28th January 2012 : Arpita had planned to meet the asshole who had dumped her. Her Ex-Boyfriend. I was hurt. She wanted me to tag along, but I plainly refused. She was selected for the Personal Interview in Christ University. That meant a longer stay for her in Bangalore. But she ditched her plans with me to be with him. But that didn't mean that I was upset. For me it was a blessing in disguise.
The only thing more important to a guy than a girl is Sports. Liverpool Football Club. My everlasting love. The football club that I adore. I loved everything about the team. The history, the culture, the legends, the players, the fans. Liverpool was my passion. I followed my passion with all my heart. I got upset whenever the team under performed. Frustrated, when they performed but couldn't get the results. I had tears of Joy when they won.
Today Liverpool had a match against Manchester United. FA cup 4th Round. The biggest rivalry. Liverpool - the most successful English club in Europe. Manchester United - the most successful English club in England. And what better venue to watch it than Manchester United Cafe Bar. Me, Hardik and Uzair got a table at the Cafe almost 2 hours before the kickoff. Almost an hour before the kickoff, the cafe was full of Manchester United fans - or as they were famously called The Red Devils. We three were the only Liverpool fans in the cafe. It was a huge risk. If Liverpool lost then we were dead meat. I knew the United fans wouldn't miss a chance to mock at us. But that is what passion is. I believed in my team. We believed in LFC.
Five minutes before the kick off. The cafe played the Anthem. Glory Glory Man United. All the Red Devils joined in. It brought me goosebumps. It was similar to the atmosphere in the stadium when India played Sri Lanka in the 2011 Cricket World Cup Finals. The whole stadium joined in to sing the A.R.Rahman Song "Vande Mataram". I watched it on television but it still brought chills down my spine. I was cold. I had goosebumps. The cafe had the same atmosphere. As soon as the anthem ended, the red devils roared with the sound of vuvuzela and the screams of "GGMU". We were nervous.
The sound of referee's whistle meant KICKOFF. 20 minutes went by, the game was 50-50. 21st minute : Liverpool was rewarded a corner. All the six feet plus defenders entered the penalty box. Corner Kick delivered. Daniel Agger, the Liverpool defender jumped above all other players and headed the ball goal-wards. The keeper and the defender on the line beaten. The Kop roared to the loudest of the pitch. GOAL. I stoop up in excitement. I started screaming "Come On". The red devils held their head in disappointment. It was an amazing rush. We three started jumping at our tables. Some one screamed from behind "Dude. still a long way to go for the final whistle." I didn't even care to look at him. I raised my hand and showed him the finger.
Liverpool now dominated the game. The passes were completed. The possession was kept. Tackles successful. 39th minute : United had the possession. Rafael sprinted on the right wing with the ball. He beat the defender successfully. He crossed ball to J.S.Park. Park hit a half volley with his right foot straight in the bottom right corner. Pepe Reina, the Liverpool goalie was beaten. 2000 red devils inside the stadium and millions around the world roared with the joy and celebration at the equalizer goal. The fans inside the cafe mocked us and I held my head. I feared this would happen.
"An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". I was Optimistic. 1st half ended. The cafe started playing GGMU. 15 minutes later, the match kicked off again. The balance had shifted back to equilibrium. Possession was 50-50. 88th minute : Liverpool were awarded a goal kick. Pepe Reina kicked the ball with immense power. Andy Carroll, the Liverpool striker, who had just came on as a substitute towered over the defender and got his head to it. He nudged the ball forward. Another second half substitute, Dirk Kuyt latched on to it. He shoot the ball goal-wards with immense power. The ball ended up in the net and the player into the crowd. The celebration was epic. I was ecstatic. A tear of joy rolled down my cheek. "Me and Liverpool Football Club are a never ending love affair." I stood up, pushed the chair backwards and started screaming on top of my voice. The cafe went silent apart from our screams and the live commentary. The referee blew the final whistle and that meant, Liverpool had won the match. Progress in the next round. The disappointed red devils started to leave. Our cover charge was all spent on beer and pasta.
Last fifty bucks of the cover charge remained. I had a bet with Hardik that if Liverpool wins than I will have to take on a MUCB challenge. The challenge was that if anyone is able to finish a small cup of red chilly paste without getting fainted or even having water, then you get a pitcher of beer free. I ordered the cup. Just the look of the chilly paste burned my eyes. I decided to eat it all at once. Once I start it, there is no turning back. I started it. My throat burned. My forehead sweated. Tears in my eyes. Tripping nose. It was so fucking hot. But I went on with it. A waiter observed. I finished the cup. He gesticulated me not to drink water, as he noted the time. I was burning. There were fumes literally coming out of every possible opening it could get.
30 seconds later, the waiter served me 3 glasses of water and said, "I'll order a pitcher, its on the house". Hardik and Uzair patted me. But I was in a hurry. I had to meet Arpita at her hotel. She was waiting. I left the cafe. Hardik later got drunk after finishing the whole pitcher. I waited for the bus. "Never under-estimate the power of passion. Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night."
