It was gala time in Ragav’s house in his native place. All his relatives have come for Makara Sankranthi function. It was full of noise & activities all round. Besides, one could also get the smell of various dishes being prepared in the kitchen – it would be a great treat to the belly. The tradition is that the family used to prepare different dishes & then pack them to the nearby dam which is about 45 kms & then have complete fun there. All elders including men & women were busily involved in the preparatory work while the children were watching TV & playing outside in the open field. It was time to start from home.
Ragav who is 20 is studying in college & he is the eldest grandson in the family. He has come to his mother’s home with his parents. Now he has started pushing everyone in the family to get ready fast as they were already late. He made sure that all vehicles were in place for the journey. Then he started with his grandparents to make them come out of the house & get seated. Subsequently, he called his parents, 2 uncles & aunties and their children. Somehow they were successful in packing all the eatables & brought them out. Ragav along with others loaded them into the car carefully. They had one black Tata Safari and 3 motorbikes.
His grandmother Kasturi Devi sat in the driving seat of the Safari, she is the one who usually drives that vehicle. She at this age of 58 is an excellent driver driving for almost 25 years. Grandfather sat next to her in his usual seat. All the children sat in this vehicle because they always enjoyed their grandmother’s driving. Ragav sat at the backseat which he enjoyed the most.
Ragav’s mother Aparna started the black Yamaha Libero with her husband at the back of her. She is a lady of 37 years dressed in a bright blue coloured saree. Ragav’s first aunt Rani started the fiery red Hero Honda CBZ with her husband sitting as pillion. She is a lady of 33 years dressed in an attractive parrot green saree. Ragav’s second aunt Anjali took the bright blue Pulsar off its stands and sat on it elegantly. She was wearing a Black and Turquoise Patiala Salwar. She was just 28 & the youngest among the 3 sisters. As like others, her husband sat behind her. All 3 daughters learnt biking from their mother when they were young. Their mother Kasturi is an experienced biker right from her teenage days. So she taught that to all her daughters & made them proficient in it.
Kasturi Devi called, “Shall we move?” All the daughters told in unison, “Hain ma, we can start moving”. Kasturi moved the Safari first towards the road. The 3 women followed her one by one. They were initially driving slowly till they reached the main road. Then Anjali started accelerating to 90… 110… 130 & overtook her sisters and her mother. Her husband exclaimed,
“Why are you driving so fast Anjali? I have told you so many times to be careful on bikes”
“Don’t worry darling, I am always in control of my driving”
“You keep saying this – Right from our marriage, I am trying to control your speed, but I couldn’t”
“It’s my nature darling. Speed is my passion”
“But we also have a child & a family. Think of that for a moment”
“OK.. Ok… don’t get angry”
Then she came down to 70, but still they were very far from the rest of the family. Now her husband was somewhat relieved. He hugged Anjali tightly & kissed her whispering “I love you so much honey” She was pleased by that & exclaimed “me too darling”. After a few seconds, he took his hands away from her knowing that his mother-in-law would be nearing them as they were going slowly.
In the Safari, Kasturi was worried on the speed of Anjali & she was complaining that to her husband. He told,
“It was all your mistake – I told you not to teach her driving. Being the youngest, she is very aggressive”
“But I just taught her as I taught to Aparna & Rani”
“Still, she was not matured enough to handle it like her sisters. See her speed – our son-in-law always complains on this”
Ragav was hearing all this. To him, Anjali was his favorite more than his mother or his aunt Rani as both of them drive relatively slow. So whenever he gets a chance, he never misses a ride with her.
Further back in the road Aparna was driving constantly at 40. She never exceeds 50 even in highways. This is something that both Ragav & his father were not happy with. Getting bored by her speed, Aparna’s husband started lamenting,
“Are you driving a bike or a bullock cart Aparna”
“Of course, its Yamaha Libero. Don’t you see it?”
“Just see ahead. Your middle sister & mother are so far from us. Your younger sister has already disappeared”
“So what?”
“Anjali flies like a jet, why don’t you learn from her”
“She is young, that’s why she flies. But I am a steady driver. Have I ever pushed you or Ragav down in my 12 years of driving motorbikes? But she had 3 accidents.”
“What a record – no one else can beat it!!!” was his comment.
Aparna grew angry, “And do you know how tough is it to drive by wearing a saree?”
“Rani is also wearing a saree – why are you boasting yourself?”
“I can’t argue with you” – she ended the conversation.
Back in the Safari, Kasturi waved hands to Rani who was just on par with her and asked her to come sidewards. Rani came on the side of the Safari. The children started shouting “Moma” “aunty”
Kasturi told over the air “Rani, go forward & check for Anjali – she was flying. I would slow my vehicle a little & come with Aparna” Rani replied “OK ma, I will take care – you don’t worry”. Then she increased her speed to 80 to catch up with Anjali. Rani’s husband had no complaints like his counterparts because Rani was a balanced driver who can adjust the speed as situation demands. Even here, till now she was consistent at 60, but now she could go to 90, 100 also. In both cases, he never worried because he knew that his wife is a mixture of both her sisters. In the next 3 minutes, Rani caught up with Anjali & shouted at her ”Why are you flying like this… is this a bike or a jet?”
Anjali was quick to respond ”Who is flying. I am just going at 70.” Then they calmed down & reached the destination in a few minutes. After sometime, the Safari & the Libero also arrived. The whole family had a nice time there for the whole day. Then in the evening they were getting ready to leave.
Ragav silently approached his uncle (Anjali’s husband) and told “Uncle, you seem to be uncomfortable with the morning ride”. Uncle did not want to reveal his fearness to Ragav, he replied
”Who said? I am OK”
“Come on uncle, I know everything. Aunt told me”
“No.. no.. I just want to ensure safety, that’s it”
“Then why are going with her again?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you are not comfortable, come in the Safari – Grandma is a cool driver, it will be good for you”
He thought for a while. He knew that Anjali would be much faster in the evening than in the morning. Then he accepted the offer. Ragav has succeeded in his deed to come with his aunt. The ladies started their respective vehicles. Seeing Ragav trying to sit behind her, Anjali asked “What happened to your uncle Ragav?” He explained the deal. The she laughed for a while & started the bike.
Seeing Ragav with Anjali, Aparna got angry & shouted at him “Who asked you to come with her? You both are a deadly combination – one will ruin other. Get down”
“No moma. Please, just one ride with aunty, please”
“no way”
Anjali also had a soft corner to Ragav because he was the only person in the family enjoying her speed. Then Kasturi interfered & convinced “It’s OK Aparna. Let him come. But one condition - You should come only at the last” Anjali & Ragav were shocked on hearing this, but they had to accept for the ride to happen. So they nodded their head. As usual, Kasturi left first driving the majestic Safari, then Rani followed & then Aparna went next. Anjali did not start the bike at all for 10 minutes because she knew that Ragav came with her for her speed factor. Then she started the bike with a wheelie – Ragav enjoyed that every moment & exclaimed “You are the best aunty”. Then she cruised the Pulsar at 110 with Ragav holding her tightly remembering the remarkable earlier biking memories he had with Anjali before she got married.
