After a long time...

I have almost neglected this blog and afforded it step-motherly treatment, but then I have a valid, genuine reason. And no, it is not the writers' block, or the bloggers' block that one does encounter quite so often. It has been something else.

Not often one ends up doing something that one loves, and in turn getting paid handsomely for it too. When you combine that with your full-time job, it is a lethal enough combination to keep you away from blogging for some time! Precisely why the hiatus on this space!


For starters, office's begun in full flow, and although, it is not as hectic as it could get in times to come, the travelling is really getting to me. Two years of a honeymoon called MBA has made me so used to the 'aishon-aaram' that Vikhroli seems a couple of light years away. But then, the person I am, even the local grocery store looks quite far, so does my hair dresser, the post office, my bank, my Wester Union Money Transfer counter...basically you get the gist. So, the commuting is killing, and the heavy rains followed by the even more muggy climate has made thngs a little intolerable.

I must thank my stars though, for the role that I have got. It is exactly what I expected it to when I started my MBA a couple of years back, and that is not something a lot can boast of. Whether it continues in the same vein remains to be seen, but we shall cross the river when we even think of setting out to get there.

For now, cricket has - as always - dominated my life; the real reason for this absence. The office day is usually between 8 and 8, and the rest of the time is dedicated to the completion of a truck load of cricket articles for a slew of websites. In fact, it gives me immense pleasure - that sounded so Vice-Chancellorish - to say that, I have had my column post come out on this website here. That I am thrilled is an obvious understatement. However, to put it in perspective, there are many more miles to go before I even decide to take a snooze, let alone thinking of sleeping.

Talking of sleep, it is on a strict bumper-to-bumper basis. As mentioned earlier, office is 8 to 8, cricket is 9-12, and sleep is 12 to 7. Full-stop. Nothing more, and God forbid if sometime I fail to sleep by 12 - a rarity so far given that by 12, I type with my eyes closed sometimes - I am a goner next day.

Yet, I am enjoying this life. I really am. This was something I dreamed of all my life. And it is just a start! If I ever was to jot down a thank you speech- and mind you, it is too erly yet - it would consist of a couple of obvious names, but also one of Mr Lalit Modi and that of another lady whose face I cannot stand, would top the list; for different reasons. For want of cordiality - if ever there was such a word - I would refrain from using language that could be termed as 'Parliamentary', but rest assured, the venom towards her was channelised by me in a direction that gives me immense pleasure today. As for Modi is concerned, if it wasnt for him, it would have been no IPL and no chances at all, whatsoever.

And in the end, I think that the 'business' of cricket is here to stay, to grow and expand, and provide for a lot of opportunities to many peripheral guy like me. But if I discount myself for the minute, I also think it is a great chance for other businesses to thrive on this sport, and for those brilliant, start-up-oriented guys around, do think of a business model that could be based on this sport, and yet be different from the rest. And if you need, I could assist you as well, cricket consulting is just about the nearest I could get to consulting!

Praise is good. It always is. I enjoy it as much as anyone else.

I am enjoying it presently as well.

But, right now, I need something more. I need a crystal ball to gauge why is it so forthcoming. And do I really deserve it. And the repercussions. As you can see, the confusion from the previous post continues.

Anyone? I mean, for the crystal ball?

क्या करें क्या ना करें यह कैसी मुश्किल हाई !

It is the 1st June. At least officially, with the clock having just ticked over the twelve mark.

And I am very exhausted, its been that kind of a day. And very confused.

It begun with a late night yesterday, as I managed to catch a wink only at 4.30 - yeah, in the morning - before waking up at 8. If this was not enough, I was lucky enough to have a good friend call me over to Churchgate to meet him, but the heat sapped whatever little energy that remained. To add to that, I sat through the whole first half of IPL's second semi-final, before deciding that my body had had enough and I need to get home.

Here I am, devouring away at a pack of cooked Maggi, like someone who hasn't had a meal for some years and more.

Now the confusion. I know that it is soon going to be decision time, something that only I can take, and not rely on anyone else's judgement. Some pros, as many cons, and then there is a soup. In which I am.

The good thing is, that this soup tastes nice, it really does. But the the fact is, that I need to swim out soon, read, take a decision.

Hmmmm....what to do!