Rahul Dravid is not only my cricketing idol, but the only one celebrity, I have smiled with, cried with, celebrated with and felt pained with. Since the last 18 years, I have lived with just one dream- to meet him.
And when it happened, I, a writer, felt short of words.
Those 60 seconds when I met Rahul Dravid
My husband and I went to watch the IPL match between Delhi and Rajasthan yesterday, at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium, Delhi. I was there only to see Rahul Dravid and to cheer for his team. 90% of the crowd was cheering for the home team, but I was with the other team-Rahul’s team.
The views of Dravid were limited, but I did manage to earn the worth of my ticket when he came to the field during strategic time-outs and when his team won the match on the last ball.
Match over, and we were on our way back. My husband suggested that we stop at the hotel where players stay, assuming that we would get a more closer look at them when they enter.
We went to the hotel lobby, and I sat there on the fancy sofas. Praying constantly, eyes glued to the entry gate.
He suddenly came in front of us, with a bag on his left shoulder, wearing a cap. This was it. There he was- in front of me. I ran to him and pleaded Dravid one picture please. And he said ok. There was it, my moment with him- standing next to him. He was next to me!
I stood there hoping that the best shot has been taken and the moment has been seized in a frame. But, due to some technical glitch, the picture wasn’t taken and when I realised it I was shocked. I wanted to cry, I went weak in my knees. All these years of waiting for this memory, which could please me for the next part of my life, were gone, without getting captured.
We re-attempted and as luck would have it, I got it- A picture.
He went in the elevator, and I looked at the picture. I felt nothing. I wasn’t happy or relieved or ecstatic. I was numb.
That’s not how I wanted to meet him. That’s not how I had dreamt it. I had always visualized shaking hands with him, thanking him for bringing happiness in my life, to tell him that I wrote a letter to him which he never got. I had always dreamt of telling him that I am one of his most consistent fans. And I had wanted a picture of that moment to treasure.
What I did get was the picture, but nothing else. I was there around him for good 60 seconds, and all I could say to him was Congratulations for today’s match. I wasted all the time to be sure of the fact that I got a picture. A picture that I don’t even feel like looking at anymore. It tells me how I failed him as a fan. How I failed my dreams. I am a corporate employee, and elevator’s pitch is what we use every day to put our point across in the shortest possible time. When I should have actually used it, I couldn’t think.
Dear Rahul, I am sure I will meet you again, and I promise to myself that I won’t waste that time for a click but to be able to talk to you about my journey of being a Dravid fan since 1997. That moment would be for the fan and the idol and not for a testimony to the social media.
Pic courtesy: internet
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