Bindiya.... A small town FBR (Part-5)

Within minutes Rahul rushed outside, he just wanted to check if Bindiya is on time or not. But to his surprise she was already there wiping off dust from bike thus preparing it for riding. She was dressed in her usual blue suit which she used to wear while working at home. Both greeted each other with a huge smile. Bindiya asked Rahul that where would he like to learn since the lawn of house though big was not that big enough for anyone to learn bike. He suggested that they should go to some nearby vacant road and since this is morning every road will be vacant. Bindiya then mounted the bike and started it in her usual manner. She then drove about 2 kms from home to reach a relatively low traffic road. Since it was start of winters Rahul while sitting hugged her tightly enjoy body warmth of Bindiya. When chilly wind started hitting his face he buried his head in her back. After reaching appropriate spot, Bindiya asked him to get down. Though he would have preferred to remain seated but it was his initiative and he can’t backtrack on his words. He reluctantly came down and went ahead in front of bike and stood resting his arms on handle. Bindiya remain seated and started briefing about basics of bike. He tried to grasp the basics as quickly as possible. She tried to increase his confidence by demonstrating that how easy it is to kick start, apply gear with clutch and then release clutch slowly with increased accelerator. She then asked Rahul to give a try, she got off from the bike and asked Rahul to mount the machine, Rahul mounted the machine and tried to follow what Bindiya did, but got failed at very first step, bike refused to get start and he went on kicking it. Suddenly he realized that his bike even has self start, he gently pressed the button and bike started. This was some thing new for Bindiya; she never tried this option as she didn’t knew that technology has advanced so much. She got amused and her eyes were asking question to Rahul that why he never disclosed this important information her. Rahul as usual had explanation for this also, he replied “You know you look smarter when you kick start the bike, all this self start stuff if for weaker people like me”, he tried impressing her but noticing that her mercury level is rising he switched back to the task. As instructed he pressed the clutch and applied the gear, but now came the trickiest part of releasing the clutch and rotating accelerator. With highly low confidence level he tried that but coordination went terribly wrong and with a sudden jerk engine came to halt, but this jerk was more than enough to misbalance him and since he couldn’t put his left foot on ground bike started falling in that direction, he closed his eyes in desperation fearing the worse. Suddenly Bindiya came in between bike and ground and managed to take the entire weight of bike and Rahul thus preventing him and bike to fall. Everything happened so fast that Rahul was unable to understand what went wrong. In despair he wrapped his arms around Bindiya shoulders still sitting on bike while Bindiya kept on holding both for few seconds. After few seconds he realized that he is safe when he opened his eyes he found himself in that awkward position and since his face was quite close to Bindiya’s, he slowly said “Thank God, you saved me”, he then steadied himself on bike with Bindiya’s help. Bindiya then realized that he is in highly primitive stage of learning bike, so she said “let me sit behind you and then guide”, Rahul moved a bit forward and Bindiya swinging her right leg mounted bike behind Rahul. She then held handle above Rahul’s arms and as usual gave a mighty kick to bring bike in action. She then adjusted her left leg beside Rahul’s so that she can change the gear and using correct combination of clutch and accelerator put bike into running mode, she then put her right leg beside Rahul’s on the same foot rest so that she can apply brakes in time, if required. Because of larger body frame, she had no problem in wrapping her body around Rahul’s and still driving the bike. Rahul was almost in the seventh heaven, a bigger and stronger girl was sitting behind him wrapping her entire body around him and also maintaining the balance. After driving some distance she stopped the bike and said “look how easy it is”, Rahul getting a bit embarrassed replied “It is easy for you but for me, you know it very well that I am driving for the first time”. Understanding his limitation she switched the first gear and asked him to hold clutch and accelerator, she then put her palms over his to make a grip of both objects. She then asked him to loose the pressure a bit and as she make him release the clutch and increased accelerator, she demonstrated correct usage. Bike started running on road and she again wrapped her legs around Rahul’s to avoid any mishap. She then made him to drive the bike for nearly an hour, changing gears and applying brakes herself whenever required. Rahul was focused only on how to balance the handle while driving. In same posture she made him drove the bike back to home. Every passerby looked with his eyes wide open that a girl is teaching a boy how to ride bike. Even Murari was not an exception; he was also amazed on this development. Rahul was more than happy since this was his first experience on his new bike. He then took a promise from Bindiya that she will teach him in a similar manner in evening also. During the day Bindiya was busy in household activities while Rahul was surfing internet gathering more and more options for her. He also thought the way in which Bindiya saved her today. The way he fell, he was bound to hurt, but Bindiya presence of mind saved him. He also thought that even she is out of practice but still she is so strong. Even stronger than anyone else in the house or perhaps may be stronger than many males. In all this came the evening and another bike learning session. Rahul this time was more confident and atleast learned clutch and accelerator coordination, seeing his confidence Bindiya removed her hands from his and kept on her knees in an alert position so that in case of emergency she can handle the crises. Time and again when Rahul tried to be bit more ambitious and raised the speed, she