A Day after April Fool, An Interesting Day !
I knew 2nd April would be a very interesting day, Dubai was buzzing with anticipation, every Indian was prophesying confidently of an India's victory. As usual I was up early along with my morning prayers prayed for the success of Team India too and made my way to the hospital where I was scheduled for my quarterly health check. The match against Pakistan had given be "goosebumps" and an erratic heart rate, so I was in two minds whether to watch the finals or go to a theater and watch a movie. I wanted to make sure all was well; I did not want my valuable mould of muscle to go haywire, if there were some tense and anxious moments. I finished all my tests and was happy with the report, BP was perfect, Cholesterol well below normal but sugar was hovering just above the desired level, over all I was happy with the test result. I knew I would be okay to watch the finals, finished all my chores well in advance and at 12:30 UAE time I had parked myself infront of the TV, was just in time to witness the toss controversy evolve even before the first ball was bowled, it was the comedy of error as the coin was tossed by Dhoni, no one was wiser of the call made by Sangakara, at that very moment my mobile gave a shudder and sprang to life in my trouser pocket and blared out "Proud to be a Goan" my ring-tone, I cursed the caller as the toss was being done the second time, I left the room did not want to disturb the others in the room. I did not have my glasses on so did not know who had called, picked up the phone and held it to my ear, and said hello, Freddy, have you heard the news ? Was what I heard from the other end, did not recognize the voice, he sounded excited, I asked who it was, Ok ! It was my Goan friend in Dubai and told me about the news flash he had seen on the net, Goa's education minister held at Mumbai airport with a load of foreign currency, my eyes lit up and my brain went into overdrive mode, could it be true, I knew it would be an interesting day but not this interesting and not so early, Goan minister at the mercy of Indian customs, this was least expected. My interest in the match lay spent, the toss was no more of any interest, I was all ears to my friend as I picked up every word that he said, then as my friend kept the phone down I called a reliable source in Goa who confirmed but wasn't sure of the amount, he asked me if I knew where he was headed with the booty, I did not have a clue, apart from Switzerland where else these rogues could he go ? Perhaps Swindon I said, remembering he was once invited there. He was amused and told me that he was headed straight into my backyard. Wow ! Now things started falling in place, in the past 10 years or so, how many and how often have Goan politicians been shuttling to Dubai and back ? Could it be for the same game, an easy and convenient way to turn black money into white, these rogues sponsor Tiatrs and football tournaments and other occasions in Dubai and Kuwait ? Food for thought isn't it ? I even managed to get information that education minister has a bed buddy here in Dubai, an young entrepreneur who loves a fast life and fast cars as well and the Rolls Royce that he bought in Goa was infact for the uneducated Education Minister, surely no guesses required for the source of money, Goa is there for the taking !!! Goa's education minister, the man who attacked the Goa police headquarters in broad day light, and that too, in the Capital city. Minister who opposed the IT Park at Dona Paula, minister who tried to sell Goa through RP2011, a minister who lied about his qualification in an affidavit, minister who had approved conversion of agricultural lands for mega projects at will. A minister who owns a fleet of super luxury cars, a minister who was seen distributing goodies in kind and cash just before every minor or major elections. All the above shows the arrogance, the deceit, the muscle power and the power of money that our Education Minister wields in Goa, who is responsible for this transformation of a two bit hoodlum into a major aberration, the don of the Goa Legislative Assembly ? As these thoughts were flowing, suddenly I realized I had forgotten about the World Cup finals, the moment I walked infront of the TV the commentator just said, "what fantastic bowling figures for Zaheer Khan" and the Sri Lankan first wicket was already down, caught in the slips by Sehwag. Wow ! This looked good for Team India ! But my mind unconsciously went back to the news my friend had given me, could the Education Ministers wicket tumble too, caught in the slips by the Mumbai customs ? Or could it be referred to the UDRS system ? The third umpire in Delhi, the on field umpire Digu has already declared him not out and without the "snickometer" there is always a possibility of the benefit of doubt going in favour of the education minister. With these thoughts I went back to my seat and watched the first session with interest, till the 45th over everything was going well for Team India by the last five overs poor Zaheer was trashed all over the park to give Sri Lankans a fighting chance thanks to a brilliant innings from Mahela. During the break I called a few of my close friend to tell them about the catch the Mumbai customs had taken from the edge of our Education Minister's bags. By this time there were different theories and thesis making the rounds and someone told me the amount was 10 million dollars, my heart skipped a beat, if an uneducated thug could make so mush money in around ten years what the hell was I doing in the Gulf for more than twenty years ? But on second thoughts, wasn't I happy with the little I have ? No, I wouldn't want all the riches, if they came from looting the people. Thank you Almighty for what I am. The second half of the match began disastrously Sehwag and Tendulkar out before I could take guard in my chair, this was bad for the whole of India. Wow ! Did not expect this sort of a start and neither did my muscle mould in my chest, I started feeling slightly uneasy, thought to myself I would have been better of in the theater, did not wait any longer, changed into my casuals, plugged on my earphones and off I went for my daily walk, as I went I could seen people anxiously talking about the game, I did not care to ask I did not want a repeat of my erratic heart rate so on and on I walked listening to the Bellamy brothers in the cool breeze that was blowing against me, after more than an hour and a half I switched on to the radio commentary and there it was, a fantastic recovery, off I went home just hoping there wouldn't be another collapse. As I entered there was a loud roar and clapping in the TV room, this surely couldn't be a wicket, must be a boundary and it was to my delight, everyone was shocked that I had left without a word, I said here I am back, am I not ? Watched Dhoni and Gambhir pay wise innings, although Gambhir played some loose shorts Dhoni was composed and thoughtful, fully aware of the asking rate, them the inevitable happened, a rush of blood in Gambhir and he gifted his wicket after all the hard work missed out on a well deserved century, it was then left to the born again Yuvraj and the man of the moment Dhoni himself, both played sensibly and a well timed shot into the crowd by Dhoni ended the Game, a well deserved victory for the men in blue, a win that brought joy to more than a billion people, well done Team India. The moment we all waited for 28 years. Everyone was in a celebratory mood and since there was a "Naturals" icecream shop on the ground floor of our building we made a rush for the lift, when we reached the shop there were Indians pouring in from all sides with painted faces and flags, no fire crackers allowed here in Dubai but the innovations were there, party poppers were seem popping up all over, it was good to see the Indian Diaspora connecting with mainland India. I and my friend were talking in Konkanni, suddenly a group of nine well dresses and polished youngsters in their mid thirties came in, there was a young lady too, I wouldn't have known they were Goans if one of them had not mentioned about our Education Ministers nightmare at the Mumbai airport, they all spoke in impeccable English, one of them even went to the extent of commenting about the MOI issue plaguing Goa and I was sad to note some of them even preferred to speak in Hindi, but not in Konkanni, Whaa Goykara, Maim baxechi itli apurbay ? Getting back to the Education Minister's issue, sooner or later it was bound to happen, but in all earnest we all know it will be pushed under the carpet like all the other dirt and cobwebs in Goan politics but I pray to the authorities to be wise enough and investigate all the globe trotting Goan politicians who fly at jet-speed for their illicit rendezvous at the cost of the Goan Aam Aadmi ! Freddy Agnelo Fernandes -------------------------------------------------------- The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or otherwise placing reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful in certain legal jurisdictions. 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