Mental Food

I had my iPhone headset on listening to ‘Just the way you are’ while the cool night air enveloped my mind, body and soul enroute home in a rickshaw at 3am returning from an epic party for an epic moment India has ever witnessed in the past 28 years. The ride back home reflected the day which would be etched in my memory forever as it was all about the finals of the Cricket World Cup Match 2011 between our country “India” and our neighbors “Sri Lanka”.

With the noise and celebrations left behind at the many Mumbai hotspots along the coast, the inner roads were calm with remnants left behind of the people who might have celebrated at the time of the win. The tri-color strewn from pillar to post along the length of the bridge, the empty cartons of fireworks which lay smoldering on the side of the road, the occasional drunk still whispering the country’s name and the lighted windows in the grid like apartments twinkling off ensuring that the residents would be sinking into their best sleep tonight.

The match itself was gripping, with me much more inclined towards the second innings when India would play the do or die match. I was over at a friends place with a bunch of testosterone fuelled friends and had just about walked in for the second innings when the first wicket fell on the first ball. I made a detour straight into the kitchen to pound up my frustration into making a pitcher of Mojito. I knew it would help me and everyone out there calm their nerves as a little alcohol would get the mood lighter and less tense. It sailed like a breeze. The match was over even before we knew it and we were celebrating a date which would go down in history as the greatest adulation for our country ever.

I realized the extent of the excitement coursing through every true blooded Indian on the streets. The noise escalated as we made our way towards the car to take off for a spin around the city and noticed how the clamor transgressed from fireworks to the sound of vehicles and people taking to the streets.

We drove our way through the maddening crowds spilling onto the streets from every house in the vicinity, the din created was enough to draw people out of their homes to their doorsteps if not the streets. The energy was palpable, we with our Indian Flag adorned car and donning the country’s blue jersey witnessed a formation of a party where location was ‘the city’ (and I am sure pan India the situation would be the same) and the invitees were “everyone”. As we made our way to one of the coastal roads hotspot, the roads being jam packed, we saw sights which were exhilarating and heartwarming at the same time. People were hanging out of their car windows, boots and roofs. There were trumpets, whistles, bugles and even vuvuzelas adding to the chants of “India”, their players and the win of the country. A BMW with the Indian Flag stenciled on the bonnet whizzed by, another car packed with only females ranging from ages 12 to 60 was blasting loud classical trance music, the infamous Nasik Dhol, with all the females rocking to the beats, flags of all shapes and sizes fluttered around and replicas of the world cup meticulously fabricated out of metal, wood, P.O.P. and even rubber balloons were waved, kissed and flaunted.

This is what I call food for the soul and the recipe is a sure fire success to being satiated in all ways possible:

Ingredients:

(Makes 1 World Cup)

Time taken: 28 Years

• 1.2 billion True Blooded Indians
• 11 Super Charged Cricket Players
• 1 World Cup Finals Ticket (optional)
• 1 Pitcher of Mojito (or your favorite beverage)
• A platter of Good Food
• A pinch of Enthralling Enthusiasm
• A dash of Tense & Stress
• A sprinkling of Fanfare
• Garnish of Whistles, Noise and Tri Colors

Take 1.2 Billion True Blooded Indians and pop them in front of the Television, nearest bar, flat screen TV, Radio or Electronics Store and Turn the set on to Loud. For some of them you may add the world cup finals tickets and ensure they are perfectly placed in the stadiums.

As the super charged players take to the field, feed the 1.2 billion people the beverages and platters of good food. Ensure that they are prodded to scream out loud and prayers are answered (this should happen automatically in a few moments). The Enthusiasm, tense, stress shall build up on its own, but can be added extra in case of it ebbing away. Garnish with Whistles, Noise and Tri Colors and you have got yourself a delicious “World Cup”.