This used to be my playground

Last week, a co-worker happened to wear a new finger ring that was really pretty. I am not a jewelry person, but this one was really different. When I asked her where she got it from, she mentioned a store very close to dad's place. Made a mental note to go over when I went there next.

The usual Friday routine - late from work, raining, metro work on Karve Road. Finally when I stepped out, it was ideal to just walk the short distance. As I stepped onto Karve road, I noticed a lot had changed, but most hadn't. My favourite Thakkar library was gone but Sagar sweets was still there with the same smell of frying oil that I remembered. The man behind the counter looked familiar but I didn't want to stare. Uttam medicals was renovated, but the charming young man who ran it, was now a "older young man". He looked at me quizzically and then flashed a big smile of recognition. I didn't have to heart to walk in and ask about his father. As I walked past Natraj, I saw the owner. Still intimidating I must say. :)

I realized, so much was still just the same. The metro work also made the road much less crowded than a typical Friday evening. Just like it was when we staked claim to this area.

United by jersey number 7

I am not a cricket fan. There I have said it. I do enjoy a game of cricket once in a while if the game is interesting but most of the times, I can tune out faster than I tune out my kid's fights.

This year however, I did go to for the IPL match. I had great plans to spend an evening with my son who shares my "love" for cricket. It's a father-daughter thing in my house. However, landed up going to the match.

Going to the stadium in Pune takes longer than one inning of the match. Usually the husband and daughter go on scooter to avoid getting stuck in traffic. This time, I dragged my son and myself on the scooter and set out. How bad can it be, right? Well, it is worse than your worst imagination. Serpentine lines of cars, scooters start about 4 km before the stadium entrance. And this at 2 in the afternoon under the blazing Indian summer sun!

"Mom, let's just go back. No one will notice". The enthusiastic son encouraged.

"Let's just try for a few more minutes", I say, cringing inside when the sun shines with all his might.

"Mom, can I get a Sprite when we get there?". He knows I will agree to anything. "Nicely played, kid!"

The biggest challenge was, I didn't really study the route before we started. And I knew, I was generally supposed to go towards the expressway. (I have a penchant of getting lost.) The husband had given very specific instructions "Stay on the left of the ramp". Erm, there are multiple such ramps!

In my mind "Let there be some sign that we are going in the right direction!". And then it happens, one yellow tee-shirt with "Dhoni 7" written on it appears from nowhere.

Hallelujah! "We are going to follow this fellow". Slowly but surely, Dhoni 7s started appearing from all directions. A Kohli 18 would intersperse once in a while, but this was a city that was possessed by Dhoni 7! Dhoni 7 in all shapes, genders, sizes, ages. The sea of yellow was flowing towards the stadium. Finally, after we got to the stadium, (and I after I paid my dues to the Sprite god), the match had already started. Dhoni gave the audience what they were so eagerly waiting for : 3 sixes in 3 balls. This non-cricket person cheered, screamed and jumped and begrudgingly admitted, this is fun!

On the way back, the Dhoni 7s guided us back home. "Mom, can we get one more Sprite for the ride back home?" I heard from the back seat while I regretted not buying a Dhoni 7 for myself! After all, there may be some one like me for the next match, who made need directions to the
stadium! Wait. Did I just say something about going for the next match?