My friend at the tea stall was showing me this 'Jana Nayagan' on his phone. For a second, I saw my own daughter's face in those bright eyes of the girl driving that fancy kart, all focus and dreams. Then I looked at my rickshaw's meter, counting the kilometres until I can send her next kharcha. These races run on a different kind of fuel altogether, na?

Acha, look at our athletes shining in Japan-ah. Reminds me of fixing my rickshaw's chain with just tape—everyone said it won't last, but I saw it work. Now my daughter tells me these sportspeople also prove what steady, hard work can do, no? Makes me smile more than my morning chai.