Thursday, August 03, 2006

Ride and prejudice

When I was three, Dad did not have a car. He used to transport us - Mom, sis and me - around on a giant black motorcycle. I don't even know which brand it was. Whatever was "the family motorcycle" in the early eighties I suppose. You can't even call those things 'motorbikes'. Nothing less than 'motorcycle' would do.

My Mom and sis would sit on the back seat, and I would be perched in front (was that the petrol tank?) Dad was the only one with the helmet, the rest of us would be bindaas helmet-less. And I loved it. I would wish for days when Mom and Sis did not accompany us. I would get to sit on the back seat and be ferried all over town, going 'WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE'. :D

For someone who was freaked out by rollercoasters, this was my personal (and very safe, if I may add) roller-coaster ride in the gentle and trusted hands of none but Dad.

After Dad got his car, the motorcycle rides became history. Once in a while I'd remember them and get all nostalgic. I would watch the Bollywood hunks on their sexy black bikes and ooh-aah about them for days. Anyone remember Sunny Deol in shades cruising along on that black bike in Jeet? Of course he spoilt it all later by doing the 'Yara-o-yara-I-can't-start-my-scooter' dance with Karishma Kapoor in clown pants. But as far as I was concerned, men on bikes were still hot.

Then I came to Singapore and heard/read about the perils of motorbike riding. My own classmate in university and his pillion rider were seriously injured when his bike skidded on a rainy night. He was hospitalised and missed an exam. One of my juniors had a bike accident on the highway. As time passed, I became more and more prejudiced against bikes.

Recently, my temp flatmate mentioned that he wanted to get a bike. He changed his mind later. The fact that I'd said, "Bikes are dangerous dangerous things! If you buy one, I will not let you into the house." had nothing to do with it.


It's true. In Singapore, motorbikes are probably the most dangerous vehicles to be on. Like a friend of mine and I joked, "Riding a bike in Singapore is dangerous. The roads are too smooth. At least in India, the dirt on the roads provides the friction."

I'd resolved to myself - I'm never getting on one of those things again! Bikes are dangerous! Dangerous!

So coupla weeks ago, I faced quite a dilemma when I met a friend for dinner and he offered to drop me home on his bike. Now as a rule, I refuse to sit in vehicles that do not balance by themselves. But to be out on a fast bike on the Singapore highway at night sounded like a thrilling and fabulous offer.

"Really??" I asked him when he said "I'll drop you home?"
I think I had the exact same expression that I had when my Marketing Manager told me he wants to send me to Pakistan. Utter fear mixed with utter excitement.


I'd even forgotten how to sit on a bike, and I had to ask him where I was supposed to place my feet. I held on to him for dear life as his bike zoomed on the highway. In my head I was going 'WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE' all over again!!!! :D

We reached my place, I got off and removed my helmet. If this were a movie, I'd have done a post-helmet-removal-hair-shake-routine a la Rani Mukherjee in Ghulam. He asked me if I was okay. I told him I was. In fact, I was more than okay. I was very thrilled. My feet were still vibrating to the tune of the bike's engine, and they continued to do so for the next half an hour.

So a few days ago, I was excitedly relating my bike adventure to a friend.

She - "You were on a bike??" *shocked expression*


Me - "Yeah!" *proud expression*

She - "On the highway??" *shocked expression*

Me - "Yeah!" *proud expression*

She - "Do you know how dangerous that is?? Do you know that pillion riders are the first to die??"

It was at this point in time that we traded expressions.

Now this particular friend of mine is my 'Sayesha's guide to Singapore'. (Yes yes, in spite of my 8 years here, anything she says about Singapore is my paththar ki lakeer.) She was right. No matter how careful a motorist you are, one small mistake by another person can cost you your life.

Errrmm... I'm so glad I didn't die that night.

Okay, that's it. I'm never getting on one of those things again! Bikes are dangerous! Dangerous!

Except maybe when they're on the highway at night?

Then they are just... WHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! :D



50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your blog is Nice TP.
Keep writing!

Anonymous said...

I AM SECOND!! **rubbing my eyes**
SECOND...HURRRRRRRRRRRRAYYYYYYYYYYYY :D:D
sakhi.

Anonymous said...

