Memories

Back in class 4, I got a new cycle. It was my first 'proper' bicycle. No side-wheels, there was a basket and a carrier.
I was still a new resident in my apartment. I had no friends and so my cycle became my companion in the evenings. I would ride everyday. I learnt to ride fast and then progressed to riding by using only one hand. Eventually, I could manouver the cycle with both my hands off the handle.
The cycle is a part of my childhood.
The cycle went through long periods of being locked up in the garage as I grew up. However, I still loved riding it.
I had had it for five years when one fine evening, the security guard told me that he could not see my cycle in the cycle stand.
Stolen.
I was heart broken but nothing was to be done. Being in class nine, my cycling had almost ceased. So, we never got a new one.
At times I would talk about my cycle and feel nostalgic. However, I never rode after that day.
Until today.
I rode my teacher's son's bike. First of all,  I am still great at it. My sense of control, my speed. Everything.
But secondly, it brought back to me all those amazing times that were buried deep in the corners of my mind.
The rush, the excitement, the happiness. I did not want to stop. It felt as though everything was perfect. Not a care in the world.
All from a humble bicycle. Who knew that an axle and a pair of wheels could mean so much to a person?

Down to the wire

Okay a little background. KKR were playing KXIP. A win would take KKR right to the top of the points table. As a fan I knew how very crucial this game. As far as KXIP were concerned, after a string of of disappointments, a win was inconsequential for them. However, there is no greater joy than taking others down with you. And KXIP set out to do that with 183 runs on the board.
The chase was a typical KKR innings. The openers Gambhir and Uthappa were out long before they were due and then Pathan and Russel set out to reconsolidate the innings. Well, whatever they did put us into a comfortable position. However, KKR never like to win it straight. So, with 25 required off 19 balls, Russel lost his wicket. That brought Piyush Chawla out to  accompany Johan Botha.
This is where I am going to be a little more descriptive. It looked like the game would slip out of KKR's hands. And that notion was only supported by Botha's run out. There were no more batsmen in the line. How did they get here? And so comes in Brad Hogg. Fortunately though, Chawla manages to hit a few boundaries. Ah, what a blessing. 13 needed off 12. The next over goes with no excitement. Only singles were taken. The situation was tense. 7 needed of 5 balls. Unfortunately, Hogg gets run out. 7 off 4. Everyone is on the edge of their seat. Chawla was on strike. He could bring it home for KKR with one shot. And man, he hit a six! The entire dug out cheered, I managed to heave a sigh of relief. But the drama never ends so easily for KKR. 1 needed off 3. Anureet Singh bowls a wide. 'Let it go!' was my first response. But hey, this is KKR. Chawla tries to hit it for a boundary to finish in style. The ball touches the glove and the rest was textbook. A simple catch to the wicketkeeper. 1 needed off 2 balls. It could go either way. I was on the verge of tears. Sunil Narine came in. He had had a great day with the ball. There was no need of such brilliance here. All they needed was a simple shot and a single run.
The possibility of a super over terrified me. KKR would be at a disadvantage, they aren't the kind of team that fires off in a single over.
The field was set. George Bailey maintained his usual calmness. Narine's face gave nothing away. Yet, lakhs of spectators across the nation watched with bated breath. The bowler released the ball. Narine, fortunately, got some bat on it. And there began the run. Run out would not help, KXIP needed only one wicket to get KKR all out. And well I began to jump, yelling 'RUN RUN RUN!'
And well they completed it. Yes! They won the game!
The span between the bat hitting the ball and the completion of the run was definitely not more than 10 seconds. But with the adrenalin pumping, it seemed to be an age. At that time, 29 yards was equivalent to a lightyear. Yeah, I might have exaggerated a little. Just a little.
And well once they completed the run, the 'RUN RUN RUN!' turned into 'YES YES YES'. I jumped all over the room, gave my mom and dad a high five and sat down on the floor. My heart was still racing. My dear cardiologist dad checked my pulse and declared it to be nearly 130. Doctors, I tell you.
Well, really though, if KKR keep playing every game down to the wire, I might just develop a heart condition.

In Retrospect..

Don't worry I am not going to be all philosophic. So, a few days back I was going through my old posts and I came across one titled 'Pressure Pressure' which I had written back in 8th. In that post I have complained about how much I have to study, how tired I get and how I am unable to cope.
Wait. In class 8?
Lets just take a moment to register that.
Today I would give up anything to go back to 8th.
Just a few hours ago, in a moment of nostalgia, I was thinking of the time when I was in class 5. I actually had this thing called 'playtime' in my, for the want of a better word, schedule.
Even back then I found studying for 2 hours hard. 2 hours!
Well, only goes to show how very dumb I was.
The point however, is that at 16 I realise that no matter how I complain now, 3 years from today will be a lot more difficult (especially with the whole medical college plan :P) I don't know what this is, pessimism or realism. But I do know one thing, it will be better.