I still don't believe you, Sachin.

I know, when I get up in the morning, things will not be the same for me. Sachin Tendulkar will not be playing ODI cricket anymore.

I know you have been playing cricket since the time I was born, but how does it matter? Why couldn't you just kept playing Sachin?

Why don't you understand that watching you bat, bowl or field gives me much greater a thrill than a last ball finish. The fervor with which you play the game is admirable. The simplicity with which you conduct yourself on and off the field makes me idolize you. You amplify my patriotism for the country. You have been and will remain the definition of passion for me since I started watching and playing cricket.

From here on, I don’t know how I would cope-up with these young sportsmen abusing each other while playing the gentleman’s game. They don’t even smile these days when they take a catch, rather they frown. I don’t know why. I’ll probably check the score once in a while to keep a track of how your team is doing.

Sachin, even if you had to retire, you could have given me a chance to see you in colored jersey for one last time in the coming ODI series against Pakistan. I will miss the standing ovation which you were supposed to get every time you came out to bat. I will miss the applause every time you touched the ball. I would have loved to savor those moments for a long-long time. You did not give me a chance to do that. I am upset. 

I know you have not been self-centered in your career as you have been accused of. But today, I would like to confess something. I have been selfish instead.  At times, I did not care if India wins or loses; I just wanted you to do well. I did not care when wickets kept falling at the opposite end, I just wanted you to stay. 

I will miss catching up a match in the middle and asking these two questions: ‘score?’ and ‘is Sachin still batting?’

In a while a lot of space will be flooded with the news of Sachin Tendulkar retiring from ODI cricket. We will get enough expert comments going for and against the decision. The selectors will aim to find a replacement, but how do I explain them, that you are irreplaceable. 

For me, you will never retire, although watching cricket will never be the same again. 

I still don't believe you Sachin..

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Travelling back in time

Travelling back in time was never easy. May it be in love, past memories, regrets or 10 hours and 30 minutes. This is the exact time which I have been pushed back to and approximately 7,777 miles further west. Mumbai to Toronto, form one financial hub to another. It has been more than 4 months, and only now I have had the time to put my foot down. A semester is over, the GPA’s are out, people anticipating summers, holidays, fun and romance for the couples who get time after all. Time sure does seem to fly away. I thought to utilize this spare time to write some stuff which I was planning to since I landed here. 

Jan 1^st 2012 was a really long day and tiresome like hell, but the excitement of making it to a different country kind of made it up. It has been a smooth ride since then. Much easier than what I expected, or much easier than what I was mentally prepared for before coming here. The winter which never seem to go away (now I know, why people here so desperately long for a sunny day) was not harsh enough this year according to the inhabitants, we guys were lucky. Meeting people, shifting places, meeting more people, shifting more places, this seemed to be the order for the first couple of months. Now, settled finally but maybe not for long, after all, what is stagnant in this world?

The city is great, vibrant, lively, scenic, and happy, people from all parts of the globe, with different cultures working and hanging out together. The taxes are a bit taxing though, but walking on the street never feels like walking on a foreign land, not having to put our guards on. Smiling to a stranger is the best thing to do, not here, but anywhere in the world. If you haven’t done it yet, you might want to give it a shot, it is worth.

All said and done, I might well be experiencing the ‘honeymoon stage’ of being abroad. I am all set to enjoy it before the frustration creeps in. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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Contacting Toronto

My mom was the happiest when I announced that one of my photographs has been selected to be shown across 300 TTC subway stations across Toronto. As a matter of fact, not one, but six of them were. With more than a million viewers every day, this was indeed special. ‘Contacting Toronto’ the photographic exhibition will be showcased on the LCD screens located in the subway platforms for the whole month of May. This exhibition will emulate the city of Toronto featuring people who make the city, the diversity, relationships, communities, geographical boundaries economic realities and political uncertainties.

For the ones who might not be able to go there and view the photographs, I’ll post them here.

1. The Snow Walker

This picture was taken in Etobicoke in the midst of winters.Tried various angles to get this result.The traffic cones seem to have swiftly done its work by keeping the snow walkers away from the covered manholes. The officials not taking any chances of a fall resulting in an injury to commuters. This picture shows the duty of care provided by the Toronto traffic department in protecting the people from any bite.

2. The CN Tree

This is the Canadian National Tower, one of the most iconic structures of Toronto. It lights up the skyline in the night and makes it stand out in the backdrop of Lake Ontario. Clicked this photograph somewhere in the midst of January 2012 without using a tripod. To avoid the handshake in this long exposure shot I balanced the camera on a piece wood and used the LCD tilt/swivel function before clicking.The branches of the tree I thought added a nice dimension to the picture.

3. Hole Toronto

If we go by the sequence, this is the view from the sky-pod of the CN Tower, the second highest public observation gallery in the world succeeded only by the Canton tower of China. If you plan to come here, reserve your seat at the 360 degree revolving restaurant and enjoy your meal with the magnificent view from the top. Surely a place from where you can see the whole of Toronto, literally.

4. All is One

These two boys were practicing their skateboard jump for quite a while. After a few trips and falls, he finally got it right. This laconic narration has a moral behind it, isn't it? Every challenge you take in life, go for it, give it your best, if you don't succeed, rise up and try again. One of the shops in the background says 'all is one' which is a true reflection of Toronto.

5. The TTC Streetcar

This picture shows the Toronto Transit Commission's Streetcar in motion. The TTC's network includes the subways, streetcars and buses which provide excellent public transportation service to the daily commuters.  The photograph was taken at the Yonge and Dundas square, a prime tourist attraction hosting numerous public events and arguably the busiest place in here, often referred as Toronto's Times Square. The fast moving streetcar resembles the city in an apt way.

6. Multi-cultured

This photograph is my personal favorite. Taken in the Old Navy showroom at the Eaton Center, the largest shopping mall in Toronto. The cheerful lot welcoming the customers resemble the people here in Toronto, multicultural and diverse where age, color sex is no bar. You will be able to see me clicking the picture in the Old Navy TV on the upper right corner. The camera at the showroom caught me unaware and I found out only when I zoomed in. 

So, these are the six photographs which will be doing the round at the subway stations, I hope some of you will be able to catch it on the way through. The photographs are also updated on

Website: http://www.contactingtoronto.ca/ 

Flickr link:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/40298584@N00/ 

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