NOW IS THAT TIME

I am still waiting for the right time. The right time to go out and do as it pleases me, spend all the money as I wish to, visit places that has been in my wish list for decades and buy things that I have been contemplating to buy.

In my school days, I couldn’t help thinking that this is not my time to enjoy. Eagerly awaited college to come. Years passed by, college happened. I couldn’t help thinking ‘Let go college, let me have my earning, let me stand up on my feet and be a man. This ain’t my money.’ Again years passed by, I set myself up for a job. I eagerly await my loans and credits to get over. I am still waiting.

When I look into the mirror all I see is a lot of difference in me. I have grown old and tired.

The wait is going to be indefinite, no doubt. But I’m afraid life is not. Life comes with an invisible expiry date. It’s a limited validity offer. I feel this lifetime is not enough to enjoy everything in life. They why not make the best of it from today?

Whenever I hear an excuse from someone to ‘NOT’ do something that makes him/her happy, I really feel sad. Are they going my way? Will they end up regretting later? Why have they forgotten to LIVE?

If you think now is not the time and if you plan to wait just because your mind is not ready, I am sorry to say that you might probably end up waiting all your life. No one has seen what life has for you tomorrow. Also some things are best done at a particular age. For example it wouldn't be particularly wise to skydive or para-glide at 80.

Now is the time to make friends, time to travel the world, time to help others, time to follow your heart. There will be no better time than now. There will be no better time than the time when you are healthy, wealthy, wise and influential. When you take such a decision to follow your heart, every little thing in life would help you to see you succeed. Take that little risk, try it out and do something that you really want to.

Many define success in their own terms. I have a couple of definitions for success too. One of them would be to have memories which bring smile on your lips and tears in your eyes. The thing that you do today is your memory for tomorrow.

Waiting for the right time to join guitar classes, wondering how to get back in shape, can’t wait to skydive, want to learn how to swim? Please don’t wait. Now is the time. Every journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. The most difficult thing in that 1000 mile journey can be that first single step. That single step may require you to leave your comfort zone. Let us get up and kick ourselves out of that comfort zone and let’s start today towards where we want us to be tomorrow.

TODAY IS THAT DAY & NOW IS THAT TIME!!!

AAAHHHH!!! Buddy… IT’s TIME TO MOVE ON…

Again a blast from the past.

I have known these three other guys from my school days. That is from the age of 5. We had our share of fights, enjoyments, hanging outs etc. Before the rise of social media, I had parted from the other three and moved far from them. We had no clue of who was up to what but things changed some years back.

I came back to the city again and whenever we could, we would ensure that all four of us meet and share a great time. Sometimes at the beach, sometimes near our school, sometimes some restaurant or some good place nearby and occasionally it would also be some bar.

One of my friends in the group was in a relationship in between. That is the time when our group was reduced to 3 instead of 4. He would rarely or sometimes not meet us. Less messages and sometimes no messages at all for weeks all together. We used to say,’ Chalo gang mein se ek nikal gaya’ (One member has quit our gang). Still we were happy for him, because he was happy.

The relation lasted 6 months and by then, the lass called it quits.

He was suffering from the usual heart break. We would do our part of visiting him and cracking jokes. He used to have a good laugh and again change of expressions. We allowed him to be alone, but making sure that we were with him all the time.

Out of us 3 friends (excluding the break up guy), me and other friend were single and singing jingles. The third one had a pool of girl friends. (You know what I mean…devilish smile).

When we 3 used to meet each other sometimes after work, we would often have this conversation,

My single friend: See, a girl comes into your life and you are no longer going to be the same guy. This is why I enjoy staying single.

Quoting the incident of the other friend’s heartbreak.

Me: True mate! (Sour grapes)

My playboy friend: Not if you have more than one…devilish smile.

DHHHOOOM…DHHAAAMM…

We singles would kick the other guy for making us jealous and he would run around like a headless chicken. Great fun.

