TKM Diaries-9

     It’s a long weekend ahead, second Saturday, Sunday and then Pongal holiday. Caught the Airport bus early to escape the maddening weekend traffic. Ahead of me sitting in the bus is an old man who is conversing on his mobile phone. His topic of conversation, yesterday’s India’s cricket match versus Afghanistan. How Gill had run out his Captain  carelessly and how cold the weather was at Mohali where everyone’s hands were in their pockets. It was a pretty interesting conversation and I loved his child like exuberance  when he  was talking about cricket. It brought me back memories of cricket at  TKM  where college life and cricket were almost inseparable.The evening game of cricket at men’s hostel is one of the fondest memories of my college days. 

      A day of cricket is also unforgettable one for me when me and Deepu Jose played together for Mechanical Batch team. Sadly Deepu is no more. It was a match against Computer Branch. Against some good bowling we were struggling to score,  while chasing , that’s when me and Deepu got into the middle. Sharp singles and  some smart cricket  in our partnership over the next few overs got us near to our target.But then Deepu got out. It came to the last ball of the last over ,and  we had to score three runs. Arun was the bowler. As he came to bowl I bluffed him by moving towards the off stump which resulted in him bowling a wide. Now two runs were needed of the last ball. As the ball came  I lifted it over the covers and it went for a four.After that all I could remember was that of my batchmates carrying me over their shoulders.Some very sweet memories tinged with a bit of sadness. 

     The bus has now stopped and the old has now got down at his destination, leaving with me the images of him and his exuberance for cricket and mine too.