The only thing more important to a guy than a girl is Sports. Liverpool Football Club. My everlasting love. The football club that I adore. I loved everything about the team. The history, the culture, the legends, the players, the fans. Liverpool was my passion. I followed my passion with all my heart. I got upset whenever the team under performed. Frustrated, when they performed but couldn't get the results. I had tears of Joy when they won.
Today Liverpool had a match against Manchester United. FA cup 4th Round. The biggest rivalry. Liverpool - the most successful English club in Europe. Manchester United - the most successful English club in England. And what better venue to watch it than Manchester United Cafe Bar. Me, Hardik and Uzair got a table at the Cafe almost 2 hours before the kickoff. Almost an hour before the kickoff, the cafe was full of Manchester United fans - or as they were famously called The Red Devils. We three were the only Liverpool fans in the cafe. It was a huge risk. If Liverpool lost then we were dead meat. I knew the United fans wouldn't miss a chance to mock at us. But that is what passion is. I believed in my team. We believed in LFC.
Five minutes before the kick off. The cafe played the Anthem. Glory Glory Man United. All the Red Devils joined in. It brought me goosebumps. It was similar to the atmosphere in the stadium when India played Sri Lanka in the 2011 Cricket World Cup Finals. The whole stadium joined in to sing the A.R.Rahman Song "Vande Mataram". I watched it on television but it still brought chills down my spine. I was cold. I had goosebumps. The cafe had the same atmosphere. As soon as the anthem ended, the red devils roared with the sound of vuvuzela and the screams of "GGMU". We were nervous.
The sound of referee's whistle meant KICKOFF. 20 minutes went by, the game was 50-50. 21st minute : Liverpool was rewarded a corner. All the six feet plus defenders entered the penalty box. Corner Kick delivered. Daniel Agger, the Liverpool defender jumped above all other players and headed the ball goal-wards. The keeper and the defender on the line beaten. The Kop roared to the loudest of the pitch. GOAL. I stoop up in excitement. I started screaming "Come On". The red devils held their head in disappointment. It was an amazing rush. We three started jumping at our tables. Some one screamed from behind "Dude. still a long way to go for the final whistle." I didn't even care to look at him. I raised my hand and showed him the finger.
Liverpool now dominated the game. The passes were completed. The possession was kept. Tackles successful. 39th minute : United had the possession. Rafael sprinted on the right wing with the ball. He beat the defender successfully. He crossed ball to J.S.Park. Park hit a half volley with his right foot straight in the bottom right corner. Pepe Reina, the Liverpool goalie was beaten. 2000 red devils inside the stadium and millions around the world roared with the joy and celebration at the equalizer goal. The fans inside the cafe mocked us and I held my head. I feared this would happen.
"An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". I was Optimistic. 1st half ended. The cafe started playing GGMU. 15 minutes later, the match kicked off again. The balance had shifted back to equilibrium. Possession was 50-50. 88th minute : Liverpool were awarded a goal kick. Pepe Reina kicked the ball with immense power. Andy Carroll, the Liverpool striker, who had just came on as a substitute towered over the defender and got his head to it. He nudged the ball forward. Another second half substitute, Dirk Kuyt latched on to it. He shoot the ball goal-wards with immense power. The ball ended up in the net and the player into the crowd. The celebration was epic. I was ecstatic. A tear of joy rolled down my cheek. "Me and Liverpool Football Club are a never ending love affair." I stood up, pushed the chair backwards and started screaming on top of my voice. The cafe went silent apart from our screams and the live commentary. The referee blew the final whistle and that meant, Liverpool had won the match. Progress in the next round. The disappointed red devils started to leave. Our cover charge was all spent on beer and pasta.
Last fifty bucks of the cover charge remained. I had a bet with Hardik that if Liverpool wins than I will have to take on a MUCB challenge. The challenge was that if anyone is able to finish a small cup of red chilly paste without getting fainted or even having water, then you get a pitcher of beer free. I ordered the cup. Just the look of the chilly paste burned my eyes. I decided to eat it all at once. Once I start it, there is no turning back. I started it. My throat burned. My forehead sweated. Tears in my eyes. Tripping nose. It was so fucking hot. But I went on with it. A waiter observed. I finished the cup. He gesticulated me not to drink water, as he noted the time. I was burning. There were fumes literally coming out of every possible opening it could get.
30 seconds later, the waiter served me 3 glasses of water and said, "I'll order a pitcher, its on the house". Hardik and Uzair patted me. But I was in a hurry. I had to meet Arpita at her hotel. She was waiting. I left the cafe. Hardik later got drunk after finishing the whole pitcher. I waited for the bus. "Never under-estimate the power of passion. Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night."
No comments:
Post a Comment