Oh Bike .. my beautiful bike
Can’t tell you how much I do Like-
Oh my beautiful bike, you are, in a way my LIFE.
Gave me insights into time and space.
Showed me places far and alike.
My tryst with vehicles began with Hero Puch in 1990s which I fondly remember as my biggest achievement / turning point.
I was fond of riding bicycles and seen places which only reminds me of my deep urge to conquer time. I must have extensively travelled all around Bangalore and many rural areas of those days on official duty.
Then came my Suzuki Samurai, which I proudly brought from Hindupura with a dear colleague of mine. This remained with me taking care travel needs of my family and kids till I came to Mysore in 2005.
I have fond memories of travelling on Ghat roads, many week ends to Kanchana, having Chinmaya tucked in between. I also used to take him for night rides only to see that he fall asleep due to cool breze !!
After my transfer to Mysore, the Time was ripe to change over and I chose to buy Suzuki-Zeus and the reason being it sounded like a bullet, my child hood fascination.
We did extraordinary trips in and around Mysore and climbed Chamundi Hills, MM Hills, Gopalaswamy betta several times.
Even in Belgaum, I remember, I had gone upto Sholapur and attended a Vipassana course far ahead. Our first Vipassana Course also had this Saarathy carrying ten days luggage of myself and Veenu from Srinagar to Bidadi at Bangalore.
Finally for my 55th birth day on 31-12-2021, I got a Royal Enfield as gift from Veenu to fulfil my childhood desire. But I was more than happy to see Chinmaya ride this Royal Bike, than myself. It suited him well and I lived my desires, through him and occasionally went on for long strides.
Today, I went for outing to get seat covers, box and a Royal Petrol tank cover and felt very happy to ride my own Suzuki Zeus. It's just 16 and looked so well, fit and fine. I bought her from Mangalore to give company, in this lonely Kochi.
I always felt a deep connect with the vehicle which I rode as if it is an extension of my body. This feeling is all the more strong when I rode a bike. Anything happening to bike touched me deep inside and I even felt elated when they got serviced and roared ahead with smoothness.
Incidentally, today being Krishna Janmashtami, I started reading "Uddava Geetha", being the Last message of Lord Krishna, an eye opener on many facets of life, particularly the last phase. This is supposed to be a revisit of Bhagavad Geetha, which was delivered in his prime time.
This was part of final message of Lord to his devotee Uddhava when the Dwapara ended giving raise to Kali yuga. The devotee questions Krishna on the need of destruction of Dwaraka resulting in end of Yadava Clan.
Krishna gives instructions for seeing the Lord in everything and living a life of perfect self-surrender and non attachment. Various chapters depict the need for renunciation and efforts for self realisation by giving life examples in a puranic way and a logical narrative.
There is a narration of 24 kinds of Gurus being earth, air, sky, water fire, moon, sun, pigeon, pythan, sea, moth, bee, elephant, Honey gatherer, Deer, fish, Pingala, a concubine, child, maiden, arrow maker, snake, spider, bhramara keeta.
It’s a lucid way of capturing the nature and essence of each guru to teach a particular concept and to turn our mind inwards for achieving Self realisation through non attachment, while being in the cycle of Life.
It intrigued me so much that I started comparing my present solitary confinement at Kochi and it made perfect sense as to where I am heading!!
In this journey away from family life, bike & books, made my life better giving me all the time and freedom which I wanted. May be this is the beginning of a true Vanaprastha to come.
