When
the weather looked like having taken its foot of the pedal a few days back, I
thought Wall like persistence had paid off! The feel good was short-lived, the
empire has struck back with a vengeance, but, the Chennai runners continue to
brave the inclement weather and log miles! As if the current level of Bheja-Fry
was not enough, Sun has officially taken power-play (Kathri-veyyil in local
lingo) from 4th May. Today was the 25th day of running after
the one day break on 11th April, which means 53 days of running in
the last 54 days. I am trying to get close to Michelle Kakade’s feat of 194
days (of the Golden Quadrilateral run fame!) in my own sedentary way.
What
has been disturbing me in the last few days is the way we respond to issues. It
takes a Rs. 7000cr default of Vijay Mallya or enormous use of water for IPL
match or for helicopter landing at drought site to shake our collective
conscience, while we are inured to washing cars, watering concrete space
outdoors for rangoli (the original purpose must have been to suppress dust in
mud courtyards!). I am really pained to see the water spilled using a big hose
on tar road in the Army area. The jawan doing the honours was polite to my
pleadings about the crisis in Latur and need for being economical with this
precious resource, he only said orders. Am thinking of petitioning the Defence
minister once he gets free from the helicopter scam.
One
run in with my beggar friend (who sits near Labour statue) shook me to the
core. He generally gives me a cheerful wave and keeps count of my loop. On that
day, he looked very disturbed, stopped me and asked me a fundamental question ‘of
what use am I to people around me’! The provocation was a drunkard friend of
his getting to shake my hand by walking up to me near the war-memorial when he
was sitting on the pavement nearby and I did not stop to talk to him. I also only
noticed that day that he had an artificial leg for one of his legs (Maybe, my
flaunting of running everyday in front of him got his goat!). He told me that
his two sons were CA’s and challenged me to show my card (my ward’s educational
qualification!), he passed the judgment that a CA was higher than a Lawyer, I did
not contest his claim. I pacified him and got away. Relations are now normal
and wattage of his smiles and his resuming honorary duties of being my lap
counter are back to their pristine position.
I
have various times commented about how I stretch myself in my run when
challenged by a youngster (more so if it is a girl!), what happened last week
was different. As I crossed this girl who was stretching, I could hear her
starting to run after me. I increased my pace so as to not to let her overtake.
She finally caught up after some time, came alongside and told me that she
wanted to run with me and that she is a fan. I told her, had I known I would
not have stretched myself and as a consequence made my last few kilometers in the Sun that
much more difficult. When I was gloating over this high praise and returning on
a high for my second loop, I crossed two young boys who were running slowly. After
I crossed them, the younger of the two (must be not more than 10 years!)
crossed me effortlessly and after going ahead of ran with his two hands locked
behind his back. He led me till the labour statue. I felt it was God’s response
to my swollen head from the young lady’s praise. After that whenever they see
me, the youngster races me for a bit. Today both of them were running in the
opposite direction leading a stray pup. The boy showed no interest in me. He
seemed to have achieved the purpose of teaching me the lesson!
Biscuit
(my going on 8 Labrador!) has not been having it easy in the hot weather. He
has taken note of the positions of counselors opening up for his breed at
Mumbai airport. Considering his age, he would like to be a counselor than a
fetcher at KLM airlines (earlier advertised on facebook!). He has no charm of
foreign postings and would surely not dream of leaving me behind!
My
plan for the bowling power play (till May 29th ) is to run easy
without looking at the strike/asking rate and just protecting my unbroken run,
so wish me luck!
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