20-20 vs 2020

The first I heard of 20-20 was when the new format of cricket 20-20 came into play internationally (17 Feb 2005). I remember all being very excited.  The rush of life had made it very difficult for all of us to enjoy the game of cricket for its length of play.  So this condensed version of the game was a boon for all who couldn't spare time to watch the entire 50 over cricket ( and there is no way we could do without watching because Cricket is a religion for us) and who would snatch every chance to get to know the score amidst busy office schedule.

In fact, (again back to reminiscing the past - here I go) my earliest memory of  watching this gentlemen's game is my father taking an off from office and my brothers not going to school, just to catch the ODIs on our black & white shuttered TV. Also my Mom had an extra busy day as the demand for pakoras and snacks in between the game soared.  Then I remember my brothers having bets of dosa treats if this team won or that, no matter who won i was the winner as I relished those dosas more than anyone or anything. But as technology developed and life caught on with us this privilege was no more available, so the newer and shrunk avatar of the game was a life saver. 

So this 20-20 was an instant hit and a trending word for anything that is quick and interesting and was definitely a  'go down in history' thing.

But who had thought that this 2020 has a knack for registering itself for more than one reason. We are in the year 2020 and mind you this will definitely go down in history, though for reasons we would like to bury & forget.  20-20 was introduced to bolster crowds for the game in the stadiums which had started dwindling owing to the madness of life which left little time for such a long game. And 2020 will ironically be remembered for social distancing (though this distancing made us realise the need to get together more often- not virtually, mind you!), masking up (the already masked & fake smiles, i hope we start to feel stifled by our fake feelings and smiles just like we feel suffocated under our masks) and a virus which has attached itself to our lives in such a way that no formatting is going to delete it from our system, for now at least.

Did you notice something?

20-20 although apart with a distance created by '-' was to bring people together in the stadiums (didn't I mention that before too?).

And 2020 is close together but only superficially. Paradoxically, it is going to remembered for creating distances,  empty classrooms, empty playgrounds, shut down canteens, empty malls, traffic less roads, zoom meetings, collapsing economy, confusion, uncertainty and a wish to live the way we used to before 2020.

I read a post on Whatsapp which finds relevance here and i am going to share it with you  

Oh God! 

Please uninstall this year 2020

It has a virus!

 As a teacher of English I would say this has made me realise the importance of punctuation more than ever....no no... i am not going to give the same example 'Let's eat Grandpa'.  It's a new one now, and mind you, one which you won't forget easily...

20-20  &  2020

See what a world of difference a small hyphen can create!!!

Jyoti Sharma