The Saturday that wasn’t

The only word you keep hearing on Friday noon to night is “PLAN FOR WEEKEND”. At the end nobody turns out as per the plan and end up with spending Saturday, blaming person who had made the plan. It was on Friday night as usual we made up mind spend a weekend quite differently. As you all know these plans are meant to be broken, being in software field, we know that deadlines are always extendable.

It was Saturday morning at 5:30 am, I started with call to few of the friends. I did not even think that early morning in Chennai was that good. After this wake up call, I decided at least once in a while I should enjoy this morning beauty. In a hurry, I made sure that I complete my all morning formalities. In the mean time there were lots of calls exchanged between us. With all these we made sure that we were able to reach in time to station. The beauty Chennai metro city is that local trains are always there on time. On the way of travel in the train we could see the people heading towards the same destiny as ours. We could feel the heat of the crowd. It was at “Chepauk” stop people started running; unknowingly we were one among them.

Yes, It was fourth day of cricket 1st test match between India and SA. Stadium was surrounded by people every where. We could sense that we merely have chance of getting ticket. But with intelligent move by my friend Bhartesh, i.e joining in the middle, fetched us early ticket. We were joined by Vayu, Sridhar.Kalpesh, Magesh, Balaji and Vijay.

The only inspiration for us to make all this Circus i.e. getting in the morning and going all the way etc was the third day spectacular batting by Virender Shewag (309*) and also many among our group were expecting little master Sachin’s batting. On Friday it was Veeru’s day, the every ball he touches were four or six SA players were also specters like us, because only the bowler is moving others just watching where the ball is reaching like us, Only difference was were on the seats there were on the field. He batted for the whole nine hours with not single mistake, Batting was treat to watch. Other side was our “THE WALL Of INDIA Dravid” use to kill the ball at the same speed as the bowler use to bowl. He was in to complete defense mood as always.Ingonered the taunts from close in fielders and bowlers, nobody could shake him up.

On Saturday fully packed stadium was with plenty of Indian flags, were sailing with the cool wind from near by beach. Soon we all were disappointed with Shewag’s wicket. But were eagerly waiting for Sachin taking on the crease. Crowd was on the toes with lot of expectation on sachin was put aside by his catch at slips at bowling of Makhaya Nitini. It was complete silence, few of them cursing bowler and some of them with his loose shot. Many of our group members, Kalpesh, Magesh and Sridhar were finding hard to digest.
We have cricket crazy crowd now every one was equally cheering for DADA’s arrival. Crowd was having so much unity, it was hard to believe, we could see people moving like circle in which every member of the stadium was part of it. In this, more appreciable was the timing,and every one waiting for their chance .I think it carried enough cheer and heat for players on the field. It went on for few minutes until people them selves feel exhausted.
Bharatesh from our group started making sound with bottle and chair, was given nice chorus pungi noise by me and Vayu. It was altogether hit in our stands, soon everyone were in steps with us. There was no boundary for us, and our noise was hardly in coordination with the things going on the field. We had enough energy to make all these was nice and variety of snacks by Sridhar.

We were also the part of the celebration from Rahul 10000 runs and century. Altogether it was nice Saturday spent with crowd rather than cricket. It was place we forgot everything, a lot relaxation in our mind was worth spending around 10 hours. Otherwise it would have been another Saturday with late breakfast, wasting all time in changing channels of TV and the end the day with heavy dinner without lunch.