The traffic around the chowk was considered the most by Khalarians but actually thin by any normal measure. Occasional busses overloaded with passengers and goods would arrive from Ranchi and stop here creating an atmosphere of din and dust. The other vehicles were few lorries and jeeps and even fewer two-wheelers. However, pedestrians and cyclist would make up for the rest traffic. Few roads crossed here, one went towards Ranchi through the hills, another one went towards the ACC plant and further to bazaartand, and the remaining one towards KD Colony and the collieries. A little walk with the KD road on the right, one comes across two streets, the straight one goes towards the primary wing of Ursuline Convent School and Middle School. Another street, a steep left turn appeared like a straight long line. Quarters on both sides with garden in the front, few beautifully landscaped while the neglected ones just filled with natural shrubs. Fully grown trees were also in abundance, overall bountiful greenery. The straight street perhaps had no formal name, hence was called bada line. Towards the end of the street, in one of the quarters lived the Gangulies, a family friend.
Life was normal in their household, Mr. Ganguly, obviously the head of family, had his own stickler ways, two school going children and Mrs. Ganguly taking care of the family and balancing the universe. One day, the Ganguly family suddenly became a subject of intense curiosity and all eyes turned at them with admiration. It was the Luna that Mr. Ganguly brought home did the magic. It was a slick and shiny machine and unmistakably a trendy item. The two-wheelers in the streets, mainly the Lambretta scooters and the recent Rajdoot motorcycles and Bajaj scooters must have also felt envious; the Luna was pretty stylish if not the most powerful.
Every day in the evening, after office, he would take out the Luna for a practice ride. Not even a speck of dust could be seen on the machine, it looked as if being taken out straight from the showroom, always new. His love for the Luna was like the fine white dust that the chimneys from the plant emitted, slow and constant but spread like a white sheet all around in the mornings. He practiced more and more like the holiest of the rituals so that he may not meet with any accident, even accidentally. He was not concerned about hurting himself but even the thought of any harm to his Luna left his shuddered.
One such evening we were visiting them. It must be the wonderment in my eyes that must have been the reason for a generous offer made to me.
“Look I’m going out for a practice and you can come with me” he said pointing his finger at me.
I could just nod, trying to contain my excitement.
The Luna was rolled out on the street and made to stand on the center stand. I was too eager to mount the bike, of course as a pillion rider, but I had to wait. Important instructions were a prerequisite.
“While I’m driving it you need to sit still. Absolutely still. You must be careful not to shake. If you shake, the Luna will shake and if the Luna shakes I will also shake and then I may get imbalanced. And if I get imbalanced the Luna may fall and this should not happen as it is a new Luna”
“Yes Uncle” I said agreeing to his instructions without ever realizing what it meant.
Being a stickler of rules, he put on the helmet first and then with extreme sophistication started the engine. It was only after he had both his feet firmly balanced on either side he gestured me to mount. I did so quickly and waited for a top speed ride. While he accelerated, his feet dangled and dragged on the metallic path for quite a distance before he finally placed them on the bike. The speed, very contrary to my expectations, was just good enough for the bike to balance on both the wheels. Bada line street was a smooth path but the trouble was when he turned towards the backside of the quarters. Here it was a trodden path and there were several cemented slabs covering the drains coming out of each quarter. The path became quite uneven- sudden raised area, steep lowered area, thick bushes making it narrow, all possible challenges lay on the path. Despite my best efforts, I must have shaken like the nuts in the trees during a storm, every time the Luna jumped the culverts.
He stopped the Luna in between nowhere and instructed me to alight. Once I did so, he put the Luna in stand, removed his helmet and repeated the instructions again. This time with annoyance.
“While I’m driving it you need to sit still. Absolutely still. You must be careful not to shake. If you shake, the Luna will shake and if the Luna shakes I will also shake and then I may get imbalanced. And if I get imbalanced the Luna may fall and this should not happen as it is a new Luna”
I agreed vehemently with vigorous nods.
The practice session resumed. The Luna jumped yet another culvert and I shook. I realized much later that the pillion rider actually has no control, but back then I felt angry at myself and embarrassed at my situation. He kept giving the same instruction and I kept trying but sadly I shook, the Luna shook, he shook but he did not get misbalanced. He had perhaps already mastered riding the bike.
We came back; the day’s practice was over. Soon after, he rode majestically through the busy chowk all the way to the plant and back home safely, everyday. While all these were happening, I never got any chance to ride. I didn’t know then that I was disqualified for any future ride. I should not have shaken!
It was a short ride but indeed a memorable one.
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