The color of dream was Blue

Dreams fulfilled. Prayers answered. Smiles,laughter,cheers all around. Extreme ecstasy. Drunk in happiness, delirious in joy. Am I exaggerating? Naah! I don't think so. It WAS a Night to Remember.

When an entire nation which had, for weeks, held its breath, hands folded in prayer, fingers crossed in anticipation let out a triumphant roar. It was a sort of victory where every common man felt like an equal winner, everyone had the freedom to share in that indescribable feeling of having the world at their feet. True it would make no difference to their mundane daily existence, it would not swell their bank coffers by even a penny, but for a nation which thrives on passion and emotions (which sometimes borders on plain hysteria) it was the feeling that counted.

The right to proudly proclaim  "We are the best in the world", never mind that this 'world' comprised of only a motley group of twelve to fourteen cricket-playing nations.

When each day's morning headlines scream out the shameful details of yet another scam, we can most definitely go a bit overboard in this sweeping feeling of pride and victory that the night of 2nd April brought to our lives. There will always be cynics who will feel that this event is being showered an obscene amount of attention and that other major causes are being neglected , that all this hullabaloo is a only a sign of the superficiality and shallowness prevalent in our society, that even hoping this triumph might show the way for today's youth to be indomitable in their pursuit of dreams is far-fetched and immature. To all of them I would like to say politely "Take a hike."

For all of us born after 1983, this was our chance to see and feel how it is like to be world champions. For all of us growing up in a cricket-crazy nation and getting used to heartbreaks at the World Cup this was the night we ruled. We fought, we went down, we struggled and we rose. Nothing came easy and we had to fight every inch of the way to the summit. For me, personally, this was 'live' inspiration.

This historic summer night saw a story reach its 'happily ever after' conclusion. The epic journey of a warrior reached its fairytale ending. It was also a shining example of team spirit and camaraderie, of passion and fortitude, when the soldiers fought till the end to give their general of twenty years the perfect farewell.

He couldn't be happier and his tears of joy melted the heart of every Indian. It was that one priceless sight we will forever cherish.

"Champions of the world", such a sweet ring to these words, invoking a myriad of emotions - pride, honor, success, satisfaction, and most of all, pure, unadulterated joy. That night the nation became one in such a way as only this game can bring. When the Tricolor soared high into the glittering night sky. When 1.21 billion people knew no boundaries, when the same prayer was on every lip, the same dream in every eye, the same chant in every voice.

The night when we all flew 'To the Moon and back". The color of the dream was blue and I lived every moment of it.

And here are some images that will forever stay with us...

" The Chief Architect of this Triumphant Journey "

                                                 

"Our Talismanic Fast Bowler all along "

                                              

"The Man who played the Innings of a lifetime to ensure there wouldn't be anymore heartbreaks "

                                                   

"Captain Courageous and the Moment of Triumph  "

                                           

"The World At Our Feet  "

 " One South African who didn't choke "

                                                         

                                                           

 "The 21-gun salute  "

                                             

"And He Lived Happily Ever After "

[Picture Courtesy: Cricinfo.com, Picture Captions: Yours truly]