For Wajid Ali, Atif Waheed and Waseem Sajjad, kabaddi players from Pakistan, India is no different from their homeland.
Here in the city for the Rs one crore prize money Pro Kabaddi - the franchise league for the sport otherwise famous in rural areas - the three players hope the two countries live happily like two fighting siblings.
Having landed in India on July 25, they have celebrated Eid with their Indian teammates. The Kolkata hotel staff prepared meethi sewai for the Telugu Titans duo of Wajid Ali and Atif Waheed.
Wajid Ali, an Asian Games silver medalist, told PTI: "I don't understand why we keep fighting. I don't see any tension. We're being showered with love and affection wherever we're going. The truth is there's love and friendship everywhere."
An employee of Pakistan Navy, Ali said he was here during the 2004 Indo-Pak Games, but this visit would be something special for him.
"We had a wonderful Eid celebration the other day. We thought as if we're at home in Pakistan," the Gujranwala player said.
With his room-mate Atif Waheed beside him, he said, "I request both the governments to organise more such sporting tournaments. It's only sport that will bring the two countries together. There should not be any issues across the border."
Their coach at the Telugu Titans, J Udaykumar said the duo have fitted into the side perfectly. "It's like a family, we're having a lot of fun together."
The third Pakistani in the franchise league, Waseem Sajjad of Patna Pirates, feels no different.
"We speak the same language here, we eat the same food there's nothing that would make us feel an outsider. The two countries are like brothers who keep fighting, but at the end they are part of the same family," he said.
"Hopefully, this is the beginning of something new and better. We've come here with 'aman ki asha' (hope for peace)," Sajjad concluded.
