Wish Sania Mirza and Shoiab Malik all the best as they move ahead to tie the knot with each other mid month
In Normal circumstances the marriage of an Indian Tennis Star and a Pakistani Cricket Star would have inspired many such similar alliances across our borders….but these are not Normal times….26/11 has driven the nail in the coffin of distrust and doubt that was born when Pakistan itself was born out of India in 1947
Today,with Shoiab Malik also sadly turning a volte face,and admitting to an earlier marriage to an Indian Girl from Hyderabad too and agreeing for a divorce,brings alive the vivid memory of routine turnarounds of statements made by Pakistan’s Political leaders post the tragic 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack
Pakistan itself is facing huge internal challenges and strife…the civilian people are very warm…on paper,the country has a civilian rule…but in reality the Military calls the shots…such a situation will never allow for a genuine Peace Process with India…the distrust runs too deep…complicating matters are USA’s dependence on Pakistan to fight the Taliban and the Terrorists that are using that country’s soil,sympathy,domain,natural habitat and infrastructure to survive and breed….China’s support to Pakistan is visibly seen in the flexing of muscles and some tough blunt talk from Pakistan’s Political Leaders
So there’s no Love Lost between India and Pakistan…but we find our Stars,Sania and Shoiab lost in Love !
Alright so we have lost Sania to Shoaib…but I daresay,we had lost Sania in Tennis a long time ago !….ofcourse,huge credit to her for her Tennis achievements so far,but she had excited all of us to to expect more of her…she had become the heartthrob of our nation…endeared herself to all…..we prayed that she would reach the Top Ten in Singles in the World….but regular Injuries,her falling back on doubles and mixed doubles,rather than pushing the envelope in Singles,her touch of impetuousness and hint of arrogance,her taste of material wealth through endorsements …all appear to have contributed to her not being able to tap her tennis potential to the maximum…maybe she has her limitations,like we all do, and was never really cut out to make the Top Ten
...Now by declaring her Heart to a Pakistani,Sania ,even if she asserts otherwise,has made a political statement….Relations between India and Pakistan have always been sensitive….and intensely so after Kargil and 26/11…Sania & Shoaib’s love for each other will be viewed and opinions created within the Walls of this ongoing Conflict between the Nations….
Sania , sadly will face a lot of the nation’s ire and with the courage she has shown in following her heart to Pakistan she will also have to face many consequences
I wish her all the best…she will need it as she has taken a brave decision to marry a Pakistani….but more importantly,she will have to live her life with someone who has lied repeatedly till today on his earlier marriage with another Hyderabad Girl…just hope,she does not face the same fate as did this Hyderabad Girl….yesterday she strongly defended Shoiab when he stated that there was no question of a Divorce,as there was no marriage actually with another Hyderabad Girl earlier….Today,after apparently being confronted with an FIR and irrefutable evidence of documents,photos and even stained clothes during intimate sessions ! he did a u-turn, admitted of the earlier marriage and signed the divorce papers !….In light of this,how would Sania be able to justify her staunch defence of Shoaib’s position yesterday !…that’s something she will have to live with !
Interestingly,Pakistan appears delighted at this Matrimonial Match…probably a feeling that they have won over Sania from us !….India clearly has serious misgivings…not wholly unjustified
But Then Nations are Nations…and Individuals are Individuals and Love knows no Borders!..only that these two are leading celebrity sport stars and will attract huge media attention…they may have wished they were not!…but then,think about it,if they were not stars,they may have never met and fallen in love !
Let’s pray we have heard the last of this on the media…it’s been a potboiler scene on the TV Channels for many days now…and let’s pray that this young couple,live happily in Dubai and that their sporting careers are not impacted unfavourably…Oh ! and Sania continues to Play for India and not Pakistan !
And a last piece of advice for these two….shy away from making media statements and addressing press conferences…these are working against you…you are not using the Media…it is using you….realise this