Months passed and the heart broken friend started getting normal. He started hanging around with us. Though not the usual fun, but still our group was cool. In our group, out of the two singles I was more emotionally charged. The other one was practical and not even close to emotions. He was more of a tech savvy guy. The guy with a pool of girlfriends was romantically charged. The fourth guy who became single now was a bit emotional and more of intelligent kind.

Now henceforth, the incident revolves around me and the guy who suffered a break up.

I was free one of these days, and I got a text from this guy. He was on leave from office and bored. He asked if we could meet up. The other 2 were busy with some engagements.

I texted him back saying I was ever ready.

Now is the time for some truth.

We planned to meet up at the beach, it was fun to sea water splashing over the rocks and we as a group used to witness the beautiful sunset from this point. I met him there later, in the evening.

Me: How’s you mate?

Him: I’m good. Alone is better. No messages, no problems of hanging around with friends late night, no late night calls ….bla…bla… black sheep……

Already knowing what I indirectly asked.

Me: You were the most intelligent among us. It surprises me that you didn’t know that you would want to go through all these. If you say alone is better, then why waste time, energy and money on something that you never wanted. So this is what you wanted? Freedom, Right?

I am definitely going behind him. Digging up facts and knowing the psychological side of a person has always interested me.

Him: I almost went down the line and got married. Now I always say that it’s better alone and it’s just a fine mask. My world pretty much revolved around that relationship. From morning greets to the night byes.

Me: Bro, What now? How do you feel? You know you can always share and if there is anything that can be done, let’s do that.

Him: In the early days, space looked really void. I desperately tried to get back or at least get someone to fill in the emptiness.

I interrupt him again, ‘So you want to get back again or launch a hunt for a new one …hehe’

Him: No, not exactly.

I am confused. This conversation isn't going anywhere, looks like that. I look at him pathetically.

Today the water splashing on the huge boulders were less. We moved to one of those huge boulders. I sit down on one of them, while he stands on the other and picking up small stones and throwing them into the deep sea. I feel like I am also a part of those culturally and emotionally rich regional movies where the hero takes ages to speak up.

I draw his attention by asking him,’ So? What exactly?’

Him: You won’t understand. As of now it won’t work with any other girl. You ask me why I don’t know why. But one thing I know for sure is that I never ever want to see her again, forget about getting back. I wish she never existed. Don’t want to see her in this life, neither in the next nor the one after that.

He is serious and I don’t dare to crack a joke. Who would want to drown in salt water and have a date with the fate?

I get the answer for my psychological quest. I understand that he is wounded deep inside. 

I just sit there thinking to myself, while my emotionally high friend is still throwing pebbles into the deep sea.

I get up from my place after a while, and tell him,

It’s getting dark and I am starving. We have this new burger place open while you were away. Let’s go and have some burger.

Him: Cool.

Me: This place has a hot waitress and you might want to re-think on your words.

He giggles and ‘You sick Bastard!!!’ 

There is laughs all the way as we keep bitching about life and I whole heartedly pray that he gets well and feels better soon.

A STORY OF BULLET, THUMP's and ME !!! - The Reprise

Please go ahead reading the first part of the incident (mentioned as a separate post below). This is the continuation.

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My Heart Beats THUMP …THUMP…THUMP!!! – Lighten up Holy cow:(


The moment I start driving my style, I reach home without hassles and issues in less than an hour. Again, I never took the Bullet above 70 kmph at any point.

I am home and its been two days. I haven't taken bullet out as I might have taken the other bikes. I don't do any R 'n' D s on the bike, no photo shoots.

TRING ... TRING !!!

Phone rings.

My mother does the honor of picking up the call. It's my uncle and most probably his query would have been about me.

She cries out in happiness, " He is here. Hasn't gone anywhere on the bike in the last days." Happiness oozing out of every word. She is happy to have me near her sight, where I would be rather safe.

I walk out of my house to find the Bullet parked in the parking space. The Bullet stood a legend, challenging me on what I probably boasted the most- My 'gone into drain' riding skills. I let the Bullet win here, put my head straight back down and get back to my laptop.

These happens in the morning, Late in the afternoon I can see my uncle standing on the door steps.

