Damn bored. Since early morning clock, as if had gone on strike. Time had just stood still. Could not bear more by 4 /4.30, took out the bicycle and rode off. Though 4 years old still looks brand new. I myself had overhauled it 2 days back, so the ride was just flight on the air. The road was crowded. On top of it, Laxmi Road was closed. Shit! Took Kumthekar road to Alka Talkies chowk. What a sculpture. That lass carrying water on her head was evergreen youth personified. Always fresh, always young. One shameless crow was quenching his thirst parching on her super slim waist. You scoundrel, Felt jealous! Lakdi pul under repairs. It's a nightmare to cross it. Literally pushed the bicycle till ' Khanduji baba ' square. Of course, it's not a square but what a 'Name'? Could not they find something better like Leena Chandavarkar or Rakhi Biswas? Nowadays nobody is bothered about the aspirations of the youth, you know! Pandu was as if glued to his position. Not allowing the traffic to move. After well nigh 15 minutes probably he too was bored so changed his hands. Now with a good speed I have to reach 'Good Luck' I said to myself but that was not to happen. Saw Manisha Ray near Swastik. Waved to her. She waved back shouting 'Hey Wait' Had to. No go! She blah blahed for 15 minutes continuously, or was it 20, do not even remember what it was all about! One lass was passing on the opposite footpath clad in flashy lungi! To stop her blabber, said' Let's have a Coke' Entered Moti Mahal, damn hot and humid, but couldn't help. She ventured to pay the bill, Why bother, 'Pay 'I said dryly! Bed adieu and myself on the bike again. Saw usual gang near Lucky. But nobody I knew. Mak was to be there but was not. Must have gone out to look for the chicks. Saw Sachin near 'Good Luck' was returning from the cricket practice probably, but you don't miss him, after all, he is Sachin! Now 'it should have been 'Good Luck' corner but no, it;'s some 'Gokhale Square'.P. L. has aptly pointed out, anybody from politician to village ruffian is there but never an apt name! Turned towards 'Natraj'. One posh ' model' was crossing the road. But something had gone wrong with her nose. Needed to be little sharper. 'Natraj' was still screening 'Donhi Gharcha Pahuna', I had liked it. On the corner crossed paths with a double-decker. It reminded of a full-term, would-be mother with a waddling gait!
Junglee Maharaj Road! 80 Feet road, what a grandeur at one time, not that it is lost now but these road romeos[ Not me !] have turned it into double Brun with Muska! 'Berkeley ' ad showed 'Vishwajeet' with a crooked nose, probably all segments did not align properly. Good riddance, I don't like Vishwajeet..... And I misjudged. 4 number was approaching the stop fast and I was caught between the bus and the footpath. Thousand cusses. Hardly any girl worth a watch, on the road. God knows, the parents must have locked them safely in Godrej. Had a cursory round of Bal Gandharva. Cafeteria closed. What rubbish, plan to have Batata Vada, of course, went kaput! P L 's 'Wat Wat' is slated, must watch. Will have to come early, maybe 6 in the morning, otherwise, no tickets. Queen of Jhansi looked lusterless, maybe my lookout!
100 feet road by the riverside. What a road what a ride! Full with potholes. Never know when you are on the seat or in the air! Double seat offender must be made to take 50 laps, god forbid he would not ride, why double seat, single-seat again!
Maha! Nagar !! Palika !!! Pune Corporation. all words vacuous. Turned towards Sangam Bridge. Actually, it's 'No Entry' Looked around nobody in Khaki! The stench was nauseating. After 'Panshet' river has ceased to be a river and has become nullah! Sharp whistle. Two Pandus at the end of the road. Smart alecs. Took 'U' and retraced, what to do! The new bridge, what's the name ? 'Trimbakji Dengale' bridge. What a novel ' Zep' [Flight with Zest] on Trimbakji by N S Inamdar. He definitely made people to take cognizance of Trimbakji otherwise who would have named a bridge after him! But the road is so smooth, what a ride on the bike !
Took a turn towards the station on Kennedy bridge. 'Alankar' is showing "Caravan' solid songs. Must watch. Chendya would be a good company. Should ask him. BJ was visible across the yards.
Station, Pune station. Still feel lost, whenever I come. It is human bazaar. People are traded. Some are sold some are bought. Without a tag. Many a time dime a dozen! I become so small in that crowd, practically lost! Faces and faces, everywhere around you but none that you know, that you relate to! This is Pune, In Maharashtra, In India on earth of our sun, so many such suns, with their innumerable galaxies, with their own innumerable earth, and this human bazaar flourished in some obscure corner of this universe, prospered but yet tiny very very tiny almost unaccountable! Yet each one moves with the same rhythm, fight petty battles, cry on loss, elate on so-called achievements, and pretend that they have conquered, what exactly nobody knows! Their defeat is limited their win is limited, their joys are limited so are their sorrows. In fact, their 'Universe' is limited, it's just for them.
With a heavy heart, I just managed a quick ride back home, through the by lanes of Rasta, Raviwar and Kasba Peth. 'Once magnificent' Shaniwar Wada has now just become pathetic relics of the past. Sad!
After a ride of 3 to 3 and a half hours, I just was trying to put it on the stands and there this bicycle came down heavily, crashing on my legs. I shouted in pain. Mother came rushing from the kitchen and lifted me from the floor with the utmost care and caressing my polio afflicted legs she said in a silken smooth voice.
"Why did you try to stand again, it's not a done thing. It puts strain on your legs. Wait, let me put you back in the bed !"
The twist in the tail format was very popular in my college days. There was this book with similar stories having in its title itself ' Twist in the tail'. Probably that might have inspired me to write this one.
ReplyDelete