So i love playing tambola, i recently realized.

Its not so much about the excitement or the pace of the game, but rather its about the quality time i get to spend with her. Small jokes, food, drinks and crossing off numbers. While on one hand, we’re the only youngsters there, with a majority of people being over 50, it does make me feel kinda old, but hey, one only has to be young at heart no?

My interest in tambola began early in childhood, thanks to navy function’s at the unit’s my dad was posted at. Often enough, there would a family evening of BBQ and tambola, and i get to play and be all excited. I guess going now just brings back those memories and makes me feel excited again.

The connection with her was totally astounding. For years, i’ve been searching for people who’d like to go play, since i didn’t have it in me to go alone. Since there was no one, i didn’t touch a tambola card for years. Then i discover, my in-laws love it, so much so, that they go twice a week, once to gymkhana and once to karachi club, every week! You can imagine how excited i was when I was asked to join them the first time! Apprehensive as well, but excited too.

And the fun thing is, they win as well! Yesterday, my FIL won Rs. 600 in two separate cards! My MIL won lucky draws twice in the last three weeks and even i won one game last week. How’s that for excitement! The numbers keep coming, the cutting gets intense, you’re totally focused, wishing, praying, hoping….

and then you shout! Just seeing his face at that time is worth it!

I have to admit, Im one of the few ‘damadjees‘ who actually likes spending time with his in-laws, almost as much as I do with her. And no, i am not destined to be a ghar jamai either, nor do i have any aspirations to that end. I prefer being independent and being my own man and caring for my own family, but that doesn’t mean i cant have good relations with them does it? Now if only shuffling all three families was as easy…