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE> :D :D Bikes are really exciting..lekin be careful sayesha :)
aakhir jaan hai toh jahan hai!
take care **proudly displays silver and bronze medals**
sakhi

oxymoron said...

sorry, an athelete cant come second and third!
so the bronze is taken by me!
thnk u!
oye sakhi, scoop it out!
meanwhile i read!

oxymoron said...

i always wanted to get a bike in SG! would be amazing on the PIE!
some day, i shall be WHEEEEEEing arnd on one those!
hopefully with a pretty pillion rider :D:D:D

Sirius Black said...

Bike is alwayz fun man.
nd talkin about safety its all in the hands of your driver :D
so keep wheeeeeeeeein lolz :)

Thanu said...

Shekar and I are regular bikers...

It is a lot more safer to ride during the day than nite ad other drivers cannot see you at nite.

Bikes are so much fun.... but donot get on with the right gear.

P said...

Am one of thooose boring ppl who are paranoid of getting on bikes..sucks I know..
Maybe now I'l be inspired..remains to be seen..

Anusha said...

Bikes are Teh Sexy, man. Especially all black ones. *swoon* I'd LOVE to get a ride on one someday. :D

Speaking of bikes, I don't understand this ridiculous thing people have against helmets. I mean, I know of friends who don't wear it because it looks bad. The hell? I think helmets are sexy - they can make even the most average looking person look cool. Especially those nice black ones (helmets, I mean).

Yep, I have a black fetish. Black=sexy! w00t! :D

Unknown said...

Missed it again Sash :(
At least in the first 10 :)

Off to read the post now...

Take care,
Aarti

Unknown said...

Bikes!!!
ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
I soooooo louuuu them Sash :)

I remember the first time I took a bike out with my younger bro, w/o telling my parents!! I rode the bike and yups you heard it right, I love to ride a bike :D

In fact, sitting behind on a bike sounds much more scary than swaying the bike in air at 100 kmpl, coz the steering is in your hands :)

Pulsar, Enticer, Eliminator and obvio, Hayabusa.....
I drool over them :)

Now you please not to be thinking how girl I became.. pleeeease :P

Take care,
Aarti

Unknown said...

Btw.. Forgot to mention, I was very seriously reading your post when your para of 'your-threat-had-nothing-to-do-with-your-flatmate's-decision' made me laugh like hell :P

And your last para, your friend's talk, patthar ki lakeer... Thats sooooo cute :)

Nice one. Damnnn, How I wanna ride a bike now!!! I don't even mind sitting behind some1 ;)

Take care,
Aarti

rads said...

haha sayesha. That was a nice short read. I love bikes, and I think I can totally relate to your experience.

don't be a scared chicken, get on that thing and ride! :-))

Sakshi said...

Bhai is not afraid, right Sayesha. Now you are going to go and but a bike, right?
I have driven a bike for almost 8 years of my life. But the first thing my parents warned when I was looking into buying a vehicle in US was no bikes under any circumstances. Sigh.. to be back home and drive once again on highways, with wind in your hair. Oh the freedom and the joy!

R said...

Just last night, I drove at OH-MAN kinda speed....my Dad's car. PURE BLISS!

My Dad has just never been interested in spending on me...So...err, no bike! :|

Anu Sharma said...

right, sitting at pillion seat is really a thrilling experience.i keep humming ram-ram wen im wid my bro. I don’t know y I get scared even at 40kmph speed if im at pillion n not at 70kmph wen im riding.btw I guess in jeans u don’t sit putting both legs at one side like aunties ,it really looks so funny. :p n hey did u notice finally im at ur comment place…hamara aalishaan swagat kiya jaye bhai …oops I mean bahan !!

qsg said...

I have always been mortified and awed by motorcycles. I have it on my list of things to do before I die - the only two wheeler I have ever sat on has been my bicyle and I was riding it myself! Except a brief mobike ride, which doesnt really qualify! :) It was going at bicycle speed because I was freaking out, and the driver was extremely sensitive to my paranoia...! ;)

Unknown said...

I used to be expert pillion rider. :) There's an art to that too, y'know. ;) I am actually scared while driving here, and I see those bikers whizz past and weave through on the freeway. that freaks me out.

Anonymous said...

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

arey movie-soovie ho naa ho, woh rani mukherji wala take toh aapko de hee dena chahiye tha!!

i am off now!!

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Harsha said...

