Saturday 12 September 2015

Roads are like people




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Ever since I became the owner of a new gearless bike, I’ve been promoted from a pillion rider to the one handling the vehicle. And the view? It’s much different. After the initial two months of shaky maneuvering, sudden brakes, and constant fear of killing myself, I’ve finally settled into the coats of a rider and the roads before me have emerged with new light. 

I realized, roads are like people. Each one its own character, features and mood swings.
The stretch of road from my house to the next traffic signal is a hypocrite. The breeze blows dust off its seemingly calm body, with moments of complete silence. You blink once, or maybe watch a vine video and look up, the widening road- before a silent friend- is now bustling with cranky vehicles, the honking unbearable and the constant (I mean constant with a capital C) ambulances screeching in pain. 

And there is this other road that I love riding through in evenings. Facing West, it is riding into the sunset, the sky stripped with the setting colors. It’s aesthetic qualities aside, I’m terrified of blinking on this road, lest I run over tiny human kids who wear grey uniforms and get camouflaged into the asphalt. People do not understand zebra crossing here nor that fact that a bike crashing into them can be fatal. No, they have all the luck in the world, time on their side and they run into the traffic with no care in the world. Scary, I tell you. You do not want to meet the personified version of this road, they will probably make life a living hell of unwanted surprises. 

There is this road that transforms into a shallow river when it rains heavily. Thank you well designed drainage system. Venturing into this ensures you get a shower of muddy water splattered on you and you splatter the same muddy water on the next person. What do you call this person? Someone you want to see only on sunny days and ignore on overcast ones.  

There are roads that just hate you. Like that one person in your school who glares at you every time even though you have no idea who they are. No matter how safe you try to ride, slowly and steadily, you are bound to make an error and get reprimanded by some stranger. Bad luck, I pin it to.  

What’s the opposite of smooth, silky, straight stretches of roads? One spotted with potholes, humps and downs, and everything deadly. It is impossible to feel happy when you are on riding here. Your bones get rattled, your new bike takes a toll, and your love for the civic government body shrinks. This road is a person who needs some immediate grooming. 

Not all is bad in the world of roads. Riding through a boulevard, the speed in your control, the bike rumbling under you, the wind whistling in your ears. This is the man you love. 

And when it rains? Hanging out with your best friend! The muddy splashes aside and getting drenched. Celebrating the Christmas of traffic lights that is plethora of reds, the yellows, the green, and more red, lights that become brilliant in the rain. 

You meet new people every day, new roads made acquaintances. People are stories, so are roads. To ride undisputed under the skies and the ground below gripping onto you. Steady. Sail. Fly.




20 comments:

  1. I am someone who loves cycling and does it all the time. I haven't made a comparison like this one before, but it is such a beautiful idea. Each road is different and unique and I know people are like that too. Some with hidden secrets and unexpected turns. I hope you never stop comparisons. And I am glad you are liking your riding experience as well.

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    1. I made the comparison when I had to treat each road differently. Just as with people!

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  2. This is such a great comparison. I loved reading this post.

    Check out my blog if you want: www.theglamandglitter.com

    Tamara xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Tamara. Thanks for dropping by!
      I'll do it right away.

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  3. Beautiful thoughts and writing!

    xo
    http://thepinkporcelaindoll.blogspot.com

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  4. I'm glad you're enjoying it, sounds like a wonderful experience! I love the way you compared these things, it's very beautiful. I really liked it! ^-^

    Lipstick and Mocha

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    1. Hey Carla! Thank you, it was fun making the comparison too!

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  5. You've done an amazing job personifying the roads. I hate it when it rains and it just covers up all the imperfections of our roads. I relate to this so much and remembering everything that I went through riding, I couldn't help but laugh! It couldn't have been written more creatively and beautifully.

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    1. YEs! When it rains, I have no idea what I'm entering into when the roads are flooded. Thank you so much!

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  6. I like how you said that at Christmas time the stop lights are festive. I think that every holiday season.

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    1. It is festive with its bright lights red and green!

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  7. Very beautiful. Love the thought process.

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  8. Beautifully written! I could really relate to this.

    Bella Pummarola

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