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–When I went for a morning walk in Delhi–

    It is six in the morning. The weather stands like the gory debacle waiting to happen. It is windy and close to pitch dark, numb and of course freezing. Foggy enough to, fog anyone’s senses. The teasing breeze has only intensified the chill that is now around six degrees—as I can see in my mobile. The streets are still barren. The amber streetlight round the corner is still glowing full bright. It has a sharp halo around it. In the backdrop of which, one can see the improvised screen of the cascading dew that looks beautiful, yet frightful, to even touch. There aren’t any dogs in sight like in summers, for a change. Nor can I hear mild growls, from any of the hidings around.

    I have now paced up my steps to beat the chill. I can see a few newspaper walas on their bicycles, along with a few milk vendors racing up and down with their milk-cans to reach on time. Everyone has a working world of his own. Some call it a career and some even a profession that God mandates. My walking track, is now laid out for the next one hour. Some priests … along the roadside temples, have just about woken up their God’s. So they think. In ten minutes of brisk walking I have reached the embankment of the sedate river. It is calm, and as if away, from the tantrums of the unruly gale.

    I look back … knowing well enough, no one is following me. Except for, the chilly wind, and that too, in the dark. Though my mind is in a slouch. Body is  feeling energetic. Just then I am able to figure out the first ray of the daylight that has breached the horizon to announce the dawn. This is when I hear the chatter of a few birds and I can also see a dishevelled crow perched on an electric pole, cawing away to glory. Suddenly I feel animated. A speeding car is now in sight. I’m sure. The driver of which must be feeling like a VIP with no traffic signals directing him to stop.

    Some street urchins are up by now. They were gearing up for the rough day ahead, with their little knick-knacks. The redness of the sun is now in sight. It has as if, painted the skyline red. But I fear. It might soon be overshadowed by the sulking winter clouds. The needs of the world are so strange. What one adores in winters is the sun and what one adores in summers is the shade. Conversely what one hates in the summers is the sun and what one hates in the winters is the shade. Nothing is constant.   Where, only the magic of time rules. But then time has strange ways.

    The warmth of the sun is now in the air. I welcome it with open arms. As I slowly begin with my routine calisthenics as I keep moving. My mind is now beyond the freeze for the first time in the morning. For light brightens you up and light freshens you up.

    I am past the river embankment now. It has flowed all night gallantly. It never stops, just like time. I am more than the half way mark now. Stray thoughts are now all over me. But superseding all of it is the thought of work. Till you’re alive there will be work to do. It will never leave you. So continue doing something or the other, even if you don’t have enough to do.

    For life is all about karma and without karma there is no life. And it is about time to kick-off the day.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

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ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

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AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

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REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Now available in Amazon.com

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