[Sam Kapasi]

Hello all,

Here's another story from the past. A pair of them actually. The reason I choose to make this a double is because the second story was related to the first. Anyways, this one is for you to enjoy!

Here we go!

[Sam Kapasi]

I have my trusty black RX100 (You can read a little more about the bike here) and Whacko has a blue KB 100. We are the kings of the world and all we survey. Dwayne is not yet my BIL. 3 boys, fairly inseparable. We’re doing our thing, drinking at Bandstand. Well, Dwayne doesn’t drink. Whacko does. I do. A lot.

Crap. It’s Myra’s Birthday tomorrow.
Mm Hmmm. Just pass me the Thums Up.
I completely forgot, it’s her Birthday!
Mmm yeah? Drinking sound. So?
I need to send her flowers. No I need to give her flowers myself!
OK..
You boys wanna go to Poona?
Tomorrow?
Yeah.
How?
Bikes.
Mmm. OK.

Dwayne has no bike. He has recently bought a Maruti 800. He likes bike rides.

I don’t have a helmet says Dwayne dryly.
Let’s get you one.

A few hours later we’ve got this really silly old helmet with no visor and no straps.
Here.
He’s staring at this helmet like it’s from outer space.
What?
My face will get all dirty.
Put a plastic bag on. Giggle.

Let’s go fill petrol.
I don’t have money.
Neither do I.
Let me get some from my Dad. But don’t tell him we’re going to Pune.

Monday morning.
It’s 5.30am. We’re really excited. The plan is go to Pune, somehow find Myra (remember, mobile phones were uncommon then) and give her flowers. Return. We leave. Whacko’s gunning the blue KB100. Clip-On handles and a funny fake Kerker exhaust.
My RX is completely stock. Small problem with the oil mixture, it’s a little smoky, but white.

Dwayne is pissed off.

Earlier he tried wearing a plastic bag as a balaclava. It didn’t work. Since the holes were not getting aligned, I suggested wearing the plastic bag, then the helmet and then I would make the holes. He put a blue plastic shopping bag over his head and quickly put the helmet on. I then poked into the visor area with my finger. He almost lost an eye in the process. Whacko and I are laughing so hard we have had to run to the toilet.

We leave at 6am.

Dwayne is still pissed off. The helmet is too large for him and has no strap. No visor. It looks funny, but he’s wearing it doggedly.

Trucks are on strike today. Something about the price of diesel being raised to 12 rupees or something. The Pune road is completely empty. Of course the expressway does not exist. We’re the kings of the road. Monday morning, no trucks, no jams and 2 100cc bikes ripping down the road.
4th gear, full throttle, don’t leave the accelerator. That’s the idea. Dwayne and Whacko are on the KB. I’m alone on the RX.

We’re doing about 100kmph. A bus whooshes past us. We’re wobbling and moving with the air flow. Dwayne is swearing under his helmet. Life is beautiful.
We cross Ramakant restaurant and it is time to climb the ghats. I’m ahead and I’m going as smooth and fast as I can. I’m climbing and turning and twisting and smiling.

20 minutes later, I realize that I am alone.

I stop, turn around and wait. Nothing. I take my helmet off and strain to hear the sounds of an approaching KB 100. Nada.
It’s about 7.00 am now. We’ve made great time on the way here. I’ve never reached here so quick before. There is a lot of fog and I cannot see much.

Where the hell are these guys??

[Cyrus43]

Dead i presume?? you have a nasty habit sammyboy!!!

Ohh btw, do you have an evil twin?? who is currently in pune?? Coz i sighted a yeti there yesterday

[arpandiv]

engine seize post khopoli ?
they still at ramakant eating batata-wada ?

[Sam Kapasi]

I’ve started riding downwards, gingerly. I’m worried, I don’t see them, I don’t hear them. My Studds helmet allows no sound to get inside so I cannot hear them even if they do come.
I’m going down slowly in the fog. My heart is beating loudly, I’m hoping nothing has happened.
I reach the steepest part of the climb.
Suddenly I hear a loud sound. I stop.

WHAAA pause WHAAAA pause WHAAAAA pause.