Are yaar.... Bike riding is so awesome. Been on lots of long rides (although I dont drive bikes, coz I dunno how to drive bikes and shamed abt it)

Marne ke dar se jeena kaise chodd de!!!!*is that from Kal Ho na Ho???? or an original?*
Just need to be responsible I guess thats all

Anonymous said...

Hey, good post! Keep writing!

Anonymous said...

>> Do you know how dangerous that >> is?? Do you know that pillion >> riders are the first to die??

You mean the mean biker guy didn't warn you about this before you got on ?!? :O

Hmmmmm...understandable I guess... as a general rule, when fluffy bunnys are about to lose their inhibitions in any way and throw caution to the wind, the big bad wolves don't want to be reminding them of "logical" topics like perils and dangers (...or values or traditions) or any of that other nonsense. I know I would have done the same! ;)

Cheers
Kais

Apy said...

I luuhhvvv bikes.. Apy had a bike (CBZ) in India.. bro used to call her Bhabhi coz of the love i expressed towards her... Now I miss her... I hope he s taking good care of her....
Noice Post BTW....hehe

Nirwa Mehta said...

I Loved first Anon's comment.. I wish I had similar comments on my blog, "blog is TP".. hmm.. what does tht mean? :O

Anyway.. You wont believe if i tell you i went for my first ever bike ride few days back, on the highway and OH MY GOD!! It was so much funnnn!! Before that I had been petrified of bikerides, now I can't wait for my another bike ride! :D :D :D

I've bribed my cousin to teach me how to ride one.. :D

Lets see if he keeps his promise, otherwise, i'll sing to him, 'bhaiya mere... rakhi ke bandhan ko nibhanaa.... " :P :P :P

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Ekta said...

haha!
I soo relate to the WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE feeling on the bike!!
I personally love and even prefer bikes to cars!!!
The thrill of riding open hair is just different from anything else!...love the feeling...a feeling of exhiliration and freedom!

Neihal said...

fun post...butI like the title just as much... "Ride and prejudice"
I think riding a bike at night, on Indian highway should be fun....thanks to the govt they are much better than the roads in the city....again thanks to the govt....we do not have to bother about roads being too smooth.

dearbharat said...

Somehow your post did not grip me today. I got distracted a couple of times and did not read it from start to finish at one shot. As many put it, I do not think your posts are TP. It reflects a lot about a nice person who has an eye for detail.

I do not think that one should really worry about risks involved. Risks are everywhere. I some how weigh positives more than negatives. Why dont u learn to ride bikes urself and have control. I never like being a pillion rider because I like to keep control with me.

Inder said...

pillion riding is scary, particularly when you don't trust the rider's skills. i prefer riding motorbike myself - at 40kmph all the way. it has been so long since i rode on a motorbike... may be, i get a chance when i go back to india. my bro has got a pulsar recently :)
the bikers over here wear proper costume while riding motorbike - helmet, tight-fitting one piece suit, gloves, knee-length shoes. and they ride really fast. and then there are those cool, jean and leather jacket clad, long haired, heavily tattooed bikers on the huge long handled motorbikes...

by the way, does TP mean time pass???

Sayesha said...

#Anon,
Thanks :)

#Sakhi,
Congrats! :D

//lekin be careful sayesha :)

Hehehe... as pillion rider, there's only so much I can do :P

#Oxymoron,
Hahaha! You batch (TIGs?) doesn't have any bikers eh? The CHIGs are going all out on bikes! :O

//hopefully with a pretty pillion rider :D:D:D

Hehehe... Ishwar tumhari manokaamna poori karey :)

#Sirius,
Yeah man! WHEEEEEEeeeee! :D

#Thanu,
Riding a bike? Me??? Hahahaha! Nevaarrrr! :P

#Perspective,
Hahaha! Maybe just one trip. With someone you trust! :P

#Clueless,
//I mean, I know of friends who don't wear it because it looks bad.

I think they mean it looks bad after you take it off, cos your hair's all messed up and stuff :P

//Yep, I have a black fetish. Black=sexy! w00t! :D

Me too! :D

#Aarti,
Hahaha! That sounds like fun! :D

#Rads,
Ride? Here in Singapore??? No way!! Pillion at most! Unless it's India! :P

#Sakshi,
//with wind in your hair

Ah the joys of having short hair :)

#Rohit,
Car mein? Akele ghoom aaye?? :/

#Anu,
Aha! Finally aapke darshan yahan hue! Grrrrand welcome to the bar!! :)

//I guess in jeans u don’t sit putting both legs at one side like aunties ,it really looks so funny.

