The 'over' never ends

With a new debut begins a new understanding and the promise of a better future, once again

you in tl1e stand." Her first words bad tl1e same effect as a bucket of iced water.

The fence creaked as he leaned forward and put his weight on it. He was a spectator now, having Jong retired frorn the game.

He had a seat in the members' stand, but a group of friends had come to watch and he had chosen to si t with the m. TI1e excitement grew in the stands. The ross had decided which country would bat first, and his son was going to make his 'debut' as an international cricketer. His son, not yet nineteen, was already showing the signs of becoming a world champion. Yes, it was a p roud moment - a father seeing his son stepping into his foocsteps and already doing a better job

He rurned cowards the pavilion as a movement caught his eye. His son had just stepped o oco the ground. He knew how his son would be feeling. The hear t would be racing. The anticipation would be at it~ highest, and the hope of success would be all perv ading. The walk to the pitch was a walk towards personal victories and it was always welcomed. le was the walk back that everyone dreaded , for it brought \\~th it the ending to that day's dream.

Suddenly his son stopped and looked directly at him; then he raised his bat in the air and lowered it in front of his dad. Misty-eyed, he renu: ned the salute. \'v'hacever happened, as far as he was concerned, his son had already won!

The opposition was already strategically p laced around the ground. His son moved ro stand i.n front of the wicket. It was a sign that the game would shor tly begin. He moved back and cook a seat. It was tl1en that he saw her. Standing behind a column with her back ro him, she stood looking towards me pitch. No, not the ground! She was watching his son. He saw red. How dare she come to ruin the most import.111t day iu his son's life! Did she not realise the damage she had already done?

He got up and began a slow walk cowards me lady. As each step brought him closer to the woman, he began to debate about the wisdom of a meeting but ju st as he was about to rurn back, the lady seemed to sense his presence and looked at hiu1. Botl1 stilled Ten years seemed ro Ay away. The hurt and me ache seemed to bury itself. All he now felt was the pain of watching his wife in tears.

"Go back Jay, he will look for

Listead of complying with her request, Jay moved closer. "For the next over, his eyes will be on tl1e ball and l only need tlrnt much time to ask you a question."

"\X'here have l beenJ Is that what you wish to have answered?" she asked.

"No. I jusc want to know why you have rerurned;' he said.

"l never left, Jay," she answered.

" Never left? Ten years ago, you wall{ed away. You left yo ur home, your husband and yom child. You gave no reasons and you left no contact numbers. Is that not leaving?" he cm in The over had ended and tl1e wicket keeper was changing ends. Jay looked toward me crease just as his wife hid herself behind the column. He would ha,;,e to wait until his son faced tl1e other way before he could continue the con versation.

"So why did you?" he asked.

"Because anotl1er, had become more important," she replied

"No woman has ever been more important tl1an you. You and m y son were everything to me," he barked.

"Yes, tl1ere was us, and tl1en tl1ere was your cricket."

"CRICKET! You left because of my game?" he questioned her i.n disbelief.

' Jay, maybe the fault was mine ro have un derestimated yo ur commitment to the game or to have expected more tl1an what you were willing ro give. \Xfhen we marriec~ I saw only me glamour and fame that came with your success," s he said, adding, " I even enjoyed it. Bur no wife should be expected to give up so much of herself to make her husband whole.

I watched you take part in ' tl1ose bonding sessions' when you and the tean1 would lock yourselves away before each gan1e I silently waited at home while you spent montl1s away on tours. I held our baby night after night as he burned with temperature, o nl y to see your phoro splashed across the morning paper wim a woman's arm around your neck. 1 saw your name linked time after rin1e, wicb woman after woman. I cried lonely tears while you boasted to the press, of your love for cricket 1 took calls from strangers wbo spoke of familiarity. l shared yo ur worry at selection time and I hurt when success walked away at intervals. 1 heard you moan when the game went badly. l rejoiced when your team won. And 1 did ir all for love but nm once did "

"A love mat did not make it past tl1e fi.rst inning," he cut in binerly

"My love survived many games Jay, it was just not able ro survive the doosra," she responded.

'''iXTh)' did you not speak up earlier? I tl1ought tllis was what we both wanted," he now spoke in a gentler tone.

"\'v'ould you have give n u p cricket?" she questioned.

"Have I played since you left?" he gueried in ren1rn an d men watched as his wife broke down and cried. His arms autornaticall)7 reached out to comfort her, surprising even him.

"Six!" someone shouted. Jay and his wife looked up to see their son lift his bar in acknowledgement to che cheering.

''\'(! hat now?" be asked fearfully.

"Now? It is tin1e for me to give in to this sport," she smiled back.

"l have always loved you," he whispered.

"But l have always loved you more;' she replied.

"How can you say tliat?" he asked in surprise, for wasn't ir she who had left birn? Hirn and their child!

" I left you your son., and I silently watcl1ed as you made him into a cricketer."

