I read
somewhere the official flower of an Army brat is a dandelion!! It’s so true,
why? Very simple like dandelions our roots are put down almost anywhere as we
live in so many different places. It’s an unpretentious pleasant looking plant so
are we ;). Our roots are deeply planted with strong values and a very strange upbringing
to normal people, so adaptable, tolerant and ability to make friends just about
anywhere.
I am a
proud Fauji Brat with an eternal love for my bike that I call Arron (which literally means
God of Positive Energy) is the only mode of transport I have and use. My love
life with bikes started when my father taught me his old Rajdoot so that I can
go to my 10th standard tuitions on my own without bugging him for a
lift in his staff car. It was so fascinating that I actually learnt it in an
hour to take it outside cantonment area on the busy main road, and since then
there has been no greater peace for me; most of the time I would either bully my
class-mates who had bikes or young army officers who had bullets or bribe Rs 10
to a local mechanic and get the bikes that come for repair to ride and get my
fill for peace.
I stated
riding and got my licence at the age of 15 from the age of 15 till 28 my journeys
have been on borrowed bikes owned by army officers, friends and local mechanics
whether it is running off to leh-ladakh after my 12th standard board
exams stopping over 9 different officers mess to reach lah in 27 days not
knowing that its soon to become the Makkah for any biker in the country or delivering a new just out of showroom bike
from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata or cruising from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer to meet my
dad n back or riding or rather tailgating my dad’s Maruti 800 from Chandigarh
to Bhopal stopping over Mathura, agra, khajuraho n Gwalior or may it be on a
rented bike from London to Glasgow for work.
My life
changed 360 degrees when I finally got my bike. Funny story though, I had booked
a TATA Nano as I did not have a big budget. The day TATA guys called me to
inform that the vehicle has arrived something special happened in my life I got
the chance to ride a new RE electra 350, an old acquaintance near my office was
struggling with his new bike, realising I know him I offered him my help and rode
from ITPL to electronic city n back to Indiranagar in Bangalore taking him
pillion. It was a small ride of 80 km in zero traffic hour, reach home to see my
parents and my brother are getting ready to go n get the delivery of TATA Nano.
The whole drive from my home till the TATA showroom which is 10 mins away I
made up my mind to get Arron home or never own a machine.
Right outside the showroom told my dad about the change of plans and surprisingly my father who lives his dreams through me did not even say an angry word and got the booking cancelled and made my mother not react at the decision. My mum did not talk to me for three months, she has always been against me riding as she is scared for me I understand that. Her scepticism lifted when she sat behind me and now she very proudly tells everyone that her daughter rides a bullet.
I wanted Arron for my birthday in July but due to heavy booking I finally got my baby on 8th of Aug. and as soon as i got my baby me and my Arron boy went on our first solo date to yellagiri on 22nd Aug apprx. 170 kms from bangalore.
People
often ask me why did I name him Arron or how and I always struggle for the exact
answer. I don’t remember when or where I heard the name Arron but I very
clearly remember the meaning and liked it very much. When I was taking one of the
officer's bike to Srinagar from Jammu I found out the officer called his bike RUDRAA which sounded
very cool and knew whenever I own a bike I will call mine Arron.
Call me
crazy and paint the town violet my favourite speed on my baby is 40 to 60 in
city and I like the traffic for only one reason that it gives me that much more
time with my Arron boy on a daily regular basis and I really don’t feel the need
to plan something specially to ride. I am born to a wanderer my dad and traveling and wondering around is in my blood so my
natural reaction to stress and hurt or loneliness is to pick up my baby and
ride without a destination.
I have never had many friends who share the same enthusiasm as me for riding around so I never expressed and then I take this well thought after decision of joining The Bikernis as a challenge by my parents and my prospective changed. Now I have made many friends who share the same interest and are as weird as me that it feels unreal.
Hears to the many more journeys and many more friends.
