life's a kick

Soul Sentinels “ Shiv bhaiyya, aur kitna chalna hai ?” Baby’s voice echoes through the forest. A strident sun shines on her damp face. Sweat runs in rivulets down her collar bones. Other trekkers halt, exhausted. They look at each other. Consensus is established that Baby looks sexier when she’s sweating. Shiv, our trek-guide, doesn’t consider her cry stop-worthy; not even a head-turn-worthy. He moves on with an impassive face, motioning us to follow suit. “Chalo, chalo,” he shouts with irreverence. As though he’s herding sheep. Baby curses under her breath and drags her feet again. Other members of B-204 wonder if she’s cursing at Shiv or them. We are in Himachal, and trekking on the Pir Panjal range, towards Chanderkhani Pass. We have started the trek from Naggar camp, at around 5800 feet above the sea level, and aim to climb upto 12,000 feet in 3 days. It’s the first day and we’re already steeped in self doubts. The terrain is between steep and very steep. The sun is me...

I ran my first ever half marathon on November 19, 2017. Had it not been for the inspiration of my colleagues, I wouldn’t have known the joy of it. I thank them deeply for infecting me with the spirit. To put it simply, a long distance running experience so unique and challenging, that it’s worth undertaking. That indicates why thousands of us have taken to running long distances. If this isn’t convincing, let me take you through the lessons. Learned in a hard way. And we know from experience, the harder we learn, the longer it stays. 1.        Humility is gold . We might be the best of our clan and society, but out there, one is a speck in the universe. There are so many people better than us. They could be younger, older, fatter, shorter, taller whatever. Let’s accept it – they are better than us. 2.        Limits are imaginary . Before I donned the Fitbit, I used to run comfortably. I could run hours without tiri...

waves of time, unrelenting unleash with fury on the bunds of hope, frayed yet enduring slipping 'n standing, alone 'n shunned up come the clouds threatening destruction at heart and aim vainglorious in terminal attempt to leave nothing to proclaim rain lashes out an angry downpour intent on the show of power under the knifing blows of spear the crying bunds stand that hour in the wrath and fury of nature melts all but the sturdy trail against character, strength 'n love heap up the odds, hope won't fail

Bigger the Prize, Larger the Price I have fainted once. In the summer of 2010. Cause – Neck spasm. Reason – doing 200 breadths in the swimming pool, that is 2.5 kilometers, at a break-neck speed, literally. Come to think of it, it was the doctor’s negligence that made me faint, not so much my own extremism. The swimming only gave me a bad cramp, which I went to get cured from the doc, who insisted on turning my neck and bringing it back to a neutral position (and she was a physiotherapist, lord help her patients!). I had resisted, telling her it was too painful to bear. But she labored on, till I passed out in pain. Till two weeks after that, I could not move my neck. Had to exercise my eyeballs way too much that fortnight! Post that incident; I have done 200, and even more, without committing the mistake of going to a doctor after that. I learnt that muscles will ache when fatigued. So why do I fatigue myself to that extent? Why do I stretch myself to the point tha...

Pump up the adrenaline tighten your grip clench your jaw see not the opponent's skin for the colour of blood is red rush it to your head. re-define resilience BLEED yourself target the brink. surpass it. Abandon Caution. Worship Aggression. Chase Passion. have no mercy love extremes. FOCUS. you were born to live these chosen moments. redeem your life. Fight. Fury. Slit. Sweat. Temper. Tears. Push beyond reason. Be mad. When you play the game, give it your ALL.