The Weekenders...

This week was a tough one by any stretch of the imagination.Every day brought with itself new troubles.It was a week of many 'Firsts & Lasts' - first time attending the whole college and the last time teasing 'them',first time suspensions and last time apologies.So,this weekend was eagerly awaited .I was really looking forward to the break, to relax and lay low for a while.The 'break' started on Friday itself and I slept at 7 pm itself.I woke up today really fresh and 'hungry'.After some naivities throughout the morning and upto noon,I went for a haircut.
On the way,a large gathering and loud music attracted my attention.On closing in on the area,I find myself right in the middle of a 'dangal'.Now,for the uninitiated a dangal is an open air wrestling tournament.If you think that it'd be full of large men in their undies,smeared in mud,dholis all around and their 'ustaads' chearing them on,you aren't far away from the truth.The atmosphere was electric.The spectators were dwarfed by these pehalwans,not an easy feat in Punjab.Imagine,you are standing in the middle of the crowd,little nudges from here and there.The dhol is full on volume,there is chit-chat all around .Two huge men make their way on to the mat,you wonder how come they get so big.Suddenly,there is pin drop silence and the bout begins.One move after other,they seemed entangled.After a few moments,a sudden burst of energy from one guy,a supple movement of the limbs and the other man is pinned.The crowd erupts and so do you !!!
It's a wonderful sport,and the people who make it truly amazing are the ones who dedicate their entire lives to the sport - the 'pehalwans' and their 'ustaads'.These are truly iconic people !