Back to where I belong

I have always been a speed junkie and earlier too I mentioned it in the blogs. But this time, the experience went up a notch higher- I could literally feel the POWER. Now I know why all guys go gaga over Royal Enfield. To be honest, I was totally (and uncharacteristically) nervous and jumpy. The Avenger pillion-riding days seemed like long, long ago. I had actually forgotten how to climb on with as much grace as possible. And the fact that the person driving is my lead, didn't really help either. So inevitably, the climbing proved to be a disaster. And let me be frank- I didn't like it at all. There were those pipe-like fittings(sorry dj, can't name them, so much for being the wife of a mechanical engineer) that threatened to scratch against my legs each time I tried to shift to be more comfortable. But once the ride started, I became less and less concerned about those trivial issues. All the 'wind-brushing-against-the-face' was old news. It was like traveling right THROUGH a gale. I had to literally close my eyes and sit with my face buried in the bag.It takes around 15 minutes from Talawade to Bhel Chowk, where I was supposed to get down. And the day-time traffic in Talawade-Nigdi road is reminiscent of crowded Calcutta streets. But despite being heavy, the Bullet turned out to be a marvel when it comes to maneuvering through the clogged suburban roads. I used to dislike the reverberating noise of the Bullet; but to my surprise, all I could hear was the wind. In the middle of the ride, one thing caught my attention- the passerby's eyes are always fixated on the Bullet. It has always been a symbol of Indian machismo, with stars staring from Vinod Khanna to Sanjay Dutt flaunting their Bullets. And not to forget, the rural 'thanedar' sporting the Ray-Ban + Bullet + Mustache trilogy to spell masculinity. In that moment, I thanked the heavens for our decision of NOT getting a Bullet and going for Avenger instead.

Let me explain that point a little. In Chennai I had at least 4-5 relatives who lived in different parts of the city ranging from Anna Nagar to Adyar. And needless to say, all of them had a doubt that I am going around with this person. Due to my dubious distinction as a rebellious kid, they had predicted(and may be dreaded) that I will end up marrying a 'boyfriend'. Hearing bits and pieces of the hushed whispers which stopped the moment I entered the room, I sort of understood my relatives' plan: they will keep their eyes open for any unexplained 'sightings'. In simple words, I was at risk of exposure. And we had no plans to spill the beans at my house as yet. Imagine the shock of my ______ uncle,if while checking out a Bull he finds ME in the backseat!!! We had to tread carefully. So we needed a bike which would serve the purpose of cruising, but won't attract as much attention as the Bull. Avenger seemed to fit the bill and bingo!! For the 3 years that we were in Chennai, 'sheru'(as we fondly call the Ave) carried us around. Now in Pune, after all this time, riding the Bull brought all those memories flooding back..And here I am, hitting the blog once again...Like in the case of Golmaal, I guess all of you can gear up for a third-time revival of the mavericks...the guy, the girl(that's me) and the cat on the wall.