RANCHI: "Shaurya" is premises no. H 10A in the Harmu Housing Colony, some 4 kms from Firayalal, the centre of Ranchi town. A two-storeyed building that had closed all its doors and windows on Friday afternoon to keep the pestering media at bay. It's the house where the Dhonis live, the family of the first citizen of Indian Cricket.
Shaurya is superstitious about Saturday's match. The inmates, Mahi's parents and his elder brother's family, do not want to discuss cricket at all. "There's a reason why. In 2007, we were nervous and didn't talk to anybody from the media at all. The Mahi-led India team won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, defeating Pakistan by 5 runs in the final at Johannesburg. So we were delighted of course! When time came for the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup in England, we talked our hearts out. And India lost !"
That was Narendra Singh Dhoni , Mahi's elder brother, speaking to ET on Friday. "You know what? All this cricket means we are forced to remain under voluntary house arrest till it ends. Just look at the crowd in front of our house and you would know what I mean" he said. Sure enough. Between H10A and the BJP party office bang opposite the road, there were atleast six OB vans and some 40-50 mediamen milling around.
The Dhonis of Shaurya are, therefore, taking no chances this time. Not a word to the media, nothing at all that may come in the way of India and the Cup, not a deed that might make the Gods angry. Yes, the Dhonis are simple, God-fearing people.
As a mutual friend informed, the family visited Tarapith in West Bengal's Birbhum district with a local priest, to offer their prayers just before the semis with Pakistan at Mohali. Tarapith is Tantric hotspot and famously potent. Legend has it that the third eye of Sati fell here, when Shiva went on the rampage with his dead consort's lifeless body on his shoulder and Lord Vishnu decimated the body into 51 bits with his Sudarshan Chakra to pacify Shiva.
Narendra of course parried the question. "Is it not natural that we will pray?" he asked. Sure, and it's not only Mahi's family that is praying. Even his neighbours are. His closest neighbours these days are employees of State Bank of India , Harmu branch and the lady present in the bank on Friday, despite it being a bank holiday, said she certainly has prayed too and that she would be delighted if India wins the World Cup. Old neighbours at the Mecon colony, where the Dhonis first lived at N-171 and later at E-25 and where Mahi was born and brought up, said they were also praying for Mahi and India.
Kalyan Pramanik, who lived in N-172, and Satyajit Panda who lives in E-26, both were counting the uneasy hours before Saturday's finals. Being a Dhoni is tough at times and they are basically simple folk. Narendra is some 40 plus and runs his own private business. "We are very private people, but being a Dhoni doesn't allow us to lead a very private life" said Narendra. He had joined the BJP for sometime against the wishes of everyone in the family, including Mahi and his own wife. The intense opposition finally forced Narendra to quit politics.
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/india-sri-lanka-final-dhonis-parents-keep-fingers-crossed/articleshow/7847809.cms
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