Pages From My Diary - A Birthday

March 20, 2010

12:00 MN

“Dhoom…” 

“Damm…”

“Dhomm…”

“Happy Birthday da!”

Our noise was superseding the train’s rhythm. The compartment was fully awake with those birthday bumps and midnight party. We were just 14 in number but made a hell lot of noise so that all other 58 passengers woke up. Aged people got a smile over their face, middle aged men turned red in anger, other young college girls in the next compartment could not tolerate the enjoyment we had!

Agony, jealousy, pity and anger filled up every other person’s face but we all had a happy mood splashing cream over one another, taking photographs and playing as if it was a weekend at corporate! Our TTE gave a right entry to make us calm. He was middle aged and checked us for liquor bottles. May be he would have expected us to have one so that he can have one!

Its 15 minutes past one when everyone just showed signs of tiredness. One by one we started moving towards our berth and it looked as if a huge chaos came to an end. No one noticed what path the train took up to reach the Central, Chennai. Usually all trains from south will be reaching Egmore but ours was a festival special train!

Chennai was as dirty as it could be. The sultry climate, salty breeze and hot sun was not much felt when we are with our friends. A short walk, electric train, a long walk and finally we reached Chepauk! We have already booked our rooms there through a friend of a friend of a friend! We relaxed ourselves in the most comfortable cot, had a fresh bath with the special salt water of Chennai and went out for the breakfast! From our place, the half completed new secretariat for the State Government stood amazing and the geeky pair Sathish and Navanee had their chat over the facilities in that building!

It was a usual morning otherwise and we all are quite excited for the evening match! The preparations started in the early evening around 3’o clock when we all started standing in the queue for the 7:30 cricket match. We all had a uniform yellow jersey in favour of the home team. We all are well dressed typically to match the cricketing scenario. The companies did free advertisements on us! We were wearing green LED glowing coolers for 7up, a yellow jersey for Aircel and a turban for the Super Kings! I was much concerned about the uniformity than the home team! I literally hated the home team except for their captain who captained the Indian Cricket team!

In recent times Indians are much concerned about the T20 matches especially the IPL which was the prime reason for our Chennai trip! We all had On-Duty on our attendance sheets in college and were not at all worried about the consequences!

Even before the game started we all took seats and started cheering up along with the cheer girls! The match went on very well and it was a nail biting finish with a tie! My first ever cricket match at a stadium was a tie! I was much delighted and moreover the home team lost at the super over!

A splendid birthday for my friend, a wonderful cricket experience and overall a much awaited trip with my friends! A much excited day and a dream came true moment for me! (I have seen the cricket stadiums only in my dreams!) May be the birthday boy could forget but never can I!!

P.S:- 22^nd and 23^rd March, 2010 were full of enquiries for that trip!! ;)