An Accolade to Daddy

 

I'm sitting here in a boring room, It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon; I'm wasting my time I got nothing to do’ I'm hanging around waiting for a clue. Today Sunday 20/6/2021, being Father’s Day, there’s nothing better to write than this one. “An Accolade to Daddy”. While growing up I’ve had all of my father’s love & affection. A million things he has done for that I had been ungrateful off. I would like to thank him for everything he has done for me & especially for something, that has changed my life altogether.

 

“Thank you Daddy for introducing me to the world of Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure.” Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure maybe just word for a few of us, however that has been life for me & it all started with Daddy. While growing up, it was a daily custom, to go for a small bike ride with daddy when he returned back from work. I had already fallen in this 1984 RE Bullet & growing up listening to daddy’s adventure & travel stories; I had always waited for my time. It was sometime in the mid-’90s & I was in my early teens. One fine morning I saw daddy, loading his luggage on the motorcycle. Inquisitive to know what was happening, I joined the conversation between the elders. Daddy had plans to meet uncle Rizzo over the weekend, and it was an approx. 500-kilometer motorcycle trip. Not wanting this chance to let go; I threw all my banters & convinced daddy to take me along. This was going to be my first long ride; with daddy & his bullet, there couldn’t have been any better companion for the ride.

 

Not knowing of the plan & with 0 experience of the road, I just hopped on. As the motor started running, it was a heavy metal thunder & with the thump of our Bullet, we left the busy city streets behind. We were cruising down the highway, through this picturesque lush green meadows & the clear blue sky, winds playing with your hair & the smell of fresh air. It was altogether a whole new world for me; it was love at first sight. As I was falling in love with everything around, dint realize that it’s already been 2 hours on the road. We stopped for our first break, we stopped at a local food joint along the canal. We had a quick splash in the water channel, gorged on some chai & pakoras; and it was time to move on.

 

While I had just started falling in love with the roads & was not even ready to come out of the feel of the highways; it was time for the second flavor of the road, the curvy mount roads aka the snake road. As we cornered the motorcycle along the curvy rods of the foothills of the Shivalik Ranges, the aroma of the huge Pin trees, the chilly mountain breeze & a strange sensation in my ears; it was an different world. Tongue-tied twisted, just an earthbound misfit; I was totally awestruck & couldn’t have imagined a better life than this. We reached Barlowganj (a small town in district Mussoorie, Uttrakhand) by evening. After catching up with family over dinner, it was time to call it a day. Like Alice in Tomorrow Land; I was living a psychedelic dream, not knowing the best was yet to come.

 

The next morning after breakfast; Daddy, Uncle Rizzo, his son Ashu & Me, started hiking on this small trail that passes next to the backyard. The plan was to meet Uncle Stanley near Mossy Falls & have lunch; Uncle Stanley was supposed to arrange for the cooking utensils & firewood, and we had to take care of what was to be cooked. While strolling through these huge pine trees, all of a sudden Uncle Rizzo asked us to halt & be silent; while he gripped his .22 caliber rifle. Totally unknown to what was happening, I looked curiously towards uncle Rizzo. Like a sniper movie; looking through the scope, he clocked the rifle & pulled the trigger; and followed another shot. Ashu started running & I followed him in excitement, just to see what was coming next. It was a perfect shot taken, we found 2 wild hares lying there. Ashu quickly wrapped the quarry in poly bags and kept it in his bag along with the spices & rice that he was carrying. After ambling for while in the lush green Doon valley, we reached Mossy Falls; where Uncle Stanley & his kids, Michelle & Andrew were already waiting for us. The sight of crystal clear white water falling from145 feet, backed with rocks painted in shades of brown & green, was something I could have only imagined in an art class. Adding to the experience were the birds singing to the melody of the waterfall; this audiovisual was a state of trance. While we kids splashed into the water, the elders took charge & started preparing for lunch. A reunion for 3 school friends & a wild party for kids. Few rounds of homemade liquor & the oldies also joined us in the water stream. After a gala father & son time; we savored the freshly cooked rice & rabbit curry. It was time to pack our things & head back home before it gets dark.

 

The next morning it was time to head back home, by now I have already forgotten about the crazy city life. We said our goodbyes to uncle Rizzo & family; and hopped on our motorcycle. On the way back, we stopped to pay respect at a Gurudwara, supposedly to be 100 years old. As time passed by & the closer we grew to home, the journey became boring. While we were heading home, I was already on trip down the memory lane; remembering & reliving the moments I had in the last 48 hours. To sum up this heavenly ride, all I can say is…

 

“We had joy, we had fun; we had seasons in the sun!!!”

 

And it time I say, "Thank you Daddy for introducing me to the world of Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure!!!!!!"

 

Mossy falls - Barlowganj, Mussoorie

Image has been taken from Google for reference.

 

P.S: “Treat your father with Love & Care, Else you’ll miss him on his empty chair”