Running Scared

He stirred groggily from his bed and instinctively reached for the alarm that had been annoying. He was tempted to hit the snooze button but woke up nonetheless, after a fight with himself. As he rose from his slumber he mumbled under his breath, cursing himself for having to wake at such an ungodly hour, when the whole world was nicely tucked up in their beds. Why oh why did he have to sign up for another Full Marathon when he had made promise to himself, never again?  But then promises were meant to be broken, and the pull of doing another full can be irresistible, and blame it on peer pressure. Well whatever the reason may be, he had gone back on his promise and signed up for yet another full marathon and now it was time to train. So he woke up trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.

He grudgingly brushed his teeth, drank his coffee black, prepared his hydration, and applied Vaseline in places unmentionable  otherwise there would be great burning from all the chafing, ek runner ka dard only ek runner samajenga, he thought to himself, letting a smile break on his face. He got dressed and put on his running gear. He completed his warm up and patiently waited for his Garmin to catch the GPS. And when it did, he put on his music and off he went.

Initially started slowly and then building pace. It was the weekend long run, so it was endurance over speed. He maintained a steady pace desperately fighting sleep and the temptation of speeding up and getting the run done with. Finally he gave into temptation and picked up his pace.

As ran down deserted, unlit streets, where the streets had no name nor did they have their street lights on, he ran quickly but with caution, lest he trip on a speed breaker or a pothole or a sleeping dog. He could never fathom the need for switching off street lights considering it was still pitch dark outside, and there were times when they remained on evening in the morning light. Something’s you can never understand. He tried to not to think too much about it and continue with his run.

There was not a single soul on the road, a few stray rats, peered from their comfy abode to see which fool had taken to street at this dreadful hour. A few stray dogs stirred from their slumber and gave pace, I mean chase, forcing him to up his pace, or else it would be his flesh and their teeth.

Somehow he managed to get away from them, like he and many runners have always done. But in the bargain he tripped on a speed breaker and had a nasty tumble (with the speed breaker doing its job and breaking his speed). He picked himself up and dusted himself off and checked for any injuries. Beside some minor bruises he seemed fine. So he took off and continued with his run.

A few minutes later, he felt a dull pain. At first he decided to ignore it, after all he lived by the notion no pain no gain (however, inappropriate it may have been at time), but then pain got worse as he continued to run. He had to stop, almost wincing in pain. He couldn’t go any further. So he tried to see if he could find a way to get back. 

Unfortunately there was not a soul on the street, not even a single car had passed by. He hobbled for a bit trying to muster all the strength he could, praying for any form of divine intervention. Low and behold he spotted a headlight coming his way. Was this the light at the end of the tunnel, or just the oncoming train that would knock him over, pass him by. He could make out a silhouette of a driver wearing a cap, which he felt was odd thing to do, but then it was not the time for bordering about men with caps.

To his great relief it began to slow down, coming to a halt right in front of him. He could hear the hallelujah ring out, his prayers were answered! Ok his prayers at the moment were answered. He quickly got into the back seat and thanked the driver profusely for coming to his aid. He tried to dust himself off as the car slowly began to move on. 

He explained his predicament to his saviour. But he felt there was something odd, something not quite right. He tried to ignore it blaming it on the tricks his mind was playing on him. The car was moving at almost snail pace (if snails had one), which he found very odd. Was there something wrong with the vehicle? He asked this a couple of times but got no response.

When he finally peered at the seat, he got the fright of his life. There was no one there, the cap was placed on the headrest of the seat which created the illusion of a driver. Who was driving the car? He thought to himself. The car seemed to be steering itself. To his utter dismay, the car began to catch speed. He tried to open the door but it wouldn’t budge. He began to panic. He could feel his heart beat against his chest, threatening to burst out, tearing his chest open like the creature from alien. He tried to scream, to bang against the glass but nothing seemed to work. 

Today was not his day, or was it his last day. This was not the way he wanted to go. He wanted to go up in a blaze of glory and not blaze and be gory. He began to say his prayers, feeling his heart in his mouth, any moment he would just vomit it out. 

The car began to slow down, coming to a halt near a petrol pump. He felt his prayers were answered, he was saved, or was he? He once again tried the doors. To his delight it opened. He forgot his pain and began to run from there, making a dash for it, as fast as his feet could take him, screaming “bhoot, bhoot!” as he passed by a bemused attendant. He needed get as far and fast as possible from that car.

