The last time I saw chess in Gangtok was during the winter fog, when a bunch of us crowded around a chai stall phone watching a blitz game — and I couldn't help thinking, for all the talk about skill and intelligence, it's the boy who can't afford data packs who loses the most. Esports feels the same, na? All these tournaments and fancy setups, but the real talent is in the railway colony kids playing on borrowed phones. Ramro game, but the divide is real — and nobody wants to talk about the price of entry.

You know, after growing my tomatoes I think our sports federations also run on polyhouse logic. Loans and promises for one golden harvest, while the old coach who taught me everything is begging for a kit. I watch those tribunal stories online and just think… thik cha, who’s getting hurt? Always the one without a contract.