History beckons Mukesh

DILIP TIRKEY had spotted some gymnasts on a floor way below his, practising their routines. The boisterous Bihari couldn't restrain himself. Filling a polythene bag with water, he sealed it with a rubber band. The need now arose for a `partner in crime.'

A. B. Subbiah was the first comrade he found. Enrolling the goalkeeper's `services,' they proceeded to the balcony to carry out the next step of their covert operation. Subbiah hurled the water missile, which missed the target by a mile. The bungling duo then beat a hasty retreat.

Blissfully ignorant of the goings-on, Mukesh Kumar looked out from the 12th floor of the Commonwealth Games village in Kuala Lumpur, where the Indian men's team was lodged. The `fire-power' he faced, rendered the action of a hockey field pale in comparison.

Fuming at him was Indian woman international Nidhi Khullar. The water `bomb' had wet the clothes she had hung out to dry and all her fury was directed at Mukesh. Least among the insults unleashed at him was `uncouth.' India's foremost attacker was left fumbling with his `defence.' To add insult to injury, Baljit Singh Saini appeared on the scene.

The sight of the senior-most member of the national hockey team being ticked off by a woman was something he couldn't be tight- lipped about too long. Mukesh responded with a rare display of aggression, for fear that Saini would spill the beans to his teammates.

Presently, the parties to the feud withdrew in a huff. When light dawned on Khullar as to the true villains of the piece, she sought to mend fences with Mukesh. The swift winger `deflected' the overtures for peace, stating he had no intentions to converse with Khullar. Rankling him may have been the rejection he had suffered at her hands, when he had earlier sought her hand in marriage. The persistence of the Indian women's team's outside right paid off one evening, after the teams had dinner, followed by a cultural programme at the village. Mukesh relented when he saw she was truly apologetic. The balcony-to-balcony chats bridged the `divide' and they became good friends once again. The first `encounter' was during the 1989 National women's sports festival in Hyderabad. Mukesh was the chief guest. While the speedy winger gave away the prizes, their eyes met in a fleeting glance, but the spark had been ignited perhaps.

Khullar meant little to Mukesh for a few years after that although they did meet when representing the country in the Commonwealth and Asian Games or during the hockey World Cups, when India fielded both the men's and women's teams. Nidhi came across as a no-nonsense kind, but prompted by her coaches she would go to see her counterpart in the national men's team - Mukesh.The men's and women's teams would root for each other, especially when playing in foreign countries. Dhanraj Pillay would make fun of the women, who made mistakes when conscious of the men players watching. Both sides would jointly visit venues where, say, Leander Paes or P.T. Usha was competing. The women players were however chaperoned by their coaches, leaving little scope for much interaction with the men.

When Mukesh popped the question, he was hardly well-versed with the ways of wooing women. Nidhi was unimpressed and sought shelter under parental approval. Shortly after the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games came the Asian Games at Bangkok. Subbiah shared Mukesh's room and Mary Stella, Nidhi's. The roommates rose to the role of match-makers but despite their best efforts, not much headway was made.

When the relationship became known to coach Kaushik, who accompanied Nidhi's parents on pilgrimages to Vaishnodevi almost every year, he pledged to do the needful for Mukesh. True to his word, Kaushik won over the parents. In Nidhi's traditional family circle of Punjabi origin, the green signal from relatives was also required.

One uncle who saw Mukesh's visiting card, which stated his participation in Olympics and Asian Games competitions, had grave misgivings. There were several fakes about, he warned Nidhi's parents, making claims to international glory. This hockey player's credentials need to be checked too, he averred.

When the elders were won over on both sides (Mukesh's parents were after him to get hooked), India's ace marksman nursed doubts about Nidhi's own resolve. The STD calls began between Hyderabad, Mukesh's home- town and Gorakhpur, Nidhi's native place. For the 15-day period of persuasion, Mukesh ran up a phone bill of Rs. 27,000 and Nidhi, Rs. 9000.

D-day finally arrived on January 24, 1999. Friends from the hockey fraternity - Zilu Rehman, Atif Idris, Abdi and Shakeel Ahmed were in attendance along with most of Nidhi's teammates. Mukesh was to ride on a horse in the marriage procession. Sober soul that he is, he declined the heroics and opted for a car instead.

Festivities included hiding the bridegroom's shoes in exchange for which the bride's sisters demanded Rs. 5000. A reception followed in Hyderabad. Turning up to greet the couple were K. Vijayarama Rao, former Director, CBI, T. Jesudanam and H.J. Dora, Vice-Presidents of the Indian Hockey Federation. Life changed a little after marriage for Mukesh. His two-hour workouts continue from 6.30 a.m. He then heads for the Paradise restaurant in Secunderabad itself, where friends ranging from cricketers to sportsmen of all hues assemble for tea, the brew all-Hyderabad is hooked to.

A. JOSEPH ANTONY

Hyderabad

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