The Biking family - IV (By Mark Bradshaw)

Ragav was certainly used to his mom riding a bike with her saree. But he was blissfuly unaware of what was actually happening back home as he was in his hostel and studying for exams. His contact with his parents was limited to a few phone calls a week. He kept calling Anjali who was his favourite biker aunt and talking more often.

One fine day he called up Anjali and asked her to pick him up from college and bring him back home. However, Anjali was tied up with a few things and said it would be better if Rani or his mom picked him up. Reluctantly, he called up mom and asked "Amma, my exams are over. Can you pick me up from college?" The mom agreed and said she will drive to college in her car since he might have a lot of luggage. However, he refused and said, he wanted to come by bike.

He still couldn't get over the fact that Anjali couldn't come and was just frustrated at the thought of his mom driving her Libero. Litle did he know what was in store. Aparna mentioned this to Ganesh and he was a bit upset that she will be going alone over a distance of 250 km. How will she drive alone safely? In this age of rowdies and ruthless truckers, how can she handle being alone on the road for over 250 km? He then recollected his last trip to the coast. Aparna gently reminded him saying that going slow or fast is just a matter of how well the bike was designed and not an indicator of one's ability. However, having good control of the vehicle was indeed her strength.

She decided that she needs to be fast and safe on highways. She was reminded of the way in which the vehicles stopped for her while she was a saree clad bulleteer. A shorts wearing lady attracts unwanted attention in India. However, a saree clad biker creates shock and awe. She wore her Turquoise blue silk saree and started speeding from home. When she hit the highway around 45 mins later, she started travelling at a speed of 80-100 kmph. Vehicles coming behind her made sure they never overtook her. After all, trailing her all the way ensures they have seen the rarest of scenes in their lives. Many photographs were taken probably even more than Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt.

Within 3 hours she reached Ragav's college. Half the followers on her route had forgotten the original route they were to take. Ragav had just come out of his sleep when he saw his mom coming to the hostel room. He picked up his luggage and brought it all the way downstairs.

What he saw there shocked him beyond belief. Amma, how come you drive a bull? She explained her story and Ragav was pleasantly surprised to know that. Now onwards, he did not want to travel with Anjali. When you got a cool and safe driver in your mom, why would you want to travel with a rash aunt?

Aparna wasted no time and soon both were fully set to return home. She had packed delicious meal for him to eat before they could travel back. He had seen only rough and brash bulleteers till now. For the first time, he saw a soft and loving bull rider. He thought he was the luckiest child in the world. The ever increasing parent's love and the cool bullet rider combined into one in his mom.

She drove back home with ragav as pillion. He hugged his mom as he has always been and she safely drove over the next 3 hours to her hometown. In one day, she had cracked 500 km on her bull. Her hubby welcomed the mom and son home.

Over these months, a single bullet bike had transformed an entire family. The adline goes, "Let the boys play with the toys. Drive a Man's bike." It should probably say, drive a mom's bike.