It was just awakening. This huge, humongous city. The area around the market was already abuzz with people who had been up ere the sun. Trucks loaded with crates of chickens, squawking indignantly as they were hung upside down on bicycles, legs tied together, filled the narrow lane leading to the market. Vegetable vendors preparing to tackle prospective customers, bargained noisily adding to the din. Buyers and sellers, urchins and beggars milled around.
The band of boys nimbly made their way thru the chaos. Dressed alike in shorts and tees, their heavy running shoes in place, they dodged the fisher women, standing, seeking transport to the fish market. Their load of fish kept on melting ice, their hands incessantly shooing away the pesky crows that swooped in for a fish or two, they chattered away in Marathi., the local dialect.
They were out for a run. The Promenade just a short distance away, they had been lured to go for a run, being promised a breakfast of their choice, at the posh restaurant, along the promenade. "You'd think we never get enough exercise during college hours, huh ?" bitterly spoke the heaviest among them. " Ah, yes! you do sometimes climb the stairs, when the lift is not working, " laughed his lean friend, easily keeping pace with him. "Look at that audacious crow!" a third called out. " Maybe that's the way we should fish too," he smirked, pointing at a cab loaded with fish, being hotly pursued by a crow, who had almost managed to peck out a fish while flying alongside the speeding car. "Let's have a race," his friend replied, Knowing he could easily beat the other three. "No way !" the fat one balked. "I don't even want to walk. Let's take a cab." But the macho amongst them had spied a group of pretty joggers, and would not take no for an answer. Not only would he have the pleasure of showing off his running prowess before the girls, he would look like a winner by outrunning the others The market having been left behind, he ran on ahead, egging them on. As the girls, kept giving him side long glances, he became more vociferous, " C'mon boys, pick up your feet ! Old ladies could walk faster than you guys," Grumbling and moaning, the fat one followed, more aware of his panting heart and protesting body, than the girls.
Hearing swiftly approaching footsteps,he turned to look behind. On their heads were amazing loads. Six, no eight water melons, each easily weighing two to three kilos, he swiftly calculated. A total of twenty upwards kilos, placed in baskets on their heads they jogged along, slowly, the two men. Clad in half lungis, and singlets, worn chappals on their feet, the men were puny looking, only their arms bulged with muscles. They were the 'mathadis', the daily wage labourers, the fruits of their labour, a few paltry rupees, at the end of the day. Stunned, 'fatso' was ashamed for a split second, then chagrined. "They must be so healthy, this is their exercise, this job their wage earner. " By now the others had gone far ahead. He hesitated, then resumed his pace.
When the three others reached the end of the promenade, they were greeted by a cheery wave from a figure who sat on the rocks at lands' end. " What !" exclaimed the fit one. "How did you get here, you.. you cheat! " then seeing his beatific smile, he burst out laughing, "You cabbed it didn't you, fatso ! he exclaimed. "No. " he said. " I got a lift. From her. " He pointed to the long legged beauty, doing the Surya namaskar. Disbelief written large on their faces, they berated him for lying as well. Holding up his hands in protest, he explained, "It happened like this. " Seeing the laborers, he decided that he would indeed take a cab and give them a lift. He called out to them to stop, asked them where they were going and hailed a passing cab. As they were getting in, the girl who had been walking behind them, heard him, and asked if she could come along too. When getting off, she had clicked his photograph on her cell and paid the fare, telling him she was a journalist and this was just what she needed to write about. As his friends still scoffed at him, she finished her exercise and headed back towards them, " Bye, take care, " she said waving to him in passing.
"Life can be so wonderful sometimes. Getting up early was so worth it. " He grinned at the crest fallen faces of his friends. "Learn from the guru," he advised them sagely, munching away happily on his croissant at breakfast. "Never be in a rush to do things. Never run, when you can walk."
The band of boys nimbly made their way thru the chaos. Dressed alike in shorts and tees, their heavy running shoes in place, they dodged the fisher women, standing, seeking transport to the fish market. Their load of fish kept on melting ice, their hands incessantly shooing away the pesky crows that swooped in for a fish or two, they chattered away in Marathi., the local dialect.
They were out for a run. The Promenade just a short distance away, they had been lured to go for a run, being promised a breakfast of their choice, at the posh restaurant, along the promenade. "You'd think we never get enough exercise during college hours, huh ?" bitterly spoke the heaviest among them. " Ah, yes! you do sometimes climb the stairs, when the lift is not working, " laughed his lean friend, easily keeping pace with him. "Look at that audacious crow!" a third called out. " Maybe that's the way we should fish too," he smirked, pointing at a cab loaded with fish, being hotly pursued by a crow, who had almost managed to peck out a fish while flying alongside the speeding car. "Let's have a race," his friend replied, Knowing he could easily beat the other three. "No way !" the fat one balked. "I don't even want to walk. Let's take a cab." But the macho amongst them had spied a group of pretty joggers, and would not take no for an answer. Not only would he have the pleasure of showing off his running prowess before the girls, he would look like a winner by outrunning the others The market having been left behind, he ran on ahead, egging them on. As the girls, kept giving him side long glances, he became more vociferous, " C'mon boys, pick up your feet ! Old ladies could walk faster than you guys," Grumbling and moaning, the fat one followed, more aware of his panting heart and protesting body, than the girls.
Hearing swiftly approaching footsteps,he turned to look behind. On their heads were amazing loads. Six, no eight water melons, each easily weighing two to three kilos, he swiftly calculated. A total of twenty upwards kilos, placed in baskets on their heads they jogged along, slowly, the two men. Clad in half lungis, and singlets, worn chappals on their feet, the men were puny looking, only their arms bulged with muscles. They were the 'mathadis', the daily wage labourers, the fruits of their labour, a few paltry rupees, at the end of the day. Stunned, 'fatso' was ashamed for a split second, then chagrined. "They must be so healthy, this is their exercise, this job their wage earner. " By now the others had gone far ahead. He hesitated, then resumed his pace.
When the three others reached the end of the promenade, they were greeted by a cheery wave from a figure who sat on the rocks at lands' end. " What !" exclaimed the fit one. "How did you get here, you.. you cheat! " then seeing his beatific smile, he burst out laughing, "You cabbed it didn't you, fatso ! he exclaimed. "No. " he said. " I got a lift. From her. " He pointed to the long legged beauty, doing the Surya namaskar. Disbelief written large on their faces, they berated him for lying as well. Holding up his hands in protest, he explained, "It happened like this. " Seeing the laborers, he decided that he would indeed take a cab and give them a lift. He called out to them to stop, asked them where they were going and hailed a passing cab. As they were getting in, the girl who had been walking behind them, heard him, and asked if she could come along too. When getting off, she had clicked his photograph on her cell and paid the fare, telling him she was a journalist and this was just what she needed to write about. As his friends still scoffed at him, she finished her exercise and headed back towards them, " Bye, take care, " she said waving to him in passing.
"Life can be so wonderful sometimes. Getting up early was so worth it. " He grinned at the crest fallen faces of his friends. "Learn from the guru," he advised them sagely, munching away happily on his croissant at breakfast. "Never be in a rush to do things. Never run, when you can walk."
Like! very graphic!
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