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Pete 21 km's
Dan 19 km's
Rahul 15 km's
In a manoeuvre more suited to the end of an epic night
out, we decided to run before dawn
had cast her first shadows. We passed a staggering drunk
intent on engaging us in conversation and the first
signs of people going about their daily chores. My legs
felt hung over from the previous days strain and my body
felt battered from the torrent of abuse unknown
to my limbs.
It was a pleasure to have Rocket (as Dan is fondly
known) running with us. The same cannot be said for the
company of the sleeping dogs lining the roadsides. The
solemn words of a wise man who once said "we should let
them lie" echoed in our heads, prompting us to gently
tip- toe by, hoping not to disturb their sweet dreams of
juicy calves.
 We
had arranged to meet Shafeeq a bright 15 year old boy
from a village 10km down the road. In spite of having an
Arabic exam at 7.00am Shafeeq was determined to join us
to run a couple of kilometers on the way. Shafeeq had
told us the day before that his father worked in Dubai,
and we promptly jumped to a conclusion that his father
must be quite wealthy. Shafeeq had a matter of fact
approach and told us flatly how it was a common
misconception and that his father made just enough to
enable him and his family to get on by. We asked him if
he would be interested in moving to a big Indian city
like Delhi and avail the work opportunities available
there, but Shafeeq had a determined mind and said he'd
much rather live out his life ambition and become a
school teacher in his home town.
I slowly trudged on, and found the going tough with my
running companions drifting into the distance. Having no
one to push you on makes the psychological battle that
much harder. On the bright side, I welcomed an
opportunity to learn how far I was able to push myself
alone.
Our driver, Aji, appeared from a side road and gestured
towards a path less traveled. I was hesitant on being
informed by man next to me that the other two runners
had gone on ahead up the road. I decided to follow Aji,
although I realised that it might be the last I saw of
Pete and Dan for the rest of the run. The run away off
the main road was breathtaking. Very quickly the
surroundings around me changed, the prosperity was less
obvious, and the look on peoples faces a little more
engaged in their own work.
Two kilometers up the road we came upon a village called
Angadipuram, where I found Des, Sudeep & Stevie
surrounded by a group of people. There was no sign of
Pete and Dan; they had clearly missed the turn. Aji got
into his jeep and went off in search of our two
musketeers. We could not wait any longer our man-
Shafeeq had an exam to get to, so I set off running with
Shafeeq and two of his friends, stopping at a house to
get some water from a well, then on up the hillside
path, past a rock that looked like an elephant and
onwards to his school. Des was picking his way up the
hillside like a mountain goat with his trusted Nikon in
hand. I was finding it hard work struggled to keep up
not realising that time was running faster than us, and
then there promptly at 0655 hrs Shafeeq flashed a smile
to say goodbye and made off with a speed that left me -a
dot on the horizon in his wake.
Santhosh, a 19 year old friend of Shafeeq, who continued
with me in my struggle, told me how he had been forced
to stop studying when he was 16 in order to earn an
income for his family. His three siblings had died when
they were very young and as the sole surviving child it
was his responsibility to look after his elderly
parents. He had plans to learn to drive. Des asked if
this was in order to quit his construction work? “No!
No!” He had no intention of stopping one job to start
another, it merely made sense to him to have another
skill and opportunity for work. There was no sense of
this story being told with a feeling of self pity nor
did I have any feeling of pity for him. On the contrary,
I felt a real sense of respect for Santhosh. A young man
taking control of the environment and circumstance
within which he lives.
The day finished with Dan having backtracked looking for
me, and Pete reaching a different town through a wooded
patch. Some three hours later we all came back together
to deconstruct on the confusion that had ensued. Lessons
were learned about keeping together and in contact with
each other. A story about a tortoise and a hare passed
through my mind and a smile slowly crept comfortably
across my face.
Rahul
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