vsdoc
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Something happened to me the other day, which moved me. Which I would like to share, not getting judgmental but simply putting it out there. Not taking a side, one way or the other. I still think of it and it makes me cringe. It makes my heart go out. It makes me feel, I don't know, somehow part of it and equally responsible.
I was driving to work the other day, a bit lost in my thoughts, but as normally aggressive as I usually am on the road. There is this dumper truck guy (you know the type, filthy yellow decrepit POSs) who is trying to cut in and out of traffic as if he is driving a nimble hatchback. And he is trailing this long fluttering piece of rope from the garbage he is carrying.
Come up on a signal after a small culvert, and position myself just left of the rightmost lane, ready for a quick exit into the BRT fast lane. Suddenly a feel someone hitting me from behind.
Look into my mirror and there is this puppy on a flash red Pulsar 200 RS (the one with the garish overdone backside). Anyways, get out of my car, and go up to him and reflexively take his key out of the ignition so he cannot run.
Traffic is blaring behind us, chalo side mein hat ke bat karo, horns, etc. as I inspect the damage. Left side bumper (SUV, 3 piece rear bumper) is badly scratched with the bar end weight of the Pulsar in two places. Its dislodge a bit, but I think the internal lugs may be ripped off, may just have come out. Can't know for sure unless we remove and check.
So I get back into the car and drive to the side of the road, and then start blasting the rider telling him exactly how much the damage would cost to repair etc. But my anger is quickly dissipating as I see that he's a kid. And like all kids, he's got nothing in his pocket. He tried the "I'm from poor family saar" gyaan but I quickly set him right on that. Turns out he's from a good college too.
By then his friends have also come on their scooties and bikes and there is a lot of uncle, please, beta samaan hai, chor do type pleading going on. I am trying to look stern and pissed, but am increasingly failing as I realize these are exactly my son's age and he too is a new rider.
I'm getting late for office and I have no more time for this natak. They have 500 bucks amongst them, which they offer, but I refuse, and instead I ask him (more for effect) for his dad's number. He's scared now, and I can see it. Then I say ok, ride carefully, yada yada and I'm letting you go and I take his key out of my pocket and start handing it over to him, having started my car.
As I was about to leave, I ask him What's your name. The relief is written large on his face and that of his puppy papls on either side of him. He blurts out, "_______ Ansari sir. I am Muslim sir."
I don't know whay he said that. I don't know what made him say that. I really was not ready for it. I kind of screwed up my face, rolled my eyes, and asked him whether I had asked him whether he was Muslim? One of his friends seeing my expression also kind of patted him on his shoulder and said uncle is asking your name, not if you are a Muslim.
I drove off. But could not get the incidnt out of my head. Came home that night and told my wife about it. Looked at my son and thought to myself, this is not what I want my kids to grow up into.
This is not what I want for their future. They are confused. They are kids. And I do not know what's going through their minds in today's society, in our country. Where we are not fighting, not killing each other.
But a college kid blurts out that he is Muslim. Why? What for? Why was his friend embarrassed? Restraining him.
Its troubling me. So I thought I would share.
Cheers, Doc
I was driving to work the other day, a bit lost in my thoughts, but as normally aggressive as I usually am on the road. There is this dumper truck guy (you know the type, filthy yellow decrepit POSs) who is trying to cut in and out of traffic as if he is driving a nimble hatchback. And he is trailing this long fluttering piece of rope from the garbage he is carrying.
Come up on a signal after a small culvert, and position myself just left of the rightmost lane, ready for a quick exit into the BRT fast lane. Suddenly a feel someone hitting me from behind.
Look into my mirror and there is this puppy on a flash red Pulsar 200 RS (the one with the garish overdone backside). Anyways, get out of my car, and go up to him and reflexively take his key out of the ignition so he cannot run.
Traffic is blaring behind us, chalo side mein hat ke bat karo, horns, etc. as I inspect the damage. Left side bumper (SUV, 3 piece rear bumper) is badly scratched with the bar end weight of the Pulsar in two places. Its dislodge a bit, but I think the internal lugs may be ripped off, may just have come out. Can't know for sure unless we remove and check.
So I get back into the car and drive to the side of the road, and then start blasting the rider telling him exactly how much the damage would cost to repair etc. But my anger is quickly dissipating as I see that he's a kid. And like all kids, he's got nothing in his pocket. He tried the "I'm from poor family saar" gyaan but I quickly set him right on that. Turns out he's from a good college too.
By then his friends have also come on their scooties and bikes and there is a lot of uncle, please, beta samaan hai, chor do type pleading going on. I am trying to look stern and pissed, but am increasingly failing as I realize these are exactly my son's age and he too is a new rider.
I'm getting late for office and I have no more time for this natak. They have 500 bucks amongst them, which they offer, but I refuse, and instead I ask him (more for effect) for his dad's number. He's scared now, and I can see it. Then I say ok, ride carefully, yada yada and I'm letting you go and I take his key out of my pocket and start handing it over to him, having started my car.
As I was about to leave, I ask him What's your name. The relief is written large on his face and that of his puppy papls on either side of him. He blurts out, "_______ Ansari sir. I am Muslim sir."
I don't know whay he said that. I don't know what made him say that. I really was not ready for it. I kind of screwed up my face, rolled my eyes, and asked him whether I had asked him whether he was Muslim? One of his friends seeing my expression also kind of patted him on his shoulder and said uncle is asking your name, not if you are a Muslim.
I drove off. But could not get the incidnt out of my head. Came home that night and told my wife about it. Looked at my son and thought to myself, this is not what I want my kids to grow up into.
This is not what I want for their future. They are confused. They are kids. And I do not know what's going through their minds in today's society, in our country. Where we are not fighting, not killing each other.
But a college kid blurts out that he is Muslim. Why? What for? Why was his friend embarrassed? Restraining him.
Its troubling me. So I thought I would share.
Cheers, Doc