Aarav's Dilema

The radio at the Mehta residence is annoyed. And rightly so. 93.5 is celebrating the Himesh Reshammiya festival. Seven days of non-stop Himesh. Any other radio would have committed suicide. Some radios just don't have the balls!


But Aarav Mehta, the nine year old devil from Maneckji Cooper couldn't care less. On this sweltering March morning, Aarav is warming up for the first 100 metre race of his life. The clock in their living room is astounded. Moving its hands aside it exclaims, "Aarav, up at 7.15 in the morning? Impossible. It's a dream" - and with this abrupt monologue, it covers its face and goes back to sleep.

Aarav in the meanwhile is bumbling about the house in excitement. In his shoddy underwear, somersaulting at regular intervals and dancing unknowingly to Himesh's 'Hari Om', Aarav is a sight to behold. His brand new canvas shoes look at him nervously. They too have butterflies in their stomach. Bloody non-vegetarians. Aarav wipes off their sweat and puts them on.

"Aarav beta, your milk is ready, come drink it!" ... "Coming Mom!" ... "Aarav beta, your drink is getting cold, will you drink it now!?" ... "Yes Ma!" ....After seven minutes.... "Aaravvv!!!"

Thirty three seconds later, Aarav is seen gulping down a mugful of cold Horlicks. "Aarav beta, today is your first race. I want you to focus on the winning line and only that. Don't focus on the person next to you. Focus only on the winning line. Winning is everything. The world does not remember runner ups. Remember that. Forget the world while you are running. You know where to focus, don't you?", asked Reena Aunty. "Yes Mom! ... Only on the winning line!, right!?" ... "Right!"

"Aarav, are you ready!?", shouted Ramesh Uncle. "We better reach early else we won't meet your girlfriend Pinky at the gate. And if she does not wish you good luck you will surely lose, won't you !?", remarked Ramesh Uncle. "She is not my girlfriend!", came Aarav's cold retort. Peals of laughter descended on the Mehta residence. Even the radio was smiling. Just about.

"So Aarav, it's your first race today!? So, you want to win this do you!?", asked Ramesh uncle. His eyes gazing into Aarav's. "Yes Dad", came Aarav's obvious reply. "I'd say just go and enjoy the race. Soak in the atmosphere, Pinky's cheer and the lovely view around you. Run without wanting to win it. Run because you want to run. Run because you enjoy running. Forget about the winning. Forget that there's a winning line. Just keep on running till they stop you. And you will have won the race.", imparted Ramesh Mehta.

As Aarav Mehta opened the door of his 1.2 litre Kappa engine fitted Hyundai i10, his mind swung on the two ends of the pendulum. He wanted to win the race. He just didn't know how to.

Any suggestions?