Run Mumbai Run

“Xavy! Ameet! Mukesh! I’m excited & infact nervous about completing 21 kms of run tomorrow morning.” – I tell my friend, also my flat-mate, while setting up an alarm of 03:00 AM.

“Dude. Chuck that. All possible ONLY if you wake up on time, which I’m sure you won’t. “– replied Xavy.

“We will see. Ka-Chow!” – I snub back before the shutters of my eyes roll  down slowly and in peace.

Ringggg.. “Throw that phone out of the window someone.” The alarm doesn’t, but my other flat-mates voice wakes me up for the day, which was to witness an awesome proceedings.

Gradually, I start receiving calls from everyone I know who are participating in the Marathon to check if I was awake or not. It's Marathon mania!

Marathons are usually long running events, where runners participate to run on roads for 40 - 42 kms. There are of course different categories for running the Marathon. You can run just 6 kms or run a half marathon!

I’m at the starting point in Bandra, where this early morning, there is a huge crowd of runners far and by. I have my BIB number on my company’s T-shirt, especially designed for the Marathon participants, which lists down all the NGOs that we have been associated with.

I stand in the queue with my friends and colleagues amidst this big stream of people all around us. Man is always more important than the things that exists around. This was proved by the waves of people who have shown up  well before the Sun lord  on this pleasant Sunday morning, in a city where a peace sleep after a tiring day is the biggest spiritual feeling. They made this event the most count as the most successful Marathon in India, and am sure, soon the globe will look up to it. 

And, you can never take the credit away from the beautiful city of Mumbai. Mumbai, is the city of dreams, and ask many souls who have come to this city, how it has always nurtured their true dedication. It does test you, but if you pass, it never shies away from giving you what you deserve.

Mumbai never complains. It holds many dreams, many aspirations, and many stories every day, every hour. It has seen some of the horrifying days, sometimes from it's own people, it has fed. But then, she never bows, down, she looks into the eyes of people who aspire her, and stands back on her knees, no matter how wounded she may be. Mumbai is an example to our man-kind, of how without demanding even a passing recognition, she gives us a lot. Shouldn’t it be our duty as well, in return, to respect her, keep it CLEAN atleast? Is that too much to ask for?

My legs could feel what my hands were talking, and vice-a-versa. Half Marathon.

“Dude, it’s our time to start soon. Best of Luck!”

“Thanks ya!” – I can feel my vain. “Hope I don’t sleep midway. 21 kms is way too much! Hah!”

I see the wave of people in front of us start running. The fourth last row to me vanishes on the sea-link, third-last, second last, and then it’s us!

I pass the starting tracker with some red beams, and I’m in the air. I run with my full strength and find myself charged up with some kind of spiritual feeling.  It was phenomenal.

“Run Mumbai Run” – shouts someone ahead of us.

I see reporters on the side lanes clicking us. It’s Mumbai on the run. I soon let lose my nervousness, and find myself in the pool of people cheering, merry. There is some guy with the Team India’s jersey, there’s someone, with Gandhi-topi, then there’s some girl with I-pod on. Colourful people, colourful lives running. Even spot a physically challenged lad in his teens, surpass me quick. I feel like going and patting him, but I feel I shouldn’t remind this young lad of something, and let him run free. Someone needs to pat me, as he was way quicker than I was.

The mighty Bandra-Worli Sea-Link was lit-up with aspirants, cheerful voices, joyful street-lights. Many flaunting the camera clicks. It was an experience that doesn’t fade away from memory so easily. 

I speed up and finish the sea-link and on the main, land, next to the curve is the loo. Okay Break!

After a break, I’m on the run again, seeing a lot of people covering the streets, the neighborhoods all out with the Sun Lord slowly blinking his eye lids. These are the Mumbaikars, cheering each one runner, bucking up the one puffing his breathes, clapping and roaring. This electrifies the already puffing me. The spirit is lively.

Crossing Worli was so easy, now at Mahalaxmi, where the Sun lord is already smiling and majestic Haji Ali dargah is a splendid watch early morning, my feet feel the heat. Heat, in the real sense. Blisters on my leg, and I feel like some pebbles are into my shoes.

