“I have some bad news for you!”,
said the doctor.
After a lethargic two years, with
sporadic health problems, this was not something I was expecting! But I knew
deep inside that I deserved this wake-up call. This was followed by millions of
tests, medicines were juggled and the most dreaded thing – I was put on a diet.
How I hated this! No sugar in my tea or coffee (I have never been able to have
sugar free drinks!) And gentle exercise to start with (Walks).
Deeply depressed I went about
trying to change my lifestyle (I have a very supporting family so it wasn’t that
difficult) The problem- of separate food was always there, so it continued. Only
I had to stop eating normal spicy, oily food and my elevenses of coke and chips!
I had to get out from my “Rapunzel Tower” and go for walks. The doc forbade me
to use my Exercycle at home!
After two days of dilly-dallying (I
will start from tomorrow…) I started my walk on a Monday (I promised myself
that Monday to Friday are work days, so walks for forty mins- but Saturday and Sunday
are off) Of course the diet must be there every day for the next six months. I
stole a headphone from the head of the family, filled my cell phone with upbeat
music, took a bottle of water, put on my walking shoes and walked out to the
beautiful garden down the road.
It was downhill to the well-planned
space, so I literally skipped and jumped down to the pretty garden and started
on my rounds. It was exciting when my App lady said that I had completed one Kilometer
at a great rate of five km/hr. My music pushed me ahead and I had a good time
till I completed the two kilometer mark. Suddenly I realized that taking each
step was like pulling a ton of bricks. I knew I had to go home. This was easier
said than done. Remember I said “walked downhill” when I started... well to get
back I had to walk uphill! My body protested, my bones creaked and muscles
groaned. I swear I saw people looking at me with pity. The music was driving me
nuts and the water bottle seemed like I had a tanker in my pocket. I was
surrounded on all sides with people coming back from work- young and energetic.
Age caught up with me and joined gravity in trying to topple me over. I almost
stumbled over a sleeping dog and managed to reach the lift. It was full!
(Otherwise I would have just collapsed on the floor!)
That night was hell! My body
ached so much that I could not sleep. (I am a person who falls asleep at the
drop of a hat). Tried sleeping in different locations- the couch, the sofa, and
the bed! looked out of the window and counted the stars and then I Woke up
bleary eyed and saw the family was awake and ready to leave. I felt guilty.
Took a painkiller for my body ache and decided to take a break from my walk.
But five o’clock came and I was ready, armed
with my regalia and down at the open space. This time I took it easy. I wasn’t
going to break any records- let me enjoy this process of self-healing. I walked
but I looked too. The lovely flowers, the green leaves, the little children
playing, the marathon runners practicing, the young mothers strolling, the
elderly ladies gossiping and not to forget the young couples searching for
hideouts! Each of them a story by itself.
As the week progressed I started
recognizing people and groups. It felt warm and comfortable to see the familiar
faces. It made the ordeal of my forced exercise a lot more bearable. I was
amused at the new parents who had hired photographers to take videos and pictures
of their little darlings. The baby had to be made happy before it would give
shots. The selfie couples who hid their faces from us but went on taking their
own photos! The middle-aged couple who argued all through the walk as I
followed them. The wiry elderly gentleman who set a pace for his plump cute
tubby wife! The single, slim, ageless woman who walked so fast that I could only
gasp! The young boy who ran a sprint and rested and then ran again.
Every day was like opening a new
book. A new chapter, a new story and sometimes I had the opportunity to go back
and read and relish the scent of an old one. Did I tell you about the dancing
lady? Well that’s for another day.
Sometimes life forces you to open
strange doors which are filled with demons, but once you battle your way
through them, a little paradise awaits you.
