Name: Sharath

Age:

Grade:

Family situation: Mom ran away. Father is a fishmonger. Two elder sisters studying in the 5^th and 11^th grade. Grandfather lives with them and is a labourer who works for daily wages.

“Miles and Miles to go before I sleep!!!” said Robert Frost. “Miles and miles to run before I sleep” says Sharath. He runs whenever possible. Out from his dormitory to the refectory. From the playground to the classroom. From his washroom to the chapel. Whether its morning, evening or noon, HE RUNS. He rushes past lines and people. Doesn't even bother if he is breaking the rules. Running, is in his blood. Not that he comes from a lineage of famous runners or that he has renowned coaches to teach him. Its simply because he loves the sport. Come an obstacle, he transforms to a hopping kangaroo. He tags himself very naughty but I would forgive that owing to his age. The school and district level prizes he has won for running and long jump has kept his desire for the sport alive and the candle burning.

You wouldn't notice him in a group- A petite boy with an even more small face and features. His tee, hands and legs were covered with the dust from the myriad of running races he himself had organised in the morning for his small group of junior friends at Snehabhavan. Panting to get back his breath, it took some time for him to compose himself before he involuntarily blurted out “I'll beat even YOU in a race”. Wow. “That's what is called confidence”, I said myself. That too at his age! I showed my appreciation for him by offering a chocolate and Guess what! He held it up high in his hands and proclaimed to his small group of junior friends who still swarmed around him “I'll give this to anyone here who can beat me” .

Someone once told him, that a computer engineer and a 5 star hotel managers are the ones who accumulate hoards of money. And from then, he nurtures a dream of becoming either of them. A lover of food, I reckon he likes the 5 star hotel manager idea better, because I thought I saw a slight grin escape his lips as he said that. Sadly, the idea of being a successful athlete does not arise in his mind. Probably, because the foremost thought in his mind is to earn some money quickly to support his family. He spends his holidays accompanying his father who is a fishmonger. That's when he had glimpses of these elite hotels. Dreaming of managing one of its kind, in the years down the lane, Sharath clung on to his father's hand reassuringly.