It was 9th March 2008, one of the most memorable days in my life...I had volunteered in this restaurant named AnnaLaxmi (@ Chinatown,Singapore) to serve food.This place is one of a kinda joints that you would come across..It works on a very innovative and rather surprising concept.Any customer who walks in is treated as a member of the family..He can have as much food as he likes and pay what ever amount that he prefers..Even if he doesn't pay anything ,thats ok...!!!!!The idea behind the concept is that customer had a need which was satisfied..Now the value of the satisfaction derived out of that service
is something that he has to decide for himself.There shouldn't be a price list which quantifies his need against his wallet power...More on this in another post...
Coming back to the story,i was cleaning up Table No: 15 when i saw a very familiar face flash by..For a second i couldn't believe my eyes...This was too good to be real...It was none other than the man who had literally performed almost all the roles in Indian Cricket(Batsman,Wicketkeeper,Captain ),the most reliable,the most consistent,the one and only "WALL", Rahul Dravid. He had come with his wife and kid.He was accompanied by another middle aged man(Might have been his family friend)..I quickly wished them good evening and ushered them to Table 21.I was too excited but had to maintain my professionalism too since i was on duty...!!!!I mentioned to him that i was a huge fan of his...He acknowledged it with a smile(He mite probably be hearing the same line some 30 times everyday from various people!!!).I checked up as to what water they would like to have(walm,Ice cold or normal).Dravid ordered for normal one and the other gentleman asked for cold water..Both their spouses also settled for normal one...
I got the same for them.While i was pouring the water,my heart was still razing..Whatever was happening a dream for me ...I had a look at his eyes for a brief moment..There was a tinge of sadness in them .(I guessed that his exclusion from One Day Team mite have been a probable reason..but later laughed at myself on the rather silly thought..!!!!).They proceeded on to have the Buffet.Once they got over with the same ,my colleague Srivatsan took the order for juices..I had the privilege of serving the same to them once again..
After some casual conversation,they were about to leave.Four of my friends namely Sanjay,Mrityunjay,Aswin and Abhinav had also come down to have dinner the same time at that restaurant.They wanted to have a snap with Dravid.I politely moved in and requested whether he could pose for a shot with us.Meanwhile he was suddenly flooded with requests from other customers for autographs and photos.He lead us into the entrance and took two snaps with the group.But by the time we moved in he politely mentioned that he had to leave and made a quick beeline to the exit..I was a little sad that the opportunity was missed but was contented with the fact that i had the privilege to interact so closely with the man i admire so highly..
It was way back in 1997 when i was a staunch opponent of Dravid.He was an excellent test player(that is something which will never diminish i believe) but his One Day performances had been agonizing.He used to play the classical text book shots and the opponent captain knew where exactly to place the fielder to counter him.There were times when Dravid piercing the 30 yards circle was as rare as seeing Halley's Comet..I desperately wanted to see him dropped of the team and dropped he was.!!!!But amazing comeback made by Dravid was an ample testimony of the fact that he was a man of steel..It was since then that i truly began admiring him.There has been countless times that he has made outstanding contributions but has not got the due recognization.Goddess Luck had not been kind to this gifted sportsman.Most of the time that he comes up with this splendid performance, there would just be this some one who steals the show.Whether it be the partnership with Laxman in famous Calcutta test against Australia in 2001 or mammoth partnership with Ganguly against Srilanka in the world cup in 1999,Dravid has been the solid platform on which these "the special others" have built their laurels on...
The tenacity displayed by Dravid is what has made him the most admirable person.His eyes sparkles with a confidence that comes only with tough practice and a lot of self belief..Its tough to pierce the defense of that kind of a man any day..But the most amazing part is the grace with which he carries himself both on and off the field.He is one of those rare cricketers who has not been associated with any of those controversies that has plagued the world of cricket of late.
At the time of leaving,he was checking out as to where to keep the used plate??Such is the simplicity of the man that you simply get bowled over...Its just a question of time when he gets back to the One Day Team...All you young blood advocates out there,the game is still on, so braze yourself for another familiar comeback from the unbeatable jammy...
is something that he has to decide for himself.There shouldn't be a price list which quantifies his need against his wallet power...More on this in another post...
