The greatest game ever played?

So it's the cricket World Cup and for everyone in my homeland India this is the time for everyone to forget their problems for a while maybe wear their lucky underwear, socks, paint their faces blue or tricolour ,have a bunch of excuses ready to get out of work during the match days and the time where everyone comes together to cheer our boys in blue. It's pretty enthralling to be a part of such vigour, excitement and thrilling time of the year. Young, old, middle age men and women all over India come together to be a part of this event.

Even though, undoubtedly our men in blue are one of the best on the field, I feel like I have to acknowledge the elephant in the room. An elephant that we have ignored to the extend that it's cries are deafening. 

I'm sorry, but are we Indians aware that there are other sports apart from cricket? I'm sure we are, but we turn a blind eye to it. Can someone please tell me why?

Let's get it straight, I have nothing against the sport cricket or the sportsmen. Instead just like every other Indian, I support it wholeheartedly. But why do we as a society ignore the other 99% of other sports that are played in this country? Is it because that our men on blue are the best in their respective field? I'm sorry, but which player won't do well if he's facilitated with the best amenities, played in crores of rupees, his family more than taken care of,the whole nation supporting their sport as if their lives dependent on it, every event he plays- his travel and stay and equipment is well paid for without a glitch. Not to forget the outstanding amount of money private and public sectors pay for this IPL? The amazing amount of money we bid for international players and their stay and equipment? The expenses are almost comical if it weren't for the underlying important which we Indians give to this spot. Yes, I abhor the importance given to this sport. I condemn it whole heartily. 

What about Basketball? Football? Our national sport- hockey? Tennis? Badminton?

Yes, the government has started the IFL and Hockey league too, but for what? Are they paid as much as cricketers? Are they given world class amenities and equipment? Do thousands of people bunk their work and college to watch a semi final? Even if 50% of the population of India is aware of any other sports than cricket, it'd be achievement! Let's be real, NBA, Barclay, Super Bowl is known by a certain class of people who have TV and have subscribed to English sports channels, and this certain class is very little in comparison to this ever growing country of billions. More than half our country is below poverty line, but the roots of crickets are deepened since ancient India, which ironically introduced to us by the British.

Every Indian youth knows,it's almost like an unspoken rule that: if you want to do be in the big league in any sport and make it a profession, I think it's understood that they better as hell be good in circket or they might as well kiss their beloved sports career goodbye at national level only. Cause where does all the funding for international level tournaments for basketball/football/Kabbadi/Tennis/ swimming etc etc go? That's right. Circket! BINGOOOO.

Why don't you people understand? If you give the same importantance, love and adoration to sports other than circket, I assure you there going to be a Sachin Tandulkar in every sport. A Dhoni in basketball, football,tennis, hockey, etc. Every sports own kind of Virat Kholi. There no depletion of talent, if anything there a ocean full of it, but the tools to tame the waves of this ocean are being used only in cricket. Why can't there be an Indian team in the next FIFA? In Wimbledon? 

Let that sink in. 

I do appreciate the governments efforts to increase interest to other sports but I feel that unless we as Indians break this stigma that cricket is a gods game and the only sport out there in the world, maybe our national heroes in sports won't be treated as shit, with bare minimum pay and shitty equipment and zero acknowledgement from our world class neetaji's or any kind of awards given to them. By our one sided attitude do you know how many Sachin's, Kapil's, Dhoni's dreams we've washed away by our indifference? Think about it. 

Saying all of this, I also want to end on something I came across, to the people who think like me too, dear people bashing on cricket or abusing this game and hating on it won't get you anywhere. You'll just fuel people's ego because this games roots are embedded too deep to stop with a few hate words, instead you're the one looking like a fool. Don't hate the game, hate the importance given to it. YES, there's a difference. Educate yourself of this fine line, because I'm done explaining my believes. 

So to answer the question- which is the greatest game ever played? 

Answer: Every game played in the whole goddamn world.

Godspeed my friends. 

Let's bleed blue in every sport. 

It's not a bad word, I promise.

