The Biking family - VIII (By Mark Bradshaw)

The sisters had one of the best days in their life. A causal trip to the town for shopping enabled them to save a life. They were able to help a totally unknown person recover from what could have been a fatal heart attack. They were able to show their true love in helping. Never have they been so happy. In all this, they never lost their self. It was a meditative experience for all the three.

For the first time, the ladies drove all alone and experience nature in its fullest. Their hubbies were not there with them nor were their kids. The journey started with no specific purpose but ended up being the most purposeful one of their life. Who knows what would have happened to Ram had they not saved him. In all this, they felt totally humbled by nature. Throughout the process, they were one with the nature. They realized they are nothing but a speck in front of god's creation. They saw wonderful tea estates and walked alone in the company of mother nature.

While riding back home, Aparna was thinking about how she lost her in-laws because they did not get the required medical attention on-time. Her father in-law died of heart attack when Ragav was 6 years old. She had gone to Ragav's school for some reason and Ganesh had gone to work. IT had happened all too soon for them to react.  She told herself, "I was not able to save my father in-law, but I was able to save Ram uncle". Thankfully, god gave me the ability. Her mother in-law followed her hubby a few years later.

Rani was thrilled about the whole ride. The freedom of the trip was like a whiff of fresh air. She wanted to have more of it. She was also contemplating buying a cruiser. But decided against it as she didn't need it except while travelling long distances. Anjali was happy with this ride as it showed her how good travelling by a cruiser can be. Her happy life continued to be happy.

Even though they travelled long distances, the clothes didn't get ruffled as they thought. This was a tribute to their riding skills. Upon waking up in the morning, Krishna woke up. Anjali was deep in her slumber. Aparna had just woken up. He wanted togo for a ride on enfield and asked Aparna for the keys. She said he can be her pillion. Krishna agreed. Aparna deftly manoeuvred her t-bird around the streets with him as pillion. Krishna was cursing his luck. When do I get to ride a bike? Just that Aparna was so attached to the bike. She wouldn't let anybody ride it. To her, it was like another child. Later Anjali drove Raja around on the 500cc. It was a happy day. Rani took Ragav around on her lightning. The visitors stayed back for another 3 days extending their vacation.

Two days later, Aparna received a letter from Ram.  It contained a message of thanks and a cheque repaying the amount which they had paid for Ram's treatment.  She wanted to read it to everybody. The letter read

" Dear Aparna,
    Trust this letter finds you in good health.  I cannot thank you enough for your timely help. I have now recovered almost completely from my heart attack. The doctors  said that immediate treatment of the attack made it easy for the doctors to cure the problem. A few days of rest is all that I need. While the timely help is priceless, the least I could do is to pay back the expenses you made for me with gratitude. Kindly accept the cheque.
   When Anjali helped me with resuscitation, her skill (saraswathi) came to the fore. When you paid the money, the lakshmi devi in you came. When you drove us to the hospital, your bravery in defying traditions and the shakti in you came out. In one day, I was able to see all the three manifestations of goddesses in action. Sanjay may have told you about my daughter who passed away many years back. Even if she were to be alive, I doubt she would have showered unconditional love. After all these years, I didn't miss her for the first time. You are the daughters I never had. Blessed be your mother who gave birth to you three.
   In all these, you were humble enough to  shower praise on god and give him credit for all that. In this world, when people take credit even for the smallest of deeds, your gesture stands towering in front of others. To have such respectable attributes is an indicator of how much your father has worked to raise you. It is often said that a king who built a big temple never wrote his name anywhere, but someone who donated a light bulb wanted to advertise his contributions. In the midst of all this, i cannot help admiring your traits.
   You mentioned you were married with children. Yet, you were given total freedom to be yourself and rode motorbikes. Rare indeed is such a partner. I am privileged to adopt you as my own children. Just that I wish I knew you a lot earlier. But may be god willed that I know you so late in my life. Kindly, accept Sanjay as your own brother. His wife Seetha is like your sister in-law. I also request you along with your family to come over next week. I would hopefully recover by that time. Please give us a chance to host you.
May god bless you.

Ram.

Please read it out to your sisters as I don't have their mailing address.
"

Everyone was moved by this letter and couldn't help crying. In these many years, they have helped so many people. But to have their actions make such a big impact was totally unexpected.

