The World Cup...and Appa must be smiling!

There are some times when a person's absence is more keenly felt than at others. Cricket is one of those things that cannot happen without Appa's memory--and his absent presence--joining us (I won't say "intruding" because it is his memory that makes it complete, in a funny sort of way, so it could never be an intrusion). This was the first ICC World Cup that Appa missed. It's also the first Cup that we watched with him in Vikrampuri. Every time the series was played, since 1999, he has been in the US, with Shekar, and I've heard stories of him getting up at unearthly hours, watching first on a computer hook up and then on a satellite hook up, as technology and global television advanced. He was at one time seriously thinking of going to the event in South Africa but that didn't happen. The years when he was in the US watching the event there, I don't think we missed him as much--if only because we were able to share the experience over email and phone conversations, and of course, follow it up in recaps when he was here watching some other match.

This year we've been at a couple of cricket events where his absence was palpable. The first was on January 15, when Ananya's team played their final game in the South Zone T20 against Karnataka. Amma, Upen and I watched the match race to a nail biting finish, thinking of Appa's reaction to every ball and every run that Karnataka snatched from the team that ultimately won. He would have been cheering louder than any of the parents there, I am sure. The others were of course the last two matches of the World Cup--India vs Pakistan and the Final. He would have intermittently switched off the television and walked out of the room, willing things to happen in India's favour by his actions. And of course there would have been lots of ice cream to celebrate, on both days (maybe jalebis as well on April 2!).

We smile when we think of what he would have said or done, but you can't help feel that tug at the heart ....

As the year turns...

Amma, Appa, Amamma, Sudha Chitti, Achala and i have just finished watching "Mama Mia!" and wait impatiently for the clock to strike twelve so that we can all say, "Happy New Year" and hit the bed! There doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm in any of our actions, it's just like we're staying up because we have to!
Usually, on new year's eve we (Amma, Appa, Achala and I- and sometimes Amamma) used to stay up watching movies and Thatha would go to sleep. At 12 all of us would go down, wake him up and sing "Happy Birthday"! It was tons of fun! It was like there was something to look forward to... but now, there's NOTHING... But why the sudden change?
A year ago, exactly a year ago, no one would've expected the year 2009 to arrive without the shrieks of "Happy Birthday Thatha/Appa!" Now i sit here wondering how fast things happened. I mean one day i was sitting with Thatha discussing which IPL match we should attend and the next day i was watching the IPL without him.
2008 has really "zoomed" by, and i don't think many of us have had the chance to sit back and think about the things that have happened. I for one have been way too busy with school and cricket to really reflect on the events that have occurred this year. I guess that's the way things were supposed to be- maybe Thatha never really wanted us to reflect on the year gone by?
All things said and done, 2008 has been a pretty good year for me. Apart from the loss of an ardent supporter I have done well- and so has Indian cricket! Thatha would be REALLY proud!

This is to a new beginning-
I hope 2009, doesn't pass as fast as 2008 did! Happy New Year, everyone!

-Ananya

The Thatha Factor

by Ananya

I started off the 2008-09 cricket season on a high, and i owe a lot of this success to, what i call, "The Thatha Factor".

It started off in Warangal- the inter-district tournament- in September. I took a photo of Thatha (and me)- that was taken when we were in the United States- along with me since i call Thatha "my source of inspiration". I put the photo in my kit bag and never took it out. Of course i did take a glimpse of it before every match, but otherwise he always watched me play "through my kit bag"! The tournament went off well, and i was 'crowned' "the best all-rounder".
Next came the under-19 tournament in Anantapur. I was named vice-captain which meant i had a lot of 'responsibility'. Again, I took Thatha along with me. The first two matches (against Kerala and Karnataka) were complete disasters, but we came back strongly in the next three (Tamli Nadu, Goa and Andhra); I scored a half-century, took a few good catches and bowled pretty well.
What's most striking about both these tournaments is the fact that whenever we lost (3 out of 8 matches) Thatha wasn't 'watching me play'... He was sitting in my hotel room, but when he was watching from my kit bag, we always won, and i always managed to do well!
Coincidence?
I strongly believe that it isn't a coincidence... It's what i call "The Thatha Factor". I've always thought of Thatha as 'my source of inspiration'. He was one person who strongly believed that i could "make it big as a cricketer". He saw me play my first match, he saw me score my first run, take my first wicket and my first catch! Maybe he wasn't 'there' through it all, but i knew i could always count on him to be there when it mattered.
I don't confess things very easily... But when i do end up playing for India , i always wanted to give the first ticket (to the match) to Thatha (and the next to Appa). Now, I've decided to give it to Ammamma.
I won't rest until i reach my goal...

This is for you, Thatha- I WILL PLAY FOR INDIA! NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!