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| bye bye Percy |
On the night of 8th May 2016 around 10pm, I
received a call from my cricket team buddy Amar Bhat informing that our friend
Percy was no more. He was sobbing profusely and also mumbled that his 2 yr kid Shaurya was also no more
with his wife Shruti seriously injured.
I could not believe first and then I could not breathe for sometime and
my feet just sunk in. Was it true and how can this happen. We started calling
up friends to get more information and to hear from someone that the news was
just a rumor. But as the night grew dark, confirmation of Percy’s and Shaurya's death poured
in.
Our cricket family lost him in a road accident which
happened in Poladpur, near Mahad on Mumbai-Goa highway. He was returning to
Mumbai from his hometown after a vacation and was driving with his wife
Shruti, 2 year old son Shaurya, sister Reshma and her husband. Their Wagan R
was hit by a Swift head on and losing Prasad and Reshma on the spot. Shaurya
lost the battle during his transit from local hospital to a hospital in Panvel.
Shruti and Reshma’s husband were injured .
Shruti has multiple fractures and after few days has been informed
of her loss.
I have know Prasad( fondly known as Percy) since the last 12
years now . We joined the TCS Mumbai cricket team around the same time. We
became soon very close knit family ( Ameya, Amar, Prtio, Mayank, Sankara, Kiran) on and off the field out. We were young then J and most of us were
single. Amar, Prasad, Sankara, Kiran,
Me, got married over last few years but our bond grew strong every year. To
start with there were stag get-together then we had couple get-together and
then had kiddie get-togethers .Our better
halves sometimes joined for matches
along with the kids too. Percy was married to Shruti on April 25, 2011 and
was blessed with Shaurya on 1st Feb 2014, just before his birthday
on 2nd Feb. There was joke
with the group that we had all planned our kids during the same time. We had
Kyra on 27th Jan and Amogh ( Ameya/Nisha son) on 6th Feb. We were a happy family. Kiran’s wedding few
months in February 2016 was one of the happiest moment for us.
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| Percy is on right side with his tongue outside |
We had some great moments on the field but the but him
winning best batsman award during 2011 Times Shield was a high. He had scored 3
centuries in that tournament. He was by far the most talented opening batsmen for TCS, was unstoppable
on his day with great technique. He
played straight and had a stance similar to his idol Sachin. Only time we had
arguments was when we discussed Sachin.
We will remember his straight drive, covers driver, pulls
and the amazing shots he used to play. He was a good wicket keeper but his
fielding was bad so we eventually realized that if he is in the team we need
to hide him behind the stumps. He was passionate about cricket and would do
anything to play a match over the weekend.
He not only played cricket but was a table tennis champ and won trophies
for TCS.
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| One of the many 'Man of the Match' |
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| With Inter Tata trophy |
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| With his prized possession..Shruti and yes..Times best batsman award |
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| Award received from CM of Maha |
Off the ground he was a fun loving person. Silent but funny and
lazy. He loved food. He loved food so much that he needed to download it at the
same pace also. When after cricket match or during get together we used to go out for lunch/dinner , he
always had his plate full and used to eat for atleast 2-3 of us. We also used
to tease him for his invisible girlfriends
so that he gets in trouble with Shruti. He loved her too much…
Some of the fun moments below
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| Picnic time |
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| Leg pulling fun.... |
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| With Mayank |
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| Dance time |
There were play dates with Kyra, Shaurya, Vani, Amogh,
Riddhima, Happy, Twinkle, Adit. Their birthday celebration, the after match shopping . I was the one
usually who used to ditch the team in most of the get together but Percy used
to join whenever possible. Shaurya was so cute that we had already started
finding him dates for him .
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| The kids gang.. Shaurya the cutie .3rd from right with military pants |
Percy was an opening batsman and we used to always suggest
to him to stay till the end to play a long innings but he could not apply the same principle for his
life innings leaving us bereaved. We have lost a friend on and off the pitch.
You and Shaurya will be in our heart always forever and we
will be the strength for Shruti to get well and move ahead in her life.
Percy is a Chaampion..Chaampion..Chaampion!!
