On Saturday, few minutes before the last West Indian wicket fell, the line between reality and hope began to blur for you. The dismissal would be Sachin Tendulkar's last moment in Test cricket.
Didn't you spend all these years cheating yourself into believing that this man will never retire?
When Shannon Gabriel was clean bowled by Mohammed Shami, you tried to believe this has not happened. You told your mind, Tendulkar will soon be back in white flannels to play for India again.
And when his teammates gave him an innovative mobile lap of honour, Tendulkar wiped his tears, and you could no longer hold on to your misplaced hope. Gods don't cry. Sachin Tendulkar, the 40-year-old man you believed is a boy forever, will not play for India again.
When the third day's play began, West Indies had seven wickets in hand and a huge total to overhaul. You knew they would be bowled out today. Isn't that why you rushed to the Wankhede Stadium or sat transfixed in front of the TV? You knew that the match would end on Saturday.
As West Indians failed to even put up a semblance of defence, you saw the scoreboard with trepidation and realised there were only two more wickets left.
Yet, about 10 minutes to lunch, you cheered your lungs out when captain MS Dhoni handed the ball to Tendulkar. The maestro bowled a googly that would make Shane Warne proud. However, he did not pick a wicket.
And much to your dismay, Dhoni brought back his regular bowlers. Ojha and Shammi cleaned up the act. And you saw Tendulkar spread his arms in joy at having won a Test series and then rushed to the pitch to be hugged by his teammates.
Did you also wonder then that it was probably at this moment that Tendulkar realised the importance of what had just happened. Did you too feel like rushing over to him and thank him for all the joy he gave you and the likes of you for 24 years? Did you believe sitting in the stands or watching on the telly, that Tendulkar, too, probably felt your anguish? Did you realise that when Tendulkar wiped his tears, your vision, too, had gone fuzzy?
When your friends asked you in the evening whether you cried, did you also reply with a lie that went like 'No, I had been preparing for this moment'?
Were you as pleasantly surprised when Tendulkar spoke extempore and delivered a speech that made you hair stand on a million goosebumps? Are you also among those who believe that the Maestro's farewell speech should be counted as his 52nd Test hundred?
Did you too wish that you should be allowed to carry Tendulkar on your shoulders as he took a lap of honour on the ground?
As Tendulkar walked to the pitch and paid his respect, didn't you too wish to kiss the hallowed turf and say a big thank you?
And when Tendulkar climbed those long flight of steps and disappeared into the dressing room, didn't you stay for a long while, wherever you were, hoping that he would come back and wave a goodbye to you?
And finally, as you tried to sleep in the night, did you wake up with a start because you thought you heard the roar of thousands of voices screaming the anthem “Sachinnnn... Sachinnn”?
Well, my friend let me assure you, you are not alone.
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