Mumbai: It’s that time again, time for gents log ka karva-chauth. Just like ladies fast for their pati-parmeshwar and participate in group rituals, like passing plates of ladoos round and round, men too stay awake at night, pray in groups for their favourite team and player, and pass around chips ke packet.
On karva-chauth, gents log also stay awake raat-raat bhar, taking heavy midnight meals with copious amounts of chilled gehoon ka paani, and keep checking their watch and fidgeting, awaiting the kick-off.
Male karva-chauth lasts 32 days. Thankfully it happens once in four years. They call it FIFA World Cup.
This year the Mohalla Mahila Samiti in our colony has decided to be equal participants.
We have begun to watch old matches and try to memorise teams according to their T-shirts. Brazil is alphonso yellow, with green piping.
The Germans wear white V-neck T-shirts with black pining and a red band is brushed across their chest.
The Italians wear collar-waali navy blue T-shirt with stylish white detailing on the waist-side. The Spaniards wear maroon T-shirts.
Just root for the team which has the cutest players. There’s Lionel Messi, who has the cutest dimples and a smile to die for.
He plays for Argentina. Then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo who gets his eyebrows plucked at his local parlour in Portugal and will be wearing maroon T-shirt with self-stripes.
Sergio Ramos has a toothy smile and is a burly dude. He plays for Spain. And then there’s mera Neymar Jr. who looks like Justin Bieber’s handsome bada bhai. He plays for Brazil. I’m rooting for Brazil.
