My TMT (Treadmill Test).
Dinesh K
Kapila
This was a few days back. It was not easy. A few
of us drove down to Morni Hills for a CSR Funded project. Sad to say even today
the small hamlets of Morni Hills, scenic, maximum height around 4500 feet, are
connected by stony tracks and cemented pathways plus even narrow winding steep
paths. There were a few of us, Dr SS Grewal, Soil Scientist and committed water
man, Mrs Ritu Singal, Industrialist and committed to social causes and her daughter, and me, the retired wandering
soul looking for a cause. Then the farmers and animators were there and Hakikat
from Mrs Singal’s office.
We reached the nearest somewhat initially steep
stony track at village Daman, the taxi driver saw it and figuratively wet his
trousers. So we decided to walk it, we requested Mrs Singal to drive down in
her large SUV, but she chose to walk down with us. It was an easy walk though the stones did not
make it easy. Then of course we had a walk along steep paths, along the edge of
an old water tank, saying be careful, be careful, to each other. We were on our
way to the project and then onto a temple. Where we collected to share views
and knowledge and the future plans. It was somewhat tough, required some
holding of hands and a leg up but ok.
Now work done we gathered again midway, our
motley group joined by two cows, drinking water from a tank and looking at us
curiously. And their owner, who was too overcome to see so many of us. We had
two choices, drive up in the SUV which had driven down or walk it through the
easier stony track walked upon easier or to take a shorter route. I was tempted to take the shorter
route, it seemed easy, the height to
reach seemed accessible, it was more scenic and I thought if our donor was
walking it so was I. Dr Grewal told me to quietly drive up, he certainly was
doing so. Not me, no way. He suggested, take a look. I told him I want to see
the tomatoes and turmeric and ginger fields as I climbed. The stony track was
boring ! well, he drove off with a smile.
I took the lead towards the stony shorter track,
it was gradually getting steeper, a bit tough on the legs, the breathing was a
little shorter, a little rapid, but I thought this is doable. Then suddenly,
there was a small pathway to take, steep, going up an incline. No problems,
said the farmers, its just a short steep path. Well, up I went, clutching at a
few bushes to pull myself up. And I could
hear myself breathe, the 10000 plus steps a day I did daily be damned. Then a
steep turn, and a cemented track, then a few cemented steps. And again getting
vertical. I had put quite a fair distance from the others, coming up gradually,
talking and looking around. I halted to draw in a few breaths, thankful they
were too far to watch me recover. My presumption, that it was a short climb now
proven incorrect, it was now to gear up and stay ahead and push on. And the breathing loudly, well, I had to accept it.
Suddenly, the cemented track just finished off,
a three feet dusty track led to somewhat level field. And no bush to hold onto.
Up I went. Hoping I would not slip. With a couple of more rather deep breaths. And
I was on level ground for twenty odd feet, a very happy happy moment for me. Then
back to another steep long cemented pathway and fifty odd steps. I was breathing
loudly when I came across a small house,
two women drying chillies, they were a rich, fiery red in colour. And one
snarling dog, who after seeing my plight, heavy breathing and all, went off. Maybe
my hat also made me look better to him. The two women said they would consume
all the chillies over a few months, in the cold I was yet to really sweat but
this input made me sweat. They also said shyly they liked my hat ! That
cheered me up.
Then along a two feet wide winding climbing pathway
there were goats tethered just along it. One right on it. It decided it was not
moving. It just stood there with determined eyes. My dilemma was should I attempt to go past its rear, in case it moved I
could be down at least six feet. An old guy looked on, waiting to be amused,
sadly I disappointed him. Past this
another steep turn, and a couple of cows looked at me with bovine calmness, a
quite stillness about them as they swished their tails. Another steep track and
twists and turns, and then it started getting less steep and doable. I pushed
on and reached the roadhead, looking for water and a quiet moment. And there
was Dr SS Grewal, saying I admire your determination and spirit, I accepted it
with a smile though later I told him it was tough but I passed the TMT Test. He
laughed loudly, saying I told you to drive up. He was really amused seeing me get my
breathing to normal.
I had a similar experience twenty five years ago in Himachal Pradesh, this
memory got triggered as I walked up. We were monitoring a drinking water
project and the pumphouse was a kilometre down. I decided to walk down a very
steep dusty pathway and I only know how I climbed up. I thought of just sitting
there in the middle of nowhere. A nightmare in real life. When I reached back,
they asked me to address the panchayat, I told them bluntly, first I will
recover ! I was panting and sweating away. But the TMT was successful then and now and that is that. Next time I
might, I repeat, might, just do it again.
PS. At HP, I went on to the second project, decided my legs would not let me go down to the river bed, went half way, asked for the pumps to run and struggled back. I was too tired.
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