Hahaha! Yahan you can't do that even in a skirt! COG is crucial on the crazy highway. :)

#Gemini,
//the only two wheeler I have ever sat on has been my bicyle and I was riding it myself!

Hahahaha! That reminds me, I rode two 3-wheelers in my life, my tricycle and a rickshaw :D

#Ipanema Gal,
//I used to be expert pillion rider. :) There's an art to that too, y'know. ;)

I know I know. Been there, done that. Gotta not freak the guy in front out! Gotta stay calm. Sheesh.

#Satish,
Arre Rake Mukherjee ke take liye Rani mukherjee jaise baal bhi chahiye! :/

#Harsha,
You can be responsible but how can you ensure others are? :P But of course, marne ke darr se jeena nahin chhodna chahiye, bas taxi lena chahiye :D

#Soums,
First time here? Welcome! :) And thanks for commenting :)

#Kais,
Yeah man! No warning. He just said it so casually that before I knew it, I was on his bike on the zooming highway! :O Neva gonna happen again! :D

#Apy,
Hope Bhabhi is fine! :)

#Fishy,
10-12 hour bike rides??? :O :O :O

#Nirwa,
//"blog is TP".. hmm.. what does tht mean? :O

I take it as a compliment :D

//OH MY GOD!! It was so much funnnn!!

My thoughts exactly! :D

#Ekta,
//The thrill of riding open hair is just different from anything else!.

Yeah! It's all in the hair! :D

#Neihal,
Hahaha! Thanks! :)

#Bhaarat,
I guess some things grip us more than the others :)

And oh, interesting that you should mention the word 'grip' on a post on bikes! See, the post did grip you in some way! ;)

//Why dont u learn to ride bikes urself and have control.

In Singapore??? HAHAHAHAHA! :D

//I never like being a pillion rider because I like to keep control with me.

I do that with kayaking. When I kayak, I like to be in front. :)

#Inder,
You talking about the Harleys? Yeah, they look cool, in a scary kinda way! :P
ps: Yes, TP is Time Pass. :)

Sid said...

Hey,
You were sitting on the Bike's fuel tank.
It's safer to ride bikes in India cos the max you can touch in the city here is like 80 or 90.And yeah the friction part too helps!!!
Wheeeeeeee....really nice thought.

oxymoron said...

//Hahaha! You batch (TIGs?) doesn't have any bikers eh? The CHIGs are going all out on bikes! :O

is that so! coming soon then, on a highway near u - tig biker! watch out!
zoooooooooooooooooooom!
or
dhooooooooooooooooooom!
watever!

Preethi said...

Yaar.. main bhi ek dum aise hi soch ti thi, till the time I saw S on his bike... and till the time I sat on it.. now to, I am dead against us buying a car.. :)
So why did u stop ur temp room mate from buying the bike.. it would've been fun na.. :)?

Dev said...

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I love my bike!!! :D
The first thing my parents told me when buying the bike was 'NO taking it to college'. The college is 16 kms from home, on one of the most dangerous stretch of highways. :P And off I was to college the next day.
Did it for four years without them knowing. Must be a record. ;)

I love taking long rides on my bike... usually when Im upset. Calms me down. :) Ask our Harley dada, it's generally after a fight with her ;). Once she called me to ask where I was.. and I was 40 kms away. LOL! So funny when I remember it now. :):):)

How do we know said...

Just go na!!! Bhai log marne se kahaan darte hain?

Sudeep said...

Bikes are fun.. within the speed limit
poor s'pore doesnt have highway speed limits.. tch tch tch :D

ROFL @ he spoilt it all later by doing the 'Yara-o-yara-I-can't-start-my-scooter' dance

did tht frnd later climb up in ur flat a la Aamir? :)

Sreejith said...

awesome. loved the WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE part!

Iday said...

Aah - bikes...
Wroooming around mine is one of the best things i do these days :D
Wonderful machines man.

Scary yeah - but thrilling!!!

R said...

To...aapko saath le chalta? :-/

Koi tha hi nahi...I decided I am not going to pester people who are too busy with the people they are dating X-(

Anonymous said...

The only way I can imagine a bike ride to be fun doesn't involve a bike, but a scooter. In a very small town. Very far away from a metropolis. Somewhere in Malaysia. About 20 years ago. With my grandpa in control. Then, whee!

