RAHUL DRAVID : THE UNSUNG HERO

I always think of various things I really wish to write on , but because of being a lazy human, I am unable to do so.

This post is about ONE SUCH MAN, who I wanted to marry as a child since grade 4! Its about the man who I have always wanted to write about, the man who is synonym to the word COMMITMENT, the man who has never been in the LIMELIGHT! THIS POST IS ABOUT RAHUL DRAVID!

Jammy, The Wall, Mr.Dependable are the few names which have been given to him. He might not hit six sixes in one over , or score a double century in ODI, but he’s there when you need a man to be there at the field to score runs and stand strong, when the temperature is 45 degree Celsius and he’s standing there with sweat dripping off his helmet, steady and scoring runs effortlessly for the team. In the early years of my life, when I started to understand what cricket is about, I have admired Rahul Dravid for the man he is ; Calm, Composed, Simple, Down-to-earth, and ABSOLUTELY CHARMING in the way he plays, speaks, behaves and a TRUE GENTLEMAN.

I have been his fan for his cuts, his defence tactics, his skills, and his absolutely adorable smile. The aggression in his eyes when he’s on the field has always left me spellbound. His swiftness, his dedication towards the game made me admire him more as years went by.

If there’s a man to turn to when the team is in trouble, its RAHUL DRAVID.
MY FAVOURITE QUOTES ON HIM :
Brett Lee
"If you can't get along with Dravid, you're struggling in life "
Glenn McGrath
"Dravid has been a class player for a long time now and we know his ability better than anyone. He's not like the other guys who love scoring off every ball, and there's no real weakness in his game either."
Navjot Singh Sidhu
"Rahul Dravid is a player who would walk on broken glass if his team asks him to"

He's not been talked about as much as the others have and not even appreciated like the other cricketers. This humble man, whose presence on the field sends a message across the country , that the match is not over yet, has often been ignored when it comes to his achievements , or his contribution to INDIAN CRICKET.

As of October 2012, Dravid is the third-highest run scorer in Test cricket, after Sachin and Ponting, and is only the second Indian cricketer, after Sachin to score 10,000 runs both in Tests and in ODIs. Wisden ranked him the third greatest Test batsman of all time, after Don Bradman and Tendulkar. In April 2009, he became the only player to score a century in all the ten Test-playing countries. As of October 2012, he holds the record for the most number of catches taken by a player (non-wicket-keeper) in Test cricket, with 210.

Then came that sad day, in August 2011, after receiving a surprise call in the ODI series against England, Dravid declared his retirement from ODIs as well as 20-20, and in March 2012, he announced his retirement from international and 1st class cricket. It was depressing for me, as it was unexpected, and this news about him, the man who was one of the reasons why I loved this game, the man whose newspaper cuttings were all over my notebooks, whose CLASSIC SQUARE CUT used to make me JUMP IN THE AIR, literally, shook me and as I took sometime to register this in my head, I realised how less this MAN has been appreciated.

Irrespective of what he has achieved in his glorious career of 15 long years, this man has this place in my heart which no one can take. His flexibility, by playing at various number in the team , from being a great batsman, to a great fielder, to a wicket-keeper, and being a captain, playing under the shadows of Sachin Tendulkar , Soarav Ganguly, this man has amazed me with his calm-composed and humble self, and his fitness which is never talked about.

Rahul Dravid is one man in the INDIAN CRICKET, who is truly a hero for me atleast. One man, who deserves RESPECT, One man whose retirement day was one of the saddest days of my life. One man, who was a blessing to INDIAN CRICKET. One man whose retirement has created a void in the INDIAN CRICKET TEAM, which is impossible to be filled in the future.

-
D.

Answer to None, Not sure answer to even one!

I sit here, with million things going in my head altogether.
A broken promise, A happy memory, A long lost friend, A feeling unexpressed, A person who I am no more friends with, A person who I never imagined being friends with and so on.
The reason why I love writing is, because I can vent out all the things going in my head. The frustration , The anxiety, The restlessness , The happiness, The love, The anger . And when no right person can be found, words always help!

With all these various things in head, I wonder, what went wrong when I lost a friend, or when a person just stopped talking without a reason, I think about going back to that one happy memory back at school when I had not a care in the world, I think about what my life would be after 4-5 years? Will I have the set of people who complete my life with me, Will I be the same Divya I am, or will I change again , because Change is the only constant!
Questions. Questions. So many of them, and answer to none. No sure answer to even one!


Life is unpredictable, short and unfair at times and we humans can do nothing but live with this fact.

Divya
xx

How To Have a Lovely Day.

