Walks are something I have almost always been game for. I´ve
been attached to them since childhood - moving around aimlessly, sharing a few
cups of tea, and laughing over unimportant trifles.
Ironically, I used to enjoy looking up at sky and around
when there were power cuts. The neighborhood used to be shrouded in darkness,
but you could make out silhouettes of buildings, trees, & people in
moonlight. We used to play game of
guessing name of person passing by on the road. Sometimes we used to bump into friends on
road and talk for hours – anyways we could not do anything back at home.
These walks again were more than just walks.
There were times when I was oblivious to sounds and visuals
around me. I used to tune into myself, with a thousand thoughts & emotions
running through my head and heart.
There were times I used to be cued in to visuals/sounds
around me– a mother managing her ghunghat and making rotis on a chullah,
serenity of an old man sitting on his haunches beneath a tree and smoking
hukkah, swaying gait of green coloured coal
dumpers (trucks) spewing dust as they
passed by, chit chat from shop of road side chai wallah (aah! Chai in those
typical glasses or in matkas- bhaad in Bengali), smell of shingaras (samosas), pandemonium
from kids playing kit-kit or marbles on
road, and braying of cows grazing in nearby fields. I used to observe everything and nothing in
particular. I just felt connected to
everything around me. There was this
feeling of – this is life!
I loved the fact that hostels were 3-4 kms away from study
blocks. I loved walks through the meandering small roads inside campus and on
beach next to college. I used to go to
lighthouse by beach in night, observing ships coming into and departing from
Mangalore port. I used to imagine how life of a sailor might be like- cooking
up stories in my head. My heart used to yearn to go into unknown territories
and experience world.
What were chances I would not keep on walking when I started
off with traveling world? Obviously, none! :)
Wherever I go, I walk and walk. I observe mundane things
around me and the people around. It makes me feel connected, and gives me an
opportunity to talk to them and understand their world.
I feel a bit attached to Bandra (in Mumbai), where I live, because I have walked so much there. I once walked from Vakola (where my office was) to Bandra (where I lived) in rains. I was drenched, it was windy, roads were surprisingly a bit empty, and my heart was joyous.
Nowadays, I go out for walks in Bandra without a specific
direction in mind. I chance upon unkown and strange corners and streets, and
sometimes encounter interesting people.
Some months back I restarted jogging . But then I slowed
myself down. Now I do a fast walking jog. I feel much more in tune with myself
and with those around me. I am left rejuvenated by end of each jogging session.
Walks and Tea are my life givers!
I must share how Megha and I actually met. We
walked for around 25 hours, drank lots of tea, and talked a lot. And we weren´t
tired by end of it.
Walking seems to take me places! :)
-
Sourav
