Heartwarming video of a 19yo boy’s midnight run near Delhi goes viral

In a video that went viral minutes after it was posted on social media on Sunday evening, a young man is seen sprinting purposefully down a Noida road around midnight. Despite being drenched in sweat, the runner repeatedly declines filmmaker and novelist Vinod Kapri’s offers to drive him home.

The filmmaker chronicles his interaction with 19-year-old Pradeep Mehra in an inspiring video, as he manages to gradually impress Mr. Kapri with every new piece of information he reveals about his resolve to run 10 km in the dead of night, dubbing the boy’s reasons for politely declining a lift “pure gold.”

Mr. Kapri is filming from his car as it passes by the young man, who claims to be on his way home from work following a shift at a McDonald’s. Mr. Mehra, despite being offered a ride, insists on running home because he doesn’t have time to run otherwise.

“To join the army,” he says when pressed more on why he’s jogging at this late hour.

Mr. Kapri offers to drop the boy home again, encouraging him to run in the morning, but Mr. Mehra tells him that he won’t be able to do so because he needs to get up at 8 a.m. every day to prepare meals for work.

Mr. Pradeep Mehra, a native of Uttarakhand, runs a 10-kilometer stretch every day between his job in Noida’s Sector 16 and his home in Barola, where he lives with his brother.

When Mr. Kapri inquires about his parents, the youngster informs him that his mother, who is ill, has been admitted to the hospital.

Mr. Kapri, who is still following up with Mr. Mehra, informs him that this video will become viral.

The runner responds with a giggle, “Who’s going to recognise me?” “If it goes viral, it’s okay, it’s not like I am doing anything wrong.”

“Come, have dinner with me,” Mr. Kapri offers when told that Mr. Mehra still plans to cook after his strenuous race back.

“No, but my older brother will go hungry,” Mr. Mehra responds, declining the filmmaker’s help yet again, explaining that his brother works a night shift and is unable to cook for himself at the moment.

Mr. Kapri exclaims, “Pradeep, you’re amazing.”

In a last-ditch effort to persuade Mr. Mehra to reconsider his mind, he adds, “Let me please drop you home.”

“No no, I’ll go like this, otherwise my running will get ruined. This is my everyday routine,” says the 19-year-old declining once again.