Their Free Period

By the time I had finished my third set, I felt I was in an oven. 

Today the pack was doing their own thing. The coach was amiss and surely it felt like a free period for them – like it did back in school for me.

Suryansh (whose name I thought was Suryavanch) said to me in an apologetic tone that they couldn’t join me as they were timing for a mile. I thought it endearing – the tone he used – but for the umpteenth time I wondered if the kids enjoyed running with me in the first place. 

When the final set was done, I wasn’t exhilarated, I was simply glad it was over. I had done better than the target paces,  My legs felt fluid although I am sure, if I saw a video of myself, I would look like a flailing, inelegant runner who had no right to be on the track.

But here I was, in the company of infinite grace all around me.

Gleaming, glistening bodies – better than any actor of any —— Wood of the film world, better than any advertising campaign of Calvin Klein  – simply powerful, strong, lithe, and oh-so-fast. 

Monu passed by when I was walking towards the exit. He is still recovering from a road accident. We agreed to meet tomorrow. I would be glad to have him for company.

I took the highway back. All these years, I had taken an inside route full of potholes and broken tarmac. This early, the highway was an easy drive on the near empty roads. I wondered why I never thought of this easier, cleaner road. I even ended up reaching home three minutes earlier than normal. 

What other aspects could there be in life that I had missed. It was an unsettling thought but of course ludicrous and boring. Pushing these away, I settled into a quick core routine looking forward to a cup of coffee.