A runner’s story is usually filled with workouts, gym schedules, protein shakes, and so on. That’s what you would expect. However, Raviteja, the protagonist of today’s story, is contrary to common expectations. How did Raviteja endure life’s blows to become a successful runner? Let’s find out.
How Did The Runner Get His Name?
Parents in India usually look forward to a baby boy. Unfortunately, Raviteja’s father was waiting to welcome a daughter. When a boy came instead, the father was so disappointed that he didn’t see his child for ten days. When the future runner learned of this as he grew up, he was heartbroken. Raviteja carried the feeling for the rest of his life that his father never loved him.
In a casual conversation with his mother, Raviteja discovered the reason behind his name. His mother told him that there was a flood in Bhimavaram when she carried him in her womb. As soon as Raviteja entered the world, the sun rose, clearing all the mishaps that occurred. His mother wanted her son’s future to be as bright as the rising sun. Therefore, the name Raviteja!
A Series Of Bad Events
Raviteja was never really interested in studies. He was not someone who was craving for top ranks and high scores. Even before recognizing the runner in him, Raviteja believed that everyone is talented in their way. His parents could not think like him. They would always compare him to other kids of his age and ask him to take inspiration. They wanted him to lead an everyday life. It included studying well, securing a job, getting married, and looking after a family.
Raviteja didn’t like this. He didn’t see the point in working so hard to achieve things, only to die one day. Raviteja’s philosophy in life was limited to leading a decent and comfortable life. There was a point in the life of this runner where everyone believed that he was good for nothing. Despite completing 10th grade with a 60%, followed by intermediate and then a diploma, people’s opinions didn’t change.
On the other hand, his family was falling apart. Raviteja’s parents were constantly fighting. As lecturers, their profession created jealousy between the couple, and this eventually led to their separation. All these things pushed Raviteja into chronic alcoholism. It also got him addicted to smoking. These were his only distractions from the traumatic fights he witnessed at home.
When Raviteja finally joined an Engineering college, his anger reached its peak. He was in terrible shape. One day, when he got into a fight with a co-student at college, he almost broke the boy’s head. Raviteja instantly realized that things were not right. He decided to channel his negative energy towards the gym. He would spend most of his time in the gym and the rest of the time drowning in alcohol.
There was a long way before Raviteja could become a runner. He still had a lot of pain to endure. Raviteja’s alcoholism caused a rift between him and his mother. He left his mother’s home and started living with his father in January 2004. In the time that Raviteja spent with his dad, he developed a good rapport. It almost felt as if all the love that he craved since childhood was flowing towards him. However, this happiness didn’t last long in Raviteja’s life. In September 2004, he lost his father.
The Runner’s Love Story
His engineering days gave Raviteja a love story. He met a girl with whom he connected like no one else. He always made it clear to Sravani that he liked her, but she only treated him as a friend. Their friendship continued for a long time. Love has its methods of finding its way to a person’s heart. He got a call from his love one night, and he heard what he was waiting for. Sravani confessed her love for him, and he finally realized how it feels to be loved and respected by someone.
Things seemed to be fine until Raviteja discovered that his mother’s health was deteriorating. They brought her to Hyderabad, and the runner was shuttling between Gandhi Hospital and the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology. After all the running around, the doctors finally said his mother had Cancer. She was deteriorating quickly. Unfortunately, this was the time when Sravani asked him about their wedding plans. He postponed it owing to his mother’s health.
Hope seemed to have left Raviteja’s life. His mother lost the battle against Cancer. He cried inconsolably while bringing his mother’s dead body from Hyderabad to Bhimavaram. He couldn’t cry anymore at the funeral. He was judged negatively for this too. All his relatives, including his younger sister, accused him in various ways.
Hyderabad- The Runner Raviteja’s New Destination
Unable to tolerate all the name-calling and heartbroken by it, Raviteja and his lady love came to Hyderabad. They lived in hostels and met each other every day. He had decided to quit all his bad habits and start a new life with his lady. It turns out God had another plan. After six months, Sravani said she was going back home. He asked her to stay back, but she insisted. He agreed. Little did he know that he was seeing his lady love for the last time.
Even after Sravani was gone, they kept in touch. One day, she called him and said they should get married as soon as possible. The next thing he knew- Sravani was no more. He lost all hope. He didn’t know who to live for. All those he loved dearly were not alive anymore. He fell into the habit of drinking and smoking once again. This time it was a more severe problem than before. He did odd jobs like delivering gas cylinders to get money. He spent all the money on alcohol. He drank so much that he had no idea where he was going and what he was up to.
In his intoxication, He pushed himself onto the railway track. Some people around him rescued him. They identified a cut on his hand, which revealed that he needed surgery. He also had diabetes. Raviteja’s friends helped him financially with the surgery.
Divine Intervention Makes A Runner
The same friends encouraged him to visit the church every week. In the beginning, Raviteja was very confused. He couldn’t make sense of anything that happened at the church. Gradually, he developed faith, and each story in the Bible gave him a new lesson. He left his old ways and began to believe that his life had a purpose.
He found a job at a medical store and was living everyday life. Facebook that connects the entire world changed his life too. He connected with a friend, and both started competing with each other in the running. It not only gave a direction to his aimless life but improved his health too. He no longer has diabetes. And before he knew it, running became Raviteja’s passion.
Fate will bring you to all that is meant for you. Runner Raviteja’s story asks us to hold on to hope and invest in spirituality. Hope takes us to unique destinations.
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Thank you very much for writing up his story and making him an Inspirational person.
I personally seen him fall and now rising back…
Good to see his story..
Happy to hear his raise in spirituality. May God bless him abundantly. Thanks a ton for writing this wonderful article .