JOIN US At 2.40 am on Thursday, Sudesh Malik burst into jubilation, kissing the LCD television screen several times seeing her wrestler daughter Sakshi win India's first medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. By then, her house in Rohtak's Sector 3 had turned into a jamboree.
Father Sukhbir Malik lifted his wife Sudesh in his arms out of sheer joy. Tears swelled in their eyes out of happiness, but soon made way for dance and celebrations, drum beats and sweets, as an entire village poured in seeing a Haryana daughter make the nation proud.
Sixteen days from now, on September 3, it’s Sakshi's birthday. She turns 24. Her father, a government employee with the DTC, had promised a "Rs 1 lakh watch" to his daughter on her win. "She liked the watch at a place in Gurgaon. It was expensive. But I told her I will buy her the watch once she wins a medal. It will be her birthday gift," he said, adding: "I have received a thousand congratulatory calls since morning. A grand celebration awaits her, right from the airport,” the proud father said.
Mother Sudesh said she spoke to her daughter after her win at the Olympics asking her if she was tired.
"Who can be tired after an Olympic medal was what she told me," said Sudesh.
Her mother's contribution in Sakshi's success is noteworthy. "She has made us all proud, the nation proud. It’s a message for all not to discriminate between a boy and a girl," Sudesh said.
Father Sukhbir is ecstatic. Soon, he said, he will fulfill his vow to walk from Rishikesh to Neelkant in the wake of his daughter’s success. Sakhi's older brother Sachin said a different trend has been set on Rakshabandhan on the day. He said his sister has given him the perfect gift on this special day. Dhols and drums, sweets and greetings kept all awake all night.