It's not a bad word, I promise you that. I can swear on it, just give it a chance.

Feminism. I can already hear the disgruntled signs and the get-over-yourself looks. But hear me out, I feel that this is a totally misjudged word and people don't know the meaning and the true meaning of it. 

"Kind of funny how you don’t read too many trend pieces – even when a study about male and female decision making appears – about how maybe some guys need to rethink whether they can land a Sports Illustrated model and take a look at women more in their league. We sell men the fantasy that with the right line, they can have any woman they desire. We tell women, meanwhile, they’re not giving guys a fair chance. And we turn a small scientific study into yet another excuse to admonish women, and to tell them they’re wrong and that they want too much."

Feminism: A world where female and male have equal rights and opportunities. No discrimination whatsoever based on ones gender. People who believe that such a world can exist are called feminists. NO, it's doesn't mean anti men. NO, it doesn't mean we think all the root causes of problems are men. NO, we do not condescend based on the only fact that you're a man or you have a penis. 

Yes, I'm not saying all feminists are like that, they're some extremists. But does that give you the right to raid on the whole belief of feminism itself? And to all those extremists who think men are the root causes of all problems- here's a reality check. You hate men, yet act just like them by trying to disregard solely based on gender. You give them the same treatment which we as feminists are against. You're no different than the next man who believes  that women are the weaker sex. The whole foundation of feminism crumbles when you act like we're the superior sex and try to repress males this under this sanctuary. Isn't that just very sad. Please don't go abusing the powers of this belief. I implore you to stop.

And to all the people who think, as I quote unquote, "Oh stop using feminism as a defense, it's all rubbish and you're all lonely women looking for ways to male bash." Well excuse me for trying to fight for equality. Excuse me for trying to get my sex, my gender; equal to men. After decades of repressing our gender, you people must be real pleased with yourselves, no? Well time's up buddy, we're here to fight; to fight for a chance for equality. To stand shoulder to shoulder with men, to be given all the rights; not to be repressed anymore. 

Some people may think- oh it's just another girl who uses the women in third world countries as bases of arguments for her feminist ways to seem important and pseudo charitable. Well excuse me but 3/5 of the world are 3rd world countries where the women have no voice of their own. Excuse me for trying to be that voice for them. I'm tired of boys ranting how they're discriminated based on how their more inclined to be the man on the family, to be the bread earner, to not show emotions. Well this is us girls/woman telling you that there's no more need for that. It's okay to show emotions, it's okay, both parties can be the parents of the house, it's okay we can both earn to to feed our family. 

We women are just asking for a chance to share all those heavy responsibilities with you- then why are you men so against it? Why don't you join us? Help us? Instead of thinking of ways to repress, stand shoulder to shoulder and help us make our beliefs come true.

It saddens me to see the rape culture these days. It's the girls fault for wearing scantly clothes. I wear a sari, a salwaar, a shorts, skirts or for that matter nothing at all. It's my right to be dressing the way I want without being eye raped, cat-called, molested, raped, disgraced for my clothing choice. Do men have to go through this everything they leave the house? Objectification of both sexes is not only morally but in all aspects is wrong. There are grounds where both male and female sexes can meet and overcome such issues. But not without the support of one another. I'm tired of people tainting this beautiful belief by some ignorant people who are bent upon abusing us feminists. I'm tired of the immaturity of boys my age who disrespect my belief thinking I'm some Saint of moral policing and will hold their private  parts against them anyway I can. Labeling  me high maintenance for being called a feminist. Showing me and my fellow feminist disrespect. Two words- GROW UP. 

Sorry not sorry that I'm the kind of feminist who isn't afraid to be sexy. Or not having the stupid logic of dressing a certain way cause "men will be men." Too bad, well freaking women will be women too. Stop making this bullshit about external appearances asking for rape. A women's external appearance is not an excuse for the dirt and filth of a man's brain or his private parts. We're adults with proper motor control over our body. Stop blaming clothes or certain norms for your sorry of an excuse mentalities. 

