The End; And the Beginning

What a Season? What a Drama? What High Adrenalin driven action? What a way to end the season? And what a finish line all the way to the last two minutes and then the dying five seconds? Need any more? Yeah, this was the end to the 2008 F1 racing season at Interlagos at Brazil.

Every looser becomes a better Hero than the winner. Lewis was the winner, but Massa was not the looser. He was the champ for the 90 thousand people present in the circuit yesterday and he was the champ of thousands of Ferrari fans across the world and I thought, yeah, bet he is the CHAMP.

Lewis deserved it. No question about that. He was unlucky last year, like Massa this time. This season also he dominated most of the time and was a way ahead of others by the third quarter of the season. But it was meant to be a High Dramatic, never ending breath taking finale. And there was twists, turns in every lap, every corner of the 4.3km lap at Interlagos this Sunday. However, in the end Lewis seemed to be the triumphed one above all the possibilities and become the new youngest champion of the world.

But Hail Massa! What determination, what a character. He was sitting in the pole no doubt and had the best start with a flying lap. But there was always a chance with rain playing the spoiled child. And then Sebastian Vettel was always pushing him from the back with less than 2 seconds delay. Hamilton was always hovering around fourth to sixth position. The last pit stop of five and half seconds was just perfect a strategy to put him back in front of others with five laps to go. Still it needed a miracle for him to see to the very end, to the finish which thousands of people were expecting to see. A joint but individual effort from Kubica and Vettel saw Hamilton down to sixth position with just two laps to finish. The stadium roared and my heart beat tripled at night 12.30 sitting in front of the TV alone. Massa cruised and followed him from behind Alonso and Raikkonen. Hamilton pushed and pushed but Vettel was now in fourth position and Glock was between them driving dangerously on a rainy wet last lap. As Massa crossed the finish line a volcano erupted in the stadium and I pumped the fist. Vettel crossed and then in the last corner of the finish line unfolded the most unwanted drama of the season. Glock ran out of air for the last few meters and Hamilton crossed him to touch the line fifth, just what he needed. And the history was overwritten twice in a period of three minutes.

I think Massa wished he could cry out loud with a scream from his heart. But how could he? It was his home ground and he was in front of his own people. And he was the winner for that day. Luck was not quite his side but he had his share of glory and gave Ferrari its precious constructor’s trophy. He is the Champ.

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Thousands of Hearts cried with Massa today. They have their right to do so being a true Ferrari or Massa fan. But I found some kind of wired and interesting similarity between him and me today. I too lost not one but quite a few races of my life today. I lost more in last few days. But today at 12.30 in the night all these has just added up to a few more new dimensions to my life. There is a long race ahead and a very important one. It has been quite dull and down till now, but now its time to wake up, burn brightly and illuminate all the way along.

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A Few Drops from the afternoon …

It’s been one of those bad days, from the morning. In fact hell of a bad day it was. It's that kind of a day when nothing seems to happening well or anything is working out for you. A moments lack in concentration, a small mistake made the life difficult. The mind freezes and the brain is damaged. Moreover, the hang over from yesterday’s workout is also taking a toll till now. Both mornings the eyes opened with a little hope of finding new meanings to life and laugh. But it did not turn out to be quite that way.

After enough of mind and soul ripping through the afternoon finally I decided to go out and do something else. The first step out of the building brought with it the freshness and the soft touch of the wind for which the hunt was on since some time. The sky was dark and ready to soak me in the late afternoon. Initially I hesitated; unnecessary troubles and an irritating cold will surely follow that. Looks like the day is going to end on the same tunes of the early morning blues.

But a few more steps and it felt good. I could not remember when was the last time I got wet in the rain in the afternoon. Surely may be one of those school days. It felt pretty and warm though the cold drops of late July seems to be penetrating the skin right through. It felt better because suddenly I saw people around me running for a little shed. A little boy almost stumbled upon me, a middle aged gentleman made an inspired attempt to beak the 100 meter record and a young good looking lady parked her scooty hurriedly to get a place in the next shop which was already packed. But I felt like keeping my umbrella folded in the hand and still take few more steps. A few passing by gave a wildered look. Hmmn, no one likes rain these days then. Before I could savor the moment little more I was already where I had to be. Bad luck was never to be off me today. It was already closed and the plan was a complete flop. But then again it was still raining. And now it rained quite heavily and I finally took out my umbrella which was lifted in a matter of second by the strong wind blowing from South. After a minutes struggle I was able to fold it back and by then I was half soaked. While I took an auto on my way back it was still raining amazingly and beautifully. After all, it was not such a bad idea to take a small break in the afternoon and take a few steps. At least I managed to take a few deep breaths in the fresh air and the rain rejuvenated the lost mind and the dead brain.

Reflection

Three men, three lives, one dream. One Chaat shop. One Kulphi bicycle. One man with few pirated CDs. 5, 10 and 50 rupees. A few buyers, more onlookers. And a little girl; a bright red frock, sipping the salty water, lying near the shop. Suddenly she stands up and jumps to her mother’s lap blushing; seeing the kulphi guy approach. Another bright young boy, with his Mom and Dad, holding the new packet of jeans they bought him from the factory outlet. He too wants a chat, a Kulphi and a Disney cartoon movie. ‘No! Baby, you don’t take those. I will get you a better one’. I stand quite ... see the reflection of life – now and then.