(Picture: Mahalaxmi Circle - Imagine the picturesque with humans and not cars on 20th Jan'2013)

I don’t stop, I run up the little hilly terrain, where music is played with little kids dancing to encourage us all. Cookies, glucose distributed by the neighborhoods, the spirit is amazing. Familiar colleagues, friends cheering us all up, and yeah they get the return too, when I’m kind of charged. I was witnessing the festivity and lost deep forgetting everything. A day before, I was lost in brain-storming the exciting idea. I would be lost tomorrow too, but then, this is the time to set myself loose and run in the spirit. Many like me would be, someone for some examination or result, someone for somebody’s health or wealth, someone for finding a way to marrying his girl-friend, some net-addict would have forgotten what tweets or posts mean. Run was the only LIKE button to press.  

At the Marine Drive, Lord Sun’s meditation seemed kind of intensified, subtly expressing the nature of the day.  I targeted 3 hours to finish the Half-Marathon. I was around Churchgate station when the clock hit three hours from the time I started.  The loud of people around us is wild. When I was finally at the finish area at CST Terminus, I see some African athletes finishing the lines. These are the winners of Full Marathon. Okay embarrassing that they finishing double the kilometers when I managed to finish half, but then cheers to them. After all it’s cheese, Bikaneri bhujias, pastry shops in & around Bandra that win. Not to forget, the Ahmedabadi brunches & the royal Rajasthani feasts!

I managed to finish the Marathon of 21 kilometers in 03Hours 07 minutes. A 55+ colleague I knew finished way before me, by only brisking his way. A 40+ another fellow I knew was minutes ahead of me. Honestly, you can finish too. If you think you not the part of Marathon this year, honestly you still can be. Everyone here was running for cause.

I liked an idea where the friends of each running the Marathon had decided to donate some amount if his friend finishes in some given time. For ex, A & B are pals. A is the runner, and B tells him – ‘Hey! I’m a student, job-seeker..so what..I contribute $x if you finish the race in this given time.” Or “I encourage your spirit, $y for you to finish the race”. They aren’t poking, they aren’t doubting, but they are trying to find a classy way to contribute to some NGO, he may be running for. As they say, a drop makes an ocean, a penny by 100 people a runner knows make what? Imagine the same for each runner. 

Again, I don’t wana sound like am asking people to do charity, that’s not my style of writing. I want you to be in the spirit. The spirit of this city, it’s roads warming up like burning tyres with the runners paddling their way towards CST on 20^th January. You can stand anywhere from Bandra to CST to boost the morale. You never know a Parle-G a runner pops in from your plate, is worth an effort. Even your presence to cheer the puffin ones is worth a memory. I hardly remember the faces smiling and cheering, but I remember the affectionate energy those little kids, those aunts, and ladies were out greeting us, cheering us with.

Beauty about atleast this Marathon, no one is left-out. You still can be a part, and that’s what is spiritual about it. I could have used the word ‘sexy’ for some sane readers, but honestly, am sure that doesn’t gives out the expression which this ‘spiritual’ word surely does, despite how ‘anti-spiritual’ we think you may be. For those running, the Marathon, I never practiced to run the last Marathon. For me, planning for practicing with pals, was only about waking up & feeling the pleasant morning, which I usually fail to. After-all, it is the best time of the day! 

And, you need to credit the way it was organized by the sponsors,  organizations. Waiting for this year’s Marathon bag full of goodies.

Again, you still can be a part of this race, where everyone is the winner. Bus, spirit chaiye! I don’t know if they play the Kolaveri remix at the start of the race this time, but whosoeva is running or cheering, do greet out loud the electrifying ‘Run Mumbai Run’ chant. So, to brighten up someone’s future, to lighten up someone’s life...........................Run Mumbai Run!

(P.S. - Ignore typos, if any. I post, once jotted :-P)

The Pinch!!!!

