The day was 14-December-2025.
We were nearing the 5 matches T20 series between India and South Africa. Whenever any such series begin, my heart races, I get anxious and restless.
Not because I’m an avid cricket fan.
Because my father acts like a one-year-old.
For the ODI series between India and South Africa, I had to leave everything aside-work calls, meals, naps, whatever it was that I was doing, and start the match on my iPad. The steps are simple.
- turn on the iPad
- look up the match on correct app (use google for that)
- start play
- set brightness to maximum
- set volume to maximum
- set the iPad on the coffee table
- crawl down a hole and wish to die
Failing to do so within minute would result in yet another reminder that I have failed as a daughter. Yes, from “show me the match” to “my kids treat me poorly now because I’ve retired”-talk about going 0 to 100 in a second. And yes, a cricket match has the ability to do that to me. Once, my father even called my brother, who lives in Bangalore, because there was a few seconds delay in doing the aforementioned steps. Why my brother could have done in the scenario, he or I don’t know. I guess nobody knows.
This time, they let us watch for a few matches. Then during third T20 match, suddenly the streaming stopped, saying: your monthly free quota is over. My father lost it, completely. When I tried to explain, he behaved as if I had called Ambani to put thta restriction, as if I messed up something intentionally so he wouldn’t be able to watch the match. Because somehow that makes sense?
Long story short, I can’t even begin to explain how disgusted I feel when my father says things like that.
Since I can say nothing to my father, or my sister who can do the needful (of the steps listed above) but doesn’t do so, I take out my anger on others responsible for this plight of mine.
Such as ICC… I blame ICC for setting up such series. Why would they do that? I mean, there’s world cup and asia cup and yearly IPL. As if it wasn’t enough there are these series between two countries. Why?
And I blame Ambani. Earlier, these matches used to be free. Now, they are only available after subscription. Last year, I had to suscribe for three months, and ended up binging a few series, details can be read here:
Binge Watch 2025 | White Collar
Binge Watch 2025 | Not Dead Yet
This year, because I couldn’t tolerate my father’s nagging anymore, I instantly sat down and took subscription, for a whole year. Cost me only 499 (because I chose the basic subscription, because I am cheap).
Phew!
Crisis averted.
The next day, my brother called in the evening, as he does. We got to talking, as we do. I told him about the subscription. And he banged his head.
Okay, he didn’t, but he could have if he had a chance.
Get this, Jio mobile subcription comes with Jio Hotstar subscription for the same duration. So, for example, I have recharged my Jio mobile till October 2026; I can watch Jio Hotstar till October 2026.
Sigh!
499 down the drain.
One on hand, 499 can buy just about a decent meal at a decent restaurant. On the other hand, I can get at least two full salwar-dupatta-suit sets from Juma bazaar, 4 outfits if I go with mix-and-match and bargain well.
499 rupees!
I could have saved that.
That’s not all. Three days later, I got a text from Jio, which I generally ignore but somehow read this time. It offered three months’ free Jio Hotstar subscription to my number. I was like: get the hell out of here.
I don’t think about it anymore (I still do, every time I pick up or even look at my iPad). Now that I have a subscription for almost a year, I better get down to wasool it completely, y’know, make the most of it, watch as much content as I can.
Because I have nothing better to do.
I haven’t started binging just yet, have a few year-end things to finish. Come January, there would be, just me, myself and my iPad.
- Subscribe to my blog.
- Find my books on Amazon.
- Show some love!
Shabana Mukhtar