Rewind a month back exactly to the day and the scene at this time (evening) was one where people were not entirely engrossed to the cricket match on their television sets. The reason? India was in the midst of another clinical finish and one thought, the day was only going one way - downhill. Until something more low was to hit India and Mumbai where it hurt.
The match in Cuttack was the fifth in a series of five. So far England did not even get a look in with the Indian team on a rampage, or more politely, a winning spree. An interesting game was quickly becoming a one sided affair. Even the enchantment of watching the Indian batsmen blaze away was becoming something of a routine, which should not have been such a bad thing.
As the cricket loving audience went into a drunken stupor over the proceedings in the stadium in Cuttack, they were rudely jolted awake by news that Mumbai was hit and this was no small random act of mayhem. This was a preplanned, cold blooded terrorist attack and it was not going to go away in a hurry.
For four days, the city and the country were held in a seige while the Indian team watched on the proceedings in horror and the England team prepared to pack their bags, minus their Test kits which were stuck at the now burning Taj hotel in Mumbai.
After days of persuasion, England did resume their tour to India minus the final two one day internationals. The two Test venues changed, but not the focus of the tour. England were showing an uncanny sense of bravery, some said. Really, how much more difficult could it be from the London bombings? others countered.
Pakistan cried foul, why was India not using the same ruler? (It appears they now are, labelling Indians in the attacks in Pakistan; is this their best retaliatory move? God save us all)
It was never against Pakistan. It was about those parasites that were using the country as a safe haven to carry on their dreadful deeds. Somewhere in the chaos, the point simply never got through. India promptly called off the cricket tour to Pakistan. There would be no negotiation on this.
There is Christmas but the cheer is missing. So did the terrorists lose by England coming back and playing in India? Or did they win in furthering the divisive borders between Asian neighbours in an already divisive world?