You men/boys joke about going to jail for the fear of getting raped? Well that's the whole world for women. Try and understand. We're not revolting against your gender. We're revolting against the ego that your gender has been feeding on by repressing my sex since decades. Learn the difference. Try being in our world, just as we shall try being in yours. 

Also to all the girls and women who are not respecting themselves, substituting their dreams and succumbing and being repressed, please reach out, raise your voice, get help. I can't force anyone to do anything but I can assure you, that we will help and stand with you. Please don't be afraid. Fight for what's yours, it's your right. 

If only we left our egos at the door, imagine all the things we can achieve.

Thanks for reading. xx

Mr Grinch

The wind snipped at his dry skin, the coldness of it shook him up to his very bones. He pulled up the zipper of his jacket in hopes of not catching  hypothermia. The news channels had warned everyone about the deathly snow storm that's around the corner of his little town, but that clearly didn't stop the folks of the town to huddle up bright and early to travel off for their Christmas vacations. He pulled his beanie till his bright pink elf ears were fully covered, as he stood next to the fireplace of the airport lounge, waiting. He couldn't help but notice how little boys were playing around Christmas tree, running between the legs of their parents as they tried to balance their morning cup of steaming hot coffee and hot chocolate, an enigmatic smile playing his lips, he couldn't help but reminiscent  about his childhood days. The kids fighting over who gets to sit first on Santa's lap while the pseudo Santa failed miserably to keep his fake white as snow beard in place, while the little elf's tried to keep the sugar rush in order while they stood in the queue. His chest pranged at the site and he wished he was a carefree child again.

"Flight M203 from Detroit has landed as scheduled and baggage pick up is at Gate 2."

His breath caught up in his throat, as he tried to calm down. Just then, a little girl came crashing into his legs as she dropped her hot chocolate all over him. His jacket which was once a pure white was now stained brown; it was totally ruined. His first reaction was to yell but seeing the way the little girls eyes were bordering with tears, his anger vanished and he gave her a small smile and knelt down to pick up her bag. When suddenly he felt a pair of wet, chocolate flavoured red lips on his cheeks and the little girl whispered into his ears "Merry Christmas sir, sorry for your clothes." And she ran off. Stunned, he quietly left to the parking lot where he had a change of clothes. Turning on the heater, he quickly changed his jacket and just sat down for a while as he enjoyed the warmth of the car heater, when his eyes fell on his watch. He cursed loudly and made his way back to the airport as carefully as he could in a hurry, as he tried not to slip on the ice when; all his insecurities started to build up, could he do this? Could be forget his past and move on? Could he be worthy of forgiveness? How is he supposed to pretend that the past 15 years of his life was just one bad mistake after the other? If he could be responsible for such a task? If he would survive this? If maybe for once he wouldn't feel like Mr Grinch for Christmas and he wouldn't be totally alone on Christmas Eve? If he would succeed and would actually rekindle all the lost human connections that he was deprived for all these years? If he  was capable enough? If rehab hadn't totally drained all his mental and social capabilities for relationships in his life.

He suddenly felt as if he couldn't breath and the pressure coil in his chest snapped, when he lost his balance just as he was losing control of his life as he slipped down on the hard ice as his eyes were surrounded by darkness. 

"Hey dad? Daddy? Hello? Can you hear me? Get up, come on! Hello? HELLO DAD?" His ears felt the shrillness of the voice when he opened his eyes and looked into a pair of strikingly green eyes which he had starved himself for 10 years; full of worry and he started to feel the warmth of her hands. "Hi, merry Christmas honey." He said with a smile that was a one too big for his face; as she smiled and said "Merry Christmas dad." 

Maybe the Grinch was finally giving him back his Christmas he thought to himself as he finally crushed his daughter to his chest, greedily taking in all her warmth as he smiled into her hair. 

