It’s hard to imagine a childhood without the game of tag—a simple playground game where one player chases others, trying to tag them with a touch. While I must have played tag countless times, the memories that stand out the most are from my years in primary school.
I was around 3 or 4 years old, and my friend and I would spend our spare time before the morning prayer playing tag with a young school-staff boy we fondly called “Bhaiya” (elder brother). With our tiny legs barely a foot long, catching him was nearly impossible. We would take turns chasing him until the morning prayer bell rang, but I can’t recall a single time when we actually managed to tag him. Despite never catching him, I loved every moment of it.
Even now, the memory of those futile but joyful chases stays with me. The thrill of running, even when there’s no chance of winning, still brings a smile to my face. These memories of the “impossible tag” are what keep me going whenever I run today, reminding me of the simple joys of childhood and the pure fun of running just for the sake of it.