As football frenzy grips Brazil, Indian fans are making their presence felt albeit in small numbers in the ongoing soccer World Cup, wishing if only they could also witness such a sporting spectacle in their home country.
Taking breaks from their businesses, some of the die-hard fans from India are making their dreams of watching Brazil play at home in a World Cup come true, but the ongoing tension due to protests against the mega event is making them cagey while soaking up the experience of a lifetime.
For Subrata Das, a 42-year-old businessman from Kolkata, who never misses even a local football game in his home city, watching the opening match between host Brazil and Croatia was a dream come true.
"The dream has been achieved ... The experience inside the stadium was beyond words. I also brought the Indian flag specifically for the event," Das said.
Naman Agarwal, a Mumbai-based businessman, who came with a group of friends, was also equally excited to have lived his dream and would stay to watch all the matches of the host country.
Yet, the 36-year-old sounded incomplete when he was asked about India. "Wish we also had some kind of football in our country. It is so much fun," he said.
Ahmedabad-based businessman Manoj Parekh had a different reason to be here to watch the World Cup.
"I had promised my son that if he does well in his 10th examinations, I would take him to the World Cup. He came out with good grades and I was left with no choice but to bring him here," said the 52-year-old father.
