The source of a kind
Ahmedabad is one of the most advanced and developed cities in India today. Back in those days (about 20 years ago) the situation was not quite the same, though; especially the greater part of Ahmedabad.
I get a run of goosebumps even today thinking of that incident. I was little and went to “Hanuman” temple every Saturday with my dad. Occasionally, dad would take me and mum to this “Hanuman” temple in the Cantonment area famous as “Camp Hanuman“. It was a long ride from our home and we had a scooter then. So, it was a family outing for us every time we went there as we always went during evening time and dad used to take us out for dinner after that.
One such evening when we had gone to “Hanuman Camp” — We got done with our prayers and left the temple. That evening we were running a little late than always. Moreover, it was winter time and it was getting dark. The parking lot was a barren land and we could hardly spot a life there in the setting darkness, except for few stray dogs. As we walked from the temple to our scooter in the parking lot, mum-dad were chitchatting. I was scared of the setting darkness and held my dad’s hand while I walked very quietly.
We finally got to the scooter and dad took the keys out from his pocket. The scooter then had to be ‘kicked’, so dad did that to start it. One kick, two kicks, three kicks … He kept kicking but the scooter didn’t start. I thought the scene was set perfectly as it happens in the movies. I was so horrified but then dad learnt that he had not turned on the engine. He did so and the scooter finally started. Wooohhhffff! I sighed with relief.
Finally, we were out from there. I thought everything was going to be normal and smooth now. But that was not to be …
