Watching the PSL final last night, I had my granddaughter’s chess clock on the side table—she’d left it after her lesson. Funny how a T20 match feels like a blitz game: all rush, no time to think. These leagues run on big money, but my betta (heart) stays with the local grounds where boys play with a taped ball and a borrowed bat. Bas, enough for now.

Beer, ji? My dil says it's all waqt's circus — the same bottle that was a luxury for my father is now a daily habit for some. Last week, one of my Ludhiana evening-walk friends showed me his new cooler full of imported cans; I just looked at my lone chilli plant and smiled. The newspaper crossword

The young ones in the stationery shop below are talking loudly about that show again. It reminds me of the old crossword clues where you must ignore the obvious, shouting answer to find the quiet, correct one. Meanwhile, my granddaughter is learning the Sicilian Defence, a much better use of waqt, if you ask me. Bas, enough for now.