The IPL season is back. Most cricket lovers are glued to matches and all the related trivia. I particularly see some ardent fans defying the logic of technology and collecting posters and pictures. Setting up their walls with their favorite batsman's poster.
It reminds of me a very distinct memory. It was the first year of IPL in India. And I was in 11th grade. The fervour across the nation was gripping. Being at the stadium to cheer your favorite team was a luxury. Newspapers to radio channels, residential societies to corporate offices - all were caught in the momentum
That was also the year, my grandparents and moved to their new house. Which was right next to our house. Merrily, we would spend the night watching every single match. My grandfather has been one of the best sportspersons of his times. Needless to say, he makes, even today, a very passionate audience. He would watch every cricketer's performance critically, grilling them on every shot they played. Sometimes I wondered why. But I loved sitting with him, occasionally listening to his stories of swimming through whirlpools and what not.
One morning I woke up early. And what I saw amused me to no end.
Every morning, my grandfather would collect clippings of the previous night's match, and carefully pack it under the shelf. When I sat there long enough, he took me to his cupboard, opened the door and showed me a rating chart of all the teams. It was scattered with small ticks all over. He told me that each night, after the match he would tick against the team that won, count the points it earned and then sleep. His goal was to estimate the correct team's name that would reach the Finals. And he did. With much precision.
I laughed with joy and pride on how smart he was, though I felt slightly envious for not sharing that passion. But for me, watching him enjoy those matches was extremely delightful.
He's grown older today. Older than I thought he would. And no longer stays in the same house. He speaks lesser than he used to. I wish I could meet him more often that I actually do. And tell him how much he means to me. To all of us. For teaching us so much. But of all the things, how to collect match updates like a boss!
Love.
