In the early 70's..
The school fee at the Madras "convent"..
Where I studied was Rs 20 per month!!
Yet..
I somehow managed to save half this amount...
And hand it over to a classmate...
Who then got me a 'real' photograph of the now late Nawab of Pataudi....
Before you scoff..
Do remember that this was back in the days before television...
Even black and white Doordarshan came to Madras only after 1975!
Most young ones like me...
Had no access to a plethora of magazines....
The Madras Mail..that now defunct newspaper...
Was all that was available...
And news over the radio!!
No Internet...no...nothing!!!
The photograph was a treasure..
And years later...
I saw that some one...Birth mother??...
Had stuck it in an album...
And then it disappeared!!!
Some icons should be allowed to live forever..
Pataudi's demise jolted me...
A little click..
And a small door from the distant past was shut!!!
The end of a "teen" dream...
Now..
Madrasgirl can never become the Second Begum of Pataudi.. for sure..
Sigh!!!!
