💬 Old couple at KBR Park walked slower than I could stand

I was at KBR Park last Sunday at 6:40 am, doing my usual fast loop. 4 laps, headphones on. I had a work call at 7:30 and I was timing myself. Yes, timing a walk. I know. An old couple was ahead of me on the path. He was in a white kurta, she had a green shawl. I overtook them on lap 1. By lap 2 I overtook them again. They hadn't moved much. On lap 3 they'd stopped completely. He was pointing at something in a tree. It was a squirrel with a half eaten guava. They stood and watched it for about 5 minutes. I stopped too, because I was out of breath, and pretended I was stretching. She said something to him that I couldn't hear and he laughed so hard he coughed. I got closer on lap 4 and caught a bit of it. He was saying, you said that in 1991 too. She said, and I was right in 1991 as well. Then they carried on walking, arm in arm. I finished my loop in 38 minutes. They were still on lap 1 when I left. I stood at the gate for a minute, just watching them, with my phone buzzing. I took the call 12 minutes late. My manager asked where I was and I said, park. He didn't mind. I went back the next Sunday and looked for them. They weren't there. I think of that squirrel more than I'd like to admit, for no good reason. Next Sunday I'm doing 2 laps only and taking the long way back to the gate.

The squirrel with a half eaten guava made me smile. I do a timed loop too, near the Gachibowli stadium, and I have never once stopped for anything. Last Sunday I saw 2 uncles arguing over a chess board on a bench at 6 in the morning, and I slowed down to watch for a full minute.

I saw an old couple shuffling through Lumbini Park last Sunday, clearly not headed anywhere in particular, just talking. I realized I cannot remember the last time I walked without checking my phone or rushing toward something.