1. Smile at strangers
2. Slow down
3. Say thank you
4. Give lots of compliments
5. Dress nicely
6. Wear perfume
7. Observe and listen
8. Be charming
9. Laugh
10. Wish people a lovely day



Divya

xx

THE NOT SO NORMAL TRAIN JOURNEY.!

SHALIMAR LTT, that was the name of the train, but no one knew that two trains with similar names going in different directions will be scheduled to reach Raipur station at the same time.!
We reached the station about an hour early, and were extremely excited to board the train. Some coolie told us its on platform 5, so we went to that platform and the train was to come in 30 minutes! Hoping to see the train number up, so we could just be outside our coaches and board it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, we realise that the train we have to board is coming on platform 1, in fact it was already there.

And, at that very moment, I could just see myself missing the train to BOMBAY!
EVERYONE ran like CRAZYYY, with so heavy luggage, hitting people, hoping to just get inside any coach, I RAN like I was running FOR MY LIFE!!! Thankfully, the train was 5 minutes late, I reached, and I started calling others up!
Luckily, and I thank GOD for that, All of US boarded the train!
Laughter filled our compartment, as we started our most awaited trip to MUMBAI with a BANG!

As we settled , telling people to leave and putting our luggage, eating , talking, singing, planning how to spend the days in Mumbai etc, in sometime came the TT, and GUESS WHAT!!! The ticket was no where!! :P

Everyone again, began their search for the ticket, here there everywhere!!!!!
We were unsuccessful, coming to the conclusion that Sangya flew the ticket out the window! :P hahahahahah! Because around an hour back, I saw something flying out the window!
So now, we were again laughing like crazzyy, TOO MUCH ADVENTURE already! Luckily, the ticket guy didnt come back, and we found the ticket, which Sangya dropped in the washroom, yes it didnt fly out the window! :P

It was a cold night, not very chilly, but not hot either! Waking up in the morning, to the bright sun, sitting on the window seat, observing the pretty surroundings, I realised how much I love traveling and observing the things around! :)
We clicked pictures, stood near the door! :D Gave weird looks to weird people!
And had a memorable journey!
Good Company matters! :D All the time!
So this ones for you guys, who gave a KICKASS start to MUMBAI TRIP! :D

Love
Divya
xx

CHOICES.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Things have a habit of happening at the wrong time and all the time they leave me with hard choices. They leave me on this crossroad, and at that very moment, the head and heart have heated arguments, the result of which never comes, and never will they agree with each other. They listen to your head, because heart has the habit of screwing up , but then what the heart says is something you REALLY want. Because, “It’s the heart which knows the deepest desires.”

I wonder, what fun it would be for GOD, to give me two things which I want equally, at the same time, and sit and watch the battle inside, which is trying to choose between , ‘Something I want terribly and Something I have been waiting for since long to happen.’

WHY ! :(

It’s not a life changing decision, but there are things which the Heart finds merrier , something which it has been secretly wanting, and the heart has its own reasons, the ones noone but the heart understands.

 

CHOICE. I can choose one! Time my Baby, Why would you that do to me?

And THE BATTLE continues inside.

Divya

xx

Valentine's and HER STORY .

She wasn't the kind of girl that everyone thought her to be, There was so much behind that smile, that laughter, that ever bubbly, happy-go-lucky nature, something which made her cry at nights, when everyone thought she was at peace. Something which can kill but not make you dead, a story which could have made anyone, ANYONE break, but not her, she gathered herself and carried on..

To the world, her life is perfect, She's single, rich, pettish , popular, social, has so many friends, but there's something which has been constantly killing her since 2 years now, and its harder day by day , because that one scar just wont go, probably because that scar is not the one which time can heal.
Losing someone you love can be in several ways, sometimes they leave you because they no more love you , or they realise they never did and sometimes life takes them away from you for FOREVER, they go in some other world where sadly you can't be, there's love which just cannot go from your heart, because there's no reason to not love that person who made you fall in love with yourself, your life, who was what people say PERFECT for you.There are a zillion memories which you remember whenever you cross a street , whenever you go out to a place where you both sat and talked. Memories which haunt you, no matter how much you try time wont fade them out.

She realised this everyday that , He's GONE, and no matter what nothing , NOTHING can bring him back, and there was nothing she could do about it. She was a strong girl, and her story could never be completed, She was loved , She loved, but one day, and it took the love of her life away forever, and since then she's been fighting her tears, keeping it all inside her, while people see the HAPPY HER, She's been hoping to find someone who'll see how deep she's hurt, who'll be the plastic surgeon to remove the scar, who'll love her the same way HE did, who'll just love the REAL Girl she is, Emotional, Sensitive, Caring, Loving, and Very Mature, because not everyone is strong enough to deal with DEATH of the first guy they ever Loved. The first guy who she has memories of growing up together, of sneaking out, of just sitting there talking and so many more. 

