Today, much like any other day I went to bring milk, on my bike. Not mine actually, it’s Papa’s bike. Old but works just good enough to bring groceries from market. That’s what’s its use had been for past 9 years.
This evening, sharp 5 o’clock I left home on our old, cranky, good bike. I always take the longer but effective way. Shortcuts have not given me good experiences lately.
I was few hundred metres away from my home, still in the vicinity of my neighborhood I got a jerk from the bike as if it was coughing or better getting a heartattack. You know I am kidding!! Ostensibly, I assumed the fuel had emptied. You know, I always use the bike for my outdoor purposes but never gets it refueled. However, lately father has been busy so he might not have spare time to be concerned about it. Anyways, I checked the Reserve valve if it was in place or not. To my surprise, it was actually in the reserve direction, which means fuel must have dried up!
I was surprised not shocked given that I was still in my colony. But I gave it another self-start and we went on like a breeze.
On the highway, it was short distance before I had to take a cut into a single way pathway which leads to a nearby village.
Specifics aside, the bike gave-in in the midway.
That was actually a funny situation for me given I have never had such an experience in my life. Getting out of fuel in the midway. Away from both ends of humanity. In between nowhere of farms and trees.
Hmmm, I thought of the the petrol pump, it was nearby, a five hundred to seven hundred metres away. But, Suddenly I remembered something. I forgot to took my wallet!! Actually I never take my wallet anywhere because I don’t really have more than 40 ruppes at any given time.
So, that was not a terrible situation at all. I could have gone back. But I took the risk of moving on and give it another self-start. A few tries and viola! The bike starts again and keep flowing like wind on open street to the village.
I reached to the village. But I had my doubts whether I will make it back or not. It’s looks kind of funny looking from another person’s perspective. But we shall see what were my doubts?
I reached the milker’ home. I gave my sincerest ‘Namaste‘ to the old Amma. The milk was actually milked! Maybe I got late in all of the ups & downs of the journey. I got the milk in my utensil. Said greetings to Amma and turned back to my bike, hopelessly.
I am, actually not-so-quite but yeah an Introvert! Knowing myself how I always skip meeting or talking to strangers or the one’s I don’t really like, I was wondering what if I would ask someone to provide me with oil from their vehicle, obviously, to fill my bike’s tank.
But I took my chances, again. And maybe, just maybe I had a little lady luck with me. After a few tries the bike ignited which was just standing there, cold, having no hope other than me to drag, both ‘it’ and myself the possibly exhausting journey of 2 km.
I went as fast I could because I didn’t want to get standstill on my bike again! So I was running up and down on the uneven, bricky path in between the farms out to the main Street. Spilling milk, out of the utensil, sticking both to bike and my foot, left one!
But I had two options then, either to go straight home or to go to Petrol Pump. I chose the latter. Knowing, even if I made it back to home, anyone, either me or Papa have to go to get it refuled, I took the responsibility here because I was the one running the bike, having it used for my works. So it was my duty to take this matter into my hand. But then, I had no cash then how could I get the fuel?
But one thing you cannot expect a teenager or an adult or any person no matter what age, gender, nation that person is from; to forget his Phone. Obviously, I had to do something amusement while I sit waiting for milk to come from the Amma’s home. So I never forget to take my ‘smartphone’.
Given that we’re now in 2018 and Mr. Modi is our Prime Minister. It is actually quite beneficial to have a smartphone these days. I accelerated my bike at 50 kmph to petrol pump. Trust me, I drive with eyes open.
Then came the final part of this “true” story. First thing, I asked stopping my bike at petrol station, “Do you have PayTm?” We all know that how PayTm is the iPhone of E-payment. So it was both necessary and helpful for me to have a PayTm account. Upon that who can forget the anywhere,anytime ‘4g’ connectivity provide by ‘Jio’. And last but not the least. Mr. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Who would have thought of living and actually being a part of Digital India that this man has brought to us 1 Billion plus countrymen. Naturally, it was a Behemoth work which couldn’t have been done by government alone and required skill and technology of private sector.
I paid my bill with my phone. Not much just a small recharge. I am little choosy in spending money, especially when it’s not mine, per se.
Now, I know many would think that this is just another made-up story or something. You should. Everyone should always have a doubt in his/her mind given the quality or validity of news or content we listen, read or watch these days.
So only to prove my honesty and truthfulness I am providing the screenshot of the payment from my phone.
This is not to be used for private or commercial purposes.
You can take a look at the time and date of the payment. I know anybody would be asking so what? What if you made that story to prove a point that government is doing good or maybe PayTm or Jio payed you. Well! I cannot prove how I can deny those arguments but hey! I am happy because I went through ‘something’ and actually had a service provided to me anytime,anywhere to help me whenever I’m in need. I don’t need to make a point.
The moment I turned back to my home, racing my bike on the highway. I had this thing in my mind to ‘Write-up’ just to express my thoughts into words. I wanted something to write up for my blog for last few days and this seemed like a nice story, better a real one.
So, thanks if anyone reached till here, I hope I didn’t bored you. Have a good life!