ZINDAGI KE NUSKE !!

ZINDAGI KE NUSKE !!

7 PM

Powai

My dear friend Nagesh was leaving Mumbai for good and it was his last evening in Mumbai. Needless to mention I wanted to spend a nice evening over some Gin N tonic and celebrate friendship before he relocated to a new city.

Distance wise we are just 5 kms away, but considering the peak traffic on JVLR this 5 kms sometimes, actually almost every evening , becomes 50 Minutes.

I checked the GPS, all red, and I decided to ditch the car and pick up Bullet for the evening.

Although I have a bullet for last 20 years but nowadays it's best use is to bring eggs and breads from the local retailer, instead of Ladhak road trips.

I have become so naive that I often get confused between the reserve and off lever

I called my driver ( who has additional responsibility of cleaning my bike) and asked him " Is there enough petrol in the bike to go to powai and come back ?"

He immediately confirmed "Yes sir "

I asked him again " Pakka ( are you sure)

He confirmed " haan pakka"

And off I was playing zig zag with the traffic. It still took me 40 min for this epic route but I was finally there.

The evening was memorable, nostalgic and I wished Nagesh my best for a bright and a happy future before leaving.

I left happy and high and just after 500 metres, as I touched the Highway, I felt a jerk i.e a miss while accelerating the bike. This usually happens when the fuel is about to dry !!!!

To my horror it happened again in 5 sec and I was now certain that there isn't any fuel in the bike and I am surely going to be stranded on the road.

In a flash of a second I had to decide which way to go. Usual way which had a hike or diversion which has a slope. Hike with a bullet with no petrol is a no brainer and I took the diversion with the slope.

In about 10 seconds the last few drops of petrol evaporated and I was now on neutral with the bike off, running downhill on the slope. This went on for 2 full minutes before my bike came to a standstill in the middle of peak JVLR traffic.

I tried to be calm but underneath I knew I was Fu***D !!

With no where to go what were my options :

1. Park on pavement, take a ric to a petrol pump, fill a bottle and come back

2. Call driver and ask him to bring petrol which could be another 45 /50 minutes

3. Lookout for any mechanic stores around where I could borrow or buy fuel.

First i exercised option 2 and asked him to bring fuel in a bottle.

I wasn't happy with my choice so I picked up phone and Googled petrol pumps nearby. I knew there are some in the vicinity but don't forget I had an empty elephant along , a BULLET !!

1.8 kms away there was a petrol pump. Sigh !

I decided to drag my bike hoping someone would help me on the way. After all this is Mumbai.

In the middle of peak traffic with hundred people around, No help came by. People honked, stared, gazed, but no one stopped.

I kept dragging the bike at my best possible pace and realised I hadn't even crossed 400 metres, yet. I was sweating like a marathon runner, after all dragging 2 elephants is not easy. I didn't give up but continued in hope.

Suddenly, I heard a voice from behind. I looked back and saw a couple sitting on a bike.

The guy was wearing a helmet and the lady behind had covered her face with her dupatta.

The guy said " Petrol khatam ho gaya?" Aage pump hai

Lao main chod dete hoon. Aap baitho, main pair lagata hoon peeche se"

My response" pakka, kar paoge, bike bhaari hai or main bhi"

He said" aap baitho to sahi"

And he pushed my bike with his left foot and suddenly we were cruising. I felt so relieved to be finally moving towards the petrol pump. Because of traffic I had to be very careful, and with couple of pit stops we finally saw the pump. In about 5 min we were at the road outside the pump and my smile returned.

I looked back to thank the couple and to my surprise they were gone ...gone in thin air !! Disappeared !! In no time.

I then looked in front and the guy waved his hand...he didn't even remove his helmet and this is where his role in my story ended.

I got fuelled up, called my driver and asked him not to come and I was on my way home.

The entire way I smiled !! What just happened.

Humanity kicked in a beautiful way with selflessness, with humility and with a desire to make a difference to people without any expectations.

I learnt my lesson and now I exactly know the difference between reserve and off knob. I also check my bike fuel before going out , and I ensure that I carry on the batton of humanity and offer help on road to those who need !!