Its valentines and I feel so stupid, because people think they need one day to express LOVE to the person they love, ONE WEEK and so much DRAMA. 
Love and its misuse, TRUST and its misuse. SAD .

I am not valentine-less, I always have a few people I have loved and will always love forever. My family as a whole, My best friends and  the very few people I LOVE LIKE CRAZY. I have loved you before this day, and I'll love you for the coming days.! 


PS. This one's a dedication to the girl I have written about. YOU ARE A STRONG KID and you are IMMENSELY loved. I need not say anything more, because you are one of MY STRENGTHS, and I love you!

xx
Divya

INCREDIBLE INDIA! REALLY?

RAPE. MOLESTS. ACID ATTACKS. EXPLICIT COMMENTS. UNHEALTHY TOUCHES. STARES. ASSAULTS.

The slightest thought of it shakes the soul of every women. Trust me, you can never understand what a woman goes through during that incident and after that. Rape is more mental than physical. It leaves a scar on the very soul of a woman who goes through it.

21 years and everyday when I step out of the house, I have to keep reassuring my parents that I am SAFE. I AM OKAY. I have to listen to all the sick statements made by all kinds of men around me. 

And so that I dont get acid attacks, I am told to IGNORE whatever is heard by me.

WHY?

All these years , I have been scared, because I AM A WOMAN. 

Every Woman is SCARED , because SHE'S A WOMAN. Is it a sin?
Be it a village , a small town, a metropolitan , RAPES and these incidents happen everywhere.
The ones who say, How a woman dresses increases or decreases her chances of getting raped , Answer one simple questions, WHY WOMEN IN VILLAGE ARE RAPED?
The ones who say illiteracy is the CAUSE, that means, Inspector General of Police, SPS RATHORE WAS AN UNEDUCATED, ILLITERATE MAN.
Rapists are Poor. Rape crosses all class lines.  People have been raped by doctors, lawyers, police
officers, and other authority figures.  Because of their social and financial positions, these
offenders are seldom prosecuted for the acts of violence, and their actions are seldom
publicized.
RAPISTS CAUSE RAPE. PERIOD.

Sexual assault is provoked by the victim.  Victims ask for it by their actions,
behaviors, or by the way they dress. The answer is :To say that someone wants to be raped is the same as saying that people ask to be mugged or robbed.  In fact, most rapes are at least partially planned in advance and the victim is often threatened with death or bodily harm if she resists.Sexual assault is not a spontaneous crime of sexual passion.  It is a violent attack on an individual using
sex as a weapon.Sex is used to defile, degrade and destroy a victim’s will and control over her own body.  For the victim, it is a humiliating, near death situation. No person would ask for or deserve such an attack


RAPE IS DONE BY ORDINARY MALE, THEY ARE ALL AROUND YOU, YOU CANNOT SPOT ONE IN THE CROWD, ITS NOT THAT THEY ARE RICH, POOR, EDUCATED, UNEDUCATED. THEY ARE SICK, VERY SICK.

The ubiquitous, unashamed leering on the streets, the attempt of men to just touch you while you travel in a local bus,  or when you are standing in a queue, the various men who follow you in cycles , motorcycles yelling obscenities . The constant vigilance required each time we take an auto, to be sure he was taking the right route. The fear of lecherous policemen on the lookout for young girls out late at night with male friends. The incidents when females tried to protect themselves , they end up in a worse state, they are raped, acid thrown, and are killed or left in a state worse than death. 

Men flaunt their power of gender and abuse it because they can. Just like that politician who will have someone sacked or beaten up if he dares to offend. The rich guy who will mow a passerby down and drive on by.
Take a culture of violence and hierarchy, add the modern Indian woman, newly at large on the streets, on her way to work, college, or a date. The result is horrific sexual assault. 
Women in big cities are an easier target , because they have stepped out of the four walls of the home.But women are not even safe in those four walls.
The studies show that majority of sexual assaults happen either at the victim's or the offender's place.

Every parent of a girl is scared to send her out to do the smallest of things, I have seen girls who are meant for the best of institutions but because of everyday incidences of female molestation and rape are forced by scared parents to drop out of studies, or to study in some institute which is closer to the house. 

It may be comforting to think that the Delhi is the MOST UNSAFE, But the reality as The Hindu says, is that Delhi’s reputation as India’s “rape capital” may be misleading: “There are plenty of other places in India with a higher incidence of reported rape, in population adjusted terms — and Delhi’s record on convicting perpetrators is far higher than the national average.

