It’s a man’s world at home, but I call the shots
My concept of a happy, complete family, for as long as I could remember, had been that of a dad, a mom, a son and a daughter. So imagine my trepidation when three men arrived in my life like bolts from the blue even before I could say ‘Oh! boy’!
The first one, being the husband was a man, and he was welcomed delightfully and so was the second one, our little bundle of joy. Though I felt outnumbered, I hoped to get even with the arrival of the third member.
But, it was not to be, as the third one too turned out to be a member of the opposite team and my world turned topsy-turvy!
Living with three men in the house is like being in a men’s gym all the time. You see action all around!
There are different kinds of ‘man’ items strewn all over the house. I can’t get from point A to point B in the house without stripping over a cricket ball, a basket ball … bats of all sizes and shapes, skateboards that can catapult me into space, hoops and nets to get trapped in. It’s life in the fast lane with more obstacles than ones found in the steeple chase!
The only time I see them still is when there’s a live coverage of any game going on anywhere in the world! I would be enjoying those tranquil moments of peace
In fact, I look forward to Olympics and FIFA World Cup but IPL? It has me clean bowled and struggling for a foothold for more than a month every year.
and quiet and there would be bedlam and pandemonium in the house because somebody had scored a goal, or hit a six, got a wicket or whatever.
I just don’t get how much of sports would be enough for these guys. Once the man of the family almost got the car smashed as he got distracted watching two small boys playing cricket, if you can call it that, with a stick and paper ball by the roadside!
Many of the major sporting events happen once in four years and it’s fine with me. In fact, I look forward to Olympics and FIFA World Cup but IPL? It has me clean bowled and struggling for a foothold for more than a month every year.
I lose my boys completely to this annual occurrence and if at all I can elicit a response to any of my questions during IPL season, it will be like the short ball!
To be fair, the eldest of the three did try to find a middle ground but it was a losing battle for him as his loyalties lay with the opposite team and he soon gave up. That’s when I decided if I can’t beat ‘em, I will join ‘em!
I started taking more interest (the watching from couch kind!) in games while pursuing my own interests of reading and writing. I soon discovered that the enthralling joy of sport is just as thrilling as the cathartic release I find in reading and writing.
So now Rohit and Pollard are like my brothers (we back Mumbai at IPL) and I join in the celebration when some guy connects a bat with the ball or loses his wicket, and I try to remember what the acronyms KKR, RCB, CSK and so on stand for. You will find me at different stadiums joining my boys in cheering on teams at random games.
There are times I long for a daughter with whom I could discuss the graying of my hair, the latest tear jerker movies and many other mother-daughter stuff, but I end up discussing what is ‘Mankad-ing’, who is going to be bought by which club, Malinga’s last ball being a no ball….
This is my world and when I see the love and affection for me shining in my boys’ eyes on ‘no-match’ days, I feel my family is complete and happy after all.