Merry Christmas to all you lovely people out there! 🎄❤️

Saving Grace

She dipped her mouth into the bitterness of the chocolate which somehow always lightened up her veins as she felt her sleepiness fading away. The way the bitterness cut her taste buds with the marshmallows almost ripening her sweet tooth, boy did she love her morning drinks. It was a sleepy Sunday morning, with hardly any people in her little diner; When a family entered, the dad talking on the phone with a young girl about his pinky dragging her lace shoes while the mother balanced her big purse and a little baby boy on the girdle of her hip.

Putting on her famous smile to welcome her guests she took their order, when the dad got up and went out talking on the phone, pacing steadily for what seemed to be a heated conversation. Not meaning to intrude, she averted her eyes and took the order while the mother gave her a peevish smile until she looked down at her hips and her smile faltered. 

"Nobody tells you about the hardships. Let me tell you, it's a tremendous, thankless, never ending task." 

Surprised at this customers outburst, she quickly fled the scene and after placing the order to the kitchen staff, she picked up her broom and starting tidying up the place. The mother's wounded and pitiful looks, made her skin crawl and was thankful for when the toddler started to brawl his eyes out to captivate his mother wavering attention. Taking advantage of this, she ran to the broom closet to get out her coat to cover up, in hopes that now her customer won't be looking at her, with her pitiful woes. She felt almost shameful, as if she had ugly scars to paint over on her body. At war with herself, she just somehow felt drained out and suddenly even her bitter drink wasn't enough to hold her up. She felt as if the only think keeping her from losing it was the only thing that wasn't even there in the world, just a figment of what she thought it would be.This was slowly killing her, knowing the uncertainty of this, the future judging preying eyes of her fellow humans; the fact that she had no male advocate in her life at the age of 45, if she would ever survive this, who would look after her? Closing her eyes she whispered to herself "Dammit, get your shit together." 

By the time she got out, the whole family had finished their food and had left a tip for her lacking service. Annoyed for this was clearly pity money, she angrily threw it in the donation jar. Her ego severely wounded.

"You gotta keep what you get honey, or you won't have any money to feed yourself let alone two mouths!" her boss gently reprimanded her, as he held out her 10 dollar tip.

She knew instantly he was right and swallowing  her ego, she clutched her tip in one hand, while the other hand carefully cupped her swollen stomach when she felt the first kick of its tiny legs. Suddenly, just for a moment, though fleeting, she felt happy, truly happy, and that maybe, just maybe this child will be her saving grace. 

Parents VS kids

1. Then:

You guys had no Internet, thanks to which you guys had the most memorable childhood memories and no 9gag or Tumblr eating up your time. 

Now:

We live, breathe, eat, speak, talk Internet. We're obviously more aware of things than our parents but when it comes to non virtual work- we fail. Miserably. 

2. Then: 

Your eating, sleeping habits were on point. You'd have a daily routine that you would followed which made you a much more disciplined than any other generation. 

Now: 

Lolol, what is sleep? Food- pizza, pizza, any cheese, oh and pizza. 

I'm sorry did I hear someone say 8:00 am? That's practically the middle of the night. 

3. Then: 

You guys were so scared of your parents especially your dad that you didn't have the guts to look them in the eyes because of which most don't have open conversations about what they actually want to do in life, and you guys live with "what ifs" and all your dreams which you couldn't complete cause you didn't have the nerve to do what you want or go against your parents wishes. 

Now: 

It's not changed much from then, but yes, we kids at least have to nerve to convey our dreams, if we run after them or not? Now that's circumstantial I think.  

4. Then

You guys seemed more self assured than this Gen Y for sure. 

Maybe it's because you don't have social networks to ruin your self image after seeing the other people lifestyles (pretentious even so). 

Now:

Self assurance is something of the myths cause you might self assure others but are lost when it comes down to oneself. Whether it's ones self image, body, social life, life goals. Everything is so damn scary and almost everyone has a complex which leads to self destruction. 

5. Then

The level of competition was negligible compared to present. I'm not saying there wasn't, obviously what's life without a little competition? 

Now: 

Life's a joke- you're in the 2nd most populated country and not that it's full of airheads, oh no, you're competing with sleep deprived, hard working, parents pressured kids. That's all. Not one- but about a million of such kids. Hey no pressure kiddo. 

