Go India, Chak de Fatte!!

 by Parvathy Gopalakrishnan

The World Cup might be reaching its fag end, but this end, just like some of the last puffs of a cigarette, gives the maximum high!

Two out of the three nations hosting the mother of all cricketing events have got their tickets to the semis. An emphatic crowd, full house at Mohali, people playing birds - perching on tree-tops to catch the action live, chants of Hoo Haa India, an electric atmosphere…everything and more that a cricket fan could have bargained for.

While radio stations, TV channels, newspapers, and phones are abuzz with what will be the match like, mango people at pan shops and chai tapirs are also “as-busy-as-a-bee” discussing “ab kya hoga”, twisting their faces to match up with the discussion with an extremely serious look!! After all, this is India, where cricket transcends boundaries of sports and merges into the identity of people.

Some students, unfortunately, have exams and dreadful papers the very next day. Most students are going to be the victims of pre-planned illness- the regular stomach-ache, head-ache, and blah-blah ache! Shopkeepers are having a merry time selling team India tees, trumpets and what not. Cafes, too, have chalked out plans, coming up with special menus and offers. Radio channels are doing their bit by playing “Chak De India” type of songs to have the excitement building.

Let the trumpets bellow, drums beat. Bring on the colours, cheer out loud; the stage is set for the epic clash. It’s the blues vs the greens. Choose your colour right, and enjoy the cricketing fiesta!!