Ten
India vs Australia Test Match Kolkata, 11-15 March 2001Day 1Most of the time crap happens in life. However, sometimes miracles do too. To
us, the second test match of the India-Australia series was the magic cure for the
quake. I remember every day of that match. Ish continued with his weird and
highly improbable ideas of making Ali meet the Australian team.
'Meet the Australians?' Omi said as he dusted the counter. Ish and I sat on the
floor in front of the TV.
'They are in India,' Ish said. He pointed to the Australian team batting on the
screen. 'When are we ever going to get a chance like this?'
'Is he mad?' Omi asked me.
'Of course, he is. What will you do by meeting them? Really?' I joined in.
'I want to get their opinion on Ali.' 'How?' Omi said as he sat down with us.
'We will go see a match. Maybe a one-day,' Ish said.
'There is no money for trips,' I said.
'The one-day series will continue for the next two months. If business picks up,
then we could,' Ish said.
'They are raping us again. Fuck, business is never going to pick up,' I said as I
saw the score. On the first day at tea, Australia's score was 193/1.
'If it does. I said if, Ish said, upset at the score more than
me.
'So we go see a match. Then what? Knock on Hayden's door and say, "Hey,
check this kid out." How do you intend to meet them?' I mocked.
'I don't know,' Ish turned to the screen, scowling. 'Bowl better, guys.'
'Excuse me, are you watching the India-Australia match?' a lady's voice
interrupted us.
An elderly woman stood at the counter with a puja thali in her hand.
'Yes?'
'Can my grandson watch it with you for a while?' she said.
I stood up from the floor. A small boy accompanied the lady. I was never keen
on random people coming into our shop to spend their time. She sensed my
hesitation. 'We'll buy something. I want to attend the bhajans inside and Babloo
wants to see the match.'
'Of course, he can come in.' Ish opened the door wider. The boy came in and
sat before the TV. Ish and I exchanged a round of dirty looks.
'Don't watch from so close Babloo. Hello, I am Mrs Ganguly by the way. I also
need advice on buying cricket equipment for my school, if you can visit me
sometime.'
'School?' I said.
'Yes, I am the principal of the Kendriya Vidyalaya on Ellisbridge. We never had
good suppliers for sports. Everybody thinks we are government so they try and
rip us off. You supply to schools, no?'
The answer was no. We did not supply to schools.