Malvika's Ramblings

Crash landing

 

Here I am, trying to keep blood off my elbows and my parents absolutely insist that I use sunscreen. A moment ago, this guy suddenly decided to cross the road, without a backward glance. And I banged into him, squeezing my forward brakes instead of the rear ones, like a moron. Remember what they told you in Ladakh “Back brakes, Back brakes” I tell myself as my bike somersaults and I leapfrog over the handle bar. And wham.. I land on my chest and elbows, bottom up. Chin up and out so that my face remained clear. Wham in the dust. And the imbecile who decided to take a casual stroll across the road looks at me, a little scared and quickly preparing his defense in his head. I think how stupid he is; just as stupid as so many others taking wrong turns on the roads of Delhi. How dangerous stupidity can be. Stupid views too.. like the Ram Sena’s. “Kill the cynicism” I tell myself. Anyway, the fall was a masterly one. Enjoyable even. I am left with smarting elbows and slightly injured pride. The junta is confused and wondering who to blame – the hands-free cyclist or the artistically absent-minded pedestrian. Back brakes, back brakes, remember. Off I go to buy sunscreen.