Sachin- I envy you and admire you!
Happy Birthday Sachin! Like you I am also a Taurean (born just one day later) -why bother about the year! But what a difference in our tales! Dazzling day light compared to a dim lit dusk- Towering Heights against pale plateau.
late at night as a mere courtesy!
They have a bash for you in Banquet halls- poor me gets just shake hands and cold hugs in a sultry corner. While you receive fresh and fragrant bouquets, the humdrum hero just gazes at a crumpled greeting card bought in a dollar shop or responds to free e-greeting card sent with all its “flash”.
But still I admire you!
You taught me what the self help books could not tell about life. For me every page of your biography is a treatise on how to be consistently triumphant in life.
I know Sport is not just a ritual for you- it is a true religion. Cricket is just not a livelihood for you but a real passion with all its splendour.
Just watching you defending wickets so guardedly - is in itself an essay about way of handling life. The three wickets for you are not just sticks- but symbolize the values you care for and cherished whole life- Humility- Honesty-Honour.
Your humility humbles people- you subdue even great Himalayan Pride. Honesty has been hallmark of your character - pay taxes in time- be frank and candid in your feed backs. Honour for your self and team mattered so much that you always fought for it on and off the field.
I know it was not just Spring and Sunshine all the way. Like any one- you too had your ups and downs- ebbs and tides. Your own Mumbai manus jeered you when you got out for low scores and chips were down. But that neither dampened your spirits nor stifled your style. You roared back like a lion till Mumbai cheered with pride and called you Bharat Ratna.
That I call is fighting back with finesse- You silence critics by outshining – not outshouting.
I still envy you- you never age like me every day or wither with wrinkles.
You keep plundering runs- conquering heights- in Test cricket. When they said one-day cricket is for nimble footed- you scored the first ever double century to prick youthful pride. When they said 20-20 is the game of reflexes - you are the one wearing Orange cap in IPL3 for the highest runs.
You proved the point so elegantly- it is the will that rattles the willow!
Can’t still fathom your Secret of Success or Formula for Fame? Could it be your unflinching discipline- unwavering confidence or strict exercise regime?
I know despite your victories & laurels-you too had brief moments of anguish. How many times you missed that coveted century.
Take it easy dear- look at me- like you hated being one run short so many times- I hate being one day late all my life. I would have been basking under your glory and would have become part of your story- if only I was born one day earlier.
That is life!
That is what the third umpire has decided. No more replays- Take it and live by it.
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