Use your Head, wear One!

01 09 2016

Vroom vroom vroom. I can still hear the deafening rpm sounds fresh in my ears. It wasn’t that long in time, hearing the sound and suddenly, time stood still and everyone around in eerie silence.

Friday and Saturday evenings are fun. Fun and frolic for those who live for today and for the young, it’s the most hot and happening thing. It’s freedom. And one can sense the happiness on their faces and with girls too literally letting their hair down, I envy myself not being young again.

Rahul, Ms Rao only son was presented with a 500 c.c bike for faring well with flying colours in his grads. A bike that’s the envy of all guys, guys who drool over and dreams of owning this beaut. I could imagine the sparkle in Rahuls eyes while he sat on this sexy mover. Dhannu, he nicknamed her. Wow, a little niggle on the throttle and off she flew. Swift she was, literally talking to the wind.

That Saturday evening, Rahul happily zoomed past me to catch up with his friends towards his adda near the college naka. Nodding his head with acknowledgement, I remember the smile and his long grown rockstar hairlocks talking to the windd. By the time I could park my car, heard a big loud bang. Before I could understand and my negative reactions take over, my feet were off towards the scene. There was utmost commotion, traffic was moving at snarl pace and people had gathered in hoardes. Was it Rahul? My heart said it shouldn’t and my head didnt want to believe it. By shoving aside people I saw a badly mangled bike and a young guy, crushed beyond recognition. The first look was terrifying. It was only when I saw the tshirt, I realised it was sadly Rahul.

In a distant corner I saw a helmet, lying silently like a mute spectator. Witnesses around said Rahul was wearing one, unfortunately on his elbow. He could have survived someone whispered. With the sirens ringing on the scene, the police and ambulance agencies quickly got into the act. I was probably the only one who knew Rahul from that mob, shaken but had to assist them.

Wondering how to break this news to his parents, their only hope and support system, Rahul is going to be absent from class hereon. In the background hearing the constable saying, the youngster today have a helmet, they are more educated than us, more smarter, much more intelligent than us and yet somehow they do not USE THEIR HEAD.

What’s the point of freedom when one can’t live and breathe it? It’s time we don’t lose many more Rahuls for it isn’t a loss to the parents but a loss to our Country. You are our assets, next time don’t let the helmet rest on your elbow or the side mirrors, USE YOUR HEAD, WEAR ONE!