I am not fanatic about my belief in God. Not being a religious person, I don't visit temple, church or any other monasteries but, when I go out in my decayed scooter, which is very much in bad condition and I return home safely; all that do have power to make me believe in God and his existence like anything. I leave home with a pray, God take care of me and I go out in my scooter even though I have no trust in my scooter.
Condition of my scooter is so bad that, if the spare parts do have rights to sue me in any court that would have existed on earth, they could have sued me long time back for not keeping them in good conditions. There is only one side view mirror and the one which is there is just so angry with me always looks down as if in protest. It seems at a look that it is so committed, not to report me whatever is happening behind my back. Both hand breaks are so loose that no one can manage it; but me. Both brake shoe are not working, I wonder how come my clutching both break works, when they are supposed to work. If it works its a miracle, then I believe there is this invisible power of God to protect the most careless person living on earth who dares to ride that old and gone scooter. And that careless person happens to be me.
Therefore, it should not surprise anyone, if my scooter is so determined to bring me most embarrassing scooter owners award. Its’ sound is embarrassingly loud and so odd until I find myself in highways. Then, the same odd sounding sound, makes me feel like I am riding a racing bike. It is a reason to crack a conversation with guys on the road and its a reason to bring some uneasy feelings to some of my acquainted, who thinks this is so damn embarrassing looking scooter. I hate to admit it but they are so right. Its only that they don't know, that I know all the stories of each and every scars and bruise my scooter has and I am the reason behind all those bruised part of my old scooter. Its been with me for more than ten years now, that it has become like my good friend. It has given me so much good memories as well as story too.
Its’ oddly loud sound, especially at the red light stop is what makes young guys on fancy bikes make to give me ‘the look’ at my scooter until they see me racing fast when the light turns into bright florescent green. There are times, I see the same guy on my side who were with me at the earlier red light stop. That is the time, they crack up the conversation with me admitting, its engine is still one of the best despite its look. Best engine, is what making me to keep this scooter a little while longer.
There are people who would not blink eyes to tell me to change my scooter as soon as possible. But, coincidentally the same friend[s], who ride comparatively new bike than mine have met with an ugly accident, some really bad ones; but mine still protects me from those unwanted accidents. For me, its not new or old, good or bad, I have to be safe on the street is my first priority.
Deep in my mind I think, not having licence keeps me grounded and more cautious than carrying a licence. Some believe this is very nonsense reasoning about my safety. Yeah, you can argue that, you have licence but you have never met any accident but I know lots of people who have and have met bitter accident. Finding myself behind those licence holder tells me what its to have confidence to face traffic police and what does arrogance means. I am cautiously fast on the street but without licence in my pocket, I can't be over confidence on the street. I dare not do things that will tangle me with any accident traffic police comes only on second number of priority to protect myself.
Riding a scooter is real freedom for many of us who love to go out anytime and without any control. I can think of going out without - a wallet - but not without my scooter. It took me four month to learn scooter and when I say,my short leg to be blamed for all this some raised their brow. However, once I am on street I really have not found myself in any trouble in this ten years of my experience on wheel; except my scooter have made many trips to the traffic police office for violating some street law. Oh, all that made me pay highly for the stupid mistakes.
There is this normal believe here that the traffic police are very corrupt lot and they will seek all the opportunities to scuff you money, for not having legal documents to ride not just scooter. Its right but not entirely true. I have bumped with really good traffic police officers, who were ready to help me find the licence; which I have never made. Thier nicety made me feel guilty about white lies. Some of the traffic officers have returned me my blue book without charging a penny, all he agreed is to have lunch with me.
There are times have gone to the traffic police office and retrieved my scooter after telling them the half truth about licence saying that I am not ‘carrying’ it now or lost it. Yet they let me go after the normal charge for parking on no park zone and then they let me go with my scooter without much fuss they did not hyper reacted for appearing in their office to collect my two wheeler without proper document in my hand.
Facing traffic police alone is a lot better experience in reality than facing them with those who carry licence with them, besides it cost me more also if I walk in with them in traffic office. Story of traffic police being corrupt has more benefit to those who walk in with you in traffic police offices to help you out from the situation, than they actually being that corrupt and harassing with true intention. There are people who make good bucks telling you that others are bad and corrupt. My scooter has taught me this, than anything else in life.
Some ask me have not you tangled yet [fight or argument] with anyone on street ? That really shocks me. Am I on street to fight or seek any chances to tangle with anyone ? Why do I have to be ? They thought I am very strong nature and I must have had some good fight or argument on street for anything that went wrong. Strangely, that I have not faced yet. Precaution is better than prevention is my motto on street and with precaution we can protect yourself on street and agreed accidents are accidents, but it can be avoided with real caution. I know there are some who do climb down from car and bike and then kick with the other who hit them on street.
Old or new I still need it for a ride and when the road is like ours, my scooter is just fine.
Needless to tell you, first thing I do after reaching home safely is to thank god for my safe ride back home, because he is the one who deserves that for protecting me on the street. My scooter taught me about the power of God and his existence and then also help me know about the people and their real intention. Shhh... my scooter should not know about it, or it might get idea to sue me for handsome fine for not giving it all the credit of carrying me all this year and protecting me on the crazy raods of the city !
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