It was the summer of 1983 and the country was about to witness something unimaginable. Bhiwanigung’s Municipal Corporation Ground was hosting its Annual Cultural Festival and people from neighbouring villages had gathered. The man selling cotton candy was surrounded by kids and next to him was a stage where the Magician engaged the crowd by his unique skills. There were many other small vendors trying to make the most of this festival. There was an old man who sat cross-legged and had a bag full of white jerseys. No one stopped in front of him because firstly, he had chosen a corner spot for himself where people hardly visited and secondly, he appeared arrogant. Priyesh had bunked his classes to see the magician. Being tired after standing under the sun for more than an hour, he looked around for a shelter and sat beside the old man with a cotton candy.
“The Cricket World Cup is coming up in a couple of weeks. Do you mind buying a jersey to support our country?” asked the old man to Priyesh.
“I would be surprised if they make it to the Semi Finals. West Indies are class apart and would win the trophy easily. But because you are sitting here for a long time in this scorching heat and I am left with Rs.2, I will buy one,” replied Priyesh.
What followed that summer is written in history with golden letters.
Chasing a target of 275, Sachin and Sehwag had just walked onto the field. Bhiwanigunj had once again thronged at Municipal Corporation Grounds to witness another match at Lord’s. It was no less than the annual cultural festival of the village. The cotton candy was replaced by Chicken Wings, and the blue colour dominated the ground. Moments after Ravi Shastri’s historic announcement and Dhoni’s swing of the bat, the corner of the corporation grounds saw a middle aged man waving a white jersey with a cotton candy in another hand.
