This blog was meant to be primarily a sports blog (for most Indians that means just cricket). So what is this post doing here? Well for a few people, me included, this lane holds a significant meaning for when i think of cricket i cannot forget the number of hours spent either, playing or discussing and far more importantly quizzing
Pattammal street may sound like a small, narrow lane in a remote town. Well it is a narrow lane in one of the greatest cities in the world, Chennai. Contrary to its size or appearance what it beheld is far more significant. For want of a better name the gang was called “Pattammal Punchers” a name that sounds rudimentary. You need to know the people to believe the sheer talent and the higher than average levels of intelligence
Being one of the duller blokes in the group helped me look at it from a different perspective. Being last to know the group and being a total outsider to their history till the time I joined helped the cause better. When play was on anybody who gets the slightest hint of vocal strains would brand the whole lot as uneducated brats. Brats we were but far from uneducated
More than two thirds of anything I know about cricket was learnt here. Some I learnt from the ones around, some I learnt with them, watching, playing, discussing and observing. The few years that we did stuff together was fun. Weekends meant at least 5 – 6 hours of cricket and an equal number of hours discussing the week past and ahead. Football did enter the picture later on but cricket was primarily what held the group’s thoughts, in unison (but for bitching about the sorry single life and not having enough money to buy the BCCI and a lot more)
These days few significant mates and I are a few thousand miles away, “virtual” is the way of life. We still do the long hours of talking, but it just can’t match the flesh and blood discussions into the night. Of late I sometimes get pangs of nostalgia, sitting on my rocking chair with a drink in hand and thoughts miles away, whether being away is really worth the trouble?? After I finish a few rounds and when sanity prevails, I think it is worth every iota (aorta) of trouble after all.
I’ve a gift not many people have. I know what I wanna do when I retire! Anybody who does would understand what a great feeling it is… Anybody who doesn’t would mock at me!! Whichever herd you fall in, believe me it is bliss. I may not be old enough to be sitting on the 5 foot parapet wall. I may not be immune enough to gulp short eats at the corner store. I may not be carefree to hang out at the beach till the wee hours of the morning, the day after. I may not be fir enough to beat the batsmen or drive over the bowler. After all the ludicrous life style changes, I would still be happy to hang out with those blokes, even if it is in the lobby of the Marriott
