My definition of winning at Squash is playing and surviving, and I’ve never lost a match – Arlen Specter

‘Meera Ji, how do you feel after the World Squash event?’ the press reporter asked

Hilarious! It might take a while for me to get accustomed to the sudden changes. More than anything else, it’s a big relief to have won the title now.

‘What has been your greatest teacher in life. Is it success or a failure?’

Neither. I would say it is the Squash court. If offers simple, yet a powerful lesson. The squash court wall responds to the way we squash the squash ball. Similarly, life responds the way you respond to it.

‘We all know about the drama that took place before the event. How did you manage to keep cool after that storm?’

Honestly, I don’t know how to put it into words. I’ll try to explain, though.  In simple words, I just kept going. We all are given a syllabus in life by God. We have no right to question the syllabus. Treating life this way, life becomes pretty simple. There is nothing easy or tough. Everything that happens is simply God’s wish. The belief in him and the faith in me got this title.

15 days back

‘What are you going to do now Meera?’ asked her temporary Jail inmate Revati.

‘Survive the storm’ replied Meera.

It was a storm indeed. A storm that possessed great force, but only Meera’s move could determine the caliber of this storm. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Revati questioned again : ‘You don’t look like a criminal. What happened? Why are you here?’

Meera looked straight into her eyes & said ‘Madam, I don’t know. I was arrested today at my practice court. The police had the arrest warrant with them; I have been charged in the case of an accident. The victim happens to be my friend Trisha. Her parents have filed a case against me. They believe that it was my intention to harm her. 

Without a break, Revati poured another question: ‘Why would you harm her? What would you gain?’

‘I have not harmed her. In fact, I was at my home at the time of accident. Trisha is a professional squash player, just like me. The World Squash event is scheduled to start next week and I have qualified to participate in the event. Trisha was offered the wild-card entry by the federation. So..’

‘Ah, so now they think you deflected her from the event’ Revati interrupts.

‘Right’.

Just then, Meera’s parents come to meet her

‘Meeraaaa, What’s happening? Who is behind all this? The lawyer is on the way, but he says that the bail cannot be granted as it is second Saturday. I cannot imagine how you will survive in this jail for two days’ sobbed Meera’s mother

‘Maa, please go and see if Trisha is alright. Don’t worry about me, I’ll manage. Trisha will be able to tell you what happened exactly’

‘Meera, do you think the association is playing a game here?’ enquired Meera’s father

‘I don’t know Papaa. But, it seems like a conspiracy. They have found my passport near the accident scene. They also have got my jacket there. A witness says that he saw my car crashing Trisha’s car.  Trisha’s parents have never really liked us and you know that. ’ expressed Meera.

’All these are planted evidence; I had sent your passport to the federation for the Visa approval’ he stated

‘Ah Yes Papa, I remember giving my jacket to Alka a few days ago. It was raining heavily that day’

‘Your time is over sir’ constable reminds the parents of Meera

‘Meera, Keep calm. God is with us, always’ and her parents left.

It became clear to Meera that the whole game was being played in order to benefit someone. First, a threatening letter and now this drama was only to keep Meera away from the World Championship.

Trisha’s parents did not want to waste this opportunity of putting Meera behind the bars. Their political connections made their job a lot easier.

‘Jealousy. Professional Jealousy knows no limits’ she murmured to herself. Threat is often considered stronger than the execution. In Meera’s case, threat added more fuel to her determination.

  ‘You will suffer if you do not withdraw your name from the event. There is going to be pain for sure. Pain of not playing in the event, but you have to choose. Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional’. Those were the lines from the threatening letter she had received from somebody who addressed himself as ‘Squash-Singh’.

Squash Singh did not know that Meera’s love for the game was beyond the pain and suffering. She paid no heed to the threat and continued to work on her game. But, she could now see the doors to the World event closing for her.

Meera liked to recall happy moments in tough situations. She believed that it induced inner peace to help her keep going. She recalled a speech she had given in a prize-giving ceremony.  ‘There is absolutely no need to panic, when your attitude is right. Absolutely no need’ Her own words reverberated in her mind. She could not sleep throughout the night. She used her time to solve the chaos in her mind. The vicious battle between her faith and practicality was on.

On Sunday, The Indian Sports Committee announced the final list of players, proceeding to the World event in the following year.  The Director of the Sports committee declared - Since Meera Sethi is in Jail & Trisha Gupta is recovering, we had to give a chance to the upcoming player ‘Alka Sharma’. I hope she brings laurels to the nation’ 

It became clear to Meera’s father that the loss of Meera and Trisha had turned into a gain for Alka Sharma, daughter of Raghav Sharma (Chairman - Squash Team Selection Committee)

This time, it was Alka who had come to visit Meera. ‘Hey, Meera chill. I have good news! My Dad has told me that he will get you out soon’

‘Ah, I was told that the lawyer would get me bail only tomorrow.’ Said Meera

‘Yes. Meera, I don’t know how it might sound. I have been selected to represent India at the World event. I know you deserved the opportunity, but Bad luck this time’ Alka sympathized

‘Hey, I do not believe in Bad luck. There is only Good luck, only Good luck. Good luck Alka’ Meera wished her.

‘Thank you, I need to go now. Have to pack up stuff. Bye bye, and don’t worry. Everything will be fine’ and Alka leaves.

On the other side, Trisha is answering the questions posed by the Police in the hospital:

‘Who hit you?’

‘It was dark, I don’t know’ Trisha replied

‘Any signs, do you remember anything at all?’

‘It was an ambassador

It all happened pretty quickly, I really cannot recall much.’ Trisha added. The Police now have very little against Meera as Trisha is not entirely sure.

Meera was granted bail on Monday. Trisha urged her parents to take the complaint back.  ‘Meera will never go to this extent. Our professional rivalry has got nothing to do with what happened to me. It seems to me that somebody has used the opportunity. Let’s not spoil Meera’s life.

Soon, Meera was dropped from all the charges.

Her father met Alka in the practice court: ‘Alka, I am sorry to say that your dad is playing a game here. We both know that Meera deserves the spot to represent India. He is using the resentment between Trisha’s family and our family to his advantage. ‘

‘How are you so sure Uncle?’ asked Alka furiously

‘Meera’s jacket was at your house. I had processed her passport along with the documents necessary to the federation. So he used those and planted evidence’ he answered.

Alka left without saying anything further. She wanted to know the truth.

‘Dad, you had better tell me the truth’ Alka snapped

‘What truth?’

‘I know that Meera is framed so that I could play the World event. I don’t want to play at the cost of her life. Meera loves Squash more than she loves herself. I won’t be able to forgive myself’

Alka’s threat had finally forced the matters. Alka was replaced by Meera’s entry.

That was the drama;

She had managed to win the World Squash event convincingly.

Returning to the press conference:

‘One last question, Madam, Who gets the credit for your success?’ a media official asked

I would like to credit my success to every person involved in my endeavor, directly or indirectly. My parents, trainers, federation, sponsors and not to forget the leg-pullers

Meera had truly pulled out a miracle by winning the World Squash event. She went on to start Squash Training academy with the help of Government. The Squash Court was within the reach of the common people. She is now relieved to have done her job in bringing Squash to limelight.