Chennai Super Kings - Two time champions or Three time runner-ups ??

The rising popularity of the T20, the newest form of cricket coupled with India’s win in the inaugural T20 World Cup lead to the birth of one of the richest sporting leagues on the globe – the Indian Premier League. The rules and regulations were put in place and then the teams were drafted based on the lines of the EPL player auctions. On paper, Deccan Chargers Hyderabad was considered to be the strongest teams comprising the hardest hitters in the cricketing circuit. There were numerous squads, powerful enough to lay claim to the inaugural Championship. Then there was a certain Chennai Super Kings lead by the national team skipper MS Dhoni who had proved his mettle as a respectable leader by winning the first T20 World Cup in 2007.

Over the six seasons of the tournament, CSK is the only team to not have changed their Captain. They have emerged as the most consistent and well performing team over the course of the league. They have qualified for the last four every single time. They have managed to win IPL twice in 2010 and 2011. In addition they have also won the Champions League once. But despite their brilliance as a team throughout the every tournament, CSK seemed to have faltered one step away from glory. Their dominance has been tarnished by three losses in the finals of the championship.

The Last Moments !!

My sweat, my pain shouted out loud,

I had worked hard,

 In that last sprint of my life,

And meters away from the finish,

I knew it was my last second there.

...

Being chased through the woods,

Caught red-handed stealing,

Fearsome canines unleashed on me,

I knew very well then,

It was my last minute there.

... 

Returning home to earth,

The spacecraft caught fire,

I looked at the oxygen levels,

Grief struck that moment and I knew,

It was my last hour there.

 ...

The British had announced freedom,

And the governments, the partition,

I cried, I laughed, I grew up there, 

But I knew,

It was my last day there.

...

As part of 100 Words on Saturday - 7 on Write Tribe.

I knew it was my last day there !

Lying there, on the battle-ground,

Clutching my blooded leg in one hand,

And a grenade in the other,

It was all I had.

Fighting through the fading vision,

And stopping myself from screaming,

Due to the unbearable pain,

I realized, it will soon be over.

I could hear bullets swishing past,

And I could hear them tearing away human flesh,

My friends crying in excruciating pain,

As I lay there helpless.

I had my duties unfinished,

These intruders shall not pass through,

Till the moment I breathe,

“It’s my country, and you don’t belong here.”

I unpinned the grenade,

And closed my eyes,

On this vast, rocky, barren field,

I knew it was my last day there.

Tangy Tuesday Picks (23 Oct)

As part of 100 Words on Saturday – 7 on Write Tribe.

दिल !

अपनी चाहतों की नुमाइशें ना करना कभी,
दिल शीशे का है, टूटना लाज़मी है |

apni chahton ki numaishein na karna kabhi,
dil sheeshe ka hai, tootna lazmi hai.

आवारा दिल !!

आवारा ख़्वाहिशों का आशियाना दिल,
आवारापने में आशिकी भूल गया ||

awaara khwahishon ka ashiyana dil,
awaarapane mein ashiqui bhul gaya.

A Job Interview !!

The DRS Conundrum !!

The world of sports has been changing all over the globe and so is the technology. On field umpire’s erroneous decisions have always caused furor. It was then considered a necessity to embrace technology in order to increase the accuracy of on-field calls.

Technology has been used in numerous sports like hawk-eye technology in tennis, goal-line technology in soccer and many more. Based on these successful models, ICC finally launched the DRS in 2009. This technology has since then faced many ups and downs.

I Dream !!

I dream,

To never cry,

To never fall,

To strive.

To never fail.

I break down, then compose myself,

I smile again,

Up until I’ve created more memories,

Because every once in a while,

I dream.

I fall, I get up,

I rise again,

Up until I conquer the peak,

Because every once in a while,

I dream.

I get tired, but I don’t rest,

I strive,

Up until I’ve achieved my destiny,

Because every once in a while,

I dream.

I fail, I try again,

And again,

Up until I succeed,

Because every once in a while,

I dream.

As part of 100 Words on Saturday – 6 on Write Tribe.

The Good Samaritan !!

It was lunch time at Sean’s firm. He was the CEO of the organization. Tall, handsome and much younger than his age exhibited, he was known for never holding back in helping those in need. As he had just recently displayed when he helped fund an ambitious project which resulted in the birth of a new company. He refused any credit or stake in their profit.

He had started his own firm way back in his late 20’s and since then he and his firm have earned respect and accolades all over the globe.

He headed to the McDonalds outlet nearby his office for a silent peaceful time alone, away from his usual office-place commotion, a rarity in his busy schedule. He placed his order and searched for a solitary corner. He had always complained how small and inconvenient the chairs were, a fair argument considering his abnormally tall physique. He let out a brief grunt looking over the obnoxious size of the furniture but sat down eventually, stretching his legs under the table as far as they extended to.

Munching on his monotonous meal, pondering over the aftermath of his firm’s recent failed merger attempt with a Silicon Valley startup, he was startled by a loud thump. An attendant had tripped over, Sean’s long, outstretched legs being the culprits. Sean stood up, reaching out to help the attendant on her feet. She was oozing blood; her head had hit the table next to Sean’s.

Just Another Exam !!

“Psst… psst… hey ??” it was my umpteenth attempt to  get her attention. On some previous few occasions she looked at me and just turned away.

“Hey, 2nd question??” I tried again. “Come on yaar, just give me a hint at least.”

“Draw a hatch filter circuit and derive the equation for impulse response.” She turned back for one brief moment and whispered all that in one breath.

I couldn’t make much of that as I had no idea whatsoever what that meant. I forced my brain to think and the first question that came to my mind was, “What the hell is a hatch filter ??”

That question was a very significant part as the following question was dependent on that answer. Anyway, with no other option, I switched on my creative mode and did what engineers do best – make up an answer. I penned down whatever came to mind regarding ‘hatch filter’, first the ‘hatch’ part then the ‘filter’ part. Convinced that I had written enough, I moved on and completed the paper well within the stipulated time.

As I strolled out of the exam hall, I was in for a rude shock. It was supposed to be ‘match filter’. I had studied that very topic just in the morning and could’ve explained it to perfection. If only I paid a little more attention to what she answered back. Dammit.

I looked at the marks allotted to that particular question. They were a bounty worth – 10 marks. Luck was ROFL.

All I could do then was to pray I get some marks for trying. It was a bad day.

F.r.i.e.n.d.s !!

Friends are the essence of life,

For they are the only true fragrance.

My friends are my idols,

Some taught me to be humble,

Despite the heights of success,

For the fall is terrible from the peak.

Some taught me to put thoughts into words,

For an idea dies eventually,

But the scribblings on a parchment lives on forever.

Some taught me to never fall in love,

For there is no pain,

Mightier than a heartbreak.

Some taught me a smile is invincible,

For a smiling face is one you see in your grave,

No more than forgetting to breathe.

Some taught me to use WhatsApp :D,

For there is no greater joy,

Than to text and annoy your crushes.

Some taught me to hurl abuses,

For err .. dunno :l

My friends are my strength,

My friends are my weakness.

My friends are my idols.

Sorry Shakespeare,

For this 'poem' will become,

The new definition of 'awful' !!

War and Exams !!

                                                                      

Wars and exams aren't much different if you look at them in a certain way. That's what I've tried - to bring out an analogy of sorts between the examinations and war.

...

The Dread Zone - Friend Zone !!

The President,

Zone Allocation Department,

Relationship Regulation Committee,

Sector 68, Base 1,

Boyfriend Zone.

Dated – 14^th February,2013

Subject – Request for change of permanent address from Friend Zone to Boyfriend Zone (or closer).