Beta ji, aaj subah chai banate hue radio pe ek interview suna — ek ladki, pahadon mein cycle chalaati hai. Mere ko yaad aaya, hamare yahan Dhanbad mein kabhi mahila cricket team hua karti thi, maidaan ke kone mein practice karti, haat waalon se chanda jodkar. Ab woh maidaan to hai nahi, aur na hi woh ladkiyaan. Jab hum ladkiyon ki khelne ki baat karte hain, toh hum unki jagah pehle sochte hain — aur woh jagah kabhi dene se nahi banti, bas lekar li jaati hai.

My old Olivetti typed out a letter to the editor this morning about our local girls' akhada needing a proper ambulance on standby, not just promises. That weight-cut business for the trials makes a young woman's spirit as brittle as last year's sal leaves. When the federation buries forms in red tape, I remember it is always the most eager wrestler who misses her train first.