NOIDA: Every night, when the city goes to sleep, Pradeep Mehra, a 19-year-old, finishes his shift at the Sector 16 McDonald’s branch, slings his backpack around his shoulders, and runs till he reaches his rented place in Barola 8km away. It’s the only time he has to prepare for his goal — joining the Army.
Till Sunday, the teen from Almora was unknown to the world. Overnight, Mehra became an internet sensation, lauded for his steely resolve and cited as an inspiration by a legion of admirers he accrued within hours after his run, and his story, were captured by filmmaker Vinod Kapri. The video clip had 8.9 million views till Monday night.
