Oh God! Please let my wish come true.

Three clean bowled in three consecutive innings..thak..thak..thak…OMG!! Is Tendulkar inching closer to his end? All sorts of speculation beaming from various sources and as always media firing all guns. His fading technique and his losing ability with growing age has raised eyebrows of concern of many greats. Recently Sachin himself had hinted in an interview that he is considering retirement soon and also added that the end of his career is not far away. He is planning to assess his performance in the coming series against English side, starting this Diwali.

Ahh, I can’t think of that R-day, at all? But practically speaking, this is bound to happen someday. A Cruel Fact. Being a hardcore Sachin fan, my heart doesn't allow him to go but at the same time my mind reminds me, how much pressure can a body take, it also needs rest. Master also needs rest. Let him decide when to relax.

Since past, the legacy of great players entering and exiting from the Indian team has been on. The popularity of the game started building up among the Indian people when some of the Indians such as Sir Ranjitisinhji and Sir Duleepsinhji started playing cricket for English cricket team in 1900s. Their performances helped to raise the interest and prestige of the game among Indians. Then came Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, C.K. Nayudu, Polly Umrigar, Vinoo Mankad. There came many heroes for Indian team in each era but their used to be one superhero amongst them who used to be the savior in difficult times on most of the occasions. Came 70’s, came Sunil Gavaskar, came a Superhero and his technique and class gave us a belief that we can fight hard in Tests, be it any side. We won handsome amount of Test Matches at home as well as on foreign pitches during 1970-80.

Little Master hung up his boots and then came Master Blaster who’s charismatic appeal is still seen on the field. Next who? This will be an interesting find. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, many such youngsters are making their mark in International cricket who would definitely like to take the legacy forward for Indian team. It’s a wait and watch game. Player in great form has to be consistent and keep on scoring, ups and downs are bound to be there, but one who passes these odds, would keep the torch of Legends burning. This is sure to happen but the Tendulkar fans, watching India play without Master, hmm, don’t know how the feeling would be like for them, correction, for us.

  

It would be very interesting to see the coming test, especially, how Master bats would be everyone looking at. Also Pakistani side are lined up to tour India, still the final decision is pending though (some political barrier). Anyways, it doesn't matter to Sachin. Sachin is practicing hard and giving his all out which he has done all through his career, be it a match against Australia or Kenya. He also played for his Mumbai side in a Ranji Trophy opening match where he scored a dashing century giving a boost to his confidence and also joy to Mumbaikars present in the Wankhede stadium, who specially came down to watch him play. I was one of them.   

After the series what’s going to happen…..just fingers crossed.

  

Come Diwali, everyone would be wishing something or the other, I certainly wish, Team India wins a series and the Master regains his form back, making the world witness, yet again, another Masterly innings. This would truly make our Diwali more sparkling and cheerful.

Oh God! Fulfill my wish this Diwali.

Karara jawab milega..Karara jawab milega...!!

An unexpected and hasty exit of VVS Laxman has raised a big question-mark on team selection committee and management’s reckless behaviour in not keeping up with a proper balance of seniors and juniors in the team, thus hampering team’s morale. Was VVS made a scapegoat? Did he announce his retirement under pressure? Many such thoughts but no need of getting into all this, I mean, dirty politics, I presume.

After the two greats ‘The Wall’ and VVS moving out of test team, real test of the Indian youngsters begin, who are more prone to the fast-pace cricket, now-a-days. We see more of entertainment, glamour and money in today’s new cricketing format but in five-day format cricket which is less glamorous than the former, we find character, determination, patience of a player being tested bringing out a true cricketer into being. But in all this recent happening of exit and entry of players in Team India, one man still seems to find a place in the squad of Indian team, even though there are people continuously questioning his existence in the team and now with the three biggies retired, he is the one who is been eyed by everyone, especially his critics.

