There is something about holidays that when they go by. one realises that how good were the days which just went by. The business has slowed down so much that every where one turns up, one hears the stories of capital lost, business dried up, expenses curtailed...... there is a gloom which has spread over the past month. Met a close friend recently, who was telling her the tales of their family- seems to them that its all lost atleast for a foreseeable future.
Diwali this year wasn't the same. I travelled a few places as normally most people do as they go home for a break and there was something different about the Diwali of 2008. Markets were quieter, no much rush in the markets for sweets, crackers. That was all pervasive. After a long time, we all assembled at one place and all seem to reach well in time despite so much of uncertainty just before Diwali. The trains services were disrupted in protest of recent violence in Mumbai against North Indians.
Again resuming office, there is little new things happening, and we realise that its November again and in a few weeks, the year will be over with and very grim picture in the short term.
Besides the gloom, the weekend of sports was quiet something. Saturday night saw Liverpool going down to bottom placed Spurs team in the last dying minutes after dominating much of the game, but luck was not their side this time round. They are my favorite team in the premiership but I feel that they are best placed to challenge for the championship this time. They do miss a lot of chances and that proves their undoing on occasions. There is still a lot to play for for them..
Sunday marked a end of an era in Indian Cricket when suddenly the news of Indian Captain, Anil Kumble's retirement flashed on TV in the dying moment of test match which was ending in a draw. The cricketer who tireless went about his work, never the one to be in the limelight but in my opinion, the greatest match winner India ever produced. Being a self confessed Tendulkar fan for the sheer joy he has given to the people of this country, I place Anil Kumble in higher esteem as far as moulding the fortunes of the Indian team from a average team to one of the world's best test team. It all started when we became a team to reckon with at home and with fab four coming into their own towards the last few years, we have achieved tremendous success overseas as well in all forms of the game. Some may argue that it was the batting and emergence of some quality fast bowlers which helped us win test matches abroad but one just needs to check the records to see what impact the leg spinner had. Also, the confidence of a team which starts to be consistent only helps perform in adverse conditions. he was a whole hearted cricketer epitomised by his performance in Antigua when India were pressing for a victory wherein he bowled with a broken jaw and got the great Lara out. Even in his last test match, he ran to take his last wicket with a badly injured left had as if it was his first wicket and India would be losing out on winning the test match should he drop. On his day, he was dangerous than any bowler but what made it more brilliant was the way he went about his work. His one line after the Sydney test still rankles the Aussies till today and that just epitomised the way the opposition behaved on the day in SCG when cricked was defeated by Aussies. Just would like to say heartfelt thanks to the sheer joy and the determination of the man, we fondly come to know as Jumbo..
Finally, possibly the most electrifying minute in the Formula One history was witnessed yesterday when Lewis Hamilton won his maiden world championship in only his second season and thus becoming the youngest ever champion. This was as if it was destiny as the same was denied to the Brit a year back when he lost out by a point after being almost assured of the championship going into the last two races. Being a Ferrari fan, I wanted Felipe Massa to win more so after running a perfect race but one cannot deny the fact that Lewis Hamilton deserved the titles given what happened last year. Many Congratulations!! but this promises to be leading to a great 2009 season with many cars now competing for the podium as evident from the performance of BMW, Williams and Torro Rosso..
Will be back soon with thoughts on whats the scene on the streets of Mumbai post rough October.
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