For many women in these days, modernity means breaking away from traditions and taking to alcohol, smoking and loafing around with more than one boyfriend. Yet in all this, they became dependants of such unhealthy habits. These women had none of those. Here they were dressed in the most traditional ways an Indian woman can. They wore bindis and jasmine flowers. Yet they rode powerful bullets, the ultimate symbol of a male bastion in India. The speed at which they rode would put even an avid racer to shame. They were fiercely in love with their hubbies and children. Yet, they never hesitated hugging and kissing any men including their brother in-laws and strangers. This to them was a symbol of love. They managed to tread the thin dividing line between love and lust effectively and consciously. They were willing to take totally unknown men as pillions and save their lives.  The men in their lives never imposed themselves in their lives. Likewise, they never imposed themselves on their men. The fragrance of their love was beyond the fragrance of the jasmine flowers they had on their head. All these for women who lived in villages.
 A 20th century poet by name Subramanya Bharathi once sang eloquently about women's liberation in his poems. He said, a liberated woman was one who tore apart the male bastions but never broke any ethics. Bharathi would have been proud of these women.  A strong woman is the one who knew her strengths and yet never bothered to show it off. Has the new age woman arrived in style? Probably.

The letter made them think about making another trip to the town. Ragav had to start his semester, Bindu's summer vacation started. So, they wanted to visit Ram when they dropped Ragav at his college. So, the plans were underway. Rani would host the two sisters. Aparna would come by car to Rani's place. Anjali would come over on her pulsar. They would go over from Rani's home to Ragav's college and meet Ram uncle. The plan was to rent a van and drive over as family. The ladies returned their 500cc and Lightning 535 back at the renters. The family dispersed.
 
The next weekend, preparations were on to visit Rani. Ragav was unhappy at the fact that he had to go by car. Aparna agreed to drive him over to Rani's on her bull.  Ragav was just merely looking for excuses to ride pillion with his mom. Ganesh happily drove his car as he always did. She wore a pink saree with sleeveless blouse. This time she didn't even bother to keep pace with Ganesh's car. She just drove fast @ 100 kmph. This t-bird brought her new energy. While she never drove at more than 60 kph on her libero, she hardly kept below 90 on her bull. Rani welcomed her home. Anjali came over with Rahul and Krishna. After a long time, Anjali was riding pillion. They stayed over night at Rani's and started next day morning for Ragav's college. Raja drove the car with Bindu, Rahul and Ganesh in the back seat. Rani was in the passenger seat.

Aparna rode Rani's CBZ. Anjali rode Aparna's bullet.  Since Ragav liked travelling by bullet, Anjali took him as pillion. Aparna had Krishna as pillion. Before  Anjali started the bike. Ragav hugged her and said, you should do your standard wheelies. Anjali wore an attactive blue silk saree with a sleeveless blouse and left her long hair tied at the top.  Anjali just smiled at him and said I will try wheelies !!

Krishna had known Aparna as a safe and slow driver. Little did he know about  her new found liking for speed. Aparna was dressed in her blue sport shorts. Her hair was let loose tied only at the top. She just wanted enjoy the wind. She just wanted look like a super cool girl. Krishna said, Aparna you look gorgeous. She also thanked him for his compliments. Krishna just hugged her at the waist.

Raja drove Ganesh's car.Ganesh fell asleep at the back seat.  It was agreed that they will meet at a known lodge around 200 kms from Rani's. The car started earlier. The biker ladies  started a bit late. Anjali started first on Aparna's T-bird. Her earlier misadventures mellowed her down.  She tried a few wheelies just to keep Ragav happy. However, doing wheelies on bullet required special skills which she did not acquire.

Aparna started last and just tried riding normally. On hitting the highway she seemed to have acquired the adventurous streak. She did a wheelie that almost jolted Krishna. he was just not prepared for it. Aparna just laughed and said, dont worry krishna, this was just fun. Krishna didn't believe what he saw. A lady whom he had known as a conservative woman, changed so much. He wondered what this bullet bike did to her. She just said, don't worry I am just having fun. The car reached the lodge first. Aparna drove much faster than Anjali. She reached peak speeds of 130ks.  Anjali maintained an average speed of 75kph. She just couldn't  have enough of the t-bird.

Initially Krishna was hugging Aparna at the waist. Eventually, he put his chin over her shoulder so that he doesn't fall from the bike. Eventually  Aparna calmed down and reached the lodge. Anjali came last to the lodge.  Krishna asked Aparna why the ladies drove crazy when he was the pillion. Aparna laughed out loud and just hugged and kissed him. Hey, after all you are safe. Aren't you?

After the adventurous first part, Aparna changed over to her silk saree and wore her bindi at the lodge. After refreshments, she moved over to the car. Rani moved over to the CBZ saddle. Anjali continued with the t-bird. Ragav became Rani's pillion. Raja became Anjali's pillion. Aparna was the passenger seat at the car. Krishna took over the wheel. The rear seat passengers remained unchanged. Aparna just joked, hey don't wreak vengeance on me ok. Krishna laughed out loud  and said, don't worry. The car started again.

Rani wore an attractive red colour designer saree andhad sleeveless blouse. As always, she wore her bindi. The t-bird and CBZ started at the same time. This time around, the women rode at 80s. Raja was amazed at Anjali's safety in riding.  Whenever, he was pillion, I guess he could always read a book without a worry. Did he have the effect? At around 12:30 pm, the travellers reached the destination.
 
The journey continued.