Stranded

I was in office last night. I'd just come in to check mails, chat and blog. Thats when he called. He wanted to go for a small ride in the night and be back home by 0000 hrs. I was in no state of mind to ride, but I agreed anyway, thinking that riding will help me clear my thoughts.

Went to the petrol bunk and filled fuel (my bike's giving a very dismal mileage nowadays), then hit Bellary Road, from there the Ring Road to BEL Circle, Yeshwanthpur, and then onto the Bangalore - Tumkur highway. Rode up to Whity's Dhaba. Stopped there to eat and drink. Unfortunately, all the guy had was Beer and Whisky; and I dont like either. So, just ate, and decided to head back home, cos I was in no state of mind to ride safely.

Before leaving, he was checking Blurr's rear wheel for free rotation. He rotated the wheel, and there was a slight sound. He said, "Lets try now", while bending the chain guard a bit, away from the wheel. That's when I heard the sound of the chain guard getting bent out of shape; but I didnt think much of it.

On the return leg, I was cruising at 60-70 kmph; brooding. Then all of a sudden, something inside me snapped, and I took off, weaving through highway traffic at 90-110 kmph. Soon, I had pulled away from him. Rode like this till the place where the Ring Road meets the Bangalore-Tumkur highway. I wanted to stop and wait for him to catch up. As I was slowing down, I went over a pothole. And at that moment, I heard a sound from my rear wheel, like I was dragging something.

Stopped the bike, a little away from the side of the road, tried to push it to the road side, but it wouldnt budge. I paniced, thinking the chain must've got cut. I waited hoping that he would come and we could do something about it. He came after quite a while, and just rode past!! I had my indicator on, and I was calling out to him at the top of my voice, arms waving, but he just rode past. Took out my cell and called him up. Called him up like a million times. But he didnt stop. And with every call, my temper kept rising. The worst thing was that I had left my tool kit in my bag at home, and I couldn't even take out the damn chain guard.

Took a deep breath and thought things out clearly. Stopped a couple of motorists and asked them for their toolkit. They were kind enough to help. Took out the chain guard and bent it back into shape and fixed it back. Around that time, he messaged saying "At home, cell was in silent mode. All ok?". I was livid!! I called him back and yelled, "Do you think I called you up so frantically to kiss you goodnight??!! I'm stuck in the middle of the road, bike's not moving and I don't even have my toolkit!!". And he said, "Do you want me to come back". I said, "Forget it! This is our last ride together!", and hung up. Didn't take any of his calls, or reply to any of his SMSs.

Thanks the good samaritans and headed back for home. What a day!! I wonder what else life has in store for me :-