Bicycle diaries

I have written about it before as well. Now again, as the liking has grown into a mild form of passion. I had a small city bike, which I proudly took to roads, took to service stations (where I got humiliated for cheap bike. "ही काय कचकड्याची सायकल आहे अरे, तू इथे आणू नकोस, मी हात लावायचे १२०० रुपये घेतो अरे... " anyways). So, I used to ride that small one, with a doubt in mind if it is capable of carrying my current weight. it made noises while passing through pits and speed-breakers (both are synonymous) and made me wonder. Finally, with lot of courage and thoughts, I bought a new bicycle.

One will not believe, the thing that I have, costs as much as my iPhone 6. Yes, 30k. It has 3 ride modes and 8 gears- no doubt, it also has aggressive posture as against upright one with city bike- no questions again. Still, spending 30k on a bicycle was too much to digest for most people around me, except me, Rashmi and Kabir!

I bought this one- Schwinn bike on 28th August 2017. Since then, I am riding it to commute to office and on weekends across city. I intend to use it more often, more like the only option. That is a long term goal, short term would be to ride about 60-70 KMs in a day, to begin with to reach Akurdi and come back. (22 kms one way, so about 44). (I have changed my job recently, shifted from HIV field to education field, thus this language of short term goals and long term goals etc., occupational hazards!)

It takes endurance and patience to ride a bicycle, especially when you are tired and the road ahead is a hill. That is the time when I speak to myself, ask myself that 'this is why I ride a bicycle, this is the moment for which all this is happening.' Such 'self-motivation' is usually futile, as you are the one listening to yourself, so you can always choose to ignore yourself!! Too much of 'you', but that is where it all boils down to!

Riding a bicycle on roads of Pune is a skill. The traffic is non-cognizant to bicycles, I have experienced cars and trucks overtaking me from left and right sides, honking on me. I pity such situations.

One funny thing, whose-ever meet me and talk to me about cycling, they appreciate the efforts, say great things about how everyone should do it etc. Almost everyone has also expressed disbelief on how much expensive a bicycle could be and I must be a fool to invest so much in it.

Am i a fool? Could be, but surely not in this case! :)

That man on the signal

Almost everyday, i cross this particular signal near Pune University. It is a busy cross-road, 4 roads jumping over each other. I always take left, the least bother-sum turn one can take and lead towards my house. People honk and shout, cross from left to right and scratch their roads to their destinations. 

There, on the left side of the cross road, stands an old man. Old, must be about 70+, skinny, always in striped white shirt and some pants, thick soda glass spectacles, holding a stick. Best part, a whistle. A whistle, equally powerful as any police officer's, but without 'power'! 

The man arrives the duty station in the evening and stays there till late night. He has interesting duty to perform, shepherding! Shepherding the traffic, people walking on the footpath, on the streets. Vehicles, be it bikes, cars or trucks, he has equal treatment for all, move ahead!! All he does is wave his stick saying move ahead, keep whistling, saying- move ahead!

"What's wrong with this man?" We always think. What could be wrong? He must be homeless, so finding good way to cut his time on streets and must be stiff enough not to beg. Must be little off, he may not be knowing what he does. Must be- just a person like that!

What's wrong with the man?
He could be a family man, with home and family which can but don't bother about him? with wife and kids who- feel either very sad or very happy when he leaves everyday from home for his unaccounted unnoticed duty? Among all the vehicles he shoos off, can be one vehicle of his own, driven by his kids/wife/other family members? Could he be filling in the void in his life by standing on the streets, in the crowds, talking to strangers, at least. 

Or he could be, just, that man on the signal- a representative of the future of out tormented, lonely, deteriorating society?

First day at school

First day at school

Yes, first day at school. I do not remember my first day at school... frankly I do, but may be I don't want to! I used to go to this school named 'NPPS' in Pune. I remember, for the first day, both mom and dad had come to drop me. It was a gloomy morning (either I remember it gloomy or it was actually one!). I remember walking in the school, the madam (tai, her name was Ms. Kale i guess) stretching her hand forward to receive me... entire school campus, kids wearing brown uniforms, crying. I joined the gang too. I think that was the only day I did what the other kids were doing, rest of the days of the school, I did what others were not doing- coming late, sleeping off in the school, wetting my chaddi, not making friends etc etc. I always played the role of a cranky crying kid every school has. Anyways, I have paid enough for the being in that role as well... 