You, ma cherie, are a WHEE addict!

Shekhar said...

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE A BIKE !!!!!!!!

Anusha said...

//I think they mean it looks bad after you take it off, cos your hair's all messed up and stuff :P

Gah! Men. Worried about hair and stuff. Makes me want to grab them by the collar, shake them and say, "Be a MAN!" Do you get the feeling the whole world's becoming too concerned about looks? :P

Anonymous said...

Hi Sayesha!
I'm a long time reader of your blog, but I can't read a word of hindi. But I love reading your blog and feel like I've missed out on half the meaning of your posts when you do write in another language >.<
Are there any suggestions you'd give of sites to translate the few phrases that you write? I've consulted with an Indian friend of mine, but that's only on the rare off chance that I get a hold of her, and demand she translate.. lol
Thanks a bunch :)

Sayesha said...

#SID,
Haha! Yeah fuel tank! Dangerous 'seat' huh? :O

#Oxymoron,
//is that so! coming soon then, on a highway near u - tig biker! watch out!

You forgot the 'Run for your life!' part of it! ;)

#Smiling Girl,
//So why did u stop ur temp room mate from buying the bike.. it would've been fun na.. :)?

Haan haan, kyun nahin? Sayesha toh baithi hai na yahan par roz roz usko hospital lekar jaane ke waaste! :|

#Dev,
Hahaha! Trying to imagine our Harley Dada on a bike with you as the pillion rider! :D

#Sudeep,
Hahahaha! No, he didn't! (Phew?)

#Sreejith,
Thanks :)

#Iday,
:D

#Rohit,
Oye doosron ka gussa apun par nahin utaarne ka, kya? Warna ghumaake dega apun tujhe kaan ke neeche! :/


#Starbreez,
Whoa! That sounds like fun! Malaysia is THE place, man! :)

//You, ma cherie, are a WHEE addict!

Naah, am over it now. I think. :P

#Shekhar,
Toh seekho na! Mere blog par capital letters mein chillane se seekh jaoge kya? :D

#Clueless,
Haha! True... but I'd be more worried about a guy who doesn't care AT ALL how he looks like. You know who I am talking about! :|

#Cindy,
Hey, welcome to Sayeshaz! You finally got yourself to comment, eh? :)

I doubt if there are sites that can translate the kind of roadside hindi I use :P Usually I include a translation in brackets, but sometimes it just takes the fun away. You could always ask me in the comments space what it means :)

Let me make this post easier for you:

bindaas = carefree
paththar ki lakeer = cast in stone (means roughly that)

Abhishek Upadhyay said...

I am too terrified with bikes.My dad always tells purchase one so that I can drop him whenever theres need...but I never learned how to ride it and I will never learn......
Walking is thousand times better

dharmu said...

talk about bikes and my heart goes "hmmm". maybe nothing rocks more than a speeding ride on a bike in the night, weeeeeee.

i had a small accident last year on my saffire, and more than my leg i was concerned if my dear saffy had any scratches.

i almost stopped driving car afterwards but went to all my PT sessions on my saffy.

i love bikes and i terribly miss freaking with it in SD. hoping ot come home soon and blackmailing 'someone' on getting a thunderbird so that i get to ride it.

Sayesha said...

#Abhi,
I love walking too! :D

#Dharmu,
Mast re... you make me jealousssss yaar! Tere Saffy and Thundu ki jai ho! :D

Girl next door said...

I've been thinking about how dangerous motorcycles are lately after watching a lot of daring riders on the freeways or neighborhood roads whizzing by. For the record, I've gotten a ride only once (it was dangerously exciting!) and don't think I'll have the courage to do it again. On the other hand, I have an ongoing obsession with scooters, esp. Vespas. I really want one to ride to my neighborhood shops and market. They're so cute!

Sayesha said...

#Girl next door,
Yeah, looking at motor cycles whizzing past is scarier than being on one! :P

Bivas said...

'Yara-o-yara-I-can't-start-my-scooter' dance...
The fact that I'd said, "Bikes are dangerous dangerous things! If you buy one, I will not let you into the house."
The roads are too smooth. At least in India, the dirt on the roads provides the friction...

n i guess i am laughing wheeheeheehee :D Simply Hilarious...still LOL :))

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