Oh... That's a great surprise. Please don't tell me that he is here to take back the bike. That would be the greatest defeat of my lifetime.

No. He wouldn't do that. I have known him all my life. No...No way!

I greet him,

'How's everything?' He asks.

'The motorbike's fine. Not a single scratch. Just the right foot peg bent a little.' I answer to ensure that he doesn't take away the bike.

'I never asked you about the bike. I could probably pay another 100,000 rupees and get another one.'

Clearly he was more bothered about me. I knew that even before I answered. He was one of the coolest person I have ever known. The reason why I called him when I scratched that car was also this. Being a petrol head, I could only think of the bike first, before me. It's always been like that, and will always be so.

My mother comes into the scene, serves tea. She was happy to see her elder brother. She always had a great amount of affection for him and his family, as she had for me and my younger sister.

While the tea session, he drops an atom bomb. He mentions that those people call him up and they were quoting 8500 rupees to get the door panel done.

Not again... I should have listened to the elders and sat quietly at home (again, what a thought! Occurs whenever I screw up). No one to ask, beg or borrow. Neither would anyone pay up.

Asking dad would have resulted in, me having three Adam's apple. To hell, I am not asking him. Definitely not! It was my mess and I needed to sort it out.

My uncle suggested that, he and my dad have a look at the door panel and I stay back. They go and view the depth and width of the kisses that the Bullet has given. Fair deal. I encourage that thought.

As he was about to leave, he comes close to me, whispers in my ear, 'Ride the god damn bike!' and he smiles. I understand what he meant and I see him leaving.

Next day....


Dup..Dup..Dup.......Again Dup...Dup..Dup..Duuuu.....

I again follow the mantra. The third time, Dup...Dup...Dup...Thump...Thump..

Aww, What a feeling! The Bullet has started thumping again. I go out on a 60 kilometer ride. Not so cool. I was too conscious.

I am not giving up. Period!

I plan to do the country/Village roads. Plenty of deserted village roads nearby. Scenic short drives would be a treat to my eyes and also would make my ride-longing soul happy.

So I start all over again, the loud thumps waking up the lonely, deserted roads and


I ride again....

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My Heart Beats THUMP …THUMP…THUMP!!! – Finally JOY :)

Days passed, weeks passed. I drove the Bullet along the village roads.

Now the Bullet was no more a legend or a raging bull or something fierce, it was now my best buddy. Someone whom I take along to any place that I go.

It became an extension of my body, pretty much like any ordinary or sports bike. My eyes would dictate and the Bullet would follow the path.

I would take it down to the beautiful, lonely alley nearby or to the evening market in my village, to the challenging city traffic or the long stretch of highways.

Most enjoyable of the rides came when I used to take it to the night to the nearby Cinema halls. May it be the lads with a skinny sports motorbike or a middle aged man with an under powered car, the Bullet would get its due respect. The return was even more thrilling. I would be relaxed, couple of fingers of the right hand doing the job of holding the throttle to keep the bike in motion, the left hand relaxing on my left knees, face shield of my helmet open to let the cold air have a go at my face, couple of buttons of my shirt left open so that air touches my body and forms bubbles in my shirt at the back and I would sit relaxed void of tensions and stresses that the world has to offer. That is the time when I know that, I am living my life.

I have so got adapted to the bullet that my heart starts beating to the tone of bullet's exhaust note. The rhythm that is loud and heavy enough to wake a small kid up sleeping peacefully in the house, scary enough to give a heart attack to a robber trying to sneak in through a locked gate, good enough to wake the lonely sleeping alley, sweet enough to pierce through my ears and reach my heart, melodic enough to set a rhythm good enough for my beating heart.

Yes, My heart has beat-ed to the thumps and I have experienced the pleasure beyond imagination. That was then and my life has moved on.

When I look back, I feel like my heart misses beating to the thumps and I sure miss living my life like a Royal on the ROYAL ENFIELD.

(some parting shots...)

THE END...

Hope you all liked my write up. Thanks for reading.