Go Hard or Go Home

MIDDLE

‘Go Hard or Go Home’
by Jupinderjit Singh

It was not a major cut on the palm of my left hand. But it had great repercussions. It meant I could not join the gym again. Just a day ago, I had visited a new gym closer to my house. And I was all set to pump the iron. But the injury happened. It was another stroke from what I believe the conspiracy of cosmic powers against me. It was not the first time when I wanted to build muscles. It is surely not going to be the last either. But ever since I attained consciousness and developed the desire to have a six pack, v-shape and bulging muscles, something or the other has prevented me from doing it. And I am talking of the effort of over two decades!

Everytime I fall to the “conspiracy” , a highly provocating slogan, “Go Hard or Go Home” flashes across my eyes. It is often seen painted in bold inside the gym or on the outer walls, right on the posters of the bulging muscles of Arnold or Sylvester Stone. It challenges you. It teases you. It torments you. I always shout back, "I will show you one day". Then one sees Salman, Amir and even Shah Rukh Khan and more even some feminine heroes developing muscles; six packs, which they brandish so shamelessly. It turns me green. I go to a gym with renewed gusto only to become a victim again of the “cosmic conspiracy against me”.

My first attempt was in the school. It was when my Hindi teacher (who I dreamt of marrying morning, evening and midnight) told me how thin I was. I hit the gym along with two friends and fantasised of impressing her fast. I seem to have become too emotional though and ended up by having spasms and neck pain.

Then in college, when you are growing up faster, I along with two other friends hit the gym again. This time we met a psycho son of our coach. He just believed in doing bench press. It is the chest that matters man, he said. And we could not get up from bed for several days due to the "heavy" chest. A few months later, all three of us suffered the fit of gym again. And this time, we wanted to build thighs first! God, why did we have the Indian style toilets at such testing times. You just can't sit after rounds of squat and if you managed, you can never get up!

Well, in between those attempts, one strange thing happened. Whosoever went to the gym with me got the opportunity and visa to study abroad or emigrate. So much so that this happened a few months ago as well when a dear friend with whom I had started going to the gym was sent to the Gulf by his employers. My friends often joke that I should mention "special arrangement for visa" on my visiting card! I tried it so many times that many gym instructors in Patiala, Ludhiana, Jaipur and Jammu are my great friends.

But my passion for having a dream body did not relent. I went to a gym again, all filled with confidence but only to get the finger injury and sulk at leisure. In fact, I was depressed at this cruel hand of destiny time and again. "Go Hard or Go Home" echoed in my mind. It vanished as quickly as I stepped one fine day in the Swami Vivekanada Special train carrying his life story, speeches, thoughts and sayings. " The strength of mind and soul is far stronger than the strength of body," he said from one such poster. I stopped, read it again and again and stepped out in all smiles.

(Middle No. 18 published i The Tribune dated January 14, 2012)
link :http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120114/edit.htm#5