An Ode To A Journey Of 40 Years

Dear Sachi,
I too had the experience of cycle. It is bought by the gift money we used to get when grandparents or other relatives visited us and gift money we got from my parents when getting good marks. Finally when cycle arrived it was like a Mercedes Benz for me!
Syamala

 

At his age of seventy, my late father in law used to struggle in the same manner with his tvs scooter . Once it picked up so soon and so unexpectedly, from his residence that it dashed against compound wall of opposite building and he got saved by skin of his teeth injuring only a toe.

Cycling remind me of my day two learning cum riding hired bicycle in peak evening traffic ridden Mylapore. By blood froze when i was riding with closed eyes while two large buses going on opposite directions almost grazing me. My God i remained straight on my seat lest i would have git sandwiched.

for many years, i didn’t attempt riding cycle. As a day-scholar in the vicinity of college and inside college complex i need to own and ride bicycle again for three years. Cycle came handy to get parked close to large open window to hop into ongoing class at ground floor for attendance and quick exit.

In urban cities excepting Munbai, it is nonsense to follow traffic signs and regulations. In Chennai one would find hiw danderous it is to follow rules of the road. In one way street one would find many two wheelers come in opposite direction and they derive delectable joy ruding their scooter or bike over pedestrian side walk which is occupied by stray cattles or and by cars/autos .

Clues for frozen shoulder is in the image posted here. Pillion’s right palm on your right shoulder! ..had that vehicle regn number (thoughtfully) not blocked One could hv traced you. Front Tyre treads reveals tyre still brand new less used.

 

Migration from Bicycle to TVS to Luna to Activa is a great progress. Any autorickshaw driver or Uber driver will be happy to have you as a passenger as you are friendly and tip them well. Commute in Bangalore needs a small vehicle and once you outsource it to someone else, at least, you don't have any mental impact other than the anxiety of getting to the destination safely. At least, you are not worried about your flexibility to navigate through traffic.

Nowadays, most work is done at home but still the traffic is not dying down. You have at least planted enough trees/plants to compensate for the CO2 emission you were responsible for.

Note: I thought we can't post our photographs in IL. You may be excused as your intention is to post your Activa and not yourself.

 

Wonderful write up. Owning a vehicle gives you a lot of independence.
I never learnt to ride a two wheeler. All my sister's did. My sister's would drop off their child in school and pick up and later the bought a car.
I knew I missed something.
When my daughter was in the 5th standard I got her a cycle. From 6 th grade she went on the cycle. The in college she got a kinetic Honda.
Many people would ask me, if I am not worried to send her in a two wheeler. Though worried I wanted her to have her independence.
Once out of college she learnt to drive a car. She bought one after getting a job.
You write up brought back the old memories

 

All my siblings also learnt to ride cycles even before they entered their teens, but I couldnt - I would keep falling off and I gave it up too easily! So, I walked and walked and walked everywhere or used autos, cabs, buses for school, college, office, everything !

Fast forward to one hot day when my dear darling son was 5, we were walking back from school (hardly 600m) - he didnt complain, but it was really really really HOT! (Chennai then !)

ANNND my maternal instincts completely overpowered my fear of driving!!
The very next day, I dropped him at the school and walked to the nearest ATM, withdrew 40k and crossed to the nearest TVS showroom and bought my scooty pep+ !!
When the shop guy came to deliver, I didnt even know how to hold the handle or park it properly!

The entire next month, everyday my Dear husband took me to an open place and sat down with a book while I would just drive around and try not to fall down! I kept wondering if I will ever get the confidence to drive on the roads!

And one day a call came from son's school - he was sick!
Oh no, I couldnt get an auto, he wont be able to walk back - let me take my scooty!
That day, when I brought him home in that desperate situation, I got the confidence that I can drive!

After that it has been easy - it has been 14 years since then, my scooty is still my saathi! All after-school classes, grocery, vegetables, friends homes - me and my scooty had a great run!
But, nowadays that same thought runs through me too - "My back is more important, what if I fall!"
Yes, I have thought about adding those wheels - but now I have learnt from your experience that it would not solve the problem! Thank you for that!
Since I have always worked mostly online and my DH does the grocery shopping nowadays, travel is not an everyday occurrence!

Currently, in Bangalore, walking is still easier than fighting the traffic!
I prefer the rapido bikes for shorter distances, and autos/cabs for longer distances!

Of course these rapido bikes are a bit "modern" - read "speed"
- I tell the driver - see kanna/beta (although my DH claims I dont look a day over 30, I do have a 19 yo beta, so I have the right)
I say - Kanna/beta - you are like my son, so please drive as if your mother is sitting behind you

Thanx @satchitananda for your interesting journey! You inspired me to write my own story and I enjoyed my nostalgia while writing it!

Keep smiling
HR

 

Scooter number is covered and so there are less chances of any one attempting to trace OP. Helmet covers almost the face besides specs. But I presume the image is not of of OP Whose right shoulder reported frozen!

 

Some times a little things triggers us to take up something. Your son's walking in the hot sonn did that to you. And always the first step is difficulty. Subsequent steps follow easily.
Syamala