I read somewhere on the internet that beautiful girls like muscular men, and hence I enrolled myself in one the gyms close to my house, and started working out like mad. In spite of 6 months of vigorous work out at the health club not a single girl got attracted to me. I stopped. I stopped visiting that website again.
Thankfully I didn’t stop going to the gym. I started enjoying my exercises, and I found the place quite interesting. I made good friends, and I need to be grateful to my coach and gym owner to have helped me during the course.
They started loving my presence and would always look forward to hear to my gyaan on spirituality. A small crowd would form whenever I spoke about things, which most people didn’t understand –karma, destiny, divine plan, nirvana, kundalini and cosmic consciousness! It was plain love and interest initially, but gradually people started respecting me - all was fine till August 15, 2002!
I was at my gym on time, doing my arms that day. And I noticed others were kinda busy in getting things in place. I thought, may be, they were just cleaning the place, but later I realized they were organizing a flag hoisting ceremony.
Everything was ready - the flag, the music system, and the people. The gym owner called everyone to participate, and I went with others. It was happening outside the gym in front the main road, with some 100 passers by watching.
I have got a terrific stage fear since childhood hence I always hide myself from a crowd. I don’t know what went wrong with my gym owner? He walked across me and asked me to hoist the national flag. I said what? Are you crazy? He said you are the most respected person among the lot and we want you do the honour.
I was embarrassed to the core. I moved forward, and pulled the rope, the flowers showered on me, and I thought that was it - but no. They played the national anthem, and I was standing there saluting the flag on the mid road with some 100s watching me as if I was a celebrity.
I think I would have been the first Indian to hoist the Indian national flag without even brushing my teeth or taking a bath.
I stopped going to the gym! Jai Hind!