My nephew showed me a foreign player’s highlight on his phone, all that fancy electronic scoring gear. Good for them, but the real fight is here—keeping our local akhara’s floor mats from cracking in this heat, yaar. Bas, if a boy from my lane can train there without his mother worrying about injury, that’s a better victory.

Arre, yeh prize-money gap to waise hi hai jaise mera mixer-grinder — motor to heavy hai, par starter hai kharab. Meri patni school mein bachiyon ko chess sikhane lagi, toh ek ladki ne bol diya — 'Sir, main dadi se seekhi thi, unhone bina board ke hi chaal bata di.' Bas phir sochta hoon, jab tak hamari gali ki bachiyan ghar ki radio theek karna seekh legi, tab tak yeh gap koi khal-khal nahi karega.