New York Times Changed Spelling Bee Rules So 10-Year-Old Cancer Patient In Mumbai Could Win

A recent Twitter thread that speaks of a terminally challenged 10-year-old girl named Shraddha from Mumbai, going on to become the 'Queen Bee' in the New York Times puzzle, has moved people. Ramakrishna (Ramki) Desiraju, CEO of Cartwheel Creative, made the story about the girl winning New York Times' Spell Bee.

Wikipedia/Spelling Bee

The thread begins with the executive editor of the New York Times getting a call when he is just about to sleep, which ruins his mood.

#1

The Executive Editor of New York Times got a call at 11.45 pm, minutes after he finally managed to to sleep, at the end of a day littered with depressing events. "Damn!", he said, "what's it now?" +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#2

"Sir, we need your permission to edit the answers of the live Spelling Bee", said the nervous Head of Puzzles.
"Holy crap, that's what you woke me up for?", he thundered.
"Sir, we've never done something like this. I don't have the authority." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#3

"I need some context here", he sighed, "You better have a good story. You have a minute. Your time starts now." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

The man revealed that he received a "distraught call from Mumbai, from the father of a ten-year-old kid with a terminal condition." He added, "She's one point away from hitting Genius. Something she's been trying to achieve for months. And the puzzle will not accept gaol, spelt g..a..o..l."

#4

"Sir, I'll try. We just got a distraught call from Mumbai. From the father of a ten year old kid with a terminal condition. She's one point away from hitting Genius. Something she's been trying to achieve for months. And the puzzle will not accept gaol, spelt g..a..o..l." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#5

"Why not?", asked the Editor, "It's a legit word. I'd be frigging pissed too."
"It's an archaic spelling sir, the puzzle doesn't accept it. And we can't change the list of approved answers while the puzzle is live...." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#6

The tormentor of his sleep continued, "The girl's dad says, her hitting Genius could save her life. She said this was the last time she was going to try. Making Genius could give her the strength to face another day, then maybe another. Like that O'Henry story, sir. Last leaf." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

The father of the child was requesting that they allow their daughter to hit 'Genius' because that might just be what she needed to keep fighting.

The move could motivate her to be stronger and happier for just another day.

Image For Representation/Reuters

Also Read: Canada Allows Terminally Ill People To Consume Psychedelic Mushrooms

The call is revealed to be from the Head Of Puzzles who requests for the editor's permission to edit the answers of the live Spelling Bee. He also tells the editor that he does not have the authority to perform something like this.

#7

"Damn!", said the Editor, "I'm hooked on the bee myself... I've told Sam so many times.... I get mad when it won't take some of my answers. It didn't take Neology yesterday. I was furious. It accepts acacia but rejects yoyo. I never go past Amazing, forget Genius." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#8

"The kid tried Neology too sir, and Algol, a programing language, but they weren't accepted... but Sir, we don't have time. There's just 10 minutes to go. Give us an okay, and the team is on standby to allow the word." +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#9

Bapat was pacing up and down the balcony of his 1bhk in Malad when his phone rang. A hurried voice said, "Try gaol now, immediately, good night", and hung up. Bapat ran inside, where Shraddha was desperately trying various words, her eyes brimming with tears. +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#10

Shraddha was sobbing with unalloyed happiness. She kept saying, "Baba, Baba... I did it... I did it...". Bapat, choking on his own tears said, "Yes, you did it, Beta! You are a genius!" +

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

The Puzzles Head says that she was not able to achieve the same as the puzzle would not accept the word 'GAOL'. He also says that this is because the word is an archaic word and that they are not allowed to alter the approved answers when the puzzle is live.

Also Read: Terminally Ill Cancer Patient In New Zealand Saves Over INR 1.3 Crore By Sourcing Drugs From India

The Editor ends up giving permission for the answer to be altered which allows the child to hit 'Genius'. She then goes on to hit Genius for another five days in a row which makes her the 'Queen Bee.'

#11

The Editor smiled as he sank into his chair. This was the best call he had ever taken in his long career. "Listen, when this pandemic is done and dusted, get that kid and her Dad here on a holiday. At our cost. This is the first time that a gaol has liberated someone."

ANTHE

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) September 29, 2020

#12

EPILOGUE
To say the response to this story was overwhelming would be an understatement. The finest compliment I got, however, came in the form of a full fledged backstory of Bapat and Shraddha. Crafted brilliantly by @shekarpancha . Enjoy. https://t.co/uIWINmTnha

¡ª Ramki (@ramkid) October 1, 2020

Ramki ended the thread with the tweet that read, "The Editor smiled as he sank into his chair. This was the best call he had ever taken in his long career. 'Listen, when this pandemic is done and dusted, get that kid and her Dad here on a holiday. At our cost. This is the first time that a gaol has liberated someone' (sic)."

Someone even sent him a full fledged backstory of the father and daughter, Bapat and Shraddha and it's the best compliment ever!

*The image used for social showing a girl participating in a spelling bee is only for representation. It does not show the actual person the story is about