can feel the pain , but I can’t do anything about it . “

“Who is that Sire ? Please tell me ! I will burn him to ashes with my tantric powers . “ The Sage shouted , enraged .

The Mountain laughed . “ You are not getting my point. “

The Rishi stood perplexed .

“This is one entity more powerful than me . And the rightful claimant to your daughter’s hand . “

With a whoosh of air , The sage transported himself to the point the mountain indicated .

To his utter surprise , it was a tiny mouse , diligently , burrowing into the side of the mighty monarch the Mountain , in an innocuous clatter of pebbles , absorbed , single mindedly , in his task .

“Holy Seer , it is a mere mouse !” Exclaimed the sage .

“Indeed , it is . This tiny creature has the power and right by nature to burrow into my body , and I can’t do anything about it Hence , he is stronger than me . “

The Sage closed his eyes and muttering mantras , summoned his daughter next to him , and told her his entire adventure . Beginning from the sun , and ending in the mouse .

The daughter , contrary to the Sage’s belief , clapped her hands in joy, and shrieked “Father , I want to marry this mouse . Please turn me into a mouse . Please ,father , please . “

With a relieved and a heavy heart , at the same time , the Sage said “Punah Musko Bhava “ ( May you turn into a mouse again )