I think not
many would have led a life without pedaling a bicycle at least in their
childhood and it is a dream for every child to get a bicycle when they see other
kids enjoy riding their own. I’m no more exception! I got my first (and last)
bicycle when I was 8 or 9 years old and although I have a dream for bicycle it
was my doctor (whom we consulted for my disorder and it was the time of discovery
that I was affected by Muscular Dystrophy) encouraged my parents to get me a
bicycle as a part of my exercise. Knowing this, my maternal uncle decides to
get us (me and brother) a cycle but it took some time for him and the waiting
period was something put us on eager and dream a lot about cycling.
My uncle is a
car mechanic and had his workshop adjacent to our home and stepping out is
indeed into his workshop. After the school we used to spent time in the
workshop, apart playing with friends at backstreet and during this time we
frequent to cross his sight as a kind of reminding him about the cycle. We had
no idea about the cycle, what brand or kind to buy and it is he chooses the
right one for us. It was a cycle belongs to the middle category which can either
ride by children as well adults if seat was lifted to their comfort height. I think he should have bought the cycle with a
perception to ride for long period as we are in growing age then. I still
remember the evening he took one of his employ in pillion to buy the cycle so
that he can let him pedal to home while he returns in his bike.
He bought the
cycle for about Rs. 1500. Those days I don’t know the value of money and that
price seems to be a huge sum for me and from the size of the bag (a kind of backpack)
I thought he should have bundles of currency inside. I have no idea still why he took that bag
along with him when the amount could easily slip into his purse. Mom did some puja to the bicycle, which is a
custom here to be carried with any newly bought things and it is a belief that
by doing such prayer the thing will last long and work good. The next day been
a weekend and Saturday, we catch up with the cycle early in the morning and one
of my uncle’s workshop employ, Aarumugam, taught us how to ride the cycle. And
that was the first time I try to pedal a cycle and within an hour I rode it
individual.
Our area in
Adyar is somehow quiet except the office and school time, learning cycle is
easy enough and he (Aarumugam) continue to accompany us through our initial
days of leaning and used to hold back the bicycle wherever we go. Though I
started to ride the cycle without a support in an hour time, I don’t know how
to land and also need someone to hold the bicycle to climb on. At one point he
left the cycle and stayed behind or I rode leaving him and I don’t know how to
land but that moment (with a turn ahead) I went close to a pile of sand (that
unloaded on the roadside for a building construct) and fall/slide over it
slowly along with the cycle so I don’t get hurt. And I followed this idea for some
time until there was a sand pile.
I used to drive
bicycle too slowly as I lack strength to put it fast and I do drive alone
rarely, as I don’t want to risk falling somewhere. So mostly my brother used to
accompany me, at least he follows me not to miss his round. Every evening we used
to go for a round in cycle, apart getting conflict between the numbers of rounds,
I mostly give away as I could not pedal for long. Sometime my brother used to help me pedal
fast by placing his foot on mine, while sharing the seat with me, give his force
upon mine. When driving like this one evening, we unexpectedly fall down and my
front tooth uprooted fully. It was an unforgettable incident happen with my
cycling experience which identity is left in my tooth still.
I came home
with a bleeding mouth bearing the tooth in one hand. My mom was in quite shock
and took me immediately to the dental clinic at the street end, but we had to
wait some time until the dentist arrives half an hour later. We don’t know how
to handle the uprooted tooth, so folded it in a paper and brought to the
dentist. I just remember how we used to bury the milk tooth in mud when it falls;
according to our elders instruction and belief that showing it away the tooth
will not grow. Perhaps because of that my mom would have folded in papers, but
the dentist on arrival reveals that it should have dropped in milk or water to
perhaps to keep alive the roots. The dentist fixed the tooth at its place and
tied it along with the other tooth using a wire and was left to set on its own.
I wasn’t sure getting back my tooth, but glad it decided to grip hold the gums.
Continue...
(I think the
post could extend to another length or I could write more on this front... so
will write in two parts and the other will follow soon or perhaps be next)