calmed him down warning him of a possible accident. Her large legs were added advantage as even after sitting at a higher position on the seat she hardly had any problem in supporting bike. Rahul was unaware of this support funda and kept his legs on footrest all the time. They returned after an hour or so, Rahul was happy that atleast he is grasping the basics and hoped to learn bike as soon as possible. Same thing continued next morning with some improvement but still Rahul required a lot of support. Since Bindiya was behind him, he was assured that nothing can happen to him while learning. In the afternoon when they met at lunch, he told her that he has short listed few career counselors and we will be visiting them in a day or two. Malti and others were due to return in the evening, so Bindiya suggested that they should go for learning bike a bit earlier, Taking note of what Bindiya said, they both left a bit early than the previous day. This time Rahul showed a better confidence on road, atleast he was changing gears on his own, it was only in U-turns he required Bindiya’s help for changing gears. Though he still was not able to understand the importance of placing foot at right time on ground. Possible reason for this could be he was more than assured that Bindiya is there right behind him and she will take care of any crises situation. This reason was not letting him to listen to Bindiya’s instructions properly. After sometime when he showed no improvement, she asked him to halt the bike and then she got down from the bike. She then asked him to take one round on his own; Rahul got feared to his life since the previous day incident was still fresh in mind. When he resisted, she told in suspicion that this way he can never learn. On this Rahul replied rolling eyes “Why should I bother for that, after all you are there with me every time”, Bindiya blushed on this statement but again got strict and insisted him to take one round on his own. Rahul reluctantly agreed, to his surprise he was able to initiate the proceedings and proceeded ahead, after driving about 50 meters when he tried to change the gear without pressing the complete clutch, gear got stuck making heavy unwanted sound, Bindiya on listening understood that some thing has gone wrong ran to her fullest capacity towards bike. Rahul in the mean time got scared by this erratic behavior but some how in time was able to put his foot on ground but was unable to halt the bike as for a moment he forgot that something by the name brake also exist in bike. Bindiya in the mean time had reached bike, looking that bike is still moving and Rahul is trying hard to stop it by his foot hold the bike firmly from back and pushed it in her direction. Rahul who was scared unconsciously rotated throttle which was bound to drag bike further but Bindiya who was strongly holding the bike used her full body strength so that bike doesn’t roll further, she shouted at Rahul to keep throttle down. After few seconds bike came to halt and engine also got off. Rahul without even realizing that he has been again saved by her, furiously looked at Bindiya and in a raising voice said “See, I told you naa I will not be able to handle alone”, “But this way you will never learn, here spoon feeding doesn’t work” came the reply in equally raised voice. For the first time she lost her patience as Rahul’s pace of learning was extremely slow. Rahul realized that for how long Bindiya will come for his rescue and he has to become self dependent soon. He slowly said sorry to her and added “Perhaps, I made a wrong choice, this one is too high for me, rather splendour would have been better choice”. Bindiya consoled him by patting slowly on his back and said by lightly wrapping his right arm around his shoulders “It is certainly not a wrong choice, you know when I learned I was not even 5 feets and Passion is only centimeters shorter than his bike, height is definitely not a criteria while learning bike, it is only and only your willingness and courage, see your dad is shorter than you but he was the one who droved Pulsar to home”. Rahul then recalled “Yes you are right, when dad was sitting on pulsar he was barely able to touch the ground with his toe, but he certainly drove the bike well and brought it home”, he then added “I have to be more serious now, but Bindiya please give me some time may be after initial hick up I will drive better, so please support me till that time, God knows if I will be able to achieve perfection like you ever in my life”, he almost pleaded and wondered at the same time. Bindiya then wrapped her other hand from front and gave a gentle hug to boost his confidence and motivate him. Without waiting for another plea from Rahul she sat behind him and slowly he started to cripple bike on the road. Bindiya as usual was sitting in her usual alert position keeping her head on Rahul’s right shoulder so that if required she can pass on instruction in no time. Suddenly an Activa passed by at about 70 kmph which was being driven by girl and another girl was sitting pillion. On seeing Rahul driving bike very slowly on road, the pillion girl showed down thumb to indicate he can’t catch them. Rahul got distressed and said to himself a bit loud so that Bindiya can also hear “Had I known driving today, I would have shown them what is the real place of Activa”. Bindiya quickly understanding his frustration suddenly grabbed the handle wrapping his arms over Rahul’s and put her legs on the front foot rests, before Rahul could understand anything, she asked him to shrink a bit so that she can have a better control, Rahul immediately followed his instructions and there she raised the throttle and bike zoomed on the road. She then said “Why wait for tomorrow, we will show them their correct place right now”, with in few seconds meter touched 100 and the distance between them and Activa which was substantial in the beginning started diminishing rapidly. It was the matter of leas than 30 seconds and Pulsar was running parallel to Activa, they almost raced ahead, when she slowed down to 70 so that both vehicles can run in parallel. She then smirked at girls who were actually in shock state that how come they came near to them so fast and were also amused noticing the unusual position