When the rubber hits the road .... Ah!!!!!

 

It was the month of October last year , was reading an article in Deccan herald Supplement. The article read “ The women on the machines “. A short write up on enthusiastic women from the Bikerni Club , Bengaluru who gushed out of their routine norms to try the exciting and the free spirited art of biking. Why do I call it art, you will get to know in the next few minutes if you are not bored and still reading this blog of mine.. J

Now coming back to what happened , post reading the article thru the day the whole thought and urge to do something similar kept me occupied. A little bit of flash back to my life.. just to remember that I rode a Luna first when I was in Grade IV , 10 years old and I took to my fathers Bajaj Chetak in Class IX .. but as life progressed with its many twists and turns,and a major accident leaving me badly injured made riding as a passion take a back seat .. The norm of life took precedence over my inner urge to just set free and hit the rubber on the road..

Coming back from work that day, spoke to Vinayak , my husband on what was going on in my mind. He suggested that I should reach out to the club and get myself to be part of the group.. Next day I was just doing that and was fast enough to be welcomed to the group .. and here I am now writing my first experience .. I think its all about timing and will of the super power to make things happen at a time destined..

At home we had an RE thunderbird for the last 3 years, but mostly being used by Vinayak and me riding shorts trips within the city , NECE road … due to the phobia of injury still haunting with confidence levels of myself and my people not being great L. I nominated myself for two trips of the club earlier but could not make it for both due to work .. the third one I was clear that I was not going to  miss .. come what may.. and there I was all set on the 10^th Jan for  my first experience of a long ride ..

Morning 5.30 Am and Sunday… did not matter.. spirits were high .. got ready started from home.. still dark and barking dogs  running behind.. but was there at the said meeting point before time. .  We then moved on to our point 2 which was IPC… I did not know until I went there, which I am sure most of you would know that IPC is the Indian Paratha Company on NH 7 .. we reached there by 7.15 and waited for the others .. Weather was chill and still limited visibility .  Ordered for some hot parathas and Chai .. that was like heaven..  We then had our briefing session on what to expect, rules to follow during the journey, while I always understood the regular hand signals of riding, communicative signs were interesting to know and that is why I call it an art.. and then we started off on the journey with some happy smiling pics and selfies.. but with  butterflies still in my stomach roaming freely  screaming .. “ Can you do it ? “.

We started with about 60 Kmph and varied till about 90 Kmph on our onward journey. It took us about 2+ hours to reach Lepakshi . Few of us parked ourselves happily under the shade at one part of the temple while other enthusiasts went around the whole temple with a guide to understand the story of each of the pillars.. ( J ) kidding.. but really appreciate their patience as by now the weather was super hot in Lepakshi with the sun right above our head.. . We then headed to AP Tourism hotel, had our lunch with some spicy food and then decided to take the return journey with no breaks till we hit IPC again. From the time we started it was just focus with speeds varying.  Few of the rider were much ahead of me and I was trying to catch up with them with now my confidence levels slowing rising from the last few hours .. I started to accelerate to see at a point my Speedometer had hit 120 Kmph .. a sudden child like joy .. wondering “ is it me “… I continued the stretch on the same speed .. a feeling hard to express.. can I say liberated from my own inhibitions..  

We then reached close to IPC , to a Dhaba close by .. again some snacking time, introductions , debating on how the day went and understanding what could be done better.. basically expressing yourself on how the day went.. post which we all left to reach back to our homes …

Had a midway comedy too with the police with me and a few girls..  , hard to narrate though.. but the girls if reading this can have a hearty laugh..

At the end of the day , had it not been for these vibrant women I wound have still lived longer just thinking “ CAN I  “, WILL I “ and moved on with life.

Its more realizing your dream and releasing yourself from inhibitions to make way for living up to what you have loved just being there , doing it  and saying Ah!!!!

Just on another note.. this experience has also help trigger my blogs again.. let me do my best to keep this alive for this year.

have a fantastic year..

Free Soul

Nothing more to hold
No bonding to behold
Life has come a full circle
You are now a free soul

No Joy no Sorrow
Nothing more to borrow
Seen it all
As there is no tomorrow


No body, No form
Flying at will
Far away from home
To places unknown


Something is left behind
Tears and memories
A new life beckons
Go! Go ! you are now a free soul

Saluting My Teachers

Today as I was going thru the newspaper, I read a small note on Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

I realised that today is “Teacher’s Day”. For some time I was actually on to a flashback trip to remember few snapshots of my life as a student. I began to make an effort to see if I remembered all my teachers from the day I started school. Below is what I did

LKG- Gladys Mam

UKG- Venny Mam

1st - .... not able to remember  :-(

2nd – Annie Mam

3rd – Dhanalakshmi Mam

4th – Venkateswari Mam

5th – Flavy Claire Mam

6th – Usha Mam

7th – Sundari Mani and Dhamayanthi Mam

8th – Prema Mam

9th – Aruna & Geetha Mam

10th – NBS Sir

My Sports Guru - KTR Sir

College - Dr. Gururaj Karajagi, Vijaya, Sathyavathi, Manu, Prakash SKS Sir, Mangala Priyadharshini , Prof ChackoSuguna, Ramakrishna , Shekar Sir, Nagendra Sir, Chandrashekar Sir.

