Cycle, a great vehicle of those days! The hilly roads of Obra were not suitable for one man drive, carrying a friend or two. We would participate in pedaling with the driver and this process we called, doubling.....Ha ha ha.

OP and Suneet were my favorite cycle-mates. But, Ranjan is the name which sparkles in my mind whenever I recall my cycling.

Gracy was one year junior to us, the topper of her class. She had a wheatish skin, exquisite features, and brightly sparkling black eyes. Ranjan would follow her every day after the school as a perfect shadow to drop her home and the interesting fact is... his cycle never overtook walking Gracy throughout the year. He tried every bit for her attention but she never paid till that day........

"Have you taken the snacks brother?" Ranjan asked one summer evening standing at my gate.

"Yes. Come in, please. Let's have a cup of tea."

"I am sorry. We don't have that much time."

"We? But, you are alone."

He smiled and said, "You are coming with me. It's urgent."

It was not our practice to ask "Where to go?" and I followed the same, "Wait a minute."

My brother had a nice collection of clothing and he put them properly too. I went inside and came wearing brother's blue shirt and his polished brown leather sandals. Blue jeans were mine, of course.

Such an urgency only indicated that you were on a special visit. So, get prepared from your end... and I was.

"Let's go." I uttered

We left the place.

We were not talking to each other and I was looking at Ranjan's smiling face dying to hear from him. Finally, he killed the silence.

"She would be outside her home." Ranjan's smile widened.

"But how came you know?"

"This is the pattern study."

'What the hell is this?' I thought and stared at him.

Noting my questioning look, he said, "I studied her pattern, with Nikhil, her neighbor, for last one month and realized she comes out in the evening and enjoys with her neighborhood friends."

'A great job and, above all-Hard work' I thought.

"Good but what are we doing today?" I asked.

"Till today, I think, she didn't notice me."

"You are right." I teased.

"So my prime target is to frame myself in her mind." Indifferent Ranjan said.

"Good idea, but what's the plan?" I was not getting him.

No answer I got.

"What are we doing today Ranjan?" I repeated.

"An accident."

I was startled, "You are framing an accident! This is rubbish, only rubbish."

"No my friend, I will show you today, how the rubbish will turn into pleasant feelings if planned well."

"And, acted too." I added.

He nodded and dictated me the dangerous plan. The modus operandi of the plan was quite OK on the surface but what lacked the most was the main instrument to be used, The Cycle.

The rear brake shoes of the cycle were worn out and the front brakes were giving you perfect shock but only two or three seconds after they got clenched. I was not ready for this suicide.

"You know Ranjan, your front brakes will turn down the rider after three seconds directly, and your cycle doesn't have the rear one. This accident would be a nightmare for the rider. By the way, who is going to ride?"

"It's you, my brother."

"Nope; not at any cost." I refused at once.

But he was Ranjan, with a great pursuance power. "If you will not support me then tell me the face whom to look at."

"Consult OP. He is already a stuntman."

"He refused and said not to involve him in such matters and reprimanded too."

There was a long silence, a dangerous silence. Suddenly, Ranjan left the cycle and bent on his knees requesting, "Please, please, please, please, please......."

His tone of 'please' made me feel that this was the most crucial day of his life.

Now I was left with no other option but to accept the request. But, I re-planned the ride keeping my safety ahead.

We got separated at a point from where Gracy's street was approximately hundred meters ahead, on a right turn. Ranjan moved first, and in a short interval of time, he was disappeared in the street but I stayed where I was.

The fourth house of the street was Nikhil's. And then the third from his was that of Gracy. Ranjan entered the street and found Nikhil waiting for him.

"Hi brother, you are on time."

"Well, I should be." Ranjan smiled

And shot a glance in the vicinity. Gracy was present with two of her friends, hardly at fifty meters. The mere thought of her was sufficient to make his heart beat faster and faster......let alone her sight. The hot environment suddenly turned cool for him. Nikhil's voice felt harsh to his ears now.

He made a sign for Nikhil to keep quiet, "Shhhhhh! Wait, my friend, I have a strong desire to be lost in this honey-dipped chorus."

Nikhil only smiled.

I was ready now after an appropriate delay. As I started, the chain of the bicycle fell off, a bad portent. It filled me with a strong feeling that something terribly wrong was to happen.

BUT, I lifted the chain and put it back on the ring. Turned the pedals and it was fixed. My inner-self yelled, alerting me, "But what about the brakes?" ............ I ignored and moved on.

Now, I turned to the right, in the street, to meet with an accident, self-created. Ranjan and Nikhil were on the road, moving towards the group of three girls. I saw my target. Now I had to adjust the speed only. I left the pedaling; the speed was quite under control.

AND THEN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG.........

I couldn't know till date why the street dogs run after a cycle/scooter/bike or car. If anyone of you knows, please mention in the comments section.

Two street dogs suddenly appeared out of nowhere and they started chasing me or my cycle, I don't know. But their barking made me nervous. I didn't want to get embarrassed before a colony. Consequently, I sped up.

A twenty-five feet road was occupied by five persons; three girls, already standing there, chatting and two boys crossing them. This was the part of the plan but not my speed.

The dogs kept chasing me and I kept speeding up. The only person, I could strike was, Ranjan, waiting for me to hit him. And I did the same. He possessed a good height so the front part of the cycle adjusted itself between his legs first, then thin metallic statue at the mudguard hit his most important organ. I wish he would have had groin guard that day. And then...... suddenly the front brake worked, as usual, throwing him on the ground. But his sacrifice saved me from head to toe. Not even a scratch. Dogs were now standing panting. I was too. The nightmare had turned real.

Ranjan went unconscious. He was bleeding from his forehead and his face was blood red but I didn't get what hurt him more; the injury of his forehead or of the groin. The colony started gathering around him. Gracy ran inside and brought a bottle of water, gave it to Nikhil. He sprinkled some water on Ranjan's face and the latter was back to consciousness. Ranjan found scores of eyes staring at him.

"How are you now?" A group question was shot at him.

But he was too dazed to respond.

I supported him to sit. He then tried to stand up. However, his body didn't support, might be the injury between the legs...........Badly injured groin area, you know. I held his hand and gave him the support of my shoulders. He smiled and.........searched around for someone, smiled again finding Gracy there, a bit more now and what he buzzed in ecstasy in my ears, made me stone........his words are still ringing in my ears.

"BROTHER! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. SHE NOTICED ME TODAY."

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