Just Another Ride, but far better

00.40 | 9th Oct 2020 

I wouldn't start like I entered here after decades. I think I have been here since the last time I wrote. It's just you couldn't read what I wanted write and I couldn't write what I wanted to. So here I am, sharing another piece of my blog.

These days I have been spending quite a lot time with my friend "someone". He doesn't live here now, although he used to. So, we have been studying together at his place since last week as I have realised I have final exams coming up in few months and I am lagging far too behind. During these vacations, he is here in his home. And we have shared many a cool moments together now and before, and in some moments, where he wasn't with us, I wanted him to be.

Anyways, he is cool. We are cool. We study and revise things and now I find studying quite interesting. I have been trying though. I have not been  using social media like I used to when I started this blog. Today, after the organic chemistry discussion, he suggested to go out with him. Even though I wanted to go, I really wanted to, I was in dilemma if I should go for it. To be honest, I was a bit lazy to get ready for this outing and I wanted to pass. But something kept me up on this plan and after confirming that there was no zoom meetings at 7pm, I called him to count me in. He kinda wanted me to get ready in 5 minutes and I eventually took more than 10. Well, I am slow at getting ready. I would never choose 5 minutes of getting ready when 10 would do me better.

Finally we headed outside in his scooty, I was sitting behind as usual, a bit confused and excited. I was determined not to eat anything outside, not because I did not want to spend money, but because I did not want to get virus infected by taking this risk. So, we went on and I don't understand why but I told him to make this evening special, if not for him, let it be special for me. It's not like I was going out after soooooooooo long (mind the emphasis). He said nothing and I felt silly as soon as I understood these words got into his mind. We went to this gas station and he bought gas for the scooty. I waited while he filled the vehicle and checked its pressure. Oh, now I remember he handed me the lid of the gas tank and I inhaled the, well, "fragrance ?". He laughed and so did I, unreasonably. I called home to inform I might be late. He asked me what my time limit was and I went a bit philosophical, "I do not live with limits". Lol !

I sat again and he drove. With a normal speed, initially and then, all of a sudden, I was about to have watery eyes. I shouted him to stop. "DO YOU WANT THIS RIDE TO BE YOUR LAST RIDE WITH ME ?" 

"Obviously, no", he answered. "You wanted this night to be memorable for  you".

"Yeah, not by an accident though", I said but the fast breezes deafened my words into the atmosphere.

(Irony - I do not live with limits but a little bit of fast driving is unbearable for me)

He did not seem to stop, so I closed my eyes and tried not to feel the roller-coaster ride. Eventually, he slowed down when the city lights were brighter than usual. He showed me some places, places where he liked to eat fast-food. I wanted to eat something with him, but I had enough self-control to stop myself as I was afraid of the virus. We took a way which lead us out of the city and I kept telling him that I knew all these places as my school bus used to come through those lanes to drop me off. After a while, he paused and left me puzzled. The street was empty and he insinuated me, leaving the handles, "Would you like to have a go at it?"

I never really expected this, but I wanted it. I truly did. I wouldn't lie and I didn't either. Without any drama I said yes and took the handles. Now, he was behind me and I was in the Jannat-ul-Firdous. I have always  wanted to ride a scooty in the streets but my family never really cared enough for it. As I took the handles, he gave me some information, which was quite easy to go unnoticed in the power of my happiness. This evening was really going to be a memorable one. I was shaky at first, and I was shakier by the thought that he knew I was shaky. I took the drive slow and gradually my speed increased as an inverse proportionality according to my fear. He sounded pleased as well, with me, with my driving and with my talk. There were some turnings and I got really scared when I saw a car coming towards me from far away. He instructed me to slow down and I successfully tackled the car without losing my balance.

Then, we went on and I rode quite well. He said he was not afraid anymore of my driving as I crossed the car impressively. Maybe, I assured him not to be afraid because it was not my first time. We talked about a lot of things and he wanted me to show some solar panels, which I already had seen with another friend, but okay, I admit those things were unforgettable for me. I had never been alone with a friend that much away from the city. The city lights, telephone towers, electric towers and all sort of towers were blurrily visible like torch lights. I loved the atmosphere and I guess he did as well.

I did bad when I couldn't get to see anything. I was going to bump with a tree and there was a turning. Lol ! He must have got scared and I thought we would fall down. But I managed impressively. I was getting good according to him. I was lucky that the streets were straight and not curvy. We reached there and I searched for a bridge where me and my friend had sit when the last time we came there. He thought there was no such bridge, but I was sure there was and yes, there was. The bridge was the end of the straight road and before us, there were giant hills which sacred me to an extend and slopes and curvy ways. So I told him to return.

He taught me another way to return. I looked up on the sky and I found many more stars twinkling than I usually get to see on my roof and they were beautiful. Throughout this ride so far, I had had watery eyes due to coldness of the environment and dust particles loved to get into my bare eyes so much that I was having troubles with my eyesight, which is already troubled in its own way. He asked me if I felt good and there was no doubt in it. I was so glad he let me drive. He informed me that I must have driven more than five kilometers and I was like OMG! It's a big deal for me. He said he wants people to be with him and I think that was so sweet of him. I had not expected such lines from a person like him, who is into studies and all. But he was different also. He would set my mask on my face from behind and I would thank him many times. My mask was loose for some reasons and it was annoying from the beginning.

Then, in the way back, I was about to bump into a truck. I suggested that we should let the trucks go on and wait for a while, so that we could go on easily. He accepted and I drove very slowly. I also told him to take the handles when we enter into the city again, but he wanted me to drive more. He wanted me to drive in the crowded areas and I did. I was nervous, but I did. And even I was impressed with my driving.

So, that was the end I guess. I did not include many a things because I may have forgotten or because I am sleepy. But it was an experience for me. I would thank him so much that he let me have this experience. I am grateful. I think I may not remember these things point by point, but I will never forget this night as I am writing it here partially completed.

Love, Pran 💗