Irfan Pathan - Living my Dream

To believe in fairytales, you got to live one. And, I couldn't have asked for a better version than this for myself. In fact, the reality is far more beautiful than what a fairytale could have been. 

It was December 2003, India was touring Australia and the team's spearhead and my favorite Zaheer Khan was injured and a lanky 19 year old with curly hair and the cutest smile made his Test debut. Little did I know I would be falling head over heels for this 19 year old boy, Irfan Pathan. Initially, it was his bowling that caught my attention. It wasn't just me, the entire nation was swooned by his swinging ability so much that he was touted to be the next Indian bowling sensation. Moving over his bowling, his charming smile and luscious curls made me go weak in my knees. I had been following his game ever since. Every mention of his in a newspaper article would find its way into my scrap book which is kept intact till date.

My fairytale started in 2013 when Irfan joined Twitter. My happiness touched cloud nine. After almost a decade of loving him, doting him, adoring him; I could now express it to him. A place where he would at least read if not respond to whatever I had to say to him. It all began with numerous mentions every day. My day would start and end with salutations to him (It still does. I can't sleep without wishing him good night!). Sometimes he would RT the mentions but never reply or interact in any way. 

It was on Eid in 2014 when everything changed. I wished Irfan and asked him for a 'follow back' as my Eidi half expecting him to oblige. To my utter astonishment, he did! I was elated beyond measures. I was in office and was barely able to contain my happiness. I tweeted a thanks to him and made 'n' number of calls to tell my near and dear ones. I was so excited that I forgot I could now DM him and thank him personally! (I still forget this in excitement!) People who were happy to know congratulated me and the cynical ones added, 'Arey he'll unfollow tomorrow.' Their cynicism rubbed on me and very stupidly I tweeted him asking not to unfollow. Yes, I was that a silly fangirl. I still am. Shall always be for him. #ForeverAnIrFAN :D

Mujhe Eidi me follow back dedo @IrfanPathan I promise I won't bug you with unnecessary DMs.

PS: You know I keep my promises ;)

— #HappyBirthdayIrfan (@VeiledDesires_) July 29, 2014

After that, I kept bugging him in DMs. Talked, talked and talked and he was sweet enough to reply, to fulfill my silly requests like changing his DP, taking a selfie challenge etc. Not once did he ever wince upon whatever I said or did. Though I made sure to keep asking him if he was being irritated by me in any way. As time passed by, a relation of mutual trust and fondness was built. I was struggling in my career and one point and Irfan was my go-to man. He offered help without being asked for. There was a time when I had decided to give up, but his words of wisdom, motivation and appreciation kept me going. Now, he knew of my existence. I wasn't just another fan for him. He knew me. But, as human as I am, I wanted to talk to him and meet him. So, next year, 2015, I made a wish to talk to him over the phone this Eid. Though we already had each other's numbers, I didn't want to breach that line.

In July 2015, after Eid, he entered Jhalak Dikhla Jaa as a contestant and the show had an arrangement where you could call and talk to your fave contestant via phone. I had just decided to try my luck when I got a call from the show saying that Irfan wanted me to be the one calling him on the show! After that phone call, he invited me to Bombay on the sets and finally on 6th of August 2015, I cherished my 12 years long dream of meeting Irfan Pathan. 

At Bombay, Aug 2015

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa

The journey didn't end there. This is a dream with no end. In 2016 when Irfan tied the knot with Safa, I was certainly heartbroken but he soothed the hurt by inviting me to his wedding. Later that year in November, he was in Nagpur to play a Ranji game and he met my family. The way he and Yusuf bhai met and talked to my family, never felt like they weren't a part of it. Such humble beings they are. My niece has grown fond of both of them ever since that evening.

At VCA, Nagpur, Nov 2016

I have known Irfan from a distance since 2003 and from very close quarters since 2014. And, there's not a bit about him that is different. The only difference, perhaps, is that I have personal experiences to narrate and tell people about his humbleness. To love back a fan the way he did, can only be dreamt of. The ever smiling and calm demeanor of his' can soothe all the restlessness in you. He never fails to provide words of encouragement when needed. Has helped me not only in my personal matters but many a friends of mine who needed help. 

I have always said that words fail me when I have to talk about or tell what and how much Irfan Pathan means to me. Today, I tried to put it in words on occasion of his birthday but I know, for the writer in me, this is not even half close to doing justice to what I feel for him.

PS: You shall always be loved, always ;)

Pandraah Baras

Barso'n baad aaj woh letter pad khola
Jis mein tumhe khat likha karti thi.
Woh neeche kinari pe bane gehuwe phool
Aur upar mein banni udhti chidiya'n.
Main woh phool thi, murjhati aur phir khilti
Tum un azaad panchhiyo'n ki tarah, khud mein mashgool.

Kuch pandrah solah khatt likhey the tumhe
Abhi bhi kuch warq bachhe hain is mein.
Meri nazr uss akhri khatt ki chaap par padhi
Ek dheemi si hassi mere labo'n se chhooth gayi.
Yun to mujhe woh aaj bhi zabaani yaad hai
Har ik woh khatt jo tumhe likha tha.

In lafzo'n pe haath phera to woh zakhm sabz ho utha
Hijr ka woh akhri khatt aaj bhi be-jawaab hai.
Tumhari khamoshi ke kayi'n matlab nikaale the maine
Lekin koi bhi mere dil ko behla na saka.
Aksar sochti hoon agar tum likhtey to kya likhtey
Phir har uss jawaab ke badle main apna jawaab sochti.

Tumhare jawaab ke intezaar mein main waqt ka hisaab bhool baithi
Aaj jab ispe woh akhri khatt ki tareekh dekhi to khud pe hass padhi.
Pandrah baras beet gaye hain uss din ko
Aur main aaj bhi tanhaayi mein uska jawaab sochti hoon.
Shayad tumhe woh khat mila hi na ho
Shayad tumne usse padha hi na ho
Agle pandrah baras yeh soch ke guzaar lungi.

Khandar

sadak ke modh par jo woh khandar hai
aaj usse kareeb se dekha maine
woh waqt se kumlayi mat maili deewarein
woh sar se paer tak cheenkhti daraarein
unhe sun ne ke liye, main bheetar chali gayi

tooti dehleez mujhe dekh muskura di
sehmi se maine ek kadam andar ki or rakha
baase ashiyaan ki bu thi uss khandar me
haan, kabhi kisi ka ashiyaan to raha hoga

dining table pe toote hue do pyaale the
shayad akhri baar unhone yahin chai pi hogi
un baaton ki dhool se mez dhaka hua tha
wahi bagal mein ek pen bhi thi.

theek table ke peeche ek toota photo frame tha
makdi ke jaalo se bhara hua
usme lagi hui tasveer kuch fat si gayi thi
haseen lamhe ko sanjo kar maano thak si gayi thi

yeh khule hue jharokhein intezaar mein jhaanktey hain
aate jaate koi to yahan nazar karey
aaye, baethe phir yahan koi
aur iss khandar ko ashiyaan kare.