This short – fiction (or probably a true) giggle - gig story of a guy named Steyn is dedicated to all those who can relate to an important event, because to be frank, my heart  really goes out to all those who have lost their loves to this magical city. Your love - whatever, a sleeky Blackberry, a smart Iphone, a hardcore Nokia, yes your phones, Cell phones, because every 1 out of 5 or 6 people living for quite a time in this city will tell you on how they lost their beloved device. 

  
The Pinch

Yes, The Pinch! That’s what this great Indian city Mumbai does to you sometimes. Mumbai, probably globe’s 5^th largest metropolitan, India’s economic powerhouse and home to a population of approximately 20.5 million has a story to tell you every day.

It was a pleasant lazy Monday morning and Steyn was still napping in the bus he took to reach Malad suburban station from where he was going to catch a ’local’ to his office in Santacruz,. Ignoring the fact that he was sitting next to the damsel whom he will stalk on the bus - station and try skip his breakfast to catch the bus the same time she did. It wasn't worth it though, an everyday affair of their eyes meeting, htne dropping, and i any of the two felt necessary, smile thrown out! That was it.

‘Holla Holla’…rang Akon…Err..I mean his month old Blackberry. He just brought new smart business phone, and infact a couple of days before changed his cellular service provider to enjoy the comfort of the services this phone offered.

“Hey Sweet Morning Steyn! Yo just missed it love. I wish you were here. It was a hell good of a weekend trip we guys had! We found a good new place to take a break off the city. Bon - fire, seek lunch..all fun! It’s better than your peacock garden, where one has to get up even before sun does. This place was full of migratory birds too and you already know you sitting in the office whole day in front of your machine  developing that fat old tummy right in front of you. So you gotta shake it and better dare it next time you miss something like this” - that was Preity, always full of life and yes, of course, the words.

“I know I did, I just checked the new pictures Niks added in there.”- I replied.

After the call, he gave a smile to the damsel sitting next to her. She smiled back. That was a routine thing that they both would do past a month. May be Steyn realizes, that it all starts and end with eyes meeting up and smiles ending it down.

He peeped out of the window. It was drizzling, it was all wet outside. The little drops entering his side. Smell of the rain - water hitting the ground, the best perfume in the world, which no French de toilette can match, brought him the freshness every being would wish for.

Beating the traffic but not the time off course, bus reaches the suburban railway station. Everyone around him is running, not exactly, but they atleast not walking. The damsel suddenly disappeared in the crowd. The everyday countdown has just begun to be witnessed. He gave a look at his wrist. It said 9.05 am already. “Gosh I gotta catch that 9.10 slow” - he murmured to himself. He turned a hungry man presented with a banquet, for whom the distance as far as his 1^st class on platform No.2 stand was his feast - a feast so staggering that everyday it completely destroyed his appetite.

After reading it with brisk walk, he prioritizes his task of reaching the 1^st class stand and accelerates himself. He walks up the steps of foot - bridge with something kinetic from crowd proportionally dragging him sometimes to his right, sometimes left.

There it is. Finally. Platform No.2 was full of life, I mean full of breathes. It was jam - packed, full of everyday business. The vendor stalls, the newspaper selling boys, the stinky fish smell, the ladies of all genre and the gentlemen, all looking hooked up. The south - bound trains passing the platforms with hancock speed, but you could feel the life, the freshness of the morning, if you could keep aside the raw stinky fish smell by blocking your nose with a perfume puffed handkerchief.

9.10 am Churchgate slow about to leave the platform, and people all ova it; the ‘no admission’ pavements, the straps of every car where hanging outside their capacity. Young bloods with handkerchief scarfed over their head were standing dangerously on the hooks in the middle of every car, ignoring the warning the sugar - coated voice from the announcement mikes was sharing especially for the commuters who loved flirting with their life, only to save some annoying 10 minutes of their day. And yes, sometimes, finding women hanging out of the cars too. The way they caught themselves

It was all a hasstle everyday. But, Steyn loved it. He loved the everyday energy this city generated. Charging up your life, spicing your life. He just loved the 25000 Volt energy this city generated and within 6 months of his new job, he was completely absorbed in loving this as always. Life was worth spicy - fast in this beach city, but he wished the climate helped the people enjoy it too. This city was dead humid, sweating you out even when you don’t feel like starting a day like that.

