The Race

Vasanth was a terrific athlete who made a big name in his school and went on to win championships at State and National Level. He was well known for 100 mts and 200 mts running events, having trained for it since the age of six. Even if he skipped waking early during board exams, he never did so for the sports meet. Running gave Vasanth confidence and a sense of purpose in his life. It significantly influenced how he carried himself.

Unfortunately, one day, when he was about eighteen, he met with a terrible accident that rendered him motionless for close to three months. He was bed ridden under the complete care and supervision of the hospital staff. Vasanth wasn’t even in his consciousness to realize what had happened to him. His family, though, knew that it was going to take several months before he walked normally.

When Vasanth was discharged from hospital, he remained quiet on his way back home. However, things took a violent turn after a few days. Vasanth had become devastated knowing his condition. He cried inconsolably when he learned he had to wait before he even walked again.

Vasanth’s parents stood by him as the strongest pillars of strength. They prayed for his speedy recovery and gave him emotional strength to get over the feeling of helplessness which he constantly experienced . For several months, it took a lot of convincing to ask Vasanth to even eat his food on time. 

Finally, when the parents saw that Vasanth was able to walk slowly, they took him to a psychologist friend. The psychologist met with Vasanth and spoke to him for hours at length. In midst of the conversation, Vasanth shared with uncle how he missed running sprint events. He regretted that he will never be able to go back to running. Just when he completed that sentence, Mr. Manish, the psychologist, interrupted him.

Mr. Manish gave a challenge to Vasanth. He encouraged him to take up walks to which Vasanth gave a frown as a response. For a fast runner, walking seemed like a failure already. Nonetheless, Manish insisted that Vasanth start small. Perhaps even fifteen minutes every day. He could keep increasing the duration with each passing week, depending on his physical abilities and the doctor’s advice too.

Vasanth hesitated in the beginning yet took the advice of Manish Uncle for the sheer respect he had for him. Vasanth walked every day for a whole year.  Initially it was mere fifteen minutes and at the end of the year, he could walk up to two hours.

Another year passed, and Vasanth quite surprisingly managed to even run slowly. Vasanth’s parents, Manish Uncle, the concerned doctor everybody loved to see his improvement. It was exhausting for Vasanth to walk and run; however, he somehow enjoyed it since it kept him close to what he loved the most – the track.

Although it was met with doubt and fear, Vasanth announced that he would run for the Half-Marathon. He promised his family and the doctors that he would train for it. He confessed that Half-Marathon wouldn’t be easy; nonetheless, as a sportsman he knew he could try. He did not want to give up. He wanted to complete at least one race of Half-Marathon. 

To everyone’s surprise and profound joy, Vasanth did complete the half marathon, six months after he started to practice. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he hugged his parents and then thanked Manish Uncle and the doctor. Vasanth himself couldn’t believe he completed it.

For Vasanth, the Half-Marathon race was a life lesson to say the least. It taught him that, if one door closes in life, very many open. He only knew 100 and 200 mts running, but now he had explored a brand new category – long distance running.

Everything surely happens for a reason. Long distance running in fact taught Vasanth to be patient, it fed him lessons of endurance and prolonged hard work.

For once, Vasanth actually thanked almighty for the terrible accident occurred in his life.