When a medal at Rio would have meant a mother

Six-and-a-half seconds. One wishes Dattu Baban Bhokanal was six and a half seconds faster. It would have kept the rower's hopes alive in Rio where he finished fourth in the quarter-finals of the men's single sculls, ending his Olympics pursuit.

And on his return journey back to India, he would be carrying a lot on his plate.

Dattu's mother met with an accident this March and lost her memory. She has no clue that her 25-year-old son, who joined the Army in 2012, is representing India at the Olympics, the only rower from the country.

Asha Bhokanal's initial treatment cost was borne by the Army at a Pune hospital but she needs to be taken to a Delhi hospital for higher treatment. For now, she remains confined to her bed at their dilapidated home.

Can he get his mother treated? Dattu does not know. He will now fight for minor placings at Rio that would make no difference really. After which as he will take the long flight back to Mumbai and then drive home to Talegaon Rohi village, 70 kms from Nashik. Dattu knows he has to once again swim against the tide. 

He has always done so. Hailing from a stone-crusher family, entry into the Army gave him a glimmer of hope, when his potential for rowing was spotted. Every small splash created by his oars was propelling him towards his goal - an Olympic medal. If he had succeeded at the Lagoa lake in Rio, it would have been a giant leap for Dattu, the son. And of course, for India in the world of rowing. 

But on Tuesday, Dattu clocked 6:59.89 seconds in the 2000m rowing, a little more than six seconds behind the third and last qualifier from quarter-final 4, Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk of Poland, who clocked 6:53.52. 

Questions will be asked if Dattu was 100 percent on the waters. Or was his mind tormented by the condition of his mother and his parched land in one of the most drought-affected parts of the country, where practising agriculture is a huge challenge. 

Having lost his father to cancer, Dattu has the responsibility of the family, which includes two brothers, on his shoulders. He has led a tough life, digging wells in the village and working as a petrol bunk attendant. He had pinned his hopes on a medal to get financial rewards. With a paucity of funds, he may now have to either sell his home or borrow money to afford his mother's treatment. 

As Dattu returns empty-handed from Rio, he knows his 69-year-old country will have little to give to an also-rowed. Or in Shobhaa De's now infamous tweet lines : ``Rio jai, selfies lo. Khali haath wapas aao. What a waste of time and opportunity.''

Those six seconds would haunt Dattu Baban Bhokanal for a lifetime. Perhaps an Olympic medal would have brought back his mother. His `Aayi' who would be so proud of him.