Changing Lanes

I've been playing cricket for 20 years. The competitive desi inside me loves it. I am pretty decent at it as well (i.e. among friends). The last seven years or so I've been playing cricket almost every Friday with friends I met in college and their friends. We started keeping stats for the past three years and in the 130 or so matches we've played I've got the second highest batting average. Not bad honestly even though it's more due to my tendency to put a price tag on my wicket than sheer quantity of runs, but then among 20 or so players I am the fourth highest run maker. Bowling on the other side is a bit of a mixed bag where I get whacked more often than not due to my constant need of experimenting. But there are days when I'm completely unplayable especially when I'm landing those leg spins well. And then comes my knack of being a brilliant fielder with the highest number of catches and constant ability to save plenty of runs. I'm possibly the fastest across the ground with the second strongest throwing arm though overthrows have become a dark side I fall into often.

And then I broke a finger, and I've decided to take a hiatus. My daughter will Insha'Allah come to Dubai in about 30 days and I am going to be her primary caretaker. Constant monitoring will require me to stay healthy and injury free which I can't promise with cricket. It might be just a month or six or even forever. Doesn't matter because I'm done for now. It saddens me but some things just need to be done and this is one of those... (-_-)

00:38
11.04.201

It revolves around a one
The spare of the first
Without it there is nothing
But this is the persistence
That was mistyped sideways
In invisible inked literacies
Of everything that it withheld
Concealed amongst bars
Smeared glossed layers
Flesh and carcasses
Tears and screams
Never break them they said
We cannot get out
This is the persistence
Going down the rabbit hole
Shoves and laps
Perspire and grime
A shadow waits in the gloom

- Stained

It's 3 am and I'm wide awake. The little downside of being a father...

The little one is busy annoying a bunch of nurses and doctors in her little bed in a hospital in a different country. 70 days have passed and she still hasn't made it into my arms. Patience is a virtue I don't hold well. It's been a struggle but surprise surprise... I've survived.

SJ has been awesome. She's clearly the strong one here. Holding everything together without a hint of strain. I adore her for this. She's by my little ones side... that's where she needs to be. I miss her.

It's going to be a long harsh road ahead. Makes everything that has passed look minuscule. That gives me hope that when we pick the right path and reach our destination... all this looking back will seem almost a piece of cake. Insha'Allah (^_^)