Thursday, September 16, 2004

Reliving yesteryears...

BOSM starts today back in Pilani... and from what I hear, it's been raining. Maybe it's a tradition or something, but I remember there being rain before at least 3 of my 4 BOSM inaugs. There always is a struggle scheduling matches on the tennis courts, we wish the clouds would part for just a moment, that the heaven's won't open up till the last point is played. And everytime, the clouds listen to us... and the matches finish on time.

Four BOSMs and I must say it's been fun... and I'd probably give anything to be back there in Pilani right now... the excitement on inaug day... as you watch outstis practice... silently making mental notes of any flaws you might notice... "hmm... he struggles on a deep backhand... shit, forehand serve return is good... forward movement is slow... nice volley..."

There's a team spirit, a camaraderie, as you stand with fellow BITSians... knowing they feel exactly the way you do... that they're gonna get up at 6 the next morning with you... the day you've practised for before tests is finally here... standing there you realize that what you read somewhere was perhaps right... that it's about taking part and not winning... at that moment, winning is the last thing on your mind...

It's a momentary feeling... and it doesn't last long... the traditional baski match happens and while you're watching them play... you're actually somewhere else... you're on the tennis courts mentally wishing you didn't have to wait all night to play your first match... you see yourself hitting the winning shot a thousand times before you actually do...

The match is at 7 in the morning... and the only people on the court are the two teams... does it matter that there is no crowd... hardly... even if there were a thousand people, you won't notice them... all you see is the guy in front of you... this is the moment you've been waiting for... the moment you'll miss when you're sitting in Bangalore typing in a blog...

The match begins and you'd do anything to win... you'll play up on your opponents weaknesses, you'll even mentally psyche him out if you can... you find out he has a pulled muscle in his legs, you'll make him run around... you'll see him grimace, you'll feel victory is near... a sprained wrist and you'll get him to volley... because you want to win... because you know he'd do the same to you... because you know that he understands... because you know that when it ends and you shake hands, it will all be forgotten... there will be no grudges, you'll part friends...

Because you know that if someone asks you about the match 10 years later, the first words out of your mouth would be... "He had a sprained ankle and shit, he still fought so hard..."




1 comment:

ankit said...

arrey....now u made me all bosm-psenti.
that rush of standing on the block, the moment b4 diving in. The "on the block, take ur mark....and the long moment b4 GO"! BOSM is the only time i've felt it and its one helluva experience...
and y no culturals? last time's "I'm an Indian" is another sweet memory....! kya ankit, what say?

Sudeep.