A Hindustan Times survey conducted with NGO Akshara last year revealed that 95 percent of women in Mumbai — the bastion of cosmopolitanism — have been sexually harassed, and the conviction rate in rape cases in the city is a paltry 7 percent.

Girls of 3  months have been raped too, and so have women of age 40 plus. They are rapes in villages, in every part of the country. Be it DELHI, MUMBAI, CALCUTTA or small villages , or small cities. ITS NOT THE CITY which CAUSES RAPE, but the MEN who are their. 

The people who rape women are men. Unless men stop raping women, it won’t stop.

Therefore, if at all things have to change, they have to be with men. Teach them first. Teach them that they need to learn that women are no objects, they are HUMANS, and are made to be respected not OBJECTIFIED . Teach them that SEX is no WRONG, but doing that without a WOMAN'S permission is a heinous crime. More than the desire or testosterone, it is the cultural ideas or social norms that they they have grown up with, which drive them. Our culture should ask them to stop. Or we have to change our culture.

Stop laughing when you see 10 men singing watching a girl in a song in a movie, STOP OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN. SHE IS NOT AN OBJECT TO FULFILL YOUR LUST. SHE'S THE ONE WHERE YOU CAME FROM. 

There was a case of a 17-year-old girl raped by her father, stepfather and several others over the last one year in Kerala. In another incident again in Kerala, a six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually abused by her 40-year-old father for six months after forcing her to drink alcohol.

There is NO SPECIAL CATEGORY THEY BELONG TO. KNOW THIS. THEY CAN BE RIGHT BESIDE YOU.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Life Imprisonment : WHY NOT? Because that angry man when leaves the jail , would probably teach his progeny how to rape ! You spend on him and he's staying safe in those walls. Nothing would change. HE'S MENTALLY SICK AND 14 YEARS OR MORE WONT CHANGE THAT.

Capital Punishment : RAREST OF RARE CASES. It is saddening but I still fail to understand what is RAREST OF THE RARE CASE? Wasn't the Aruna Shaunbaug Case Rarest of rare? 

Are women everyday raped and sodomized and then strangulated by a chain? ITS HIGH TIME TO REALISE. EVERY RAPE IS RAREST OF RARE. Its worse than being shot by a gun. Its the effect it has on a WOMAN who is the victim of that. By hanging them you kill them in one go, How can you forget the woman who was raped, was tortured every second, when she was being raped, and later when she's asked all the HUMILIATING questions, which question her dignity. She tries to end her life. Sometimes she's left in a state where she's just lying like a dead body. If she's been raped by some rich brat, her family is tortured, killed. 

In result to this, how can you just give capital punishment or life imprisonment?

Its TIME FOR DETERRENT MEASURES. THE MEN WHO HAVE THE AUDACITY TO TOUCH A GIRL PASSING BY , NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS. Castration is against ARTICLE 21 and DOESNT ARTICLE 21 GIVE US , WOMEN THE RIGHT TO SAFE LIFE? 

THE RIGHT TO FREELY GO OUT WITHOUT HAVING THE THOUGHT OF BEING LECHED BY A RANDOM MAN. THE RIGHT TO HER BODY.  THE RIGHT TO LIVE FREELY WITHOUT TAKING PRECAUTIONS?

DETERRENT MEASURES SO THAT THE NEXT TIME WHEN ANOTHER MAN EYES A WOMAN, HE IS HAS THIS THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND THAT HE'LL GO THROUGH VERSE. DETERRENT MEASURES BECAUSE DECADES HAVE PASSED AND REFORMATIVE MEASURES HAVEN'T GOT THE NUMBER DONE.

DETERRENT MEASURES BECAUSE, THEN THE RAPIST WOULD KNOW, THE AGONY, THE PAIN, WHAT A WOMAN GOES THROUGH.

QUICKER TRIALS , IMPRISONMENT HAVEN'T HELPED. AND WONT. THE SOLUTION HAS TO BE SOMETHING WHICH BRINGS A CHANGE.

WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CAREFREE . WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT OVER THEIR BODIES.WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT TO  BE RESPECTED. WOMEN ARE HUMANS NOT OBJECTS. REALISE THAT. TEACH YOUR SONS THAT.  STOP THE PERSON WHEN YOU SEE HIM DOING THAT. HELP A WOMEN. BE THE SAVIORS. REMEMBER THE GIRL WHOSE BEING LECHED CAN BE YOUR MOTHER OR SISTER OR DAUGHTER OR WIFE TOO.

APPLY WHAT YOU SPEAK. APPLY WHAT YOU THINK . DONT JUST SPEAK. ACT