Sachin Tendulkar is the only surviving veteran of the golden generation of Indian Fab Four batsmen that includes Sourav Ganguly also, making the Indian middle-order look shaky. God only knows how the new generation is going to cope up in coming times with couple of big home test series lined up for the season, along with rigid overseas venture.

   
Firstly, let’s do a reality check, practically nobody steps down from one’s place to give chance to youngsters (these are only things to say), be it in any field. Would you retire to give your job to someone coming fresh out of university? Ask this to yourself. Be honest. It’s just player’s body and mind that tells them when to stop. Dravid did that..Laxman did that (still doubted though)..and believe me Sachin will and has earned rights to do that when he thinks it’s appropriate for him to hung up. As Sachin, himself, once said, ‘Nobody took decision for him when to enter into cricketing field, hence the decision of retirement is his sole right.’ Let him do it.

Looking at one’s performance over the past one year, no batsman can be judged good or bad and definitely this cannot be a case with the Master, who has performed to his best for our nation over last two decades. And, now, with the retirement fracas heating up once again due to the three balls that shook the nation i.e. three clean bowled in consecutive three innings in just concluded New-Zealand Test series, the pressure has build up again on him. More importantly, the way he got out has been the question top of the chart. His reflexes are getting weak, age showing up, no more class seen, chuck it yaar. Naturally, it may seem so that with time the co-ordination between mind and body is weakening but it’s just a question of few more games for the Master and he will be back in his form.  This is not the first time he is under scrutiny, whenever he is been challenged on his technique, he has come out in more refined version.  

‘Karara Jawab milega..Karara jawab milega...” as always.   

Next up, the age factor, is of mere concern in any game unless you are mentally strong to cope up with any physical injuries and performance pressure. Never go by numbers, they are deceptive and very true in case of this ‘Little Genius’ who at the age of thirty-nine, still looks very fit and energetic like any of his young team-mate. I have talked on this issue lot many times in my previous articles, so let’s move ahead.

A connect with the game, passion to live the game is all that what counts and when these things die, one can think of disconnecting himself/herself from the game. This is my opinion. People say, ‘Sachin doesn’t want to leave cricket because once he leaves, how would he earn money.’ To such senseless criticism, I would just say, Boss, no need to worry about Sachin’s income, he has earned so much that his next seven generations would sit and eat. Hyperbole! is it? But why am I talking about money, for Sachin or in case of anybody, who is in love with his/her work, doesn’t care about how much he is earning from it, satisfaction and happiness from work is far more than any penny. Note, I am talking about the passion which one has for, not about the work for survival where definitely money matters.

When things are not going in your direction, people starts criticizing and once it does go your way, these people only come up with all praises. So, just chill and give him some breather and let him perform his job, so do we.

SRT – Source of motivation for Middle-class community

Middle-class people are always faced with hardships and subsequent fight to stay in the race. Nothing is simple and straight for them. They are bogged down by all sorts of atrocities, physically or mentally, whichever path they follow to achieve success but, what to do, they have no other option but to struggle and struggle hard to make their way out of these difficulties. This is how their life goes on and with time, they get used to it. There are very few, who make a hard fight back to come out of this stage and enter next stage of life. Yes, obviously, through determined work, passion and bit of luck.

Now, here’s one incident, I pen down, which in very small way but effectively relate to this struggling but hardworking community.

In 1989, Sachin made his entry in the Indian team. India was not an open economy back then and the economy was in awful condition. There were very few real-life heroes to look up to. India was very low in the rankings in all of the individual and team sports. People watched cricket (thanks to geniuses of those times), but not with the same religious zeal that they watch it with now. Sachin went on his first international tour to Pakistan to face their dreaded pace attack; he was just 16 then. The 4-match series was 0-0, and the last test was being played between India and Pakistan at the Jinnah stadium in Sialkot. India started off very well getting a lead of 74 runs by batting first and then quickly getting the Pakistani batsman out on low score.