6. 

You guys complain or boast (I'm confused which) about how your pocket money was 40-50 rupees and your parents never spent more than 300-400 rupees on your whole childhood. Or complain about how you guys didn't get new shoes or clothes like ever considering all were hand me downs from your siblings. What you guys don't realise is that you guys learnt the real value of money the hard way, and is something to be very very proud off. 

Now: 

Our Starbucks latte comes for 200-300 bucks. 500-1000 is cheap for us and we burn money like its nobody business. "Baap ka paisa." after all. 

7. Then:

Your school fees was like 10-12 rupees, and you guys never ever forget to remind us this. But please try to get that we kids are in a very very expensive generation. That costs of living are higher- your days are gone. It's a little unfair to compare your cost of livings with ours just cause of the massive change in economy. It's not our fault that the onions are as expensive as gold okay? 

Now: 

More expensive, better quality. Let's show off the brands of all that we're wearing in our hash tags so that people know I don't do cheap. Come on guys- I know we can we better than just brands and stupid labels. There life more than that- and we need to start learning the value of money, the sooner the better. Our "baap ka paisa" will run out sooner or later and then what? 

8. Then:

You guys did have people who drink, smoked or did drugs. But it was all under the covers. But a very less fraction. 

Now:

Having a social life = late night partying + drinking/smoking. 

Kids these days smoke like nobody's watching, do drugs to follow a new fad. Sometimes I feel that the peer pressure and the whole tension to do well knowing that there are probably 100 people better than you leading to such extreme measures. But drugs and smoking are inexcusable habits

9. Then: 

Due to lack of technology, you guys had the privilege to explore all the possibilities and try out new things. Anything you did was new.

Now: 

We're following fads to go vintage. If we have a eureka moment- just google it. 10 million people have already been there or spent that. It's more and more difficult to stand out. So we spend all our time trying to fit in. Originality is lost. Very few get to stand out which is a tremendous achievement! 

10. Then: 

Romance was something special and oh so chivalrous and filmy. From writing letters to stealing glances at the local park- romance those days were something different. 

Now: 

Lol, romance? You mean he/she liked my facebook/Instagram post. That's so romantic. Or she/he send me a text first- best day of my life. It's a virtual bubble we live in- and virtual romances and online dating is something I can't fathom. At all. I'm sure our romance stories will start something like this: "It's all began when she/he sent me a Instagram/Facebook request." 

But all it all- teenagers will be teenagers. This or past generations: there's some traits that we can't get rid off. From rebellion against parents to crushes, to pressure. We're all on the same page somehow. 

Serendipitous meetings?

As she sat, waiting for the bus; She could feel the trickle of sweat cascading down her neck. But at the same time the sudden temperature drop and a cold gush of wind chilled her to her very bones. Flabbergasted at the ever changing minds of the weather gods, she ran to a nearby cafe, in hopes of drying off. 

The cafe was crowed and the hustle of people annoyed her to the point that she decided to walked out in the stormy weather; which seemed like the grey scale of doom would wail out its misery anytime soon. Out of the corner of her eye- She finally found an empty bench which was canopied by an umbrella. Though the bench was occupied by an old man,she went on her way in hopes that she would have come company till the storm passed. Just as she got closer- she realised that the man was smoking a cigar and having a very sensitive throat to smoke, she thought of going someplace else when the rain started pelting on her back. She quickly jumped under the umbrella with a peevish smile on her face as she watched the startled look on his face. 

They sat in awkward silence as the smell of stale smoke hung in the air and the only light -was coming from the lit end of his cigar. "Weird weather, eh?" He asked, to which she just shrugged. Finally noticing her uneasiness, he put out his smoke and gave her an dry smile. Noticing his  relaxed posture, his aged wrinkled skin, his small beady eyes, she tried to read as to what kind of background he may be from, when suddenly he said, "I smoke to die."

Curious by the way he told me such a private so easily, she just shrugged and said,"Hey, no judgements. Do what you gotta do, but smoking is never the answer, nor will it ever be. There many other ways to be sad and pretend to want to die. But you know they say to each their own." 

