Lost for 6 yrs, found on talk show

TVu00a0show reunitesu00a0 boy (15) with family, six years after he ran away to Mumbai to pursue cricketing passion

It's a regular 'boy runs away from hick town to make it big city, bright lights Mumbai' story, but with unusual and heartwarming twists.

Iqbal Pasha, was just nine, when he ran away from Piddapur in Andhra Pradesh, to become a cricketer after his conservative Muslim maulvi father smashed the family TV set when he found him watching a match.

The boy then spent six years on the mean streets of Mumbai but unlike other runaways with big dreams who spend their lives begging Iqbal is now training to be a cricketer with a prestigious academy and he has been reunited with his family who had not seen him since he ran away.

Mere Paas Maa Hai: Iqbal Pasha, who had lost hopes of meeting his mother, wept when he saw her

The reunion

On August 29, Iqbal, made it to the Star Plus show Tere Mere Beach Mein, hosted by Farah Khan.

The episode featured actress Priyanka Chopra and boxer Vijender Singh, both from small towns. The theme was Chhote sheher, bade sapne. Iqbal was the non-celeb guest.

The family missed the show in Piddapur because six years on, they still don't have a TV.

Said Iqbal's cousin Majid, "It was while the family was at the dargah that our friendsu00a0 told us they had watched a show which had a young boy who looked like my brother and who had named our village.

So ammi and I came to Mumbai and approached the channel, but they did not help us. In fact, the security guard turned us away."

But the two persevered and finally contacted Iqbal through the cricket academy.

Said Iqbal, "My mom burst into tears when she saw me. I had lost hope of ever meeting my family again because I did not know how to get home."

Added Majid, "My mother gathered him in her arms and both started crying and hugging each other.

Iqbal just wouldn't let go of ammi... it was as if he was scared she would disappear... Iqbal was always the favourite at home and after he left, andhera sa cha gaya tha."
u00a0
Iqbal said he never thought he would actually play cricket till he met a YMCA watchman at Charni Road station.
u00a0
"I met Dinesh Mangela, who introduced me to Mohit Chaturvedi who runs a cricket academy.

Mohit Sir took me under his wing." On the show, coach Chaturvedi said Iqbal was very talented and definitely had a future in the game.

Grinned Iqbal, "I am going home to Piddapur to meet my family. I will stay there for three weeks and then come back for training at Mohit Sir's academy."

And has his father relented? "Of course! He told me over the phone he would do everything to fulfil my dreams and he just wanted tou00a0 see him. And that's where I'm going, thanks to Mohit Sir, Farah and Star Plus!"