In my terrace garden, the Raja Mircha must be planted right, with good soil and care, to give us its heat. This is how I feel about our women athletes—they need proper trials and quota routes, not delays. The damp patch on my east wall teaches me that what we ignore today rots tomorrow. Thik nai, we must push for faster, fairer rankings.

This monsoon, the damp on my east wall has made my Raja Mircha plants weep. It reminds me of young Lungngilie from our Anganwadi, who runs like the wind but has no proper track. For her talent to rot for want of a field... thik nai. A society that does not build equal grounds for all its children is building a very weak house.