                

It looked everything fine for India till that moment; with match heading probably towards another draw, but suddenly in the afternoon of the fourth day, India in their second innings began to collapse. The Pakistani biggies Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and the wily leggy Abdul Quadir were just bowling to perfection which reduced India to 38/4, having a lead of just 112 runs. Suddenly, the series had come alive with Pakistan having the advantage.

               

After the wicket of Ravi Shastri, i.e. 4^th wicket, in walked a kiddo Sachin to the crease, who had an average kind of series till now, but he looked determined. The pacers were ready to attack him and they did the same. They kept on bowling him bouncers and body-line deliveries but Sachin played them with lot of courage, focus and, holding his nerves, ended that day for India on 102/4 in partnership with Navjot Singh Sidhu. Sachin made 33 at the end of that day, but still one more day was to go. All hopes were on those young shoulders to stay firm on crease till the end, giving a stand to Sidhu who was senior-most, experienced player and more importantly, he was playing well at that point of time.

               

On the last day of the test series, India took off from where they had left i.e. going cautiously facing the bouncers and aggression from Pakistani attack. At one stage umpire Holder had to warn Akram for intimidatory bowling. But it was not going to stop as they seem some hope of winning the game by wrapping up Indians early. In one particular over, Waqar Younis, also a debutant in this series, attempted a bouncer delivery to Sachin and this time around, it went on to hit Sachin on his nose and it struck hard.

Sachin was on ground, bleeding profusely.

Though, Sachin was playing with his helmet on, had no grills to his helmet, which normally protects the facial part. The physio ran towards the middle to see him. Everyone had gathered around him. At that time his brother Ajit Tendulkar was also in the stadium, came to watch brother play his first test series, appeared very disturbed at the incident.

               

The Pakistanis now looked happy and wanted to see back of Sachin, as they were sure he would go off field for medical assistance. As the physio checked him, Sidhu put an arm around the 16-year old boy to enquire if he would like to go off, but immediately came the reply from the youngster, “Paaji main Khelunga!!!”

               

He decided to continue with the game as he wanted to take India safely to a draw. The Pakistani supporters went wild, started taunting Sachin and also came with teasing posters citing, “Sachin go back and have milk.”

               

But nobody could stop him, staying on crease for approx three and a quarter hours, he made a handsome 57 runs (second fifty of the series) before he was caught by Nadeem Abbasi on Imran Khan’s bowling. Finally, the match ended in draw. Thanks to Sachin and Sidhu’s heroics. What a courageous and confident innings it was from Sachin. And from there on, he never looked back.

He was there to fight. This was the Indian middle class boy refusing to buckle down to external pressure, harsh comments and ready to fight, fight for survival. Since that day, Sachin and cricket have been an outlet for the middle class people. Although IT and other revolutions have changed a lot of things in India for the better, that day on the cricket field and Sachin’s subsequent exploits have always been associated with the middle-class fight back. It reached a stage that when Sachin used to get out, people would stop watching the match. Here was a man who could compete with the best in the world and come out as a winner. Nothing much we middle-class people expect from life, all that we need is little happiness from somewhere in some form, be it in bits and pieces, once in a while, we are satisfied, and this man gave it all to us. His game creates a soothing effect for many and makes forget all our worries, doesn’t it? Definitely a man whom we see as a ray of hope is one amongst us only, who made his way through all kinds of hurdles to become a star. Remember, a Lotus blossoms in mud.

Baba Ranchoddas ne kaha hai, “Chase excellence and then find success running behind you.” Is it true?

Age - 11 years, summer vacations on

Morning:

4:30 am – Wake up alarm. Sachin used to get up for a fresh morning jog in his locality. He used to be back home by 5:15 am.

6:00 am - After early morning trot, he used to get ready for the training session and leave home by 6 o’clock. The training used to go on till 10 am.

After coming home, he used to take some rest (Actually, rest for him meant playing with his society comrades and indulging in all sorts of childhood naughtiness, afterall, Childhood is the most beautiful of all Life’s season. It comes once in a lifetime and it is the time of fun.)

