5, 6, 7, 8 – Steps

The journey of a thousands miles starts with the single step…

This line I think has inspired so many souls across the world to do impossible things. I too did understand this in my latest Tirumala Trip. Everything almost went wrong in this unplanned trip. The much awaited step climbing to see the Lord himself, could have been one among the few that failed to fall in the line of planning. But luckily it didn’t.

We (myself, my brother and sister-in-law and their noisy little angel of a daughter) reached Tirupati to be welcomed by the group of friends in Tirupati to start our ascent to Tirumala through the steps. There was much debate on whether or not should I be taking the steps (thanks to my build) and I was adamant in taking the route much traveled these days (thanks to the free darshan and dorms for the foot path pilgrim). With that we have reached Alipiri to start the ascent of the steps to  Seven Hills.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5 — just 3564 steps remaining. Already 5 steps done, just 700 more such 5 sets… easy!” was my first thoughts. From there the count started to increase. 10, 15, 25, 50… oh already 50… Who said “I Am Fat”, I will prove them wrong, “I Am Fit”.

50-75….

Its getting a bit tiresome… god, why didn’t I sleep properly in the bus? See now, I am getting tired already. Lets take a break now. With me down for the break (down), the bandwagon has also stopped for the break (unnecessary for them, though). After a small water dose, we restarted our ascent.

550 steps and I am already in the meeting with the Lord. Breathing getting tougher by the minute and the legs yielding away to the weight of my body. Already we have crossed the break 9 literally taking a break after every 50 steps after the first one. And for almost every break, the band wagon thanking me. Water bottles drying up, cool drinks have stopped giving the effect. Still 3000 steps to go!

774th step. Break 15 and I am on my knees. I can’t take a single more step. I am out of my breath. Gulping water like a camel, as if I will store them for future use (!). I lost control of myself. And my eyes started rotating like a Roulette wheel with the exception I know where it stops (Last time when I didn’t know where it stops, I lost 100$). Everybody is worried and my brother started hinting me to give it a break and go down on the 700+ steps and take the bus route to the Peak. It is time to decide to go back or continue the ascent. But I know one thing for sure, I can’t continue. So I resigned and declared the innings then and there itself with the final statement. “You guys continue, I will go down slowly (ofcourse after taking some 20 more breaks and 10 liters of water) and come by the bus, I can do that”. The guys were seriously disappointed and gave me some nice words and continued their journey.

I sat there all alone gathering all my energy to start my descent. I have come this far (don’t laugh), I can’t go any further. May be Sri Mahalakshmi would come and give me the sacred Laddu and I might continue my ascent again. But I am no Annamayya and I doubt even Sri Mahalakshmi could get a laddu, if she doesn’t know what is black market. And that proved to be a fact. No Lakshmi has come my way, and I have to start my descent. I was thinking consuming the small amount of water left in the water bottle, about what to do while I await the ascending group.

Then I heard the sound. Very feebly at first. Getting louder second by second.

Cling, cling… Cling… Cling…

Almost like the blessed sound of the bangles of Sri Mahalakshmi and I started to feel hungry already. But it wasn’t any Lakshmi but a crippled man. With no legs to support, he is carrying two clutches to support himself and is ascending the steps almost at the normal pace. And for the first time, I started believing in Quotes. All the inspirational quotes rushed to me and filled my lungs with fresh air and my brain with fresh thinking. Oblivious to this, that hero continued his climb. I was still looking at him, when he almost disappeared into the crowd that is slowly taking the steps.

And then there are these girls offering prayers and branding each step with Turmeric and Sapphire. In normal situations, I would have enjoyed their beauty. But the pain they took made me think again on my descent decision. I thought finally, “After all, I will give it a shot. I might not complete the total steps in 4 hours or 3 hours or even record times, but I will complete these steps anyways”.

I started again. While crossing my hero I almost whispered a thanks to him(for which damn sure, he might have had no clue) and continued my climb. I stopped no where till to the amaze of my band wagon on step 1029. They were at first shocked and then felt happy for my company back with them. And then we have taken another hour to complete the first three hills.

We had a little break for breakfast there for 30 mins. From then It was almost a plain walk through out the next 3 hills and after the last hill and after almost 5 hours, I was the first to reach the temple.

From there the real problem started. With the hectic marriage season crowd and the heavy temperatures (thanks to the zero rain fall) we could find no room, no good facility for the darshan. Though we managed to squeeze through to the darshan barely on the next morning, we had a very very very good darshan and were immensely happy. We have completed our 3 day tour after meeting the great lord shiva and his family @ Kanipakam and returned back to Bangalore, with a pleasant heart and strained body and mind.

Back @ Bangalore, I slowly started understanding the pains of the over weight. Only because I was still young by my age, I had the possible strength to continue on the steps and complete it. 4 years back I was able to complete the same in 3 hours. Now after the addition of 20+ kgs, it almost made me stop my journey. So I thought of taking some serious measures towards this. [Of course while writing this, I am still planning!]

Govinda…. Goooovinda…

***For starters, the first three hills of the ascent are the toughest part the remaining is nothing (when compared to the first three hills, but require considerable energy. But don’t get awe stuck how people carry gas cylinders and huge luggage on their heads through out the 7 hills, after all, everybody wants to see The God”

 

Why Me?

[......again,]

Its that time of the year when I look forward for the new relationship. While going for a walk or playing a computer game or working in office or chatting or  even when just simply having a break at home.

I simply look forward to them, becuase,

1. There is no better thing for me to do
2. Nothing really
3. The relationships eventually happen
4. and most importantly, I try hard to gain them.

Year by year the count increased with a mutual collabaration and understanding of all these relations. How I manage, don’t ask me, it really is a good… great job- well done.

They grew as my feelings for them grew over the years. From the lower grades to the upper grades to the offices to the parks, every where I try and throw my jadoo and get atleast a consolation. They frown at me first. And then that flickering smile that enlightens me and then the stream of smiles we have together share later, steals the cup home. Dine-Inn’s – Take Away’s – Cafe’s – Subway’s, everywhere we will be. Victorious!

And then this time of the year apporaches and the shows start. They slowly start revealing the dreaded secrets. Now, these revelations changed from year to year, gal to gal. But I was consistent both in my tries and my luck. God!

One started saying about her lost love and the other about a building relationship. One about the family problems and the other about the betryal of their cousin’s – friend’s – brother’s – friend’s love. Pity me! No one bothered about me or my feelings. All the happiness erased in just a month or so and I wait for the D-day to come to findout the real truth. And the day comes and goes with the unique relevation for me – They aren’t for me!

I never understand why and how they saw the other person in me which I never wanted to show off.  I never was one, I never will be and most of all I never want to be – atlest to them! Ofcourse, I understand them, I support them, they can bank on me; but I never expected this to turnout like this to me, though I am charming. Why it happens to me[me, me, .....]?

Every I time I get “band”ed and swear to save them, protect them – and don’t expect the love back. And then every mail/message/chat starts with the line, Dear Bhai.

I started accepting all kinds of Rakhis now. I can start a Raksha Bandhan Special Store in my room. I have everything that a guy needs to be banded, from Rakhis’ to the cute greeting cards to the sindhoor to what not, everything. And this time all my relations  I accumulated over the years are celebrating the dreaded festival at my place. Talk about the festive offers.

Wonderful!

But Why Me???

Whatever, as the time is ripe again and Rakhi is over, I can again look forward…