Arnav: Running
1975
He loved to run. He was in boarding school when he discovered its joys. The trees flashing by him as he ran, the smell of winter in his nose, the feel of the sun like happiness flowing through his body, and the call of the eccentric koyal in the banyan tree, which had established the unique reputation of singing even when it didn’t rain. When he heard the koyal, he would stop and whistle the same tune – that long, seductive two syllable note, the high one followed by the low. There would be a short, almost startled silence, and soon enough, the koyal would respond joyfully. Then he would whistle that note again, and the koyal would sing back, and he’d continue his run around school.
The running time was supposed to be punishment time. He was banned from taking part i
