The Inevitable Innings: Retirement

19.29 hrs:
August 15^th, 2020.
“Consider me retired.”

19.45 hrs: I scroll through my Instagram filled with creative Independence Day posts by various Indian public figures, friends from across the world celebrating the 73^rd year of Indian independence from British colonialism. And suddenly, hidden in plain sight, were these words by none other than Mr. Dhoni himself, under a video clip, illustrating his international cricket career from 2004-2020 with a melancholic Hindi song playing in the background. The above words resounded like a distant explosion in my head, this flood of inevitable grief I’m still trying to process. At first, I thought it was some sort of a prank or a hack maybe, this isn’t possible.

21:00 hrs: A while later, Suresh Raina A.K.A. Chinna Thala declared to retire as well. This amount of heartbreak was unexpected on a rainy Saturday evening but these two gentlemen decided to drop truth bombs, knowing very well the reactions it was capable of spurring. The staggering announcements left the nation stunned in a matter of hours. Almost everyone jolted from their weekend vibes as Dhoni decided to leave his way. No farewell match, no victory run, none of it. All over social media, people shared multiple clips especially the popular Ravi Shastri commentary like BGM “…And Dhoni finishes off in style. India lifts the World cup after 28 years.”  My favourite tribute of them all is that of Mr. Harsha Bhogle’s whose play of words never fails to surprise you!
It is indeed tragic that the world’s best finisher, an unpopular position until the last decade, has decided to bid farewell to his international career. In 2014, out of thin air, he declared his retirement from Test Cricket and handing over the mantel to Virat Kohli to lead the Indian National team. One of the finest minds in cricket history, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a stalwart when it came to limited-overs cricket (Mind you, I’m not undermining his Test Cricket statistics, but I personally enjoyed watching him play ODIs and T20s), an athlete who chose to believe in instinct over analytics. In one of the interviews, Chennai Super Kings Coach Stephen Flaming mentioned that Dhoni used to walk away from the room when statistics were discussed to design a strategy for particular players and preferred to judge his game on the match day. A wicket-keeper known for his lightning-speed dismissals and an awe-inspiring fielder hang their boots and move on to the next chapter, in the most discreet and unexpected manner, it almost feels like a tale out of mythology.

23.00 hrs: I’ll truly miss him in the Indian Blue jersey but inevitable as it is, retirement was coming, it was being hinted at several occasions, especially after the semi-final loss against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup. Raina’s word was sincerely shocking though, but you know when the time has come to call it quits and move on to the next chapter. Both these gentlemen have left with every ounce of dignity and respect, a well-deserved legacy left behind. Imagining the partnerships, they shared, not just as batsmen, the ones behind the stumps, that jolly banter between keeper and 1^st slip is a unique equation altogether. A bond that crossed the political and physical barriers involved and lasts beyond the pavilion. This is one of those hashtag friendship goals moment in history, with Raina following his captain’s suit, that final walk out of the field as a player. If only we could choose a DRS review to reverse the decision. Now every caption will begin to carry a former captain, former Indian player to their names, the harsh reflection of time itself.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

16^th August 2020
11.00 hrs: The reality sets in gradually, like that gasp you hear when you whack the ball up in the air and you hope it lands either beyond the boundary lines or in no man’s land. You know it was coming, it was long due, that full stop to the magnanimous innings, lined with facts and figures metamorphizing into an irreplaceable legacy. The only captain for having won all 3 ICC trophies- T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy and also, championing 3 IPL titles together. Take a bow, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, one of the most underrated duos, a love that’s grown on us with each passing IPL season, and we the IPL generation will forever cherish for decades to come.

14.30 hrs: My grief-stricken imagination takes me down memory lane, a few years back, not sure of the exact date. It was an IPL match, Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, held at Hyderabad, that was perhaps the first time I witnessed the uber-cool Indian Captain and this brilliant fielder-batsman, Suresh Raina, for the first time, live. While my friends cheered for the home team, my heart was for CSK, for it was home away from home. Every time there was an IPL match between Chennai and Hyderabad since 2008, I’ve struggled to choose one side because while one might be the place, I’ve lived all my life, whereas the other city being my native home. The stadium was fully packed with a jubilant crowd, roaring with celebrations and cheers alongside the home team. But as the calm-like-the-storm Captain MS. Dhoni walked out, the nail-biting enthusiasm commenced and suddenly, and almost secretly the spectators were rooting for him, his helicopter shot and his power-packed sixes and boundaries. How the tables turn, and all rivalries are forgotten, that moment I think defined the impact Dhoni held on his home supporters. No matter who you were, where you belonged, we always depended on him to finish things off, carry us forward over victory lines using his own goosebumps-inducing strategies. His calculations and deductions were a theory of their own, a unifying factor you placed your bets on knowing all odds. You deserved a closure too, Captain Cool. We as cricket lovers, watching that final walk to the pavilion knowing full well, this is where it ends. Yes, a closure, an endgame would be fulfilling and fitting.

