An accident

 

 

I was riding my bike at a breakneck speed. The speedometer had touched a seventy. I didn’t care. I was accelerating mindlessly. I would slow down and then speedup at each familiar bend in the road. A car was speeding and I was right behind it. Thoughts were racing in my mind.

Blessed are the parents who look forward to a parent teacher meeting. I have never been so lucky. Every visit to my son’s school turns out to be more dreadful than the previous. No matter how much I am in command at my job, the son’s teacher makes me feel like l am good for nothing, worthless actually. Arav is a notorious kid but to pull up the parent each time he misbehaves…….this is not done. Almost every week I am invited to the school to be reprimanded by the class teacher. At times I feel so helpless that I begin doubting my upbringing. Am I such a bad parent?

I was returning from one such visit. This time Arav was caught playing with slime. A girl’s parents had complained. The principal had threatened to expel him. What to do about this boy? I was rushing back to office. Staff had assembled for the monthly meeting which was postponed because of this unexpected call from school. After the meeting we had to attend a funeral. My colleague’s mother passed away. Inspection was to begin next day. Preparations were incomplete. Sharad’s parents were arriving in the evening. Had to pick them.

My heart was galloping The car swerved out of the next bend  and speeded up. I also swerved and speeded up.

The car sped ahead and my bike landed with a big thud into a ditch. With an equal force it bounced back on the road. Within a fraction of a second I was thrown off the bike. My purse was flung across the pavement and chappals flew in the air. When I gathered my senses I found myself sitting limply with eyes closed in the middle of the road. It was noon. The sun was high. When I finally opened them I was blinded by the sharp sunlight. Some commuters had crowded around and the road had turned a chock-a-block with traffic. A few pedestrians helped me to my feet but as I tried standing up I gave out a shriek. With their hands under my arms I trudged slowly towards the sidewalk. A man offered me a chair. As I rested I felt for the shoulder sling bag containing my wallet. It was in place. I sighed.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked gently offering me water. He looked sensible.

I simply nodded. I was not at all okay. My whole body hurt, my hands and feet were trembling, my eyes blurred and I needed time to gauge the damage my body was subjected to. I moved my hands over my face and head. There were no injuries. He handed over my belongings and offered to drive me home. I nodded again. I was in no condition to drive.

‘You are one lucky girl!’ he exclaimed. ‘With such a terrible fall no one would have survived.’

I was listening.

‘The bike’s handle is jammed. It is not safe to drive.’ he said starting the bike.

I just stared not knowing what to say.

‘I am a mechanic. I can fix it for you.’ he said pointing to a shed that resembled a garage.

‘Yes please.’ I cried in pain grabbing my foot. It was beginning to swell. One of the toenails had come apart. It was bleeding.

‘You need to see a doctor immediately. Come. I’ll help you. There is a dispensary three shops ahead. You finish with the doctor and meanwhile I will repair the bike.’ He made sense. As it is a visit to a doctor was a must. Painstakingly we walked to the clinic. There were four patients in waiting. He whispered something to the boy at the reception and left. The boy scanned me from top to bottom and let me in without any delay. The doctor examined, bandaged my toe, prescribed some x rays and medicines and told me to relax. But when I opened the bag to pay him, I was shocked to find my wallet missing. I was at a loss for words. The doctor understood my predicament and asked me to pay later when I come with the x ray reports. I thanked him for his kindness and walked out of the clinic all muddled up. Tears were trickling down my cheeks. My mind wandered off…..

What a day! Everything was going wrong. It all began with the teacher threatening me to rusticate Arav followed by the near fatal accident, the injury, the breaking down of the bike and now the loss of wallet. What more could go wrong. On the brighter side I had bumped into two complete strangers who had gone out of their way to help.

I wiped my tears as I saw the man holding onto the bike ready to drive me home. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart and politely declined his lift.

‘I will manage.’ I said. I have lost all the money in this chaos after the fall, so I cannot pay you anything for the repairs.’ I cried.

‘Never mind.’ he said smiling.

‘But I will return soon to pay.’ I promised.

‘Drive slow.’ He cautioned as I drove away.

A week went in misery. I was quite shaken after the accident. However the x rays were normal. The medicines cured the pain. The wound was healing. I was yet to resume work. I was feeling good…good enough to visit the two angels. It was time to pay back.  

I was going to work after long. Sharad offered to drop me to office. On the way I got down to meet the mechanic. I spotted him oiling a motorbike. He greeted me warmly and enquired about my wellbeing. I thanked him wholeheartedly and paid him for the repairs, almost double the amount. He took it after a lot of coaxing on my part. I was overwhelmed. Without waiting for him to change his mind, I took quick steps towards the doctor’s clinic. I had one more favor to return.

The boy was on the phone. I interrupted him and requested to see the doctor briefly. The doctor was pleased to find me in high spirits. I expressed gratitude and paid him double the fees in an envelope. I felt light as if a burden was off my head. I came out of the cabin. I noticed another woman far younger than me in a lot of agony and pain. The accident had taught me to be considerate. I sat beside her and asked her sympathetically.

‘You look troubled. Are you all right?’

‘My bike skidded. Rotten luck.’ She spoke with an effort. There was distress and anguish in her speech.

‘How?’

‘I don’t know.’ she was in no mood to converse.

‘Where?’

‘Right at the turn.’ My body stiffened.

‘Are you hurt?’ I asked eagerly.

She seemed not to hear me and just pulled up her torn sleeves. Her whole arm was skinned. I gasped.

‘Then?’

‘A good samaritan rushed to my help.’ I almost leapt out of the chair.

‘What happened?’ she asked seeing me getting jerky.

‘No, no nothing. Please continue.’ I urged.

‘He offered me a glass of water.’

‘And he volunteered to fix your bike?’ I completed.

‘How do you know?’ It was her turn to be surprised.

‘And he suggested you see a doctor?’

‘Yes!.’ she replied her eyes widening.

‘And he led you to this doctor?

‘But……..’

My hands were shaking violently. I quietly opened my wallet, pressed a five hundred rupee note in her palm and walked out. The sun was burning hot, like a fire.