I woke up early. Much earlier than usual. The alarm rang at 4.00 am. Quickly I went and brushed my teeth, had a shower, shaved and finished all my duties (Gentlemen don’t use the s*** word, and besides it’s not Monday J).

Quickly gulped down some coffee. Too early for breakfast anyway. So I decided I’ll have it in Saravana Bhavan. Too early for newspaper too. I’ll have to wait till I reach office.

My life has changed. My time-table got upturned.

I packed my office clothes in my rucksack. Slung it over my shoulder and started walking. It’s 4.20 am now. I should reach Beach road by around 8 am. From there to Saravana will take about 10 minutes. A leisurely breakfast till 8.40. And in the next twenty minutes I can cover the distance to Nungambakkam.

Anyway, I am wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a good sports shoe. Well, I am doing it. The shoe company must be thrilled. I am using it every day to walk. I guess I am following their advice.

The roads are empty, dark and wide and I have an office to go and I have an office to go. Well, I do have company though. There are plenty of fellow walkers. All office goers like me. We have a sense of camaraderie.

We share water when someone runs out of it. We have our regular trees on the way where we stop which we call Piss-stop. We have identified strategic locations where we can re-fuel – I mean refill empty water bottles.

Almost all of us have caps and goggles which we bring out once the sun rises. By around seven-ish almost everyone will be capped and goggled.

Of course we have our music – ipods – those are almost ubiquitous. Or cellphones which have enough songs on the playlist. Some of them have old Walkmans.

The most popular song happens to be “Mera jootha hai Japani”, a golden oldie. Michael Jackson’s “beat it” is a close second. Some even listen to Mozart. The “dappangoothu” listeners are instantly identifiable by their jig while walking.

There are many who carry two tiffin boxes. They take a break near a banyan tree, spread their towel and have their breakfast. They say that the experience is better than breakfast in bed.

I am perhaps the only one who doesn’t listen to music. But then I have my thoughts. That keeps me occupied. I can think and think and think for hours together. And all this walking has done what even the GM diet couldn’t. I am twenty kilos lighter and I feel really good about myself. I can look down and see my toes. It does feel good.

Now, as soon as I reach office, I must take a shower, change into formals and get on with the days work. I must get there slightly early before others start walking in. Otherwise there will be a queue before the bathroom.

Que sera sera.

Even our boss has become slim and fit. And he has developed more patience too.

Thank goodness petrol prices went beyond the reach of us, common people. Now we’ve discovered the secrets of health, youth and longevity. We walk fifty kilometers everyday at an average speed of ten kilometers per hour. Pretty good mileage for an average, human in fairly decent condition.

And as for our cars, we take them out during weddings and festivals.