The attendant looked at him with bemusement. He asked the man who was huffing and puffing behind the car, who the man was? He replied that he didn’t know who he was, he had run out of petrol and had been pushing the car all this way, after briefly loosing the car when it began to go down a slope.

..when I am gone!!!

Have you ever wondered what would people say when you’re gone? Call it creepy, call it morbid. But when Halloween is around the corner (and not to leave out All Souls Day) you’re given a pass to be just that. 

So what would they say when you’re gone? Would they wail and beat their chest, lamenting your passing, tear at their clothes and hair, wailing? Ok may be not that dramatic (the working of an over zealous, morbid mind) but would they shed a tear (if not a bucketful) and mourn your passing? Would they say “Why only the good die young!!!” (Cue Billy Joel and the eye roll)

When you’re gone there will be no secrets anymore. All that was hidden will be known. Sab andhar ki baat bar agayenge! You’ll know what people truly think of you. Would their thoughts leave you blushing or would you be left fuming? Would their thoughts sing your praise, or would they man hi man curse your name?

Would the one that you pined for realise what they missed out on, what a big mistake have made and regret what they  can never have anymore? Would they mourn you or would they say good riddance to bad rubbish? Nothing will be hidden anymore, innermost desires will come out, the way one truly feels for you. So you know who you can choose to haunt (buahahahahaha) and who you can leave in peace (or piece, your choice)!

But till when it happens (not going to dig my grave right away) going to continue living, going to continue to enjoythe suspense of the thought, what would...till it comes to pass!!!

Trick or Treat

He woke up groggily to the sound of his alarm, there was only that many he could press that snooze button. He finally gave up, after snoozing it for the nth time. It had won and he was up now, rubbing his eyes trying to drive away the sleep that weighed down on his eyelids. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, well not quite the total darkness, he didn’t want to wake up anyone else. He sipped his coffee, the kick that he needed to jolt him out of his slumber. He donned his running gear and off he went, well not immediately, he did do his warm up.

The world outside was dark, was fast sleep, not quite ready to awake from their slumber. It was still hours to dawn, so all was dark around him. He almost contemplated of joining the world and returning to his bed but Marathon season was ahead and couldn’t bear to miss a training run. His friends and family thought him crazy to take to the street while everyone were fast sleep at such an ungodly hour. They laughed and made fun of him but he didn’t mind their ribbing, cruel nag, he let it roll off like water on a duck’s back. Woh kya jane har kilometre bhaagne ka keemat, he thought to himself with a chuckle.

As he made his way down that familiar path, the one that he had taken a thousand of times before, the one he knew like the back of his hand, he felt a nip in the air. The air felt cool against his face as went by. Could it be that winter was finally here, not a faux winter, a faux chill. Whatever it was, he was glad for it. It was always way better than a hot humid weather that plagued runners post monsoon. He made a mental note to thank the weather gods and pray it stayed  this way a while longer, say a couple of more months longer.

As he went about his run, not jog, not trot, or even sprint, but an even pace run, he could make out mist gathering. It was not unusual for there to be mist but wasn’t it too early for there to be one, after all it wasn’t December yet? There was something strange and eerie about this. Mist normal hung above the ground (or so he had seen) this was rising from the ground, hanging at ground level, as if someone set off a fog machine, akin to the ones you seen in dance shows or horror films.

Suddenly the air felt colder than it felt before. Strange he thought, he never known the air to dip lower, all of a sudden. There was a fog on the ground covering everything with a wisp of smoke. There something strange and eerie about the place, it just didn’t feel like the place he knew. Something had set his senses tingling. But he just dismissed these thoughts as an outcome of an overactive mind, and continued with his run.

As he made his way round the bend, he could make out a two silhouettes in the fog. Must be another runner, he thought. The lamppost gave out a dull light which was made even more duller thanks to the fog. Now as he approached these silhouettes there was something strange about them. There was something strange about the way they walked, their gait, it seemed as if they were dragging their bodies. There was something strange about what they wore, all tattered and torn. Must be some peasant, or some wandering ministerial, or some beggar. 

As he passed them, he didn’t wait to take a second glance. Was that a skull he saw, or was ragged flesh hanging on bones? He once again tried to dismiss these thoughts. It was just his mind getting the better of him, and the place was just aiding it. He dismissed it as a silly thought and continued with his run. 

Out of nowhere he heard a blood cuddling scream that sent shiver down his spine, making the hair at the back of his neck stand, scaring the living daylight out of him. He stopped in tracks, frozen in the spot where he stood. Did he actually hear it or was it his mind playing tricks on his, or was it a figment of his imagination. He would feel his heart beat against his chest, banging his rib, threatening to burst out of the confines that held it back. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, even though he felt a chill about him. What cursed place did he come to, how did he get here? What happened to the place as he knew it? His mind racing faster than he ever ran, his heart thumping at a hundred miles an hour. He was paralysed with fear. 

