Thursday, April 07, 2016

Chatting on the highway

My cycling commute is on the busy Nagar highway towards office. It is a hot day. 2 pm in the afternoon
Sun beating down mercilessly overhead. The concrete road sends heat waves from below.
I have a short commute of 3 kms. And the mechanical grinding of the pedals and its creaking sound accompany the noisy automobiles whizzing past me.
A cyclist overtakes me. I am usually offended and in the normal course reel them in and go past to establish my dominance. Arrogant me. Not this time. This is a school boy increasing the gap between us with feverish cadence.
I glance at his run of the mill cycle, his wiry frame and the school bag bouncing behind his back.
My gaze catches a contraption of two metal pipes welded to his rear frame near the rear wheel spoke. Its an attempt to imitate
an exhaust of a high end motor bike. I am curious and increase my pace to catch up with him. And strike a conversation

"Kute challas" (Where are you going ? )
Wadgaonsheri
"Kutoon" (from where ? )
Moje shaala -  Moje School. This is 2 kms further from my place.
"Cycle la pipe kashala welding kela." (What is that pipe welded to your bike ?)
Khaalli jatana speed marte. (Gives me speed while going downhill)
We had just started a downhill and I rolled away from him
"Bag mee fast ahe tu slow ahe" (See I am faster than you)
Tumchi cycle racel ahe ani tyres moti ahe ( You have a racer bike and big tyres - he was on a 26 ") - smart answer
I also saw a plastic box under his seat with some wires hanging out and connected.
"Te kay ahe ? Battery pack ?" (What is that ?)
Magcha Brake lavla ki light pette. (The rear brakes when actuated turns on the rear lights)
"Tu kelas ka" (Did you make it ? )
"Ho, Ek wire brake la lavla and ek Rim la ani circuit purn hote." (Yes, one wire to the brakes and another to the rim completes the circuit)

I was impressed as we reached a junction where we had to separate. 

"Tuza nav kay ?" (What's your name ?)

Bharat !

"Bharat Mata ki Jai"