A Ride in the Middle of Night

Off to Daman in the afternoon of Sunday after getting to know that my two best buddies were there and that too just for 24 hours. Well, what’s better than meeting 3 chuddy buddies in the holy land of Daman J

Ride to Daman from Mumbai is even less than Pune –Mumbai however, the excitement had made it seem longer than usual. I went out at 1530 hrs and once Mumbai was left behind I clocked accelerator between 80 – 100 km/h. NH-8 is no less smother than the cube of butter. With a slight twist my desertstorm was storming 90 or 100 KM/H. Though it was hot afternoon but wind falling on my face felt ecstatic. Leather jacket I put on was left open for wind to play with it. There was a stretch where I clocked almost 93Kms in just one hour. I couldn’t believe the devil between my legs was really capable of hitting the speed of light. I reached Daman at 1700 hrs, met my friends and when sun went behind the mountains to rest we creatures came out in open, and grabbed a table in a restaurant cum bar to start a new journey. Beer poured in through throat and emotions poured out through eyes and mouth due to its effect. Sitting there, recalled moments from the treasure of memories we spent more than three hours and headed for a roof just to spend rest of the night.

Obviously we had take roads for individual destinations in the morning.

Before friends could go into their slumber I asked, what if I travel back to Mumbai in the middle of the night. Their reaction was adamant. They told every possible danger a road could render in the middle of night, from the reckless driving of truck drivers to problem of not being able to see properly and loss in the sense of direction. Travelling on bike in the middle of night has higher probability of turning night mare into reality. But I was not going to drive bike, I was going to drive Bullet, like a bullet.

I nodded to their advice and dropped the idea of hitting road to Mumbai in the night. However, the very thought had already caused a restlessness inside. Tipsy feeling of beer disappeared and my senses became active. Neither my body feeling tired nor the need of sleep crossed my thoughts. Yes, it was sweaty night perhaps which could be one reason for not being able to sleep; hence I opened the laptop and began watching ‘Scent of a Woman’ – what a blasting performance by Al Pacino. His performance in the movie filled my heart with thought of hitting the road to Mumbai. I couldn’t stop myself; it’s an urge of kissing the risk. It’s been a long time since I faced any risk. I wanted to achieve the feeling of accomplishment and perhaps that very reason made me quickly wear my riding gears. Yes, the friends were in their dreams and when I was ready to leave I brought them out those dreams just to tell that I was leaving. Initially they thought it must be morning but when they glanced at their watch, it was 0230 hrs. They asked, are you serious. Yes, please escort me to the door, I replied.

Someone said it right, when in danger, not courage but fear keeps you alive. I felt it after I hit NH -8. I felt pinch of fear inside lingered with my decision not to return no matter what. Wheels rolled at a speed of 60-70 and headlights of vehicles coming from the opposite direction sometime induced blindness but thanks to my good and active sense I managed to drive safely. For a moment, I thought, it was wrong decision but then I put my one hand at the petrol tank of bullet and draw a heavy sigh and that moment I knew, I didn’t have to worry, I will make it to Mumbai in the middle of night through reckless trucks and buses.  To my surprise, there were not even a single two wheeler on the road. I was the only soul riding through the trucks and buses. When I passed through toll plazas people standing there looked at me with awe. Instead of filling my heart with fear I felt encouraged, yes I will make it to Mumbai in the middle of night. And, this made my hand to twist accelerator a little more, soon Bullet was thumping at a speed of 80- 90KM/hr. I sailed through and reached Mumbai at 0500 hrs. What a feeling, much better than Love.
A ride in the middle of Night.