Race

Akash was a buffeted by a gust of warm wind as a white vespa overtook his Bullet. The rider was crazily speeding and to his surprise the gust of wind was caused not just by the scooter but also by a red duppatta flying behind from her shoulder. He noticed she was crossing the traffic signal ahead in spite of a red light. He couldn’t let it go. He speeded up and followed.

She had to stop at the next signal because the traffic on the opposite side was too heavy to maneuver through. He tried to reach the vespa weaving through cars and autorickshaws but was stuck between an exceeding ancient version of a Maruti 800 car and a BEST bus which had stopped at an angle hoping to take a right at the crossroads but not bothering with keeping to the right lane as anyone in their right mind would but then again, you are wrong to expect BEST bus drivers to be in their right minds in the first place.

She was off before the light turned green, he did not wait for the bus to move, instead veered to its left and sped through the gaps. Akash was amazed at how deftly she went in and out through the various vehicles. It was as if she anticipated the spaces that were going to open up. He notched up a gear and in a moment that she slowed down slightly to reach back, grasp the errant duppatta and wrap it around her arm while conducting a one-handed overtake of a sedan, he approached the vespa’s rear wheel and honked.

He saw her face on the scooter's rear-view mirror. She looked like an average home-maker aunty, nothing remarkable except her eyes, clear, the colour of honey. He sensed her momentary stare but did not realize she was making a left-turn into the choked market lane. He corrected just in time and swung left, narrowly avoiding a deadly skid on the lane which was more potholes than road.

Before he recovered from the risky turn, she was already ahead three cars and weaving through the traffic but at a considerably lesser speed because of the potholes. He used the Bullet’s weight to his advantage and ignoring the jabs on his lower back as the bike jumped and bumped over the potholes eliminated the distance within seconds. The signal up ahead was on yellow. She sped ahead, he accelerated, still at her heels.

He noticed too late that there was a small alley to the right. She had turned into the alley and he could see her zipping though a small gap between a couple of yellow school vans. He slowed to a stop and watched kids moving to and fro towards the school at the end of the alley. He parked and walked towards the school.

A little boy came skipping over the stairs and she jogged behind, “Slow down son, no need to hurry so much.” She chided.

He couldn’t help smiling. “Look who is talking.” He wanted to say.

“I am sorry you had to wait. I came as fast as I could.” She said taking the school bag from the kid’s shoulders.

“It’s ok Mummy, just a little while.” The boy said, jumping onto the vespa and pretending to ride it.

Akash watched as she prodded him to climb down and made him stand in the front while she donned her helmet and prepared to start the scooter.

“Excuse me.” He said, as he approached her.

She looked up. An expression of uncertain recognition passed through her face ending in a look of extreme wariness.

“I … I am Akash.” He paused. She was seemed poised to bolt.

“My friends and I, we race every Thursday night, 2 to 4 at the Sea Link.” He blurted out.

She just frowned in response.

“You should come.” He said, feeling utterly stupid. He sensed around him a barely controlled chaos of parents, children and vehicles and moved aside to let a little girl pass.

She smiled slightly and nodded. The next instant the vespa revved and steering it through the chaos, she disappeared.

---------------------------

It was a warm night. Akash looked at his watch for the fifth time that minute. People around him were getting a bit impatient. He raised his hand and the voices around him stopped, as he heard the unmistakable buzz of a vespa Akash grinned and said, “She’s here. Let’s race.”

 

Vespa- Two-wheeler brand known for gearless scooter

Bullet - Indian version of a Harley Davidson

Duppatta- long scarf worn by Indian women

Maruti 800 - small-sized car brand very popular in India

BEST bus - public transport busses in Mumbai

Author's Note