of sitting. She then turned her head and bend it little, Rahul on the other hand too turned his head a bit upward in a position that both can see each other, they then passed smile celebrating victory, Bindiya again raised the throttle and Pulsar zoomed ahead, it was turn of Rahul now to thumb down the girls. Even though this victory came courtesy Bindiya, but he was feeling like a victor and to further celebrate Rahul raised his both hands and punched some fists in air. Sitting in that position by twisting his head, he even managed to plant a small kiss on Bindiya’s cheek as a note of appreciation. Bindiya find that act unusual but she ignored that as she herself was elated on the victory. After sometime he returned to his original task of learning bike. When Bindiya noticed that substantial time has passed by and now they should return, she asked Rahul to take U turn. Rahul immediately left that task for Bindiya, she again wrapped her hands and legs around his body while he shrunk a bit in order to give better control. It was exactly at time when they were taking U-Turn, a car nearly collided with their bike, but since both saw each other in time nothing happened, it was then every rider on car and bike noticed that they all belonged to same house. Actually Malti along with Simran and Prem has retuned from the marriage. Rahul waved his hand showing his happiness on seeing dear ones safe return and shouted from that position, “Hey Mom look I have started to learn bike driving”, he then asked Bindiya to move a bit back as she was holding the handle with her entire body almost wrapped around him. Bindiya complied with Rahul request and Rahul slowly started the bike and drived it carefully to home. Malti was actually happy to see Rahul’s initiative and kept smiling in appreciation. Another passenger in car who was fuming at the same time was Prem. Immediate thought process that started in his mind was that Bindiya ignorance towards Rahul was just a show-off and nothing has changed. He was getting impatient and was wishing that they should reach home as early as possible. Since Rahul was riving real slow, his wait was getting longer and longer. When they reached home, Rahul again passed on control to Bindiya so that she can do the entire tricky job of taking sharp turns which will eventually lead to the garage. Everyone got down and assembled in the lawn for exchange of greetings. Malti and Simran congratulated Rahul for his heroics and same time praised Bindiya for teaching him. Rahul too gently pressed her wrist in appreciation. Though he did it with so that he get away unnoticed, but it is impossible to get away from sharp sight of Prem. Prem then said addressing the entire crowd “I think Bindiya is not fit for the training job, handling bike for own while driving is some thing else and training some one is different ball game, I fear they both of them may land in big trouble if the continue doing that”, “Then please suggest a better name” came the Rahul’s request. “I think Rajat sa’ab is the best choice” he tried to cut the discussion short, Rahul then said looking at Malti, “Mom, do you really think so, firstly dad is too busy in his work and also height of trainer plays a major role, I doubt if he can handle me and as well as bike with so much perfection in the way Bindiya did”. Malti quickly understood Rahul’s logic and nodded her head saying “Yes, you are right son, Bindiya is the best trainer for you, I assume that you have grown so much that your male ego will not be hurt and you will feel proud of the fact that you learned bike driving in an unconventional way”, her later part of sentence was having suspicion as well. “Not at all mom, in fact I only proposed for this and if there would have been any problem I would have never travelled with her again after hospital incident”, Rahul stamped the decision in acceptance and virtual go ahead. Prem’s temper was raising but no one noticed except Bindiya, but she was keep her cool and preferred to ignore his feelings remembering speech given by Rahul other day. Prem then bursted requesting Malti, “Malkin, if you will allow Bindiya in getting indulged in so many other activities, definitely the key focus areas will get affected, this is not a good thing, her prime purpose of being here is to take proper care of house and serve everyone in the best way possible”. “Prem, I don’t know why you have cultivated habit of opposing Bindiya for her every act, be it right or wrong, if you think this is not her focus area then I am making it one of focus area right now, you only said you both are here to serve us better and till the time your’s or Bindiya’s act is related to any member of our family it is part of serving only, its better you keep your mouth shut and do whatever is instructed, first show me that you are getting overloaded and then I will take decision, if required we will keep another maid, I think Meena will be fit to work soon and that option is still open to me”, Malti’s voice went higher and higher when she said these words. It came as a strict warning to Prem, who immediately left the spot to avoid further insult. Everyone then passed on smile to each other as if they have won first round of bout. When both retuned returned to their room after finishing entire work, Prem tried to act normally as if that incident hasn’t impacted him, but his tone was clearly explaining his fabrication. Bindiya deliberately ignored that fabrication and both slept in the normal manner. Bindiya soon fall asleep while Prem kept waking for long time, again and again those scenes were coming in front of his eyes in which Bindiya was wrapping her entire body around Rahul’s and controlling the bike, the closeness which they shared at time, the coziness which Rahul was enjoying, the way Bindiya patted Rahul’s cheek after parking bike in the garage, the way Rahul held her wrist, the way Rahul cooked up plot so that Malti got fully convinced, the way Malti insulted her in front of everyone. All this was filling him with more and more hatred for Rahul, he also started feeling how timid he is in front of Bindiya, but he never knew his timidity will only increase in the coming time when more and more mysteries that Bindiya is carrying will unfold one by one.

To be contd.....