Re: Activa

[Guest guest]

excellent reading. congrats.

Malini

With regards

L/M Prasad

(lp1960@...)

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Wish a very happy and cheerful day keep smiling

Activa

I'm happy to say that my story has won a prize (some gift hamper or

something) in a competition held for Honda Activa owners. As the scooter is

in my wife's name, the story was also sent in her name.

They had asked for an adventure featuring their scooter. Here is the story

(fictional).

MY ANGEL, HONDA ACTIVA

The plan was actually very simple. As I would not be there to meet my

husband personally, I would keep the documents in the luggage compartment of

our Activa scooter and he could check directly.

The season was the admission season and our son had appeared for his medical

entrance tests. However, the catch was that one of the colleges, which we

coveted, gave hardly anytime to pay the fees, if one got selected. The

results were out, yet we had no intimation by post. The last date for paying

the fees could be very close. If we waited too long, we would miss out the

chance of a good medical college. But if my son was selected, one of us had

to reach Mumbai immediately to pay the fees.

Then, the day before, I had a brilliant brainwave. Vibhavari, the hospital

nurse, who works in the same hospital as I do, had a relative working in the

medical college my son had applied for. I am a surgeon and after I finished

operating, I requested Vibhavari to phone up her relative and ask him if he

could help us out.

The relative was more than willing. However, the office had closed by that

time. He informed Vibhavari that the last date for payment of fees was the

next day. But he would find out immediately when the office opened the next

day at 9 am, and let her know.

I discussed the problem with my husband. He said that the moment Vibhavari

told me the result, and if our son was selected, he could catch the earliest

train to Mumbai and pay the fees immediately. However, there was a small

catch. Our son's documents, which were required while paying, were lying in

the hospital locker, where I had kept them after Xeroxing.

Unfortunately, the next day, I would be operating since early morning.

" There is poor or no mobile coverage from within the operation theatre. I

won't be able to phone you up the news and you won't be able to come inside

the operation theatre. "

My husband then suggested the Activa way out. He said, " Look! I know where

you park your Activa scooter in the parking space. If Vibhavari tells you

that our son is selected, you just send the attendant to keep the documents

in the scooter's luggage compartment and don't close the lid completely. I

shall come over at 10 am. If I find the documents in the compartment, I

shall catch the 10.15 train to Mumbai and pay the fees by afternoon. If he

is not selected, do not keep anything in the compartment. I shall understand

and go back to my work. "

This seemed like a foolproof plan. I did not sleep well that night. Could

something go wrong? I thought over everything, but could not find any

loopholes. Trembling with anticipation, I went early the next day to the

operation theatre.

I kept the documents ready in a plastic carry-bag with me in the Operation

room. At around 9:30, Vibhavari came running to me. " Madam, congratulations!

The medical college has selected your son. But you must hurry. The last date

for filling the fees is today itself. "

I smiled and thanked God. I told the attendant to go immediately to the

parking lot and place the documents' carry-bag in my Honda Activa. I

emphasized that he needed to just keep the lid down, but not click it shut

completely, so that my husband would have no problem.

I returned happily to my surgery. The attendant returned with my keys and

reported that he had done everything exactly as I had told him. I asked him

again, " Did you remember not to click the lid shut. "

He smiled and said, " Madam, please trust me. I will not bungle such an

important job. We all know how important all of this is for you. "

That day, the surgery session was unusually grueling, with the result that I

was free only by 1 pm. I hurried to my Honda Activa. When I opened the

luggage compartment, I found that the documents had been taken. Good! So my

husband must have nearly reached Mumbai, and would pay the fees soon. I went

contentedly to my lunch.

.. * * * *

I returned home by the evening and switched on the evening news. Horror of

horrors! The whole segment was dominated by a grizzly train accident and the

train had been the same train that my husband had taken.

My heart lurched. I repeatedly phoned his mobile number, but the same silly

message kept coming, " We cannot reach the number due to congestion in the

network. " Oh my God! I just kept scanning the various names appearing on the

TV screen like a zombie.

I rang up my mother. I was so distraught that I could hardly talk to her.

She promised to come over immediately. Meanwhile, my son, who had gone to

his friend's house returned home to find his hysterical mother.

Mother also came over. " Don't worry! Nothing has happened to him. God is

great. "

I gazed at her with tear-laden eyes and whispered, " I really hope so! I

don't

mind if our son misses the admission. Only, he should be safe. "

My mom made some strong coffee for me and then phoned the police control

room. They told her that they had not much information, and the list of dead

and injured would only be prepared by the morning. I told my mother that I

wanted to go to the accident site. My mother patted me and said, " I have

already phoned Rajesh. He is coming over and will go there immediately. "

That calmed me a bit. Rajesh is my cousin and a very competent fellow. If

anyone could get information quickly, it would be Rajesh.

It took him just 15 minutes to reach our home, but it seemed like ages to

me. I said, " Rajesh, go quickly and find out if there is any news about

him. "

After asking all the relevant details, Rajesh set out immediately. I

clutched my saree and wiped my eyes. I could hardly see the news channel.

Suddenly, there was laughter in the staircase. I turned around in shock to

see Rajesh coming up. He said dramatically, " And here is the hero of our

drama. " Behind him came sauntering my husband, quite oblivious to the great

excitement that he had caused.

I jumped up and collapsed into his arms sobbing loudly. After everything had

dissolved into smiles of relief we pieced together the story. My husband had

reached the Activa at 10 am. However, he had found the compartment empty.

Assuming that our son had not been selected, he had returned to his work.

My son then asked the question relevant to him. " Where are my documents? "

I said, " It does not matter. If your dad had caught that train...! "

.. * * * *

The next day, when I returned to the hospital, I found the carry-bag with

the documents lying on the floor nearby. My son's story also had a happy

ending. He got into a better medical college. If my husband had filled the

fees on that day, the cancellation amount would have run into a huge amount,

when we selected this better college.

My husband feels that some thief had originally lifted the bag in the hope

of something. But when he found only documents, he must have thrown the bag

back where he found it. I, however, feel that there is a more profound

explanation to this mystery. Maybe there is someone above who does care for

us sometimes. Or maybe, it was just my Activa acting as my guardian angel?

Kishore Shah 1974

[Guest guest]

Thanks Prabha and Malini.

Yes Prabha, sometimes even I wonder how I write all those things. But when I

open a new document and stare at the blank screen, somehow the words just

flow out.

In fact, at school, whenever our English teacher gave us a composition to

write at home, with say a choice of topics A, B or C, I was the only idiot

who invariably had written on A, B AND C!

Kishore Shah 1974

[Guest guest]

Kishore sir

Loved the story.....When are you going to retire and start writing

full time? I am confident that you will be one of the most famous

writers will you have... and then we can change the name of our

E-groups to " Kishore Shah Fan club " .... I wil be ready to be the

general secretary...!!!

In the meantime... Keep on writing the good stuff....!!!

cheers

Ameet 1993

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks Prabha and Malini.

>

> Yes Prabha, sometimes even I wonder how I write all those things. But when

> I

> open a new document and stare at the blank screen, somehow the words just

> flow out.

>

> In fact, at school, whenever our English teacher gave us a composition to

> write at home, with say a choice of topics A, B or C, I was the only idiot

> who invariably had written on A, B AND C!

>

> Kishore Shah 1974

>

>

--

Ameet Chimote

BMS PhD program, Year 3

Cell Biophysics Group

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048 Biological Sciences

State University

3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.

Dayton, OH 45435-0001

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Phone:

Fax :

chimote.2@...

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ameet and Raju,

It is encouragement like yours which keep me going.

Kishore Shah 1974