Out of nowhere he felt hand on his shoulder. Fearing the worst he turned around to come face to face with a man in a white mask and a dagger in his hand. A creature straight out of a slasher flick. He tried to scream but nothing came out, he opened his mouth, but not a sound came out. Was this the way it would all end, was his end to come at hands of a deranged mass murderer? Had he seen too many slasher flicks?

He began to back away slowly, shivering with fear. He felt another tap on his shoulder. He turned around and came face to face with an undead creature, something very Zombie like. He couldn’t take it anymore. He let out a loud scream (finally getting some sound out of him), he ran for life, he ran as fast his feet could take him, faster than he had ever done before. If his Garmin was tracking this run he would sure would have cracked quite a few PBs. He had to get away form here, from these undead creature. He ran without looking left or right, to the confines, to the security of his own home.

Now back at the place where he ran from, the man in the mask joined the zombie like creature, and they were joined by the two people dressed as skeletons who he had passed by. The strange group was joined with a man holding a camera. “Who was that man and what was he doing here?” asked one of the men dressed as a skeleton. “That’s what I was going to ask him”, said the person in the mask. “But he just saw her,” pointing to the lady dressed as a zombie, “ and before I could say anything he screamed and ran away.” “I don’t care what he said”, said the man with the camera, “I caught some awesome footage for our Halloween run. You couldn’t ask for anything better.” And they all burst out laughing at what just had happened.

The Yogic Confusion

They had been friend as far as they could remember. People even believed that were friends even in their mothers’ womb. Totally inseparable, they went to the same nursery, attended the same school and even chose to go to the same college. They did everything together, the played on the college football team. They knew each other’s likes and dislikes.  In short, they were very similar to each other and it was that formed the basis of their friendship. The only thing that distinguished them from each other was that one was straight while the other gay. 

They both were aware of this and accepted each other the way they were, supportive of each other. Very often they acted as each other’s wingman when trying to score a date. Their preferences didn’t bother them or even affected their friendship, they were the most comfortable in each other’s company. In fact, very often they were mistaken for a couple. They didn’t take offence about this, they just laughed it off. 

“Guess what!” He said with a big grin, as he approached his friend who was waiting for him in the parking lot. “What did you do now,” his friend said sounding annoyed with the guessing game, which he hated. “Well I’ve signed us for free yoga session,” he said gleefully. “Yoga! When did you start liking yoga?” His friend said sounding surprised by his response. “Well when it is taught a beautiful instructor, yoga can perk anyone’s attention,” he said, “and I thought yoga was something you gay men love doing”. “How stereotypical of you to assume what gay men like,” his friend replied hottily, “ I find that pretty offensive and insensitive.” “Ok, ok I apologise, you know I didn’t mean it that way!” He said in a sincere, apologetic tone, “ But please could you play along, you know I could use your expertise.” “That’s alright, I was just pulling your leg” his friend chuckled, “so that was what you were up to while I waited for here in the parking lot, flirting with the lady near counter.” He just smiled sheepishly and wrestled his friend, before they got into the car.

She stood at the window eagerly waiting for the guy who had signed up for her free yoga session. “Has this short supposed to be so loose and short,” he said joining her at the window, “I feel so exposed”, he complained. “Yes dear they are supposed to be that way, it’s yoga after all,” she said  giving him a quick peck on his cheek. “Please could you do this for me, just once,” she said batting her eyelids, giving the longing look when she wanted to get her way. “Well just this once,” he sighed, “How could anyone say no to that face,” he said planting a quick kiss.” “I knew you would come around,” she said teasingly, “there they are, don’t they make a cute couple, just like us,” she said snuggling next to him, “let’s go down and welcome  them.”

“That’s the address that she gave me,” he said looking at the pamphlet that he had in his hand. “There she is,” he exclaimed, pointing in her direction, “she looks even more hotter and beautiful than she did yesterday.” “Who’s the guy with her?” His friend asked him, “he’s cute.” “I am not sure,” he shrugged, “maybe another student or her assistant. See there’s something for you too.” “Well yoga suddenly got all the more interesting,” his friend said with a broad smile on his face.

“Namaste! I am so happy to see the two of you,” she said welcoming them into their home. They made their up a flight of stairs that lead to the living room which was converted into a yoga studio.

