Day 16: Oasis in the Desert!!
Day 16: Oasis in a Desert.
This morning I got up at night well not like this https://youtu.be/Tvqcf8-SF0E but seriously since I slept by 9, I got up at about 2 am so I don't know if it is morning or night so I would say "This morning I got up at night".
I sat in my bed wondering should I call off my ride or should I continue also if I have to continue then how and on what? I started browsing all the second hand bike sites and could not find anything around which would fit my budget. I had already spent about my life savings plus loan taken from family & friend on the Kawasaki plus another big chunk on accessories and riding gear & had kept a smaller chunk for this tour and now I am left with no extra money to buy even a second hand 100 cc bike. But still hope in my heart I kept browsing looking at and second hand bikes expecting that somehow I could get something at dirt cheap price.
As I kept browsing, I went to sleep again. It was about 8 and I got up to a message.
It said "Come back to Agartala I shall give you a bike, go ride on". This to me was like an Oasis in the desert or was I staring at a Mirage? This message was from Anijit Saha the dude I met just a couple of days ago and that too for a few hours. I was wondering seriously? Is this even happening for real or is this message looking like a mirage to me. I got up called him and confirmed and he said "Bhai aaja ek bike hi toh hai leke ja ride khatam karke bhijwa dio" (Brother come, take the bike complete your ride and then send it back to me).
Huge respect for this guy. But there was one problem reaching Agartala from Silchar.
There was also another issue that was sending my bike to Delhi in the shortest possible time. Spoke to many transporters and they all said it would take 10-12 days minimum. I then got to know that there was a direct train from Silchar to Delhi. So I went to enquire about that. Dildar and me went to the railway station at Silchar to enquire and they said that I could ship the bike but their need was I must give them a copy of the Registration Card of the bike. As my bike is new I don not have the RC Card but however I do have the Tax paid receipts, Insurance and Invoice copy etc. The booking agent said that he could not accept any of it and their documents mentioned that a copy of RC card is a must. Dildar then spoke to his uncle who is in railways and his uncle than spoke to the guy and finally the guy agreed to book the bike to Delhi via railways. I thanked his uncle and now everything looked like things were falling in place.
Meanwhile Dildar too had a spare Pulsar which was in the workshop and needed quite a few work to be done on it. He offered it to me and said if nothing else works out then you can take my bike.
I was wondering whats wrong with these guys!! I had never seen these kinds of people. How is this connection building up? I mean helping someone in need with some small help, giving information, guiding etc is one thing and trusting someone with an item like a bike that too trusting an unknown person whom you have just met a day or two ago. Well I guess that's what is Biking Brotherhood.
As the bike reaches New Delhi, I have another brother whom I have never met, who will pick the bike and get it delivered at the service center in Delhi.
Sitting in the train and wondering how this ride was just a ride and how now it is becoming a journey with relations building up and stories being created around what was supposed to be just a quick run to 29 states & 5 of 7 Union Territories.
This morning I got up at night well not like this https://youtu.be/Tvqcf8-SF0E but seriously since I slept by 9, I got up at about 2 am so I don't know if it is morning or night so I would say "This morning I got up at night".
I sat in my bed wondering should I call off my ride or should I continue also if I have to continue then how and on what? I started browsing all the second hand bike sites and could not find anything around which would fit my budget. I had already spent about my life savings plus loan taken from family & friend on the Kawasaki plus another big chunk on accessories and riding gear & had kept a smaller chunk for this tour and now I am left with no extra money to buy even a second hand 100 cc bike. But still hope in my heart I kept browsing looking at and second hand bikes expecting that somehow I could get something at dirt cheap price.
As I kept browsing, I went to sleep again. It was about 8 and I got up to a message.
It said "Come back to Agartala I shall give you a bike, go ride on". This to me was like an Oasis in the desert or was I staring at a Mirage? This message was from Anijit Saha the dude I met just a couple of days ago and that too for a few hours. I was wondering seriously? Is this even happening for real or is this message looking like a mirage to me. I got up called him and confirmed and he said "Bhai aaja ek bike hi toh hai leke ja ride khatam karke bhijwa dio" (Brother come, take the bike complete your ride and then send it back to me).
This was like : https://youtu.be/RUF8HNSsovo
Meaning When you wholeheartedly try to do/attain something to the extent of craziness, the whole world around you starts to make it work in your favour.
Huge respect for this guy. But there was one problem reaching Agartala from Silchar.
There was also another issue that was sending my bike to Delhi in the shortest possible time. Spoke to many transporters and they all said it would take 10-12 days minimum. I then got to know that there was a direct train from Silchar to Delhi. So I went to enquire about that. Dildar and me went to the railway station at Silchar to enquire and they said that I could ship the bike but their need was I must give them a copy of the Registration Card of the bike. As my bike is new I don not have the RC Card but however I do have the Tax paid receipts, Insurance and Invoice copy etc. The booking agent said that he could not accept any of it and their documents mentioned that a copy of RC card is a must. Dildar then spoke to his uncle who is in railways and his uncle than spoke to the guy and finally the guy agreed to book the bike to Delhi via railways. I thanked his uncle and now everything looked like things were falling in place.
Meanwhile Dildar too had a spare Pulsar which was in the workshop and needed quite a few work to be done on it. He offered it to me and said if nothing else works out then you can take my bike.
I was wondering whats wrong with these guys!! I had never seen these kinds of people. How is this connection building up? I mean helping someone in need with some small help, giving information, guiding etc is one thing and trusting someone with an item like a bike that too trusting an unknown person whom you have just met a day or two ago. Well I guess that's what is Biking Brotherhood.
"Fuel Bonds Stronger than Blood"
Again Anijit called up and said 'Do one thing do not come to Agartala, go to Siliguri, I have my bike parked there you take that and complete you ride.' He sent me the photographs of that bike and believe you me Anijit Saha is really an NUTCASE.
The profile of the bike Anijit Saha asked me to take
Dildar and me then went and booked my bike and came back to the hotel, we picked all the luggage and we came to the station. I took ticket to Siliguri and Dildar helped me board the train. He then gave me a tight warm hug and both of us said "Hasta la Vista "
Loading in from KTM Silchar towards Silchar Railway Station.
Getting Grey Stallion unloaded at the station was quite a task.
All packed and ready to be transported to Delhi
Loaded in the train to Delhi
Silchar to Delhi, I too am in the same train till New Jalpaiguri.
Sitting in the train and wondering how this ride was just a ride and how now it is becoming a journey with relations building up and stories being created around what was supposed to be just a quick run to 29 states & 5 of 7 Union Territories.
Meanwhile I get a message that a Versys rider who was supposed to ride to Sikkim & Bhutan is Stuck at Siliguri with a rim badly bent. Maybe I shall be meeting him tomorrow.
Now I am in a train travelling towards Siliguri with a few people who connected instantly. Shall update the remaining happenings in tomorrows blog.
Good Night!! God speed!!
Now I am in a train travelling towards Siliguri with a few people who connected instantly. Shall update the remaining happenings in tomorrows blog.
Good Night!! God speed!!
The riding community never ceases to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
True that Bro!!
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