Euphoria

Nearly 60 of us stood through the last hour of the match, chanting the favourite slogans of Mumbaikars - "Ganpati Bappa Moriya", "Jo bole so nihal", "Vande Mataram'- but as we inched closer to the finish line, there was only one word on our mind - "Indyeahhhhhhhhh". The crescendo grew louder with every additional run scored. And then it happened. We erupted into a roar, jumping, clapping, hugging whoever stood next to us. Some of us were shouting, others had tears in their eyes - emotions of all types were witness in the moments that followed. The most heartening moments of the day were yet to come.

We decided to hit the streets. The whole suburb was heading in one direction, to one celebration. Apart from Ganpati celebration, rarely have 5000 people gathered to dance on the streets to the Nashik dhol. Never have I witnessed a parade of fans, stranger to one another, sitting atop cars, screaming to each other as if they have had a bond of decades. Never have I seen so many people, from different religions and castes celebrating together. Never have so many generations enjoy a victory together, in a similar manner, due to one cause. Never have I seen a flood of the Indian tricolour in the sea of blue, over flowing on the streets. Never have I felt so proud to be an Indian. It was all for one team that rose to the occasion and gave a billion Indians including one Sachin Tendulkar the ultimate gift - a World Cup win.