Today's first day at school was for Kabir. Yes, he is grown up. So much so that he is now going to school, to a play school, but still. We were excited for this promotion from a long time. He was about to enter a phase which is never ending. All his life, at least all his prime years, he will be spending in some or the other school or such educational shop. The things now he is excited about, uniform, bag, water bottle, he will hate them to core eventually. We had had the day planned. Rashmi will take him from home, reach the school campus, I will reach office little early, spend at least an hour in the office so people won't say anything, then leave in time and reach the school, we will send off the kid together. Such a perfect, loving, family family event. 

I wanted to see how he marches towards the school when we drop him there. Will he cry? Will he be sentimental, at least? (this question can arise in case of Kabir, he is just like his name, Saint!!) Will he be apprehensive about leaving his parents behind? Will he.. wil...

I had more apprehensions than him. I was more excited than him. I wanted to see all these, feel this anxiety... be worried and happy at the same time. Be a good father and be around when the kid would need me the most...

I left office thinking about all this. I remembered how I used to go to school. My dad used to drop me. This is 1990's when the wall clocks were set on the radio announcements. My school was about 5-6 Kms away from home. It started at 7 in the morning, and we left the house at about 6.50-6.55. Dad used to drop me to school, come back, park the vehicle and then walk down for another 20 mins to catch a bus at 7.40. Believe me, even if the things don't add up now, it used to work, every day, except Thursdays. He used to ride me to school, full speed, shouting on the people on the streets. He had Hero Honda CD 100, bike as old as me (and he still has it, still rides it, not full speed, but still shouting on the people walking by!!), which he drove to the fullest. Scary but wonderful days!!

I was so lost in the thoughts, I did not worry about the traffic, signals I had to wait for 2/3 times, stupid and subjectively irresponsible people crossing the roads and driving cars, nothing. I somehow reached the school in no time. I was relieved and excited. To meet him, see him going in the school, crossing the road, finally!!

And best part of the story, I missed all this! I was, apparently, very late and school was particularly particular about starting on time. I reached at about 11.35, when the school starts at 11.30. They waited for 2 mins for me to come (SO nice of them!!) Hmm... all the anxiety, good fatherhood, excitement, apprehensions, sentiments were washed away by 3 minutes... 

I received him when he came out of it, same as I would if he comes out of an airplane. We clapped, chirped and did all those stupid things one does when around his/her kids. 

Nothing goes waste, as the happiness on his face when he came out was equally enchanting. I missed the beginning, but the complete movie, especially the climax was worth a watch!!  

TG

TG

TG... these 2 letters may mean nothing to a lay person, but the professionals working in my sector know perfectly what these stand for. 

I was in Aundh buying stuff for Kabir. Cloths, toys, usual. We were done, so we came out of the shop and standing there, thinking what to eat for dinner. It was about 9 PM and fairly crowded as we were in a prime locality of the town. We gazed the road as some sudden running and noises appeared from a corner of the street. A family, 3 kids, 2 women and a guy were loudly arguing something and all of a sudden, the man started running on the street, possibly towards someone. Shouting at him (her!). I could see, a Transgender woman was walking down the street, away from the family. She was looking happy, must have got some cash. She was a thin tall person, draped in green sari- not so vivid, but a dull cotton sari, even though TG not so sharp looking (TGs i have met are extremely sharp and well put, I won't say well behaved though!). The man, running for her, finally caught her, held her hand firmly and started yelling on top of his voice, mostly to create scene. In about a few minutes, there were men all around her, beating her, pulling her hair and cloths. Finally they threw her on the footpath, removed all (ALL) her cloths and kept abusing and shouting. 

The TG had asked for some money. When the family gave out 10 Rs, the family lady had held a note of 500 Rs. as well. The TG snatched it from her. When they demanded to give it back, she tore it in 2 pieces and gave it back. This is the man's version of the story. We could not (or to be frank did not) hear her version of the story. 

In no time, 2 police officers came by, beat her up again and left her. The case closed there, for the man, the police and public. For her...?


What was I in all this. A passerby... an onlooker.... just any other guy in the crowd?

Yes, i stood their, frozen, looking at the scene, helpless. I could have done something to save that lady. I could have gotten in between to at least ease it up, but i didn't. 

There was a time when it was above my head, so I called a few people. Tried getting some help for her. There are organizations working for the TGs in Pune city. I was hoping somebody will come and help her, may be not in crisis, but at least after trauma help. 

The organization denied, saying "She must not be a real TG. Must be a temporary mangti who was trying to steal or something. We can not get into it and disrupt our reputation." 

They sounded just like me!!