Martimonials Seeking Grooms

Well -settled professional alliance invited from Austra li a/ Indi a for40/165 unmarried charming Punjabi Khatri girl, family oriented and responsible, IT professional, working in Sydney. Australian citizen. Early marriage. Can re lo cate. Serious proposals only. Email profile with recent photo: sydgirl09@gmail.com

Seeking s uitable match fro m Australia preferably PR/ citizen, student can be considered as well, for Hindu / Punjabi Khatri girl pharmacist, B.SC medical, S'S", 84 born, slim and fair, livin g and working in India (Punjab). Brother we ll -sett led in Mel bourne. Parents in India. Contact Abhishek Seth on 0433 322 666 or email seth.abhishek@yahoo.com

Well-settled Hindu family in Sydney seeks a mature, well settled, goo d natured, professional boy from a cu ltured family for our charming daughter, '79 born, 5'2~ IT professional (Masters IT). Caste no bar. Please respond w ith photo and particulars to sssvjp @hotmail.com

Seeking qualified Gujarati match for sister, 5'1 28 years, vegetarian, B.E. (Electronics & Communication), working with Tata Consu ltancy Services (TCS) at Vadodara, Gujarat. Email profile w ith recent photos on kunalshah@y7mai1.com or call 0433 255 228. Serious proposals only. We ll cultured and well to do family

Seeking well-qualified match for very fair, young looking Hindu lady, 54, veg, divorced, daughter living with her. He must be aged 49-55, non smoker with strong moral values. Contact lifepartner@hotmai l com.au or call 0404 043 904.

Suitable well-settled, professional match for Punjabi Arora girl, beautifu l never married 38/165, quali fied IT professional. GSOH w ith good family values Brought up in India. Working in MNC Sydney. Austral ian citizen. Early marriage. Serious enquiries only. Email details with photo: ausgirl101@gmail.com

Seeking su itable Punjab i Brahm in match for 1972 born (looks younger), divorced, issueless registered n u rse currently in India. Groom preferably between the age of 35--40, Hindu vegetar ian, non smoker, non drinker Only seri ous persons contact on nitishsharma_18@ya hoo.com

Seeking Brides

Seeking Hindu girl, preferably Gujarati, good fam i ly values, for my son, dob: 7/8/75, d ivorced, no chi ldren, fair, 5'8~ vegetarian, down to earth, genuine, wel~built, non-smoker, light drinker Australian citizen tax consult ant, lives with parents. Contact 0423 328 800 or sydau714@hotmail.com

Co mpat ible matc h for 1975 born, clean sh aven Si kh Khatri boy, 5'9: two Post-Graduate degrees from India and recent ly finished Masters in IT from Australia Currentl y on temporary resid ent visa (with f ull work rights) and doing 3 months Internship at Optus Sydney. Living wit h elder brother (Australian citizen) and parents, who are on a 1-year visitor visa. Girl should be tall, well educated with pleasing personality and must be from Sikh background.

Early marriage and serious proposals please.

Contact 02 9476 4570 ema i i: as_ghai01 @hotmail.com

Seeking a s uitable match with Indian values for 27-year-old, 5'6'; Punjabi Khatri boy, Permanent Resid ent, permanent job, parents in Austra li a for visit. Please email suna in a_aqua1@yahoo.com or cal l 0421 959 861.

Seeking Hindu/ Buddhist girl from Ball, Fij i India, Nepal ,Sri Lanka or anywhere e se for 29-year-old, 6 ft., handsome Hindu boy, working in Health Services. Looking for educated working girl, with strong family and cult ural values. Teacher health service worker preferable but not necessary. Serious proposals only with a view t o marriage and building a family. Please send photos and correspondence to P.O.CP Box 343, Condell Park, NSW, 2200.

Marriage and movie don't mix!

Bollywood's newlyweds Riteish

Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza are going blue in the face denying that the success of their film Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya had anything to do with their marriage.

Lately the grapevine has been sizzling with stories that the film was a success built on the buzz created by their recent marriage. However, the couple ins ist that it's the team's hard work, not strategic timing that's responsible for the film's success

"We have done two films together: Tujhe Meri Kasam which initially did not do well but is still being shown in many towns, and Masti which was a commercial success. So, our marriage has no connection to the success of our recent film;· said Riteish, somewhat confusingly.

"I would love to give the credit to the makers of the film, the director of the film and the film itself for being nice and hence appreciated;'he added.

Riteish and Genelia tied the knot on February 3, ahead of the film's release on February 24. Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya set the box office cash registers ringing, and received a thumbs-up from the critics as well.

"This film is special because maybe both of us have grown as actors;' said Riteish, also emphasising that the couple shared good chemistry on screen.

Well, whatever the formula for success, the happy couple couldn't have received a better wedding gift! Good luck to them

Anupam's Marathi debut a tribute to the blind

Anupam Kher is an actor with a vast and inte nsely interesting repertoire of roles, but his role of playing a visually challenged person in his Marathi debut Chhodo Kai Ki Baatein wasn't easy for the veteran actor.