18:00 hrs: That acceptance I’ve tried defending sets in with a bittersweet hope, as we will get to witness their magnificence at the upcoming IPL tournament in another 5 weeks. I’m sure like me, this year’s IPL will be special and watched with increased fervour and sheer devotion we have for these two fine gentlemen. Thank you, Mr. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina for entertaining us and raising the standards for Indian cricket and being an inspiration for people from all walks of life.

With big shoes to replace, the Indian team’s batting order will need for rearrangement and fill Dhoni’s spot as the finisher and the mastermind behind the stumps. The unforeseeable future shall tell, especially with the sombre mood of this year’s IPL. From players trying to regain their form and mining new talent, an exciting season awaits.

Image Courtesy: Google

11 Books recommended for Beginners

Reading books can open up a plethora of learning opportunities and widen our interests drastically. As a reader, we get to experience worlds that might be beyond our reach geographically or imaginatively and also, get an insight into a writer’s unique perspective of the world. The word books trigger procrastination within us and are commonly attached to the concept of learning, productivity and we constantly search for alternative forms to achieve productivity. Let me set this straight, books are both entertaining and a tool for learning, they are irreplaceable elements of our society. They are known to stimulate our brain cells actively and improve creative thinking, which furthers focus and grasping power. Reading is not just a hobby, it’s a habit you cultivate. Various psychological studies have proven that our brain perceives stories better than facts and is constantly reconstructing memories as stories, to utilize for your varying degrees of social interactions.

Here are 11 books I’d like to recommend to anyone who’s planning to take up reading:

1. Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling:
   The universality of this series is its biggest USP. It’s an enjoyable read for people across all ages and draws you in from page one. The 7-part fantasy adventure novel is a modern classic perfect for children and young adults, as the language is simple. My biggest takeaway from this was the layered world-building, visual imagery, and impactful characters and of course, the dream of getting accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can check out the first book here on Amazon.
   
   
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
   This autobiographical memoir by the former First Lady of the United States explores the working-class environment that she grew up in the South Side of Chicago. It is an inspiring tale of sheer grit, hard work, and self-reliance. It provides an insight into the racial prejudices that existed and still do, in America and how two Harvard graduates join the public service to restore equality and understand the nuts and bolts of American governance. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
   My favourite novels of all time, it is a satirical take on the middle-class social structure that existed in England during the 18th century. Even though the book is 200 years old, it continues to hold relevance to-date, and Austen’s witty sense of humour will keep you hooked throughout. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:
   A fictional take on her own life story, Louisa May Alcott weaves a tale of love, family, and struggles the March sisters face in New England. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the story highlights the fight for self-reliance and independence women are forced to fight for and the stereotypical notion of choosing home over the profession. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
5. And then there were None by Agatha Christie
   A murder mystery that leaves you spellbound by the end. I had goosebumps when I read it and it kept me engaged with every chapter. Agatha Christie is the uncrowned genius when it comes to writing crime novels. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
   Reading as part of my college curriculum, I went into the book with lest expectations and was stunned by the end of it. The abstract motifs and dystopian setup can trigger various questions regarding human existence. It explores the darkest shades of human nature when push comes to shove and what we are capable of succumbing when we are least likely to survive. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
7. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
   It’s a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi, a plot-changing character in the magnum opus. Draupadi is a woman driven by honour and love in a patriarchal society, a character who’s constantly in a conflict between the heart and the mind. It is an engaging read and provides a fresh perspective into the actions of men, from the eyes of a woman. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
8. Conversations with Mani Ratnam by Baradwaj Rangan
   This is the first book I ever read under the Cinema genre. The Indian master storyteller shares the experiences in an interview format and it is awe-inspiring. I have read this book several times, purely for the love for Mani Ratnam and passion for cinema. Behind-the-scenes, filmmaking as a craft, and his writing process behind each of his 20 films (From Pallavi Anupallavi to Raavanan) are discussed in detail with a witty and pensive touch. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
9. Three Thousand Stitches by Sudha Murthy
   A collection of short stories of ordinary people described using simplistic language and rooted in India, primarily. The co-founder of the software enterprise, Sudha Murthy shares some of her personal experiences as well, for example, being the only woman in her engineering college or protecting the marginalized Devadasi community in Karnataka, one step at a time. It is heart-warming and a slice-of-life type of storytelling technique. Available on Amazon here.
   
