Brother v/s brother

Elder brother: Born in 1981
Advantage:Super fast bowler.

Younger brother: Born in 1987
Advantage: Batting genius.

Story teller: Elder brother
Year: 1997

"Should I reduce my pace? He's still just a kid..what if he gets hurt?" As I walked up to mark my run up ater celebrating yet another wicket, these were the thoughts racing through my mind.
In fact, every time I bowled to him, I though about this. Brotherly love always overcame my killer instinct as a bowler.

On the other hand, even from a distance of 40 yards, I could see the fierce determination in his eyes. The poise of a confident batsman. No hint of fear of facing someone with a reputation, twice his age and size. Fierce determination and concentration!

I had been taught to decide what delivery to bowl depending upon the conditions and the batsman' stance and capability. As I ran in to bowl, I changed my mind and decided to bowl an out cutter instead of an in cutter. BIG MISTAKE!!

As though by magic, he read my mind. He watched the ball till the very end, his eyes lit up and he whacked it over the rope.

Amongst cheers of his companions, he celebrated his assault, while I was subjected to mockery..

Second ball. I wasn't going to be the big brother this time. All my strength, all my focus, all my energy went into the next delivery. The ball must have kissed the speed of sound..I smiled as I delivered the ball..

He was quickly into position, very quick in fact and WHACK!!! Another super shot out of the park..

The smile was wiped off my face..

Wherever I bowled, however I bowled, the outcome was always the same..


He was the most gifted batsman I ever bowled to. I have no shame in admitting that he was better than me...maybe in every aspect of life

RIP brother!!

The school kid

It is strange, how certain memories which are tucked away in a remote corner of your brain, some things that you have totally forgotten about, things that dont matter (or do they?), come back in a flash!

Today as I was traveling to office in the cab, I noticed a school kid standing on the road....zip..zap..zoom!!!

Some years back, I used to travel to office on my motorbike. One fine day  saw a school kid trying to grab my attention on the road. He was small, frail and by the looks of it not from a very well to do family. The school uniform he was wearing suggested that he was from a school which wasn't very popular amongst the middle and upper classes.
However, here I was, early in the morning, driving to office and the kid trying to grab my attention. I slowed down and stopped some paces away from him. In the rear view mirror, I could see him running frantically towards me slowed down by his heavy bag, but not by his spirits.

"Uncle, school ke pass chod do na?" he asked with an innocent face.

"Kidhar hai tera school? Mai to aage se left loonga"

"Udhar tak chod do, wahan se nazdeek hai mera school"

"ok..aja peeche!!"

In an instant his face lit up and he started smiling. Soon we were on our way and I could see that he was tremendously enjoying the bike ride despite the chilly weather. Once I dropped him on the junction, where our paths separated, he smiled as shouted "Thank you uncle.." before running away.

I met this kid many times and offered him a lift every time we met. However, we never spoke anything of consequence and I dont even know his name.

After some days, I stopped coming on my bike and started using the office cab (changed timings).  I never saw the kid again, but I didnt stop thinking about him for some days.

Fate took its toll and I left the city, only to return back in 2 years. Other things occupied my mind and the boy was forgotten, as if he never existed.

Today, when I passed by the same street, I saw another kid dressed in the same uniform. Everything came back in a flash and I started to wonder.. "Where would he be, what would be doing, I hope he does well..."

Strange are the ways of the human brain.

Lakh Duniya Kahe-Talaash

Lakh duniya kahe 'tum nahi ho'
Tum yahin ho, Tum yahin ho
Lakh duniya kahe 'tum nahi ho'
Tum yahin ho, Tum yahin ho

Meri har soch me, meri har baat me
Mere ehsaas me, mere jazbaat me
Tum hi tum ho
Tum har kahin ho
Ho o laakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho
Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho
Ho o laakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho
Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho

Tumne chhoda hai kab saath mera
Thaame ho aaj bhi hath mera
Koi manzil koi rehguzar ho
Aaj bhi tum mere humsafar ho
Jaaun chaahe jahaan tum wahin ho
Ho o o lakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho
Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho
Ho o o lakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho

Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho...

Khushboo banke hawaaon me tum ho
Rang banke fizaaon me tum ho
Koi gaaye koi saans goonje
Sab sureeli sadaaon mein tum ho
Tumko har roop me dil hai pehchanta
Log hai bekhabar par dil hai jaanta
Tu mere paas ho, dilnashin ho
Ho o o lakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho
Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho
Ho o o lakh duniya kahe tum nahi ho
Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho

Tum yahin ho, tum yahin ho...