India is a country where life goes on. With a population of over a billion, you will find an aspiring cricketer or an actor at every nook and corner. The hope of having that dream fulfilled keeps this country alive. I was no different, a young starry eyed boy who wanted to make it big in life. Early in life, I had realized that I was not amongst those gifted with the skills of Tendulkar or the genius of Einstein. Hard work would be my weapon, I had decided. Somewhere between solving equations and trying to make sense out of engineering chemistry, I realized academics would be my “Thing” as today’s generation calls it. This tryst of mine with academics was not the first that I had in my life. I had gone through the brunt of JEE preparation only to feel disappointed in myself. However that was only a “one sided love story”, I had not put my heart towards preparing for JEE. This time however, “Ae dil hai mushkil“ would have a different ending. Although I was mentally prepared for appearing for CAT, my new found love, conditions at home were not conducive. A single storied house with 6 members meant that it was difficult to focus on studies with all the activity around. My father had realized that it was time to build another floor at home so that the kids can focus on their studies. This was also the time when Ultratech came out with its Engineer’s Choice line of advertisements. They sparked my imagination of being able to study peacefully without the chaos of relatives which seem to flood our house too often. Some days later, my father announced proudly over dinner that he was planning to build another floor in the house. That moment captured a lot of what I feel even today, a hope for a bright future. As luck would have it, the new floor was built out of ultratech cement. Those cement sacks are etched into my mind as the defining moments of my live. This average guy todays study’s at one of the top b-schools in the country. Who would have thought, cement can change lives!
I have been a foodie as far back as I can remember. Even without Swiggy and Zomato, my grandmother was a source for round the clock delicacies. From the sizzling hot pakoras to the home cooked gulab jamuns, there was virtually nothing that grandma could not prepare. The dark side – 100+ kg’s in 8th standard. I was a laughing stock for my own siblings who would casually tap me at the back and make hurtful remarks. Even during my days in standard 5th and 6th I was no Ronaldo but I was fit enough to play for my school in a number of sports. However the next two years were spent in front of the television eating loads of junk. I had never paid much attention to my obesity, however the growing sarcasm about my obesity started to feel bad. Those were also the teenage days when what others say matters the most. One fine day I finally stood in front of the mirror and had a good look. The person who stared back at me was not something I wanted to become. I had created my own demon. The next few days were spent wondering about possible solutions. The sauna belts on television advertisements and even liposuction seemed attractive. However a chat with my mother made me realize it was a fight that I had to fight alone. No amount of medicines or easy to use solutions would work, I had to do this the hard way. Day 1- karate class at 6 am in the local stadium. Within 10 minutes I was panting like a dog with the other participants only getting warmed up. The instructor informed my parents that I was not ready for this. Gloomy eyed I went back home thinking there is no way out of this. Teenage is a funny age, even the smallest of things seem to worry us so much. Again my mother came to the rescue who had to rationalize with me to explain that it was only a matter of time and patience. And patience is definitely a virtue is what I learned during my early morning walks. I was too fat to participate meaningfully in any sport and therefore walking and jogging were the only alternatives left. Every time I stepped on to the weighing machine, the needle would move way too much for my liking. Nearly 4 months of early morning exercise but only 7 kg’s lost. This was a true test of my patience. The good part however was that with every passing day, I was able to participate in more number of things. It was like a video game where I could unlock new superpowers with every new level. 8 months down the line I started to play my favorite sport – basketball. It was a difficult exercise since my teammates who I used to play with earlier would make me sit outside because I was not fit enough to play with the school team people. That did not stop me, I would go to the court post lunch and practice my shorts. The form was good, but it would be a long time before I had the stamina to play a full game. During this entire process, I learned one key skill : The art of self restraint. My diet was strict, I would avoid soft drinks at birthday parties and begin each day with a glass of warm water. From restraint to pride, my diet and lifestyle became a source of happiness for me. Nearly 14 months after, I looked into the same mirror, the well-toned muscles did look good. As I was starting to walk back into my room, the same gulab jamun was present in the dining room. Not this time, I said to myself.