Coming back to the story,i was cleaning up Table No: 15 when i saw a very familiar face flash by..For a second i couldn't believe my eyes...This was too good to be real...It was none other than the man who had literally performed almost all the roles in Indian Cricket(Batsman,Wicketkeeper,Captain ),the most reliable,the most consistent,the one and only "WALL", Rahul Dravid. He had come with his wife and kid.He was accompanied by another middle aged man(Might have been his family friend)..I quickly wished them good evening and ushered them to Table 21.I was too excited but had to maintain my professionalism too since i was on duty...!!!!I mentioned to him that i was a huge fan of his...He acknowledged it with a smile(He mite probably be hearing the same line some 30 times everyday from various people!!!).I checked up as to what water they would like to have(walm,Ice cold or normal).Dravid ordered for normal one and the other gentleman asked for cold water..Both their spouses also settled for normal one...
I got the same for them.While i was pouring the water,my heart was still razing..Whatever was happening a dream for me ...I had a look at his eyes for a brief moment..There was a tinge of sadness in them .(I guessed that his exclusion from One Day Team mite have been a probable reason..but later laughed at myself on the rather silly thought..!!!!).They proceeded on to have the Buffet.Once they got over with the same ,my colleague Srivatsan took the order for juices..I had the privilege of serving the same to them once again..
After some casual conversation,they were about to leave.Four of my friends namely Sanjay,Mrityunjay,Aswin and Abhinav had also come down to have dinner the same time at that restaurant.They wanted to have a snap with Dravid.I politely moved in and requested whether he could pose for a shot with us.Meanwhile he was suddenly flooded with requests from other customers for autographs and photos.He lead us into the entrance and took two snaps with the group.But by the time we moved in he politely mentioned that he had to leave and made a quick beeline to the exit..I was a little sad that the opportunity was missed but was contented with the fact that i had the privilege to interact so closely with the man i admire so highly..
It was way back in 1997 when i was a staunch opponent of Dravid.He was an excellent test player(that is something which will never diminish i believe) but his One Day performances had been agonizing.He used to play the classical text book shots and the opponent captain knew where exactly to place the fielder to counter him.There were times when Dravid piercing the 30 yards circle was as rare as seeing Halley's Comet..I desperately wanted to see him dropped of the team and dropped he was.!!!!But amazing comeback made by Dravid was an ample testimony of the fact that he was a man of steel..It was since then that i truly began admiring him.There has been countless times that he has made outstanding contributions but has not got the due recognization.Goddess Luck had not been kind to this gifted sportsman.Most of the time that he comes up with this splendid performance, there would just be this some one who steals the show.Whether it be the partnership with Laxman in famous Calcutta test against Australia in 2001 or mammoth partnership with Ganguly against Srilanka in the world cup in 1999,Dravid has been the solid platform on which these "the special others" have built their laurels on...
The tenacity displayed by Dravid is what has made him the most admirable person.His eyes sparkles with a confidence that comes only with tough practice and a lot of self belief..Its tough to pierce the defense of that kind of a man any day..But the most amazing part is the grace with which he carries himself both on and off the field.He is one of those rare cricketers who has not been associated with any of those controversies that has plagued the world of cricket of late.
At the time of leaving,he was checking out as to where to keep the used plate??Such is the simplicity of the man that you simply get bowled over...Its just a question of time when he gets back to the One Day Team...All you young blood advocates out there,the game is still on, so braze yourself for another familiar comeback from the unbeatable jammy...
7 comments:
You said your idol was Sachin Tendulkar last week? How come it changed? :D :D :D
nicely written Ramki ...
even though i dont agree so much with the content !
@ Sanju mama
Ramki was rooting for Dravid earlier also infact had a huge arguement with me bout Dravid's place in ODI team
which i feel is outside as of now ... with all the young kids around
O WOW!
da RK, enthorum adi aaneda nammal thammil ithinte peril undakeetullathu. Finally, the truth bares out itself. Dravid is just the best.
@Abhi:Absolutely da..Remember in 1998,when we used to fight outside mannath towers whether it is Kanikar or RD..You and kichan have "konnu kola vilikkalled" me on this :)..This post is also a redemption from my end for those friendly quarrels:)..What a legend man!!!Simple pooouuuuuuffffffffff...
Nicely written. But am missing the one relevant photo that Mama took!
:-P ...
I was just thinking about this, the other day ... and when someone wants to do a good deed (read here as - You volunteering to serve food), it does not go unrewarded for you met your God! Awesome!!!
Nice Post,Ramki.The reasturant you have talked about is a news to me even though I spent few years in Singapore.I liked the flow in the article,where you mentioned about their resturant visit and then about his career.Nice reading material.
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