My Dear Seeni Bola,
I thought I must write to you so soon after my last letter to you because you seem to be the man in the news these days.
Yes, you know what I’m referring to - this controversy about the so called ‘Silver girl’.
Now, Seeni Bola, it came as a shock to all of us to suddenly realise that the girl was married for three long years and that she kept it a secret all this time. I mean, there you were, even carrying all those garlands for her when she returned after winning the Silver medal, and there had been a husband in the closet all that time!
Just imagine, if Sanath Jayasuriya were to tell us now that he had been married for three years! Well, this was an equally shocking news to all of us!
Anyway, the girl then goes on to say that “officials” in your Ministry want to disrupt her family life.
Now Seeni Bola you might think she’s being very ungrateful after all you did for her, but I think you made a mistake in how you handled the issue.
You have said that you may not give most of the things you promised because she is making all these accusations. Now Seeni Bola, that rather sounds like a Montessori Teacher trying to frighten a five year old who cries too much, isn’t it?
After all, you are the chap in charge of sports, - and for a limited period at that - so why deny any incentives to an athlete who is the country’s best prospect for an Olympic Medal for a long, long time. And, anyway don’t you think the girl’s allegations need to be carefully investigated? Then, Seeni Bola, comes the most shocking news - that the girl’s husband has suddenly been charged for a murder committed in 1993!
Now, if I were to ask you why these charges were made this week, after four long years and just when the Silver Girl made her startling allegations, you are sure to shake your sweet head and say “co-incidence, perhaps” and since you are a honourable man, we must believe you! Ah, the ways of the law in this country are sometimes so mysterious!
But, Seeni Bola, don’t you think that you are taking too much of the heat these days. First that scandal about the Cricket Board and now this. Anyway, Seeni Bola, isn’t it sad that these controversies are affecting the very sports where we have reached world standards?
And, do you remember when we won the Cricket World Cup how it looked as if it was you, and not Aravinda, who scored that century? So, now that things are not so rosy and even our cricketers are losing a match here and there, I’m sure you will sportingly take part of the blame.
Whatever it is, most of us think that all is not well with our sports, these days. Of course, you are not totally to blame, but maybe you could ask Satellite for a change of subjects. Think about it.
Yours truly,
Punchi Putha
PS - It was nice to see you at the Airport, greeting our cricketers even though they lost the tournament in Pakistan. But just be careful about carrying all those garlands for everyone; you must at least now be once bitten twice shy about it!
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