Message tone beeps. ‘Good Morning Steyn! From Paris, with love :-p!’

From Paris, with love..no no the message wasn’t sent from Paris, nether was it sent by some Frenchmen. It was to remind Steyn what he and the sender missed before quitting their last job. An official visit to the romantic city of Paris for a month to support clients on the applications, which they both knew was coming their way, but they still quit. After all, they gave so much of effort to earn the position they both enjoyed in their last department. But, it was cheesy rather not smart at all of them to leave that opportunity, when they knew it wasn’t easy the next time with a new start..wasn‘t it!? Steyn retaliated with a naughty smile.

“Train arriving on platform No.2 is fast local for Churchgate. This train will not halt at ….”. The honey coated voice announced.

“Holycow! My cripes! I gotta wait for the next train. I just hope I’m not late for the 10 am meeting. I never wanna walk those steep skywalk steps in Santacruz at the heist of my breathe atleast this pleasant monday morning. “ -  Steyn said to himself.  This time he was standing on the other pole - side of the platform where he usually used to, only because he thought he would catch the 9.10, which was packed in and out.

He looked at his wrist again, realizing it was 20^th May. “Oh goodness! Its Sandra’s birthday! So stupid of me. How could I miss wishing her? She would queue, tray calling me at strike 12 on my birthdays!”  - his expressions turned embarrassing suddenly.

He took the phone out and called up Sandra. After wishing her up and apologizing for some 10 odd minutes, he realized that the fast train is gone and he could see the train he was looking ahead to catch arriving slowly to the station.

He hanged up and looked around. It was a normal busy day at the platform, and this train was an old rack. Not the latest racks with 9 bogies, unlike the 12 - bogie new racks that were introduced recently. So, he knew, his fight is going to be not that easy today.

He kept the phone in his right pocket of the trouser hurriedly and jumped towards the 1^st class compartment. It was a herd of people trying to catch anything whatever they could to make some space where even a rotten would hate to place itself. The raven - voices where all over shouting to make spaces..the time was short…. Steyn used his shoulders and pushed the herd inway to make same way for him to get into the train. The was then dragged in by a large chunk of crowd from behind. Today, 1^st class seemed to be more packed up than usual, or blame the old 9 - rack train they released at this peak hour. It didn’t make any sense.

The crowd behind him dragged him more to the already no comfort zone. Already, you actually don’t look for comfort, what you look for is some air to breathe in, and unlike the new rack, old racks didn’t have the best of ventilators. It was hollow dark inside. Steyn could all see were few eyes and struggling shoulders.

After 15 minutes of  troubled drag - and  - drop, It was Santacruz station finally. The compartment still looked more packed than everyday. The train slowed down and Steyn pushed himself out of the crowded queue which was looking to get down at the station. Steyn was on the platform. He could now breathe in some air. Sigh of relief could be seen on his and everybody’s face. 

He moved his hand into his right trouser - pocket to pull out his handkerchief. The old rack - train was still about to leave the station. Hold on! Where’s the phone? Steyn moved his hand again over the pocket.  He could feel his wallet but not the phone. It took him nothing of a time to realize that he was pinched. He hurriedly looked back and gave an eye into the compartment from where he got down. But, suddenly he stopped his nerves and calmed them down. He knew now it was all over and this wasn’t going to help.  He calmed his nerves and shrugged his head. A smile drew on his face which was the most sarcastic and lost mankind could ever imagine. He knew and it didn‘t take him much time to realize his phone was picked. Pair of or even more than a pair of eyes were watching him put that sleekly black device while boarding the train. Everything and everyone looked simple silly minding their business while he was boarding the train. Hmm.. He was right; everyone looked simple silly and few did mind their business well this morning.  He was pinched like many, the Mumbai way.