My Sports Guru @ College - Late .Venkatashamappa Sir.

I am actually feeling quiet bad that I am not able to recollect the name of my 1st Standard teacher. Miserable on my part :-(

For few moments when I think, the question that comes up is , what would I have been, had these people not given me their best for whatever I am today?. It’s more than 19 years since I am off school but still as I close my eyes I can see those vivid pictures with each one of these people relating to some instance that happened in school. The encouragement I got , whether to pursue sports, studies or music or dance these people gave me and not just me but thousands and thousands’ of people like me each year . I still remember my Sports master who would come in to support me due to shortage of attendance since half the time I was out on tournaments. Unfortunately he is no more and it still softens my eyes as I write. I remember being made the school leader and the very next day taking a whack on my palm for being noisy :-) . Those college elections , cultural event preparations.... I miss them all. I still can remember the talk on Gandhi that Gururaj karajagi Sir gave which still makes me get Goosebumps.
This is like two important pages of my life that I have opened for you to view.

I am sure as you read this, you will also stress on your mind to think of those teachers who have made you what you are today. I take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my Teachers for making me stand as a human being with dignity. It’s not that today is the only day, but today holds a significance to take a minute to express.

I am going to now make an effort to catch up with my old friends, to see if I can get the name of my 1st Standard Class teacher. I really need to :-)

Freedom yet bonded

Its been years since I scribbled the below note. It must have been way back in 2000 when Bangalore was still to an extent a peaceful city.


Last 12 years if I sit back to see how life has moved.... I must say it has moved in F1 speed. Each one is running as fast as one can and the focus is predominantly shifted to everything being associated to making upto something in life.. but what is it?...  name, fame or money. Each one seems too exhausted but the determination to keep it on is highly visible. Life was not as hectic even 10 years ago..... It just feels even with all the freedom, man still remains a glorified bonded labourer even today to various things of life.

On the eve of  Independence Day, wishing  each one of you a free and spirited life ahead.
Slogans were heard everywhere,
Gunshots were fired in the air.
We called them patriots.
But aliens called them slaves.

Dressed in white,
They fought for freedom
They were men with mettle
And real wisdom


They spoke one language,
Visioned one goal,
Followed one mission,
Honest to their soul.

Shedding away their tears,
They fought for years.
Many died….
With bullets and swords pierced.

One day at midnight…
14th August 1947
Came the night of freedom,
To see India like heaven


Today we have the independence,
But there has been a slow death…
Death!!! of a patriot within us
Goals different and souls apart,
Confused how to end and what to start
Fighting for luxury beyond par….
Is this what our martyrs died for?

Feel the spirit of Freedom, in its true sense !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A medal to take home

The most awaited Olympics is underway and each day as I open the newspaper I quickly try to browse the medal tally page to see which country stands in which position and with how many medals.


As I had my cup of tea, I just began to think, what about all those people who are there to represent their countries but have won no medal. Are they any less ? they would have been focusing on their sport and practising with sleepless nights. The sacrifices they would have made to stay focused and the hard work they would have put in to make their country proud. Does that all go in wane? They are the unsung heroes according to me. But what remains a hard truth is the world lifts the man who brings the metal home.

Sushil kumar's match is to happen today and I sincerely hope he becomes the man to bring the shiny gold medal home....and make us all even prouder.  

The man I love the most

It’s been 17 long years
that you have not been around
I realise that I have lived more
without you now

However old I get
Does it make a difference
My thoughts do amble
Thinking of you every day

I have grown over the years
From a little girl to a woman
But my love for you
Only Deepens

It’s now another year
And the day you left
you are my very soul
Leading me day by day....

Being "+"

This incident happened at Devbagh Beach resort while we were waiting at the beach for the boat to arrive so we could be taken for a drive into the ocean to see dolphins. Most of us were already seated and we were waiting for one more family to join us.


While I waited…. And with my camera ready … I saw a fisherman who came to the shore….

He then walked in , threw his net and waited for a while and then slowly pulled out his net--- not a single fish to his dismay. I was closely watching him to see what would he do next . He walked further down the beach and a little more deeper into the water and spread his net and waited for his catch. I was curious to watch what his luck had in store for him this time but by then we had to start and our boat left. It was almost 2 hours by the time we returned… I  almost had forgotten about him with the rough waters taking our ferry into all turns… and scaring my life out. But as we got down and walked towards our loghut I see this man sitting with his net and a basket removing quiet a few fishes :-)

I am a positive thinker and this little incident only made me feel more positive… (+)  :-)

Our tirade of failures will never lead us to success nor even get closer, but continuous attempt to achieve is what will lead us to savour every bit of it.


This  reiterated my thoughts to be only more positive.

Below is just a glimse of the episode that I tried to catch ...