JOIN USI travel a lot on work but I have no complaints because I thoroughly enjoy my profession. But if I know in advance that I will be getting a weekend off, I make it a point to sleep late on Friday night. I shuttle between my house in Bengaluru and Udupi , where my parents live.
Most of my weekends and holidays are spent in Udupi. We have two lovely dogs — Buzo and Sniper. While Buzo lives with my parents, Sniper keeps me company here. I take him whenever I travel home and the two of them play together. Sometimes, I join in as well. My parents are fond of pets and I think, I got my love for dogs from them. ‘
We never let them into the house in Udupi. They have their respective kennels. But whenever Sniper is with me in Bengaluru, she eats, walks and even sleeps with me. She also keeps me company on my morning jogs.
I don’t have too many friends; I hang out with a select group who have been with me for a long time. We either stay home and watch a movie or go out trekking, cycling or surfing on the beaches of Mangaluru.
Weekends are also about my experiments in the kitchen. When I am in Bengaluru on a weekend, I usually look up the YouTube for recipes and cooking guidance. Whenever, I miss my mother’s cooking, I call her up and she guides me how to make a dish that I like. I am good in making a quick salad, potato curry, chapati and interesting variations of ‘sabji. My cooking is not very elaborate but I can survive on what I make.
Whenever I am home, I enjoy my mother’s food. She’s a brilliant cook and nothing can compensate for her preparation of ‘Neer Dosa’, ‘Tomato Chutney’ and Cauliflower Pulao’.
I’ve been an athlete all my life and I have a close bunch of friends who have been just as active as I am in sports. There are group of us who regularly go swimming, trekking and surfing on the weekends. My college mate Partha and I regularly go for river rafting. My adventure with water sports begins and ends with Partha. There are a few interesting places around Udupi where we go on short treks and river rafting.
All my friends have branched out to different professions and we relax only when we come together. Most of us share the same interests and our thoughts too are on the same wavelength. Spending time with those who share similar interests is, for me, a thoroughly refreshing experience.
I miss my carefree days when I had the chance to go riding almost aimlessly into the hills, without competing professionally. Riding gives me a high and it’s like I am in a trance whenever I am riding. I am happy if I can ride all the time. Amidst my hectic schedule, I try to make time to do things that I love doing. It makes me feel positive, both on and off the race track.
A few of my favourite things
* Swimming
* My pets
* Rafting
* Surfing
* Spending time with family and friends
(As told to Nina C George)