Cricket Mania

Alexander and I are still shaking with fear after India won an important cricket match against Pakistan. Large mobs gathered in the streets, cheering for their country. Fireworks exploded in allies and outside stores. On my way back from a local grocer, I noticed a boy covering his ears with both hands. Alexander yanked me back as a large explosive erupted in a flurry of silver sparks and smoke. I still cannot hear properly out of my left ear.

NID students gathered in the canteen to watch the game. The cafeteria was transformed into a dark cinema. Jay called to say we should come to CG Road- one of the main roads in Ahmedabad. “You must come now if you want to be on the news for all of India,” he said, the sounds of the crowd in the background. We politely declined, taking refuge within the walls of NID as the explosions continued.

Later we would learn that Jay had stolen forty sets of keys from cars stranded in nearby traffic. He climbed atop a parked bus and demanded the entire crowd chant “We love India! We love India! We love India!” before returning the keys. We saw photographs of the event in the newspaper the following day. "It's good publicity for my [political] party,” Jay explained.