Act of Love - Lachi Calls Me

 I met Lachi or Venkatapathi Raju as the world knows him when we were still 14 year olds in an Under 15 camp. He was showing such promise even then that Baig sir identified him and perhaps asked if he could join the BCCI South Zone camp before he had played for the state. Lachi had to wait another year by which time we were team mates at MCC and started on state tours for the Under 19, Under 22, Under 25 and even Ranji Trophy where we made our debut in the same match against Andhra.

At HCA's felicitation of the Ranji Winners some years ago - me second from left and Lachi fifth from left

One tale Lachi tells everyone even today is how he would give me all his money for safekeeping (and those days we would carry some 300-400 bucks in our pockets). There was no money from the HCA or BCCI - just boarding and lodging. If I remember right we had to pay for our food also then except on match days when they would give us food at the ground. So I would keep both his and mine safely, spend frugally till the last day. He would ask when he needed money - either for a movie or a beer - and I would give him only that much and not more. I would save mine up till the last day when I would go and buy cassettes for the latest western music. Once we came back home I would give him the balance money which would be enough for the auto ride home and some more. Lachi thought I was some kind of a financial genius but I was glad he trusted me enough with his money and I did what I could best. (Once in Tellicherry, our hotel boy stole our money from the room and since it happened to many of the players the hotel management reimbursed the money!)

Under 19 winners at Vizianagaram, U22 winners at Bangalore, U22 South Zone winners at Guwahati  and then one fateful Under 22 trip to Chennai that was only half done thanks to a cyclone that stopped out train at Naidupeta. The bridges either side of the station collapsed and we were stuck there for three-four days. The rain had flooded the station and it came up to the level of the compartment floor. We had to put all the luggage on the bottom berth which meant we had to sleep two in one berth. So it was Lachi, skinny as always, and me, sleeping head to toe for all those days. We ran out of food, ran after air dropped food, helped some people and made it back in one piece. And many more escapades like that - long journeys with friends, dhaba outings etc. 

Throwback to the 80s - when we were still dreaming

It was a big brother, younger brother relationship. Once in an Under 19 match one Tamil Nadu player heckled him with some words and he came and told me that he was bothering him - he probably expected me to do something. When that fielder stood at silly point to me next over I whacked one at his shins and that sent the fielder howling and made Lachi dance with glee. He would always joke about our native villages which are close by - Alamuru and Polamuru. And when we bowled he would whisper East and West are always the best - referring to East Godavari and West Godavari. When we were studying in the Engineering college he would drop by often with Chakkar and people would think they were students of our college too. He climbed up poles to tie Choudary's banners when he stood for elections. He was my Chief Guest for the book launch of 'The Men Within' and 'This Way is Easier Dad'. Oh, and so many more stories,

Lachi went on to play for India while I was dropped and went my engineering route. We kept in touch here and there and never lost touch really. One day I always touch base with him is on his birthday and we share a couple of minutes - did that for over 40 years. Nothing much - just a happy birthday and he says thank you and we say we'll catch up and we move on. Wasn't sure if I was just being sentimental or if it was making any difference since was a And the recent birthday, for some reason I remembered but forgot to call him and got caught up in stuff. At 4 pm he called me and asked 'How come you for got my birthday?' It was such a cute moment. I told him I remembered but forgot to call and we laughed about it.

I catch myself getting a little cynical about these rituals because sometimes I don't know if I am going on about these things when they perhaps don't mean much to others. I was losing steam there and was letting go. But after Lachi's call I realised it does make a difference - a tiny one perhaps - but certainly a difference to people who matter.

So Lachi, Happy Birthday again!