The Strong & Shocking "Sakthi" - The Amazing People in My Life Series

I met Sakthi in one of my Quickrides. He is one of the quick friendships I made during Quickride rides. Read my earlier post here. 

I had taken a ride on Quickride one day when I heard a conversation of co-riders. The person was saying that after he reaches home he will go cycling up until the Airport and be back by midnight! I was shocked to hear this and what shocked me more was he does it all weekdays! I could not believe this and told him it is better to go to a bigger Apartment where there is ample place to cycle than to go on roads like this at night. The answer to this shocked me further -  He said he has got used to it and he goes cycling to nearby places like Nandhi Hills, Ramnagar, Savandurga, etc on weekends! I could not believe what I heard as he got down from the car as we reached near his place.

After a couple of days, when I and MM offered a ride, Sakthi joined us. This gave me some more time and freedom to talk to him. He worked for an Engineering MNC and he loved his work as a Mechanical Engineer. We also got to know that he was from Mumbai. In about one and a half hours long ride on the first day, we got to know that after he went for a long assignment to the UK, on the day he returned to Bangalore he met with a major accident and he was bedridden for more than 2 months with no hope of getting back on his feet again. But he made up his mind and started walking slowly, then cycling, and later swimming so that he triggers his muscles and gets back to normalcy quickly and he had done it in less than 6 months. His Doctor had told him that it is not less than a miracle. This shocked me yet again also could not stop thinking about his Grit! His Courage and determination impressed me naturally. I had heard or read such stories of people but never met one in person before!

Sakthi became regular to join us on our rides and in each ride, he would say one or the other thing which will leave us shocked, surprised or dumbstruck or all at a time!

One of the days the discussion was about our alma mater colleges and he said he is from IIT Powai in a lowly voice. He is an IITan! A B.Tech from IIT Bombay. The modesty he shows when he says about his alma mater is unbelievable! 

With time, I got to know about his family - that his Father is Marathi and his Mother is a Tamilian so he has relatives in both Maharastra as well as in Tamil Nadu. His siblings have done well too with One a Master's in Management and another pursuing Medicine. As I had gotten used to his Shocking revelations- I probed him further, and again I was not disappointed! His brother is from IIM Ahmedabad! 

Sakthi, had taken help of a Physiotherapist, won over himself and get back to his feet. Then he was planning to go on Tour de France 2020. He was preparing for it with zeal! He would cycle long distances while his physiotherapist will follow him in his car! Highly intense and disciplined in his practice! However, the world was hit by virus and so he could not make it..

Sakthi is also a Chess Champion who has won many contests.

On one of these rides, we had a Techie joining us who was let's say was a "Cool Dude". He was talking about his college days and his Biking hobby(he had Royal Enfield) with an accent and attitude. Sakhi chimed in and told him that he also was a biker one time and had Triumph! As the conversation picked up, Cool Dude was shocked one by one as he got to know about Sakthi's accolades one by one! While getting down from the car he said "This ride has just changed my Life" and I agree every ride with Sakthi is life-changing. 

Sakthi as his name says is a "Power" packed personality. His never-give-up attitude is an inspiration. I always told him that his parents have named him very aptly as what is called 'Anvartha Nama' in Sanskrit. 

Sakthi shocks me with the projects he is involved during last two years of lockdown every time we talk! He is also penning down his life as a book which will come out shortly. I wish him powerful energies to achieve his goals.