Afternoon:

3 pm – After taking lunch, he used to march for an afternoon session of training which used to start by 3 and end up by 7 pm. He used to practice hours and hours in the net, batting in four nets at one stretch. Importantly, he used to enjoy it.

End of days play, finally.

That’s how he spend most of his summer vacations. What a jam-packed schedule it was. (Food for thought: What we guys did or do during our vacation period, I don't know about others but I can tell about myself, nothing other than fun and sleep)

Also during his school days, after returning from school in the afternoon, he used to immediately rush for the practice session at Shivaji Park. To save time travelling back to his home, he started going to his uncle’s place near his school at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of Mumbai. Such was the passion for the game and that, too, at an early age. Incredible!

But, 1 sec, I am forgetting that I am not talking about any common man. He is really out of this world yet very indigenous.

Simply determined to chase excellence in any way possible without worrying about the final outcome. He is so obsessed with the game that the phrase ‘eat cricket, drink cricket and sleep cricket’ rings true for him. This is Master for you and his chase for excellence which made him taste success.

It is not enough to just possess a talent, we need to polish it often with a tool named 'Hardwork' to make it shine. That's what Sachin did. Chase for brilliance, fineness in his batting found him running ahead of success. Don’t think about the result, keep on working with the thing we love with lots of passion, then see, success is ought to fall in trap of hardwork set by us. Who thinks of first reward and then work, never finds one but the one thinking in other direction is sure to hit the bulls-eye.

Two decades gone by, but still the search, chase for excellence of Master has never stopped. Still we find him learning, improving on his game, sweating hard in the nets. He always says, ‘It is very difficult to learn everything about the game, each day and every new match brings new learning and the learning should never stop, the search for excellence should never stop. Keep growing with the game.” He still considers himself as a student of the game. Remember, you are never too old to learn.

This is what makes success follow him and not others who themselves chase success, easy victory. This is just one example of Master which I gave to prove the very fact of Baba Ranchoddas true. But if you look around, you may find various people from different fields going strong than their competitors and if you try to dig in for the secret of their success, you will find nothing different than what I told. Every great people are alike because they have urge for excellence which makes success run behind this people.

Baba Ranchoddas, tusi great ho..!!

Comparing the Grandmaster of Chess and Master of Cricket

Before comparing the two Masters, let’s first compare the two games. In India, the game of cricket has huge mass appeal, flamboyancy, media coverage whereas chess is considered to be less glamorous and subdued in nature. Similar are its heroes and the way they are greeted by the masses also finds difference, even though their achievements run parallel.

Both are exceptional talents and one of the best in their fields, honored with the nation’s second highest civilian award, PadmaVibhushan and anytime in future can be graced with Bharat Ratna, one being the King of sixty-four squares and other the Master of twenty-two yards. Uh, no points for guessing please, I am talking about Viswanathan Anand and Sachin Tendulkar, the two iconic sportsmen of India.

  

The universe of both these gentlemen is very different but their journey has been very much similar. The year 1983 is considered to be most memorable for every Indian, yes, we won our first Cricket World cup, but very few may know that in the same year, the Legend of Chess entered the arena of black and white squares. He was sixteen, then, when he won the national senior title. At the same age, Sachin marked his beginning on the big stage, playing for Team India.

Even from his early days, Sachin was considered to be a rapid stroke-maker, bringing in swiftness to the game of Cricket similar to Sir Vivian Richards of West Indies. Likewise, Anand is called the Lightning kid of chess fraternity and the king of rapid format of chess. They have a strong hold on their game, courtesy flawless technicality and calmness. With growing years, both of them went through various ups and downs in their career, but still made their way through all odds and became the Master of their game. But there is an irony to it, as the famous Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle says, “They look upon their game as vehicle of fulfillment, as a servant rather than Master. The most humble devotees of the game are themselves an idol to so many, finds irony within ironical statement.”