“You can keep you bags and footwear there and take those mats,” she said pointing to the rack that was kept in the corner, and to the mats that were kept next to it. They each took a mat and placed it in front of them.

“Let’s start with some basic position, “ she said, “before we move on to some little advance poses that would help you loosen up your muscles. But don’t worry they won’t be too complex,” she said with a smile, trying to reassure them. “I will do the poses first and then will guide you to do it, till you are able to do it with me,” she instructed them. 

“Let’s start with a simple mountain pose,” she told them, demonstrating the pose to them, followed by guiding them to do the pose. “Next we will do the tree pose,” she said, once again demonstrating the pose and then guiding them to perform the pose. “That’s a perfect tree,” she said with a big smile.

“Now let’s try the downward dog,” she said demonstrating the pose. “Raise your hips, the feet need to be firmly planted on the floor. Here let me help you,” she said as she helped him raise his hips, much to his delight. “Here let me help you,” his friend said, offering to help her partner, and for that moment there was meeting of rear with the front, making it a bit awkward. But as they performed few more  poses that required partnering they lost their awkwardness and grew more comfortable with each other. “Let’s hold the pose for 5-4-3-2-1, and relax,” she said, “let’s take a quick break before we continue for the rest of the season.”

“She surely digs me,” he said to his friend, “see how she praises me and takes every moment to support me.” “Oh really,” his friend said feigning fake surprise, “yeah right, tell me something new. You feel that way about every girl who shows you some attention.” “No, no, this is different,” he said trying to defend himself, “This is different. I can tell she likes me. I am going to ask her out at the end of this session.” “Like you always do,” his friend said laughing. “What are you laughing at,” he said sounding irritated, “you seem to making most of the season you didn’t want to come for.” “That’s true,” his friend said while smiling shyly, “I have been giving him so many signals that I like him, I really do hope he reads it. Who knew something good could actually come from accompanying you on one of your silly shenanigans.”

“So how do you like the session,” she asked as he came towards her sipping his water. “I must say I am rather enjoying the session,” he said with a smile, as he put his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him, knowing the other two were busy chatting without paying any attention to them. “See I told you you would enjoy it,” she said putting her arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss. “Well it was a bit awkward at first,” he confessed,”But tell me something, is it normal for someone to be, say, aroused, while say, doing yoga,” he said hesitatingly. “Why do you ask that?” She inquired. “Nothing, just something that I felt,” he said uncertainly. “Well then don’t loose that feeling cause there will something special for you after the session,” she said teasingly as she went back to the room.

“Well hope you are refreshed and ready go,” she said enthusiastically, “we are going to do some bit complex poses, so hope you are ready for it.” And with that she began once again. For next thirty minutes they performed various poses, till their limbs felt loose as rubber bands. They were able to bend in ways that they never knew possible.

“.. take a deep breath and relax. That’s it for the day,” she said in a cheerful sing-sing tone. “There’s some yoga bar and water on the table, so please do help yourself,” she said with a big smile. “I hope you enjoyed session,” she said to him while trying to rid her shoulders of the soreness it felt. “Here let me help you with that,” he volunteered and gently began to massage her shoulder. “That feels good, thank you,” she said feeling grateful to rid herself of the soreness. “Just something I have learned playing football,” he said with a big grin on his face while his friend gave him the eye roll.

“Hey thanks for the help,” he partner said as he joined his friend, “you sure do know your stuff,” he said giving him a big smile. “Well I have done a bit before, and that kind of helped,” his friend said, trying to feign modesty. “I must admit, I was bit hesitant at first, and it felt a bit awakened, but I really had a good workout of sorts,” he admitted. “Me too,” his friend said, realising that he had found his window to ask him out. “The things that we do to keep our better halves happy,” he said as he wiped the sweat off his face.

It took him a while but it finally struck him what those last few words meant. He finally noticed the ring on the finger that seemed to have magically appeared, or he had been too distracted to even notice it. He quickly excused himself and rushed to his friend, before he did anything foolish.

He disrupted his conversation, flirting would have been the more appropriate term here, with her, and pulled him to a side, much to his annoyance. He whispered his discovery in his friend’s ears. They quickly thanked her for the wonderful session, promising that they would be back for classes. They said their farewell and quickly made their way out of the place.

An hour later, when they were back to their room again, sipping a nice cold beer, they burst in to the laughter thinking of the predicament they would have been if thy had not discovered in time. They had  dodged a bullet knowing that they would have made a joke of themselves with this confusion.