‘Running started a decade ago with cool sea winds on Carter Road,’ Kher reminisced. Those breezes fueled her passion for the city and the sport. Today, however, she must don a mask pre-run, a stark reminder of COVID days where the threat is invisible particles, not pathogens.

Her daily life has shifted dramatically. Homes sealed tight, purifiers on overdrive, indoor workouts replacing scenic jogs. Running, more than fitness for Kher, is a mental reset—clearing thoughts and mending inner fractures nothing else can touch.

Turning broader, she challenged the dismissal of pollution stats. ‘Data proves the air’s toxicity, but denial persists. This goes beyond seasons or politics,’ she asserted. Thousands share her nostalgia for unmasked runs, yearning for the Mumbai they cherished. Kher’s rallying cry: Clean air shouldn’t be an extravagant plea in a bustling metropolis grappling with its own breath.