An Open letter to Anushka

Dear Anushka

You transmitted the terror onto the audience with your terrific performance in NH 10. Being traumatized by goons who had just murdered a young couple in love, and with your husband in pain of a knife wound; you looked every bit the girl in distress. Scared. Very scared! In the audience, sitting and watching the drama unfold on screen, I felt the same.

When Virat Kohli got out, top-edging a rising delivery after scoring one run, the camera focused on your face. You were as upset as any Indian fan.

But then, more wickets tumbled, and India dug themselves deep in a pit from which they could not retrieve themselves. And by the time the last wicket fell, the world was abuzz and aghast by your presence at Sydney Cricket Ground.

You became the laughing stock, the soft-punching bag. The fact is; that it was the Indian cricket team that was not up to mark. Of course, the Australians were a better team, but on this day, I do not believe that Australia could not have been beaten. But that is another analysis for another day on another forum.

Today, I want to applaud you for the brave front you have put up after the social-media abuse'. It takes a lot from someone to be able to stay quiet soaking in unfair criticism and even crass comments'. It's a nightmare I know you will not want to wish on anyone. It can reflect on one's health.

What was even more sad was to see the fear on your face as you emerged from the airport on your return from Australia along with Virat Kohli. That was very disturbing: much more disturbing than seeing you at the height of your pain in NH 10. That was a movie. One always knows that after the director calls "Cut" the actor is safe.

But this was unnerving. No human being deserves to be treated in a manner like this. After all, cricket is just a game. You win some, you lose some. How many remember the way Chetan Sharma was whacked for a six in Sharjah in April 1986, by Javed Miandad from Pakistan? That psychological blow demolished the spirit of the Indian cricket team for years to come.

Don't let this happen to you. I know you are a strong-willed woman. You have carved a niche for yourself in Bollywood in just a few years. That is a telling statement of your grit, determination and mental strength. You are an achiever and no one can take that away from you.

You triumphed in NH 10. You let fear metamorphose you into a tigress. You went for the jugular.

I know you will have the last laugh here as well.

Stay well. Stay safe. Stay healthy!

God Bless You
Martin D'Souza
(This weekly column tries to be as honest as honest can be...)