How i miss thee...

Talking animatedly to my mother at home today, it took a while for her weird looks to make me realize that I was dancing circles around her. The culprit was a tennis ball I had found lying around, and unbeknown to me, I had started dribbling(not the nasty kind). Sidestepping the furniture with deft in-steps and out-steps, playing an imaginative 1-2 pass with the wall to outfox the solid defense of the coffee table's legs and faking a shot on goal to fool the chair before finally neatly stepping away from the flummoxed four-legged defender to unleash a trademark left footer into the far right top corner.. sigh.. i miss football...

Its been exactly four months since I broke my ankle in that fateful match, and I havent still stepped onto the football field. The ankle has healed pretty well, but still the weakness is hard not to miss. Whether the ankle is ready or not, the heart yearns to get back on to the field.. Aaaahh.. the joys of football.. the thrill of outthinking the opponent.. the rush of adrenalin at the sight of a goal chance.. the feeling of pure and utter freedom when u beat the opponent for sheer pace as you race ahead with the ball on the counter attack.. the sense of oneness of purpose and the true and complete understanding with your teammate that makes the perfect pass.. the indescribable warmth of pure joy that washes over you when u see the net bulge with the power of your shot.. the split second heart stopping moment just after taking a shot on goal when time seems to stand still as 22 eyes bore into the ball willing it with all their might to move an inch here or an inch there... the sense of camaraderie in the team huddle.. the bitter lead-heavy disappointment of a missed chance.. the heartbreak of an undeserved loss.. .. the sheer tears of joy after a hard earned win...the gentle ache of tired muscles after a great game.. the biting smell of the muscle relaxant sprays which shrouds the team bunker at half time.. the unforgiving remorse that a goal which you missed could have won your team the match.. the unimaginable ecstasy of a come-from-behind-victory.. aaaahhh.. how i miss them all!

the sheer joy of winning the ball from an opponent with a hard tackle and having it at my feet with the opponent half lying invitingly ahead as the wingers stream ahead along the flanks and the midfielders quickly get into position for tat pass that would launch the attack.. If only you could freeze time in that one instant, that just might be the most focused you will ever find me..and one of the happiest too..