Then one fine day I decided to cycle

When I first heard from my friend about a 100 km. trip he took on cycle I was both amazed and intrigued. I wondered how can one endure such a thing. Then I too had a dream. That I will cover a long distance on bicycle. It's been quite an experience of living with such a dream. At one point of time I had a dream of owning a bicycle and now this. I always thought how would I feel to cherish a dream for long and finally achieve it? This post of mine is dedicated to all those who believe that dreams can and must become true.

If you have a dream, you should find a way to make that dream come true. And if your dream includes doing something that seems really big or intimidating, that is ok, because you only have to do it one minute, one hour, and one day at a time. And that is what I did. I did not went for a long ride on the first day. I patiently worked on myself. I started to ride to office daily in 2013 end and initial 2014. On some weekends I would go on a little over 10 km ride, for few I went for 25 km.

I started to spend time in the gym and run on treadmill for short stint of time. I was feeling rejuvenated. During the winter of 2014 I felt I could achieve the 100 km mark, but the inevitable happened work pressure creep in. I started to miss gym and steadily the other obligations started to take preference. My bicycle's tire got flatter as I was not using it and I felt I was left behind of achieving my dream. During those days I visited one of my friend in Hyderabad, India. He was participating in bicycle meetup organised by Hyderabad Bicycling Club. I decided to join him even though I was not well with stamina and fitness. On January 26, 2015 I covered almost 45 km. It was taxing but I did it and only then I realized I could go for more.

The roue undertaken on January 26, 2015 covering almost 45 kms in to-fro journey

Still 100 km looked a distant dream. And that too in a city like Bangalore, where there are too many undulations. Then someone hinted a movie dialogue to me, "Koi pahad kaat sakta hai? hum chadh bhi nahi sakte?" "When someone can cut a hill to make a road between it, can't we at least ride on it" (An inspiring dialogue from a movie - Manjhi). It took me courage and on September 6, 2015 I went for it. I borrowed a friend's bicycle - a lighter one and the test of endurance began at 6 AM after Fajr - the early morning prayer. It took me around 2 hours to reach Wonderla (covered more than 35 kms) through Turahalli forest. Early morning serenity, walkers and joggers waking up and trying to be fit, people commuting to bazar to buy their daily groceries, pious ones going to Majsids and Mandirs alike. I saw everything of peace!

I took few pictures in and around Wonderla which felt like an achievement to me. Then I found few roadside stalls selling bananas and refreshments. I stayed there for an hour and refreshed myself, watching the traffic go by and the morning unfold in front of me. Returning back was all the more difficult as sun was over the head and the task remain to be completed. I took the same route back. Traffic was more and I had to stop quite a few times and drag myself up the road as it was unbearable sometimes to cycle to the higher altitude. However, as I was nearing my destination I could motivate myself and push myself to cycle harder. I came back at noon with lots of experience with me.

I could cover not more than 75 km that day. The 100 km remained yet to be conquered. I told myself, "One day, some day"

The route although it says 28 km, however Googl'e app My track showed more than 35km. It could be possible because there were lots of detour in my journey and this Google map is not able to flag and measure it. So the total to-fro journey was more than 70 km in 5 hours with a break of an hour in between

How difficult it is to be Indian?

I have not lived long enough to provide wisdom to young and old. They say, change is the only thing constant thing and yes, I have seen lot of changes in my 26 years of age. Technology, society, rules, prejudices, sadism, fascism, sarcasm, fashion, tyranny,etc. are constantly changing here and there. There are few things I have experienced which have not changed across the period of time while few thoughts and actions have increased over these time. May be I am growing older, maturing, getting hands on experience to know the norms of the society better. This in turn has prompted me to write this piece.

There are many good things and yes they out number the negatives of my society and I am very much thankful to my almighty Allah for those which I consider gifts. I praise HIM for the things he gave to me. But here I am just pointing out few things not because I am pessimistic, not because I do not have Tawakkul (trusting Allah's plan) but only because I feel something. I feel because I am a human, I feel because someone else in other part of the country or the world are being oppressed, discriminated, humiliated, insulted or questioned.

I have never felt outlawed. Not before, not now. But I kind of feel sad for those people who falls under the category of the verbs that I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Shouldn't I voice my opinion now. Do I need to raise my voice only when I am at the receiving end. Quran tells me all of those who believe in the Almighty Allah are brothers by faith. I feel for my those brothers. If humanity exists then I feel for all of them,

 - As soon as you get old enough to earn and manage yourself. You are asked to marry. Why not ask the concerned person first
 - If you want to marry, even then you are questioned. Why now? Peers and colleagues looks at you with raised eyebrows as if he/she wants to do something wrong
 - Results are wanted at each step. Can we not appreciate that person even if he/she tried. Why don't society gives an average person to grow. Why do we have success stories for them and why is it not a normal thing for them.  Why are there so many expectations? Why is success required after each step Why don't we give them chances even to fail?
 - Why is it difficult to get a registration certificate, work permit, license, taxes, etc. to start a business in India?
 - You are woman and immediately you are scrutinised. Everyone prejudices. Why working so hard? Why covering yourself up? Time for marriage is up. Of all the jobs, home maker is what is considered as less meaningful
 - In sports people starts questioning the ability and credibility with the stroke of one bad day in the field. Until the day you are winning, you were fine, the moment you lose, eyebrows are raised about commitment
 - We Indians are best in mis-treating our heroes. Saina's commitment is questioned, Sania's patriotism is raised every now and then. Dhoni's fitness, form are brought to the table every day even though he has brought loads of trophies in his 11 years of career and still planning to bring more
 - You are an engineer and everyone thinks you can repair the fans and washing machine. You earn more than 1 lakhs per month and live a lavish lifestyle
 - You are a Muslim and everyone question your patriotism. You are asked to go to Pakistan every now and then. you are asked to remain silent and be quite because you are a minority here. You are lynched for eating beef. I am not sure if these kind of hatred are brewing in majority of people or not or is it just few irrational bigots led by sadistic politicians?
 - Dalit man dies while entering temple, why is there no news of any action taken?

 - Honest officials are getting killed. These news prop up almost every month. Why is there no news of action taken against those mafias and goons? Have we elected incompetent, incapable Netas?
 - Why does justice takes so much time in India? Why was hanging Kasab took so many years even though we had so many proofs against him? Why is it taking so much time against Babu Bajrangi, Maya Kodnani, Sakshi Maharaj and people of similar stature to provide justice to the oppressed? Why is the people of India judiciously indiscriminate people of its own?
 - Why is intolerance increasing in India? 

I leave this with a thought in your mind. Ask yourself a question, "Don't you want peace and respect prevail in the society." For that we need to be tolerable and have patience. We can at least give it a try.