I have always loved the idea of people talk about adventures. The way they interpret their experience - the thrill and fun in living the moment. Each time I hear one, I look at my adventure list ventured so far and pity at the sight of the blank space that stares back at me.
Until the day I took the U turn.
It was during the evening of 7th September, 2013. I had to go to an outskirt area to deliver a package. It was a new place, an hour bike ride...a highway. Not the best of road... pot holes, thick fog of dust blowing ever few minutes and the side-ways, infested with the rotting smell of inhumanely dumped garbage.
Despite the surroundings, I was glad that my cousin bro was there to give me the hike. Not only did I the luxury to take the back seat, enjoy the site of the landscape( what was left of it) but also the liberty to close my nose, every time the zones of foul smell had to be crossed. These are the times, it helps being ignorant about learning things...like riding a bike. You not only get to get free rides but rides more comfortable and yes views. Though, it’s mandatory that your rider is close to you.
It was dark by the time we had delivered the package. We were quite tired too. Though, I believe this implies more to my bro than me. Still I owed him a drink for the trouble I had dragged him into.
We decided to have a cola as a favor for the ride.
The sound of cola bring a small burst of joy in the fading face of my bro.
The highway area was new to both of us. We had to scan ever new building that came across. A few more miles and my eyes lock to this big flashy cafeteria.
Looked trendy for a highway. The front side of the shop was all glass. Translucent. Flashy steel chairs and tables and a contemporary name "CAFE". The waiters had aprons ( I could make this much from my end of the highway ). Despite the look, it appeared quite empty and the only customers appeared to be the manger and the waiters.
I was lost to my world of note taking when the three heads in the café turned in unison towards us , brought me back. I sensed that my bro was heading towards the place.
Snap!! My head switches from note taking to calculating the amount in my purse.
40 seconds ......if we were to maintain our current pace.
I always panic at the idea of falling short to pay the bills in a restaurant. I had to experience once. That has been sufficient to leave a scar deep enough.
30 29 28 27 26 25…
Even the people in the café must be aware of our approach as they appeared to smiling . I bet one of them dashed inside to hunt for the menu.
20 19 18 17 16 15….
The lights of "CAFE" could be felt spreading over us. I could now sense the bike acceleration go from brommm!! to a moaaan.
14 13 12 11 10…
" Maaro Gooli!! " . We were going in.
9 8 7 6 5….
I was ready...
And then, my bro out of the blue, makes a Big U turn and stops it in front of a small tea shop beside the "CAFE".
OH! How the faces of the people, in the café, fell
It appears the “bling” “bling”,. had had its effect to my eyes. The more I thought, the more I laughed. I could not stop myself from laughing the whole journey back home.
By the time, we reached home all I could recall was that U turn.
The road, the dust, the jam, the troubles… all forgotten.
I realized then that I just had an adventure, in a weird way though. My first in the list. It seems that life serves us with all sorts of situations and it is up to us to decide how to look at it. While my brother had been blind to the world of mine, I took the liberty to seize it and make it a moment worth remembering.
Adventure meets us everywhere. We just need to be curious and a bit dumb at times to look at every moment differently.
[ Btw we did have our bottle of cola. Prized NPR 35 each/- ]