Children’s Story

The Fitness Story

++++++++++++++++ VARALA ANAND 

“Pradyumna… come here,”

At the sound of his father Madhav’s call, Pradyumna closed his book and ran over.

“What is it, Nanna?”

“Your studies are going well O.k. You’re also doing very well with your painting. That’s all good. But having an active and intelligent brain is not enough. Our body also needs to be fit and strong.”

Pradyumna’s eyes widened.

“Then how do we become strong, Nanna? Do we just have to eat well?”

“Food alone isn’t enough. So, from tomorrow, we’re going to start swimming and cycling.”

‘Swimming and Cycling?”

Pradyumna’s face lit up immediately.

“Yes. If you learn them well during the holidays, your body will become fitter and stronger. And besides…”

Renu, who had just come in from the kitchen, smiled and added,

“You’ll make new friends too. And remember, fitness should be fun. You should be able to learn while playing and enjoying yourself!”

“Then let’s go tomorrow!” Pradyumna said excitedly.

….. 

That very evening, Madhav and Renu took Pradyumna shopping.

They bought him a smart swimming costume and a small bicycle.

Pradyumna put on his new swimming costume and stood proudly in front of the mirror.

“Nanna! Do I look like a swimmer?”

“Not just like a swimmer,” Madhav replied. “From tomorrow, you’re going to become one!”

When Pradyumna sat on his new bicycle, his happiness knew no bounds.

Renu whispered to Madhav,

“Look at his excitement! Isn’t it wonderful?”

Madhav smiled.

“Yes. But let’s see how much of that excitement is left after he gets into the pool tomorrow morning!”

Pradyumna overheard him.

“What, Nanna?”

“Nothing, Prady. Have your dinner and go to bed early. We have to wake up at five in the morning.” 

Pradyumna woke up before sunrise.

“Amma! Wake up! It’s time for swimming!”

Renu laughed.

“Oh dear! You were the first one to go to bed last night, and now you’re waking us up?”

“I’m going to become a swimmer today, aren’t I?”

Madhav and Renu laughed.

They went to a nearby swimming pool. Madhav had already spoken to the coach.

The coach helped Pradyumna put on his swimming cap and took him into the shallow pool meant for young children.

The moment Pradyumna put his feet into the water, his expression changed.

“Nanna… Nanna… I can’t breathe!”

“It’s all right, son. Everyone feels that way in the beginning.”

“I don’t want to do this.”

“Just try once,” said the coach. “You mustn’t be afraid of water. You have to become friends with it.”

“Will the water become my friend?” Pradyumna asked.

“If you stop being afraid of it, it certainly will!”

Pradyumna gave a little smile. The first day passed mostly in fear. On the second day, he became a little braver. By the third day, he had begun moving his hands in the water.

“See!” said the coach. “You’re doing much better today than yesterday.”

That little word of praise felt like a big prize to Pradyumna.

Within a few days, his fear of water disappeared.

More than learning to swim, he loved the new feeling of his body floating in the water.

He also made friends with some of the other children there.

“What’s your name?”

“Pradyumna”

“Do you come here every day?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’re friends!”

Pradyumna remembered what his mother had said:

You’ll make new friends too.

…………….. 

Evenings were for cycling.

Madhav took Pradyumna to a cycling track. The bicycle still had small training wheels on both sides, so Pradyumna wasn’t afraid of falling.

“Nanna… can I ride fast?”

“First learn to ride properly. Speed can come later.”

“What do you mean?”

“Balance is more important than strength.”

Pradyumna remembered those words carefully.

The days passed.

One day, Madhav asked,

“Do you know what your target is before the holidays end?”

“What?”

“You should learn the basics of swimming and become really good at cycling.”

“Then will I become a fit boy?”

“You will. And when you’re fit, you don’t have to be afraid of food either.”

Pradyumna looked down at his tummy and laughed.

“Does that mean I can eat pizza now?”

Madhav and Renu burst out laughing.

“You can eat everything,” Madhav said, “but in moderation. Fitness doesn’t mean stopping yourself from eating. It means exercising so that your body can make good use of the food you eat.”

Pradyumna didn’t fully understand the idea yet, but he liked the way it sounded.

One day, some close relatives of Madhav and Renu arrived in Hyderabad to enroll their daughter Soni in an intermediate college. 

“Pradyumna! Come here and see who has arrived,” Renu called.

Pradyumna was reading a storybook inside. He left the book where it was and came running out.

“This is your aunt. And this is your uncle.”

“Hi, Aunt! Hi, Uncle!” Pradyumna greeted them.

“And do you know who she is?” Madhav asked.

Pradyumna looked at the girl standing beside them.

“This is Soni. She’s your elder cousin.”

“Akka?”

That was enough. Pradyumna immediately ran towards Soni.

“Hi, Akka!” he said, giving her a big hug. Soni laughed.

Pradyumna stepped back and looked at her from head to toe.

“Akka…”

“What?”

“You need to go on a diet!”

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Then the whole house erupted in laughter.

Soni was a little startled at first. Then she laughed too.

“Oh dear! I don’t think I’m going to survive this boy!”

“That’s our Pradyumna,” Renu said. “Whatever is on his mind comes straight out of his mouth.”

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Madhav said. “But when we speak, we should also think about how our words might make the other person feel.”

Pradyumna thought about this for a moment.

“Then, Akka… it’s okay if you don’t go on a diet. Will you come with me for swimming ?”

Soni smiled.

“What’s this? Are you going to teach me how to swim?”

“Yes. But first, you have to get over your fear.”

“Were you afraid at first?” Soni asked.

Pradyumna was quiet for a moment.

“Yes. Very much. But now I’ve become friends with the water.”

Everyone laughed again.

“There you are,” Renu said. “His whole world has become swimming, cycling and fitness!”

Pradyumna immediately ran towards his bicycle.

“Amma! Today I have to show Akka my bicycle too.”

Soni followed him.

Soon, Pradyumna could be seen cycling in the distance. He was sweating, but his eyes were full of happiness. Soni watched him and smiled.

“Pradyumna… you were right. Fitness really is important!”

Pradyumna stopped his bicycle and turned around.

“Yes, Akka! But along with fitness…”

He grinned.

“…you need fun too!”

Once again, laughter filled the whole house.