High-powered telescopes pointed at the sky look into the past. But what about scopes that glimpse the future? That scope is our mind. 

My elder brother, through sheer hard work, secured a posting in the U.S.—specifically, New York. Achieving that in those days wasn’t easy, and our entire family was thrilled. This always lingered in my mind—when, if ever, would I get a chance to visit the U.S.? Back then, even visiting another city within India was a distant dream. My friends and colleagues fueled these thoughts, teasingly asking if my brother would eventually take me to the U.S. 

At least I could dream, right? Or was it a vision? 

One night, after a long day’s work and hours of table tennis, I dreamed I was with my brother in New York. In that dream, we were headed to the hospital for an eye check-up. I remember walking beside him along a building with numerous windows—not particularly fancy. But before we reached the doctor, I woke up. 

Fast forward 31 years, and there I was, walking beside my elder son and wife in New York. We strolled past a building that looked exactly like the one from my dream—down to the smallest detail. And this time, I made it to the doctor. It wasn’t just a resemblance; it was the building. My mind wasn’t playing tricks. 

Another dream transported me to the U.S. again. This time, I was walking with my brother from a station to his apartment. It was raining, and small shops with awnings offered brief shelter. The road was under repair. Although I didn’t reach his apartment in the dream, I did so 31 years later—this time with my wife, sons, and daughter-in-law. It was night, just as in the dream. We walked through the rain, along a road under repair, past the same shops. And this time, we reached the apartment. 

Something similar happened to my wife. On a trip to Vancouver, we visited Grouse Mountain. As soon as she saw a totem pole, she exclaimed, “I’ve seen this before!” She couldn’t remember when, but the sight filled her with excitement. 

Do all dreams come true? No. If they did, I’d have explored Australia, seen a palace on Mount Everest, and played cricket for India! 

Contd. 379. Top Indian Cricket Games