Football with Sourabhee?

Wanted to go to Jawlakhel Ground to see Sourabhee, our Nepali Babu and the other gal from Indian Idol. I even asked my bhanji to make me a 'Marry Me... Sourabhee' sign. She finally agreed after promising to give her a packet of Spout everyday for the rest of her life!

Her mother is going to kill me ... that means I won't be alive to see my bhanji's wedding!

Then there was this 'Prime Minister's Cup' organized by the Maobadi-sports people! God, I am so naive! And all this time, I though the Maobadis loved camping, playing with baroot, hacking arms and legs, extortion and what not!

They love football. Who doesn't? Only if we could settle our differences by playing a game of football then we wouldn't have all these bandhs and nataks! Anyways, Nepal 'Red' was playing in the Finals.

My friends were all ready with peanuts. Yes, eating peanuts and watching football is like ... I don't know... reading Kama Sutra and trying to play bed kung-fu ... for the first time! Forgive me... I am not good at analogies.

So I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Remember those Boy Scouts days? I was prepared! I had the big chart paper , professing my 'Shah Rukh' love for Sourabhee and a Nepali Football Team ko Jersey. First half for the Indian Idol and second for our football team!

Then I got a call from my friend. His father was in the ICU. I canceled my plans and went to the hospital. The ICU door had a big notice plastered on it. 'Please deposit 50,000 Rupees'.... that's like 600+ Amriki dollars!

If only my friend's father was a big-time neta, then he wouldn't have to worry about medical bills. He would be flown to Bangkok or Delhi... would have received the best medical attention in the world.

The old man was on a ventilator. The nurses were busy chatting about Indian Idol and other stuff. The doctor didn't have much to say. The patient was suffering from pneumonia and they were doing their best to stabilize him. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my friend.

We talked about our fathers, land prices in KTM and how we won't be able to buy not even an anna of land even if we work for another 50 years. We talked about how our wives would get along with our parents. Well, he just got married a month ago and I guess, I am 'the last of the Mohicans' left!

I thought about my father. I have never been a good son. I have always squandered all the opportunities my parents have given me. But they still love me... and hope someday, I will grow up and be my own man!

I don't know if that day will ever come but my prayers to all the fathers who have always done the best they could so that their children would have a better life!

p.s. Sourabhee rocked KTM, Nepal 'Red' won the game... and hope my friend's father recovers soon!