The Power Walk

I climb down the seven floors flushed with a sense of an impending discovery. I am in the hub of Gurgaon, a Delhi suburb teeming with technologists. It’s the crack of dawn, the sun threatening to engulf the town with searing heat, and with the cloud cover, intense humidity. I pass the guard, he gets up from his broken chair immediately and salutes a “Good Morning”. I smile back at him and reciprocate, moving quickly towards the road. I immediately see a woman wearing the traditional Indian Suit come towards the building. She looks older than her fifty or so years. Her gait indicates her worries. I say the most cheerful “Good Morning” I can muster. A smile breaks past her, her worries dissolved for a fleeting moment. Unknowingly, I have just enabled the flow of energy!

I say a “Good Morning” to the guard at the gate even before he gathers his wits. He seems mildly surprised, perhaps because I break the rules of expectations.I say “Good Morning” to a retired couple walking gingerly who respond back cheerfully. A wave of a hand and a smile from another couple the next time I utter the magic words. A father and a son brisk walking in silence respond to my greeting with a guarded response. I continue on the road that acts as a walking trail. It’s lined with trees, Gulmohar, Kachnar and the likes. A few yards further along, the road merges into the next. A strategically placed traffic block allows for more pedestrians by blocking out the motorists. Two lovely ladies filled with chatter and laughs respond enthusiastically. I now walk freely without the fear of being overrun. I touch some of the trees while I stroll - acknowledging their presence. A man with a dog gets guarded as I pass by – perhaps wary that the dog might get vicious. I greet the dog with a smile who responds back with a gentle wag of the tail. A woman walking alone starts to cross the road. I belt out a loud “Good Morning” to her, startling her. She recovers quickly and responds back with the biggest smile seen on this side of the Aravalli’s. A strong sense of what I need to do later starts to take form. I consciously say “Good Morning” to everyone I see. I take mental notes of their reactions as they respond back to me.

A silent one, a muted one followed by a loud one. A college kid, starts to run as soon as he hears me. I imagine that perhaps my enthusiasm rubbed onto him and he shot off with energy as a result of that!

A pack of the famed Delhi street dogs start to block my path. My sense of positivity does not slow me at all. I walk past them acknowledging their unpredictability. I keep the pace on and reach a logical place where to turn back around. I walk across the street again, trying to be closer to the side that has more trees. I touch a few of them again and feel grateful. The sense of chaos dissolves when surrounded by deep rooted serenity.

I wave to a group of Chowkidars who are starting their work day. They talk and smoke the traditional Beedi – performing their daily ritual. They enthusiastically wave back and shout a "Salaam" when I take the initiative to bid them a great start.

I have overshot the building compound when I realize I have reached the “Ambience” Mall. The name is apt – I am at level zero – the place where one is near dead calm. I turn around again and walk towards the gate. An attractive girl, perhaps going to work in one of the tech companies notices me. She starts to get uncomfortable as I approach her. She pretends to look away from me, but I am too vested now to leave her alone. I say the cheeriest “Good Morning” I can possibly conjure. Her aloofness melts, the strangeness disappears and she smiles back. The gift of a “Good Morning” dawns on her as well.

I resolve to never walk quietly on a trail again. There’s a gift of light that’s free for me to give to everyone. It’s a start of the day everyone deserves. I promise myself to keep providing good vibrations. In return, feel it's power running through my veins....