It was many years
ago, I remember it vaguely.
I had just learned
to ride a bicycle. I will not tell what age I was. Just that I was still considered
in the kids team by my family and neighbors.
I was a little
afraid to ride the bicycle. But it was also a lot of fun, sprinting on the bicycle on the empty road while the cold wind bathes the face with freshness.
The joy of riding was greater than the fear of riding the bicycle.
But at that age
there was another fear which had no solution. That was the fear of street dogs.
In the hindi movie Sholay*,
Veeru warned not to dance in front of dogs (basanti en Kutton ke samne mat
Nachna) but did not tell how big a risk it is to ride a bicycle in front of
dogs. If he had warned then this story might not have happened.
Remember, when the
street dogs, tired of the barking most of the morning, are seen lazing in the corner
of the street, they are not really lazing around. They are just bored, because
hardly anyone would come out in the street on a summer afternoon. And they're just
looking for someone to come and entertain them.
One such summer afternoon,
the newfound joy in riding compelled me to take the bicycle
in the street.
There was so much enthusiasm in the heart to ride on the bicycle, that this
Arjun# saw the
emptiness of the street like a bird's eye, even that Arjun did not see what was
around the bird and this Arjun (me) also did not see anything more than the
empty inviting street. There must have been some twigs and leaves in his destiny,
but for me there were dogs sitting there. Waiting for someone like me to come
and make their afternoon enjoyable.
And one by one
where my cycle was leaving behind many streets of the city, one by one
the dogs
were also returning in desperation. And after 10 minutes only me and Spotty
were left. His inspiration was probably bigger than mine. Both of our legs were
getting tired, and our speed was decreasing, but probably it was impossible for
either one of us to stop.
This went on for a
few more minutes and then his stubbornness started taking a toll on my life.
The gap between the cycle and Spotty was narrowing, and he suddenly pounced,
probably with all his might. After all, I was a child, how could have I saved
my self, so when he pounced, I fell in a huff.
I laughed out loud
and asked him, Now you have caught it so go take it too, the gesture was
towards the bicycle. He understood my joke. He got up, smelled the bicycle, and
returned towards the lane where this chase had started.
I got up, dusted
off my clothes, picked up my bicycle, slowly started walking towards home. That
moment I learnt, that when the dog chases your bike, he has no clue what he
will do, if he catches it.
If you observe
people criticizing you without any reason, just remember the scene narrated
above. And ask yourself, if they stop this cycle, and even pull you down, will
they be able to ride the bike themselves. (And of course, here by bike, I mean the
task or act on which such people are criticizing you and pulling you down) If the
answer is no, then ride your cycle carefree, enjoy the wind on your face, and
when some such person pulls you down, then look in their eyes smile and ask,
"Now what?". After this, pick up the cycle with confidence, ride it
again and then enjoy it, until someone else some other day may pounce. The joy
of life can also found in such moments.
·
*Sholay – Most iconic hindi movie from seventies
·
# Arjun – Greatest Archer and Prince from
Mahabharta (Hindu Scriptures)
·
Gandiv – Arjun’s
Bow that won him many battles (but during the Battle of Mahabharta, Arjun
started having self-doubt hence the reference of Weak limbs while lifting
Gandiv, his Bow)
