''Thaaththa, what is all this fuss about the cricket team?'' Bindu Udagedara asked.
"Why, what's wrong with that?'' Percy wanted to know.
"Why thaaththa, they want to give plots of land to each member of the team to build houses........''
''That's to show their appreciation to what the team has done for the country.....''
"Why, what have they done now, thaaththa?''
''Why" Percy said, ''They scored the highest score in Test cricket and Sanath Jayasuriya nearly broke Lara's record........''
''What a pity Sanath didn't actually break the record.......'' Bindu said.
''Yes'' Percy agreed; ''but anyway, it was a great achievement.......''
"But thaaththa" Bindu wanted to know, "aren't we overloading our cricketers with rewards?''
''Why do you say that?''
''Remember what happened when they won the World Cup?''
''Satellite made them all Deshabandu's..........''
''And soon afterwards, Whatmore forgot his Deshabandu and went to coach a club in England and, worse still, our own Gura thought it was better to play for a club in Australia........''
''And" Percy recalled, ''When the cricketers were not performing that well, everybody started calling them 'Desha Bindu'..........''
''At least this time" Bindu said, "Satellite didn't give them National Honours..........''
''But she went to the match and gave them cake.........''
''But thaaththa" Bindu said, "I know we should appreciate what our cricketers are doing. That is not the problem........"
''Then what is bothering you?''
''Are we doing enough for our soldiers in the warfront?"
''Why do you say that?''
''They don't get land to build houses; they don't get Deshabandu awards; They don't even get 'man of the match' awards but it is only because they are there, laying down their lives that the Sanaths and Roshans can break records in Colombo..........''
"And Satellite doesn't visit them with cake'' ...... Percy agreed.
''And, all that we do is watch the TV at eight every night and get the 'score' from Omanthai or Puliyankulam or somewhere........''
''But, Bindu'' Percy argued, "our soldiers too get their promotions......''
''Which are most often posthumous'' Bindu said.
''No'' Percy retorted, ''some people get promotions before that......''
"Why do you say that?''
''Why, remember how the Colonel was made a General when they captured Jaffna........''
"I wonder what the soldiers felt then.........''
"They would have felt the same way a horse feels when he wins the race and the Jockey walks up to collect the prize.........''
Bindu nodded in agreement.
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