Dilip Kamtikar

I have known Dilip since the last 3 years or so. We began talking when he stopped me once in mid-run and asked me as to what makes me "tick" :-) He was refering to my running at Aarey. Soon thereafter, he made me his "guru" and showered compliments whenever he achieved fitness milestones. In Jan 2007 he did his first 1/2 marathon. In jan 2008, he completed his first full marathon.

We usually only greet each other aloud as we pass by as we do not like to stop & disturb each other when running. Yesterday (sunday), I was stretching and Dilip came by. He pumped my hand beaming and told me that on 24th March he completed 50 years of age and that he had voluntarily resigned from the Directorship of 12 companies in the Goenka Group (one of them being "Le Meridien" Hotel). When I queried as to what he planned to do, he replied, "I have'nt decided yet". I envy him cause I would just love to do what he did. He told me that he has enough money, well settled children, an understanding wife and sound health. One of the things he surely plans to do (and I envy him for this too) is to do a trip of the Antarctica this December!. He informed me that he would have liked that I "condition" him for the physical demands of such an excursion. I would have loved to but I just don't have the time. He is hoping that I can join him and keeps reminding me that "its happening" and that preparations and plans are afoot!!

I bade him good-day and returned home jogging, deep in thought as to whether good fortune such as this would ever come my way.