Continuing with more similarities, the two are known to be honest, humble, well-mannered human beings. Anand has always been away from all the fuss about controversies and disputes happening in the world of chess, so is the Master Blaster keeping himself clean in the era of match-fixing, drugs and other non-sense controversies in cricket. Truly, they can be termed as great ambassadors of the sports they play, carrying the national pride on their shoulders for last two decades successfully.

  

Now talking about the popularity of two games in India, no second thought to it, Cricket is followed like religion in India which brings in the pressure of unreal and wild expectations of billion people. When Tendulkar goes out to bat, he carries billion plus hopes on his shoulders along with national pride, such is the mass appeal for the man. Whereas Anand, playing much docile game, carries the nation’s pride up his sleeves if not immense hope from countrymen. Even if that’s not the case, he always makes sure that the billion back home does have a smile and proud feeling when he accomplishes the job. As true battalions, without eyeing for any recognition, these guys keep performing out of their skin so that we can keep our heads high as Indians!

The two Indians have always done remarkably well against the best opponents like Tendulkar against the mighty Aussies and the West Indies bowling attack, whereas Anand has always been in the top form against the Russian greats like Kasparov, Kramnik (Russia is considered to be a country where chess rules). So no question can be raised against their ability to perform. But to every positive deed is attached negativity in some form and it tries to knock out the best within you. Similar thing happened with both the genius, Anand was not in his best of form in the year 2006-07 where he was losing many of the games. It was seen as an end of his era considering the new generation of players coming up and taking over him. Likewise, in the same period, Tendulkar was going through a bad patch and the exit of Team India from 2007 world cup at an early stage added more woes to his downfall. Critics started writing off Sachin, ‘No more class persists’ headlines bubbled.  

But real champions are those who rise from the ashes, they never give up!!

And the rest is history.

 

These two stalwarts of the game would be remembered for generations to come and would keep inspiring millions of people, definitely not only Indians, but people all around the world who have witnessed them and heard about their brilliance and achievements. In India, it is said ‘Cricket is a religion and Tendulkar is God’; courtesy the popularity of the game but if Chess would have been the premier sport here, it would be like ‘Chess is a religion, Viswanathan Anand is God.’

I Salute..nothing more!! 

Beti ho toh aisi..!!

One of the best old quotes on Sachin by Sachin’s daughter Sarah; I guess everyone knows this one:

When Sarah’s class teacher informed the class about a restaurant called “Tendulkar’s” in Mumbai,

Sarah raised her arm up and innocently said, “Even my father’s name is Sachin Tendulkar.”

      

It was really a cute reply, wasn’t it?

Yaah, she was small at that time and she didn’t know at all how great her dad is, infact on the other hand, Sachin never boosted about himself to his children so that they don’t take undue advantage of his charismatic awe life. He wants them to lead a very simple and normal life as many people do, as he lived. Money is like nothing to him now, but he wants his children to understand how crucial one single penny is for common man. Chuck the part of money which is, yaah, one of the important struggles of life but can be earned by anyone, earning respect is not everybody’s cup of tea. This thing which he has gained all through his career, also wants his children to gain so. 

Sarah Tendulkar is now a big 14 year old mature girl, who has inherited most of her looks from her father. Apart from looks, she has also got within her Dad’s qualities of social service, her attachment towards the society and eagerness to help the mankind, thus trying to make World a better place to live in, shows the impact of Tendulkar’s family values which still prevails, getting inherited from generation to generation. Along with studies and all the fun-n-fair surrounding her being a daughter of Master, she is also aware of her social responsibilities towards the society. Two years back, she was in the news for raising an amount of Rs. 5.88 lakh for the NGO called Apnalaya. Apnalaya is run by her grandmother i.e. Sachin’s mother-in-law Annabel Mehta for poor children, and of which Sachin also is a part.

     

Such a noble cause, indeed!

