The common room was empty... not a soul inside! And there I was, rushing like rushing to save my soul! Sachin was about to cross 17000 any moment now! I simply had to watch that... but exam time and college life, at times doesn't permit you to do all that u wish to do. So I was frantically trying to reach in front of the newly installed LCD TV in our hostel common room.

But then when were girls common rooms ever considered to be a cricketing haunt?? So it was indeed the desperate cry of my tortured and atmosphere deprived soul that wanted to see sach reach the milestone in proper atmosphere... but that was not to be!

So I sat alone! All alone in that big common room, but actually not there....Sachin took me far far away! The innings tonight were indeed one of his best ever! It had the fearlessness and ruthlessness of Sharjah, the patience of Sydney, the cheekiness of Perth and the sheer brilliance which is a trademark of every sachin inngs! Each and every shot was picture perfect, proper textbook style cricket with which any child may start learning. At the same time, the innovation was all over the place to see. The best part was to see him dominating the bowlers and the field setting , being so very aggressive , at the same time , so keen to take those all important singles. It was perfect!

The running between the wickets was so good, it often left the likes of Raina and Yuvraj two steps behind, the youthful excitement when something went according to the plan, the aggressiveness of stroke, the elegance of footwork, the rhythm of stance and the total harmony, a confluence of youth and experience, rebellious and conventional, a treasure to watch, a sight to behold!

 i shouted and shrieked and clapped like mad. My voice still isn't back to normal and my hands hurt a bit. But who cares! i saw Sachin erupt like a volcano today ! i saw him coming down the ground and give Aussies a sense of déjà vu , with the Sharjah style sixes . Of course I shouted! The result being, slowly the common room started filling up...first in ones and twos and later in groups of 5 and 6! As more and more people got to hear about Sachins century and hitting, and as they heard me getting excited, they probably felt like being a part of this simple celebration of existence. Before i knew, the common room was fuller than i had ever seen. Interested cricket enthusiasts , casual followers, people who had come attracted by the commotion, people who had come to watch sachin score yet another century, people who had nothing else to do...

Each and every shot drew deafening roars and cheers... it bubbled up like a crescendo inside us all. Within a matter of few minutes, everybody had gotten over their depressing/miserable/busy/tensed day...they had forgotten that exams were a week away, they had forgotten the tests coming up , the unfinished assignments, the home and peer troubles... in that one moment when sachin lifted his bat and looked towards the sky once again, everybody forgot about everything else and simply exalted ...excited to be witnessing this moment ,  mind blank from all the gory details , a curious mixture of calm and adrenaline rush flowing inside us all , we were just alive, really truly alive, celebrating our lives, celebrating the joy of living !!

Of course , as is often the case ,once sachin gets out , the whole team decides to leave on a vacation so that foolish critics can get the chance to say ‘sachin is not a matchwinner'...  nobody will ever think that chasing 350 under lights , with all major batsman already back in the pavilion , a flawless, effortless , single handed mammoth innings of 175 is an effort only sachin is capable of.

It hurt to see that effort go in vain, it hurt to see the pain in sachin's eyes, to see him dejected, to see such an innings prove inconsequential!

But then Sachins innings have that amazing quality nobody, not even Bradman had! When Sachin bats, nations, regions, religions, wins, losses, results, become nonexistent and irrelevant. All that remains is a sense of limitless, boundless ecstacy!

So yes , we lost a very important game, despite sachins 17k , and despite the majestic 175. But at the end of the game , u know what , it hardly mattered ! by the time sachin finished with his innings , he had already united a small hostel common room , and countless other common rooms, tea shops ,boulevards ,streets and homes, across the nation and the world.... because of him , for an hour or two , people got over their busy , stopwatch lives and sat back to enjoy each moment passing, because of him unknown , separate voices united as one to cheer for their nation, cheer for cricket , cheer for their lives and cheer for one majestic man !! and as long as sachin continues to do this , i for one, wont mind the result of the game. My hero truly unites the nation , brings the nation to a standstill , uplifts people and makes them become kids again !!

Thank you sachin for making our days so special, for giving such memories! Tonight i sleep peaceful and happy. Tomorrow i will wake up enthusiastic and very happy. Thank you for making my many many days!! This 17k is another gigantic feat only you are capable of and may such feats continue to be in your way. Thank you for the effort and enthusiasm you have, even after 20 years! Thank you for being there for us all!!! Thank you !!!!

PS: to all those who are still dejected by the loss, remember Sachin saying ‘at the end of the what mattered is that we played good cricket , and cricket indeed emerged as a winner ‘!!

Madhyama.

5/10/09