   
10. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
    This is the only novel written by Margaret Mitchell, a story of Scarlett O Hara who finds her place in the society when she is forced out of her comfort zone during the American Civil War. Almost 1500 pages long, it is a depiction of racial discrimination deep-seated in American history and marking the beginning of a woman’s liberation rights in society. Available on Amazon here.
    
    
11. Swami and Friends by R.K. Narayan
    Set in the fictional town of Malgudi, the book revolves around the life of a ten-year-old Swami and his friends which mainly consists of adventures, the tiresome homework, and their passion for cricket. Trouble ensues when Swami gets expelled from school and is forced to run away from home in 1930, India. It is a charming and entertaining story that appeals to your innocence and empathy.

Happy reading!

#3 Inception.

Note: III Quarters challenge is about writing 750 words everyday to keep my writing muscle active. It is mostly unfiltered, minimally edited and more of instinctive writing.

There was a strange tingling in my head as I woke up this morning. I had a brilliant dream based on science fiction! An Arts student having a science fiction dream, imagine the irony. Wow, I wish I could navigate into those unexplored areas of my mind. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint the cause, but the effect was confusing as I attempted to recollect the fragments of the dream I just experienced. Dreams, they are like these series of thoughts that have a dying urge to be woven into a magnificent story. It almost feels like our subconscious has these spurts of creativity when we don’t have a notebook handy. It is frustrating to not be able to grasp the entirety of this escapist treasure chest.

Dreams can be such a captivating affair of sorts where we are constantly creating our pieces of modern art in a non-physical manner.

This aspect of everyday life always stayed with me, leaving me too inquisitive for a 12-year-old. I never could completely comprehend them at first, and it was this one film that left me stunned and created this question bank within me. The day I watched this film, the words psychology were carved in the stone caves of my mind palace, (I know, Sherlock feels). I’m sure you would have guessed it by now, it’s Christopher Nolan’s Inception. As the film turns 10 this month, it is still fascinating to know that nobody ever captured the nature of dreams in such an eloquent manner, using both thriller and emotional elements to bridge a complex story idea. I’m unable to remember the exact number of times I watched this film-maybe somewhere between 15-20 times. 3 times just to understand the conceptual plot and ideas, and further on, it was only to appreciate the brilliance of it. During various discussions with my cinephile friends, what I noted most of us agree on is this- “The re-watchability value of Nolan’s filmography.” What this means is you can revisit his films and scenes several times and still find something gravid, something unnoticed in your previous viewing. Therein lies the beauty that Nolan gets to the table, the impeccable attention to detail that captures a sophisticated vision from mind to screen. There’s a quote I found in a book that sums up my viewpoint in the most precise way- “We lived in the gaps between the stories.” Inception has this quality of inciting you to rethink the connection between our reality and creative thinking that share a gauzy curtain, within the brain room space. When Leonardo Decaprio’s character, Cobb explains the constant process of our brains creating and perceiving information to Ariadne, an architecture student played by Ellen Page, was it just me or did any of you feel a switch turning on within? Dreams can be such a captivating affair of sorts where we are constantly creating our pieces of modern art in a non-physical manner. Imagine if we could store years of dreams in a capsule and revisit them whenever we wanted?

In Sigmond Freud’s book, The Interpretation of Dreams, (to paraphrase it)he had written that our dreams are a manifestation of our suppressed thoughts and emotions. But most modern psychologists believe otherwise. They say it can be interpreted and perceived as our brain’s function to consolidate memories. Another form of dreaming is lucid dreaming where we assume control of our behaviour within the dream and so far, the results have been inconclusive. Lucid dreamers believe that it takes practice and exercise to master it. Dreams have been an evasive branch of behavioural sciences study.

It is frustrating to not be able to grasp the entirety of this escapist treasure chest.

There have been times when something I dreamt about a while back, finds its manifestation, in reality, creating a sense of deja vu. It tends to leave a creepy feeling behind and question the absurdity of dreams itself. To every creative person out there who’s struggling with writer’s block or searching for inspiration, I think dreams also serve as sources of inspiration and drive our need to tell stories. It comes naturally to us, the art of storytelling. The world thrives on stories every single day, let’s not forget that. And yes, do keep a notebook and pen handy, close to your bed perhaps, you never know when inspiration might strike. Your dreams come in readymade form, all we have to do be there to note them down and grill them with our conscious hemisphere. Here’s hoping we can create more brilliant stories, screenplays, and creative works of art and show it to the world once the coronavirus decides to calm down. May this lockdown be a storm that ignites the force within you to do what you love and find your true passion. Until then, let me see if I can recollect enough of last night’s dream to turn into a story.

Sayonara!

(781 words)