     

She decided to run for charity in the 7^th Standard Chartered Marathon held in Mumbai on 12^th Jan, 2010, which is city’s most extravagant sporting event. Sarah was to run in the ‘dream run category’ with a purpose of raising funds. She had a great experience during the marathon and along with it she was able to collect a handsome amount of money for helping the challenged children. She was very happy and thrilled, so were his Dad. In recognition to this, Sarah was awarded with the youngest Dream Maker title. This shows her attachment with the society and the pain felt at such a minor age. Incredible!

     

This is not the only instance where she has shown a social concern. On her birthday’s, she likes to spend time with the needy section of the society and distribute joy amongst them. Everybody donates money but it is a greater gift to donate your time. It so happened, on her 11^th birthday, Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar were preparing to celebrate her birthday in usual style like many of today’s kiddos would do but she insisted her Mummy-Papa to celebrate birthday with the underprivileged kids of some slum area in Mumbai. It was definitely a googly to her dad. This took Sachin and Anjali by surprise but at the same time they felt very proud of their daughter. Sarah wanted to share some time and goodies with the children of slums and celebrate her birthday. Obviously, her wish was fulfilled and birthday was celebrated in some slum area of Govandi in Mumbai. How many kids today think in such fashion? Very few, I believe.

     

It was so sweet of Sachin’s angel!

     

Really, the upbringing of a child matters a lot. It helps in shaping his/her life.

     

These below lines are my feelings said on behalf of Sarah Tendulkar:

‘I see God in my Dad,

Who once said, beti Sarah along with this modern fad,

Remember to show respect for people who are helpless and sad.’

An American writer, Clarence Budinton Kelland quotes, “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” The legacy of courteous and humble living has followed in family of Tendulkar’s.

     

Guys, there is also a world beyond modern fads like Television, mobile and internet. Today’s young generation should take some inspiration from such kids like Sarah who has taught that not only material things gives us satisfaction and happiness but instead serving poor people also can give you an immense internal pleasure and make you feel proud of yourself.

      

The importance of ‘Being Human’ needs to be understood. If girl at such an age can understand her social duties, why can’t we guys. Once again, I tell, money is not everything, spending some time also can do magic. I am not telling to leave everything i.e. your studies, money, everyday pleasures and get down to social work but at least a bit can be definitely done by a capable person. I request you people, take out few minutes of your life for such kind of work and give days of enjoyment to the needy people. Certainly, I also consider myself on receiving side of that request. If each one of us contributes something back to our society, be it in any fruitful way, then I can assure you that no one can stop India to be an ‘Ek number’ country. I am sure that you all want our country to prosper and be the face of world.  As people say, the future of our country lies in our hands, so called ‘Young India.’ So, get up guys and set yourself ready for action and pledge, “We will do it, do it for our country.”

‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Anjali..Tum nahi samjogi !!’ says Master.

A well-known and Legendary Marathi poet, Mangesh Padgaonkar, describes the beauty of love in two sweet lines:

प्रेम म्हणजे प्रेम म्हणजे प्रेम असतं,

तुमचं आणि आमचं अगदी सेम असतं!

Those who were not able to understand the lines, it means, ‘Love is love, be it yours or mine, it is exactly same!’ Actually, it’s a complete poem but these two lines are enough to convey the message what I want to say through this article.

I am talking about the Great Master Blaster and his love story but it is nothing different than many of ours because Love is Love…!!

Year 1990, somewhere in September, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, then called Mumbai Airport witnessed the first meet of Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar, the charming couple and this place marked the beginning of a fairy tale. It so happened that the Indian team was returning from the Tour of 3 match-series with England. In this series, Sachin had scored his maiden century. But obvious, he was the centre of attraction of everyone at the airport. At the same point of time, Anjali Mehta, the daughter of Gujarati Industrialist Anand Mehta, was waiting at the airport to receive her mother Annabel Mehta, who is British and a philanthropist. Anjali was completely unaware of the happening around her on the airport. Sachin was first introduced to her by their common friend. Anjali didn’t even know that the person she is meeting was a cricketer, who was going to be a big star in future and her husband, too. 

