FIRST RIDE ON A 2 OR 4 WHEELER - 220

  FIRST RIDE ON A 2 or 4 

              WHEELER      

The First Solo Ride on a TWO OR FOUR WHEELER  , I guess  is no less thrilling than what M/S EDMUND HILLARY AND TENZING NORGAY must have felt on top of Mount Everest on that memorable day of  MAY 29 TH 1953 .

My first ride on a Two Wheeler was , on a borrowed VESPA SCOOTER  from a Friend who for his part  most reluctantly parted company  for a very short time with his prized possession .  This was in the Andheri West Area of  what was then Bombay  and is now Mumbai . The year I am quite sure has to be 1973 which was my first year after College . The ride was from Saki Naka where I worked in a Fibreglass Weaving Unit to the Textile Processing plant of my Sasmira friend MUKULESH near the St Blaise Church at Andheri . 

There was a Four Way Intersection enroute and a Traffic Signal  to manage the heavy Traffic and  crowd . The Traffic signal was on Red when I reached the place .  As luck would have it when the Signals turned Green after the mandated wait ,   the VESPA SCOOTER  inspite of all my efforts and umpteen kicks simply refused to start. As can only be guessed the SAKARAM (cop)  on duty quickly noted my predicament and was fast to realize that  here was a BAKRA ( scapegoat ) just waiting to be fleeced . He knew perfectly well that I had no Driving License nor the papers for the vehicle . A sum of Rs 20 which was no less than a fortune in those days changed hands and I was thankfully let off .

That indeed was a memorable first time ride on  a Two Wheeler Vespa Scooter  . 

My experience of laying my hands on a Four wheeler was no less enthralling . My same  Sasmira Class Mate Mukulesh had a Premier Padmini or a FIAT 1100 , I am not sure of the exact model . I do  remember its Registration Number though  which was MRZ 1319 . Both of us together have been to almost every nook and corner of the sprawling metropolis of Bombay in this car during our 3 year association at SASMIRA. 

Only once did he allow me to try my hand at driving this car .  This  was at the most prized location in Bombay , The Nariman Point in front of the Air India Building and just at the edge of the Backbay Reclamation area abutting the Arabian Sea .

One thing led to another , AB &C of the car were soon forgotten ( Acceleraor , Brake and Clutch) with the result that the car just missed being driven right in to the Arabian Sea . That put paid to any future intention  Mukulesh may have had in letting me drive his car .

50 + Years down the road , I now hold a Driving Licence in both Categories and have covered many a Mile , but nothing will beat the thrill on a 2 wheeler at Saki Naka or on the 4 Wheeler at  The Nariman Point in Bombay .

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