Life in Madhur: Part I - MPL

Brought up with atleast 15 guys of the same age, give or take 5 years, in a society, old as this one. We are I think the third generation to step foot here and by far as I can estimate we have been the best. A perfect exposure to academics, sports and  daily upbringing. Yes, I think i am quite fortunate to have grown up here, made some great friends and shared some ever-lasting memories.

And that's the reason I thought about adding a couple of posts to my Memory Lane.

• The fever of every Sunday and Public Holiday: The Madhur Premier League (MPL) and secondly
• The Madhur Kaands

Now for the time being, lets go through the Madhur Premier League.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) started exactly 3 seasons back. WE on the other hand started 4 years back. Nope we never stopped playing cricket ever in our society even when we were under repairs. The sadness of  loosing out on the Big Ground for a mere free of cost 140 sq metres was a big blow but it did lead to 3 new avenues (pitches) under our MPL scanner. And this I think to the ritual of MPL.

Yes friends, A ritual followed like no other one. A desire to play and prove yourself every time you go out there. The passion which defines what the Sunday Morning Cricket of a mere 2 hours, is to us.

There are lot of stark differences with the IPL. Some funny bulleted points are as follows.

• We are not Cash-Rich like the IPL. I think we are more of Cash-Stripped. Every Sunday begins with Malay getting some his Dads used Tennis Balls. If that does not suffice our Chairman ( referred to ahead), then we argue on who should fund out Rs. 35/- only for the Ball of the Day. After a discussion of 5 to 10 mins we end up contributing Rs.5 each or else catching A Bechara Bakra for the Day. Yes then the agony of someone going and getting the ball. No one wants to do an extra bit. After the new Ball comes. Everyone wants a piece of it and then the comments flow in......
• We dont have a scandalous Lalit Modi to frame the rules but yes we indeed have a Chairman. A Chairman who is heckled for rules and regulations and accused for rules unframed by him. It starts with a shout and ends with some chus, MCs, BCs. an lot more. And his taste of shifting the stumps until he is satisfied. 
• And then we also have the Secretary who keeps a close watch on the proceedings and always keeps  on bouncing from one Sunday to another with his characteristic shouts of 'Aai Aloo..'
• We dont have a Chidambaran who provides security and cover to our players. But we have a bowler who couples up as a Security Man. Well please dont under estimate him guys, he is a specialist nut-cracker. (*Experienced*),
• No Mandira Bedi . No Gavaskar. But yes we indeed have our own Arun Lal for the Extra-Innings who keeps a tab on the proceedings with the usual laugh, the unusual expert comments and the sickening feeling that he gives as thought he has coached Sachin Tendulkar.
• We are all domestic under graduate players playing for pride and entertainment. But we do have some foreign players like Chitli, Pudi and some friends who are free agents.
• We have no scorers , no statisticians and no umpires. All 15-20 players are umpires and scorers at the same time
• Every Ball is increased by the Bowling team and reduced by the Batting team. Then it is counted twice and then Recounted to the satisfaction to the opposition.
• Every  Run on the other hand is decreased by the Bowling team and increased by the Batting Team. And then recounted.
• Every run out is battled out there and every catch is re-casted in the mind. Such is the passion and decibel levels that people are in their balconies beckoning us to play or asking us to go home.
• The payers are characterized into many classes: we have the Radyas, the Fast Bowlers, the Cheaters, The Shupa Rustoms, The bouncers, The Creatives etc.
• We have the Shirke Riders, Vakde XI, Kulkarni Chargers,etc. 
• Generations will come and go but this I think will always stay. We have done everything. Thrown bats on Wind Shields of Cars after they slip out. Broken countless window panes and paid of just one till now. Injured passer-bys. Cracked Out People. Etc

I can think on only these many points as of now. I ll definitely add a few more when i recollect next time.

And yes for the next post of the Madhur Kaands, the readers will have to wait.

Disclaimer: All charecters and incidents are imaginary and any resemblance to any person alive or dead is purely co-incidental. The main objective of the author was to make a point of these evergreen instances in his memory lane.