The meeting with the legend!

The Wall for The Wall

Sameer's autographed bat!

Sameer getting his bat signed.

Dravid signing the official letter.

Sandeep showing the official letter.

Sameer with Dravid.

A Step Closer

Probably one of those happiest days of my life. Our efforts to compile the book, Behind The Wall got a new boost today. Our chief guest, the man himself, Rahul Dravid, today gave not only an official go ahead (see pic) for it, but also ensure that he’ll be present for the launch, no matter what!

Our book started about a year ago, Thanks to AB. However, to be really honest, there wasn’t much dedication. This boost I’m sure will now enable us to unite everyone as a team and work for it. Another 6 months and we plan for a grand launch.

Where is a big big question. The participating members are from all over India. Ah, abroad as well. Deciding a venue will be one pain but I guess this is a DREAM project and everyone will care the least about the place and more about how to fit this into the schedule and not miss the grand opportunity to meet the legend face to face. But we’ll make sure Prosper and Mekhala are here in India for the launch.

What a day!

Friends!

I thought it would be a long day considering we planned to start with Communiqué. But then, one reason or the other and everybody were busy.

Yet I stayed till 3:45 in college, doing what?!
Oh, the print outs of the first drafts. And then framing a time-line for the Communiqué process.
The style sheet too! Though I haven’t added a word to it. Nor have I downloaded the required fonts. Ah! I am LAZY!

I met Ekta after a long while. Well though she is in Gargi, she rarely comes. And the other days, our time table doesn’t allow. This meeting happened after a week almost. Hence, after a long while.

And then, I met another friend after a long time. Three weeks this time, almost. Spent nice two hours chit-chatting with Aru bhua, without realizing it was getting late.
The conversation ranged from the daaru party to trying daaru, to their recent Leh trip and then to our probable trip. Discussing feasible venues for a short trip with college friends. The weather. Goa. The do’s and the don’ts. The points to be remembered. The newspaper, the Journo junction shirt (no, T-shirt, it is) and its color.
Apart from that, a little (actually, more than that) cribbing about the weirdest person on this planet. @##$%!!#@$$@!##@.
Oh! I forgot my hair-cut too. Eventually, I have started liking it. A little. Waiting for someone else’s comments on the same. And I return for those, tomorrow!

Oh yes, I cancelled a meeting with another couple of friends today. The gap, if you are wondering, is four days this time. Have to meet them, and more than that surprise them with the new hair-cut!


Okay now, the Style sheet is the first thing I do tomorrow. Err, I mean, I hope so!
We finally start with the editing. FINALLY!!! Well. I hope so, again! Days will now get longer, for sure!

Back to Office!

Well, I was told and ordered (and I thought) I must be a little regular with my blog.
Nothing much to update matching the genre of my blog, which is by the way, taking a sporty turn!

Anyhow, let me begin with something sporty.
A visit back to my beloved sports desk at The Asian Age was memorable in more than one ways.

Autowalas going on strike gives you an opportunity to learn more about things and places around. A fortcut to Green Park, a chhota fortcut and the ganda-nala running parallel to my college, I added a lot to my limited knowledge about the vicinity — all thanks to Ishita. Thank you!

Ishita is not lazy, you know! Contrary to my belief, and popular belief as well, she’s active. Really active rather! She walks. On odd days, either with her iPod or a buddy on a phone call, she prefers to walk from college to home and not care about an auto! Kudos girl.

Back to office, Sunit and R. Bhardwaj now sport a new look. Suits them.
Harpreet was a little busy. I wish we had some time to catch up.

However, the most amazing part of the visit was the brief 15-minutes Dravid talk with my first Editor, Rahul Sir. I always knew he was a Dravid fan, his room or rather the posters and photographs said it all, our talk just confirmed it!

I think it was a little foolish to ask him about the photographs however I couldn’t resist the temptation I had for almost two months! And this gave the start to our Dravid talk.

It was nice to see another person and someone like Rahul sir, extremely happy and excited about Dravid’s comeback to the shorter version of the game.
The most amazing part of it was to learn from sir’s experiences in Pakistan’s during Indian ckt team’s historic tour way back in 2004. Most soothing to the ears was sir’s narrative of Dravid’s mammoth 270.

I go back on Wednesday for sir’s interview for my article, my contribution to Communiqué. And yes, I’ll catch up with him a little later as well, for a different interview though!

Oh yes, how can I forget to mention this! I have been asked to come back and design the main sports page again when Dravid scores heavily in the ICC Champions Trophy. More than one reason to look forward to CT.


P.S.: Thanks Ishita for the walk till Green Park. I just realized how close you are to the college!

P.P.S.: Your dog is too cute, I forgot his name though. I don’t normally like dogs, but your pet deserved a mention here.