Now you can imagine that how God plays his cards and make people meet. She must have never thought that her wait on the airport would make her meet the man made for her, her better half as we say.

     

Was it love at first sight? I don’t know but I tell you I am so excited penning down this meet. It looks very filmy, isn’t it? Yes, I should say it is very filmy, whose director is sitting up above somewhere, who scripts each ones story in his style.        

      

Their first meet turned into friendship. The romance was in air. ‘Kuch Kuch hone laga tha…’ for sure. Unknowingly, slowly they fell in love with each other. They didn’t even realize it when the two hearts became one. Love doesn’t tell you when it will happen, it just happens. I tell you my friends; it is your best friend most of the time which turns into your life partner. It is said that, “Love is Friendship.” It’s my belief and not necessary it’s same for everyone. 

      

Love is still possible with an unknown girl but it may take some time to develop. Only thing important in love, be it your best friend or any other girl, understanding each other, very important factor to balance the ship of love.  If that happens, the relation sails long distance.      

     

One more thing to tell you, Love is not restrained by age of any person. Yes, Love sees no barriers and it’s true. Age is merely a number. What matters most is the bonding and understanding between each other, as I said earlier. Love is a strong emotion between two people which makes them come together to live a happy life. Strong example is in front of everyone. Anjali Mehta, born 10^th November, 1967 is almost five and half years older than Sachin but still holds a strong relationship with him.      

     

The distinguished quality which Sachin liked about Anjali when he first met her was that she was totally ignorant about him and the most hyped game of Cricket. That’s what made Sachin get more close to her. Whenever they both use to be together, they used to talk on various things except Cricket. It is seen, Sachin usually doesn’t like discussing Cricket at home, so that was major plus point in their relationship. Otherwise, whenever Sachin met anybody, he was forced to talk Cricket. Obviously. But with Anjali, that was not the case. Sachin felt relax and refreshing in company of Anjali. That’s how love slowly evolved between them.

     

They kept meeting each other for around five years. Before they could take any decision on marriage, they had decided to spend some time with each other so that they get to know each other well. That’s the important part of any relationship, i.e. to get accustomed with one another’s way of living and try to find a balance to lead a better life ahead. One who fails to achieve mutual understanding in the relationship, fails in love. But with Sachin and Anjali, everything was going smoothly and they seemed very happy in each other’s company. And so, finally in the year 1994, they decided to get engaged. This auspicious ceremony took place in New Zealand in presence of few of their close friends and family members without much hype. Exactly one year later, on 23^rd May, 1995, in Breach Candy Club, Mumbai, party was arranged for celebrating their engagement. Two days later, 25^th May, 1995, the lovebirds got married and thereupon Sachin began his new inning. Inning of love with Anjali has his partner.

     

What a Love Story!

     

Simple and Sweet! Just like both of them.

     

Now, just for fun sake, try to look at the strong bonding between Sachin and Anjali from scientific angle. You all might know the scientific theory, ‘Opposites attract.’ Yes, in case of love also it’s true. And Sachin-Anjali love story is a result of this theory. I tell you how? If we compare the likes and un-doings of Sachin and Anjali, they stand completely apart, which actually is the reason for their affection towards each other. From childhood, Sachin has always remain away from studies, not at all studious which was not the case with Anjali, she was totally into studies, was studying her medical when she met Sachin. Secondly, Sachin has tremendous craze for sports, be it Lawn Tennis, TT, F1, Football and offcourse Cricket. On the other hand, Anjali is totally away from sports, not at all sporty. She is practical in nature, thinks straight and to the point whereas Sachin is totally creative, imaginative in nature. I can just keep on writing their likes and dislikes which makes them bond together. Science and spirituality, both together help form their relation and a successful one. In this year, they will be completing their 17^th year of partnership but looking at them you can still feel that they are just newly married couple. They haven’t lost the charm of an ideal couple over the years. Touch Wood.

    

‘Rab ne bana di Jodi’…Don’t you think so?