He just smiled and lit another smoke. "Do you like the world?" 

"Yes...no...well most of the times" she flustered. 

"Why? What's to like- good people die, bad people die, strong people die, weak people die, chaos is hiding around every corner of our life, we can't wait to live but at the same time we die without living. Smokers die, non smokers die. Everyone just have a different amount of time allotted. That's it." he said. 

The despair and the morbidly of the truth behind his statement made her skin tingle . She couldn't figure out if it was out of astonishment or if she just was uncomfortable with the thought of having such a morbid topic as a 'small talk'. His piercing eyes stared curiously into hers while his words sunk in. 

"Listen here mister, you might think you have nothing to live for, and this whole "world is an evil hell and we're all just waiting to die" is not the way to go about. I agree, we're all on a time limit and there chaos and imbalance everywhere. But that's the thing, that's where the true essence of living truly lies. Waking up, taking shit from people, finding happiness with your loved ones, feeding yourself, taking care when everyone is trying to take you down, stumbling across problems at very moment and waking up and repeating everything. That's the guts, and courage we all need. The moment we run out of that courage portion, our time ends too." 

Seemingly startled at the girl's outburst he asked, "Why is there so much imbalance in every equation though? There is good and there is bad, there is calm and there is angry, there is supposedly a white and black area, but that's bull. We call know that it's all grey, no white, no black. So if there is a god, why is he so unfair? And who made him the leader of what we are granted and what we are not, what lies in our fate? Everything is twisted in ways I refuse to fathom. Explain me this whole equation of this God?"

The ends of her lips curved upwards and she said, "Imbalance is the very existence of balance, like bad is of good. Everything is intertwined in a network that is out of reaches of us mere humans. The faster you accept that- the happier you'll be and the faster you'll leave the world peacefully. The worlds full of misery- we hardly need you to add on, so try to keep you head above water. And keep swimming."

The old man's wrinkles suddenly seemed to disappear as he tried to inhale the depth of her words as silenced enveloped them. 

As they parted ways, she quietly quoted her favorite author, "The world is not a wish-granting factory my friend." To which he gave a sad smiled and they quietly slipped into the shadows, probably stained forever with insight they've never asked for but unknowingly it's marked them. For good or bad? We'll never know. 

At this moment.

At this moment someone is brushing their teeth to go to bed, while somewhere the suns rises in the horizon, making people brush their teeth for the exact opposite reason. Someone is falling asleep to the soothing melodies of a lullaby, at the same time somewhere some one's waking up to the shrill screeches of the rooster  waking them up. Somewhere people are fighting over silly reasons, breaking relations while somewhere, some kids share their P&B sandwich on their first day of school, with all their little awkward cuteness marking their soon to last; long lasting friendships.

At this moment, some painfully hang onto their last breaths while some take their first breaths from their mother wombs. Some cry and grieve at the loss of loved ones while some cry and celebrate of a new life on this planet. Some take their first steps as an individual while some lose their legs over tragic accidents. Some say their first words while their loved ones celebrate on the other hand, some say their last words while their loved ones grieve. 

At this moment- someone is falling in love with some one's eyes while someone else is falling out of those same eyes he fell in love with. Some people are saying their "I do!" to tie their love in a legal binding While others are saying "I do" to break this very legal bond once made on love. While some people are making new friends others make enemies. Some are stepping out of the circle of life and risking their lives to fell a thrill of excitement while others live and die, all their lives contemplating on whether to step out and actually feel alive. While some gain something out of serendipitous situations while others lose all they've got in tragic situations. The sun rises somewhere in the horizon while in the same horizon on the other side of the world- the same horizon sets the very same sun. Isn't it funny? Thinking about all these precious, tragic, exhilarating, somewhat diabolical and beautiful at the same time painful moments that occur every passing moment. Just think about it! The possibilities are endless. 

To infinity and beyond, god darn my heads such a painful beautiful and wonderful place to live in! 

And this is such a sneak peak of what it's like.