Coddiwomple

When my friend Aditi used this word recently in reference to life, of course it would come to mind as I ran the roads of New Delhi.

When I began, I was alone, the roads around Nehru Park were empty save for a few dogs that took repeated interest in me. But soon, thanks to my friend Gokul, the long run today, on Choti Diwali was a friendship run, a run that took us from Nehru Park to Kautaliya Marg, Wellingdon Crescent to Race Course, Safdarjung to Lodi Road, past India International Centre, towards Amrita Shergil, Rajesh Pilot to Aurangazeb, wide open Lutyens Delhi boulevards, it was a run to remember.

It had been a long time since I did this type of meandering, turning right or left, decisions left to fancy, not a care, just running, here and there, aware of the destination that was measured in kilometres but one that felt freeing all the same.