What will you say to Sehwag?

At times you stop because you sniff a story, other times, just to talk. I stopped because the three black stumps (with golden stripes) had been reinforced with a makeshift wicket in front of them – makeshift was made up of empty boxes, throwaway cartons. Puzzling; so I stopped, disrupted their game, and got all chatty.

Why the boxes, guys – I asked a motley crew of 7,8 and 9 year old boys, one girl thrown in for variety. They tell me the stumps won’t hold, in spite of the stand, or rather because of that stand.

When looking for a parking spot, behind Hauz Khas market, around the houses, I have times for these things.

They want to show me a stump, and they do; the stump exchange can’t happen either – they were bought in Sadar Bazar. Must have been a good rate, bet they have a wholesale shop for stumps there.

Done with the stumps I ask them if they know where Sehwag stays? “Haan! – Yes! – I know” And one kid tells me, “andar A Block walli galli me (in the A block lane, inside).

“And have you met him?”

“Haan, yes, I have!”

“What did you say to him”

“Hello bola tha”

“Just Hello, what did he say?”

Hello bola tha!

“Lagta hai tumhare jaise Viru bhi sharmata hai” (Like you, Viru's shy too)

I drive off, thinking, what will I say to Viru if I run into him in Hauz Khas.

What will you say?


On Bored: Jatman Sehwag