Racing with Rickshaws

It has been a month or two. Embarrassed by my ever increasing abdominal girth (compounded by liberal doses of the fluid called beer), I decided to do something to rectify the situation. Getting up in the mornings was tough. It always has been. So, the only available option was utilizing the evenings.

Help and inspiration arrived in the form of a colleague. His evening forays compounded with some dietary control had reduced him from a fat slob to a lean and thin young man. I joined him in his walks. 

Being taller than my colleague, my strides were longer and more often than not, he was left behind. Also, after having achieved his desired weight and waist size, his focus shifted to other forms of exercise. As a result, I found myself alone most evenings trudging away reveling in the sweat and the aches in the muscles.

It happened one day. As I was walking along at full speed, my long legs striding mechanically, thinking about my further plans of developing some muscles, I crossed a rickshaw. The rickshaw puller was laboriously pulling along a family (I presumed) comprising two ladies and two little kids. The road was full of potholes, as the peripheral roads inside the campus of the illustrious college that I study in, are wont to. As I crossed, engrossed in my own thoughts, the rickshaw puller rang his bell. Irritated, I admonished him and asked whether he was pulling a rickshaw or something else. He retorted with "Rickshaw."

Over the next two-three weeks, I have crossed maybe five-six more rickshaws during my walks. Their reactions vary. Some just resign to their fate of being overtaken by a pedestrian and to the vagaries of the pothole filled road. Some keep up the race, sometimes succeeding in regaining the lead, sometimes falling back. Some keep up just about to succeed when our ways part. Some huff and puff, some mutter under their breath. Sometimes, I myself add a spurt of speed and prolong the duel.

Over the days, I have come to enjoy and even look forward to these little tussles. They make me forget. Forget the aches in my muscles, forget my problems at work and at home. The moment takes centre stage. Those are great moments!

I look forward to more such encounters. I don't mind losing, nor gloat in winning. Just enjoy the moment.

Thats what it feels like! :) [Photo credits: A still from Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Kaminey']