The fog breaks. I see Whacko in a black helmet. He has to accelerate, release the clutch and the bike climbs for a bit. Then he repeats the cycle. I figure his bikes in bad shape. I know KB’s don’t climb well but this is ridiculous.
I wave him down and he stops. We take our helmets off.

Arrey this stupid KB, it just wasn’t climbing up the stupid road. Stupid bike. Lots of swearing.
Mmmm.
What?
Where’s Dwayne?

The fog breaks again. Dwayne is hustling up the road, jogging and his helmet is bobbing from side to side in the most atrocious way. Even through the helmet we can hear him panting and swearing.

He is quite pissed. It is not a good time to laugh.

This idiot and his bloody bike. What the hell!!

We sit for 5 mins. Whacko and I smoke. Dwayne doesn’t smoke. He is fuming though.
We take off again. This time Dwayne’s on my bike.

Everything is empty. No cars on a Monday morning. No trucks as they’re on strike. The odd milkvan and bus are on the road. It’s fantastic!

8.30am. We’ve reached Poona. Fantastic! I get to a payphone and call Myra’s home. She’s getting ready to leave for college.
We decide to meet at Aurora Towers. I don’t have the money for a coffee and she is late for college.
We stop at a florist and I buy a small bunch of flowers. I need the rest of the money for breakfast with the guys.

Myra wasn’t expecting me to be in Pune. When she sees the flowers she is overjoyed. We chat happily for a few minutes and then she’s gone. Mission accomplished.

We stop at Café Naaz for some chai and bun maska and it’s time to head back.

Dwayne is back again on Whacko’s KB. We’re on our way back. We want to make it back faster than the way there. We’re soon just a little outside Pune. Both of us are gunning the throttle as far as it will go and mock staring at each other.
All three of us are staring at each other sideways and the throttle is all open. Most bikers here will understand what I mean by staring.

We’re grinning like idiots.

Suddenly, a few kilometers after Dehu Road the road banks sharply to the left. We have realized too late. The bikes are hurtling straight. Whacko is on the inner side and he simply cannot make the turn. I could have possibly made the turn but it would be really dangerous and I might have hit him too.

WHAAA BANG CRASH We’re both flying off the road and into some paddy field. It’s the shortest and bumpiest ride of our lives. BANG BANG OUCH SLUSHHHHH stop.
The silence is only broken by the sound of birds flying and the crows cawing. And then one can hear Dwayne groaning and cursing.

Oh you blind idiots I think my back is screwed.

He’s really pissed off now.




To be continued

[Cyrus43]

I am sure that "Dwayne" will be fuming again when he reads this. Also, you didnt answer my question!!

[Sam Kapasi]

I do have a cousin in Pune. But he doesn't look like me. He's a firang.

[Cyrus43]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I do have a cousin in Pune. But he doesn't look like me. He's a firang.

Is he french?? Pune Central which is this new mall in pune is having this FRENCH CONNECTION festival and there are these shows there at 6 in the evening or something. One of the troupe members looks like you! I think a friend has taken a few photos.

[ramie2400]

so what happened to dwayne??did he actually broke his back thats some real Guts you guys.

[nitrous]

Originally Posted by Cyrus43

Is he french?? Pune Central which is this new mall in pune is having this FRENCH CONNECTION festival and there are these shows there at 6 in the evening or something. One of the troupe members looks like you! I think a friend has taken a few photos.

Lol.Sam is into theatre!
Can we get videos please?

[srijit]

he he he.... I loved the sound of silence with intermittant Dwayne cursing. Poor guy, it just wasnt his day.
Please carry on Master Yeti.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Well, Dwayne doesn’t drink.

Dwayne does not smoke, Dwayne does not drink, Now what exactly bought you 2 together! :-) Just kidding.

[phamilyman]

Gwan man... Wonderful. And where's second story?!?!

[Cyrus43]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Gwan man... Wonderful. And where's second story?!?!

arre what second story?? Let him finish the first one atleast!!!

[tifosikrishna]

Guy wearing a plastic cover and you trying to make hole was really funny. Imagine a guy wearing an oversize helmet with a plastic bag underneath to cover his face.....ROFLMAO...