In my new Optra, my first long drive me and my roommate Vijay set out on last weekend to Mumbai from Pune and our first sights of the Express Highway was memorable. The weather was just perfect, it was cloudy, cool n Breezy and the road had no potholes (first time I eversaw such a road) even if you use a magnifying glass and search you wouldnt find even a dot. The road was laid to perfection. With Bon Jovi Singing "Thank you for Loving me" and a row of sentimental Rock consisting of "I live my life for you" from Firehouse and "When I see you smile" from Bad English, etc., playing one after the other, the day was so Blissful and Romantic!! I had mixed up the songs in the 5 CD changer music system with some of old hindi Romantic Retros and a pack of hot samosas and the Tea we had flasked me and Vijay were so lost!! Optra was going at 140 Kmph with pin drop silence and made us feel that we were going at 60. All the mountaints, the greenery surrounding us, the cars and people we passed by, oh boy, it was the best journey of my life!! It was way too amazing for first timers like us. Vijay was really enjoying sittin next to me I only wished if he knew driving, I wouldn't mind sharing my car with him!! Vijay is an awesome guy to be with! He is not just my roommate, but also my all time companion, moral support and a shoulder in the hour of need! He literally takes care of me and I owe him my life for all the great things he has done for me.
Well, we were going for our fav bangalore Band - Sonic Flare's Rock Show and feel being a part of it like in the old days. My best friend Jongky is the famous Keyboard player of that band and I loved each n every member of that Band. This time there was a new Vocalist whom I was excited to meet as I had heard he is a great singer and can pull any note as he had practiced Classical Karnataka Music. And Jassi (Jasmeet Singh) who was my Ex Collegue at Dell who is currently doing his MBA in Mumbai was also supposed to Join. So Along with a draw towards superb music and meeting Old friends, driving my new car, Romantic Songs, Samosas, Exquisite Drive, Tea, Vijay, Weekend after a long time, the weather oh boy the foundation was laid perfectly and joy had no par and I couldnt believe I was more happy than the word happy could appeal to - I couldnt guess something terrible is coming my way.
We reached Mumbai, met Jongky and Jassi near the Air India Building, they were loitering their ways on the Marine Drive - Parked the car and went to Hotel Ambassador where Jongky and band had taken a room. Met all the Bandmates, it was really very nice meeting them and we had Italian Food (dont remember the name of the dish we ate) which Rags (Vinay - Drummer) Ordered for us. It was vegetarian and with lots of cheese and whipped cream it was tasty. After we were done, we went on a long walk on the beautiful Marine Drive with Jongky n Jassi addicted to taking photos next to Trident, Oberois and Taj. There was time for us to catchup with old talks as well as the show was yet to start at 10:30 PM and the time was still 7:30. As we watched the Sun Set, we sat and spoke so much about memories and laughed as if we are never going to stop. We returned back to Jazz by the bay (where Sonic FLare was playing) and we started to mellow down our day into music that Sonic Flare was set to play.
the new vocalist announced after tesing all the sound for Base, Lead, Drums, Chime, Treble, Keyboard sync and amps, that its Sonic Flare from Bangalore Karnataka - the crowd had already started cheering and the first song was With or Without you from U2, after which they played Sonic Flare Original Composition Hurt and No heros and so on and it went on.. They played Poison, Police, Crash, Bon Jovi, Californication from RHCP, Alison Coopers, Alanis Morrisette, Judas Priest, with the female vocalist playing Zombie etc., also followed by requests from audience, overall they played around 35 to 40 songs and finally the show ended. We packed all the equipments and when we were about to start the car, heard a huge crank noice and the car broke down completely!! I couldnt believe my luck
It was 3 in the morning and my head wasnt working at all!! My new Optra had broken down. Chevrolet Helpline number not helpful!!! I didnt want to get cheated by some local Garage guy and tear a whole in my pocket. Vijay and Jassi quickly sprung into action calling Just Dial to towe my vehicle to a repair centre. Finally after an hour of juggling a mechanic came and said that its a Major Engine Problem and something internal had broken down. Chevrolet Showroom expert on the phone only estimated 1 lakh rupees worth of repair!! I couldnt believe my luck!! I realised why the day was so beautiful so that it wud end this way. We bid bye to the band guys who had to sleep so that they could perform another show tomorrow and moreover they were tired. Further, we pushed the car and parked it in a nearby parking lot and settled to sleep till Dawn. Morning we called up the Towe way folks, towed till a showroom and waited for diagnosis. was told this would cost around 60 to 70k. I couldnt hold it, I was on the verge of a breakdown. Then I spoke to my choclate and she made everything seem so easy and nice. I got ready to face the current issue and solve the problem. Took a bus after waiting near the Kalanagar Skywalk for 3 hours and paid double fare to get a seat in teh Neeta Travels Volvo and reached Pune with hardly any energy left at 2:30 in the morning. Paid the Auto fellow 250 bucks from the Bus Stand till Hadapsar. Came home and Crashed with pictures and thoughts fuming in my head. Currently my car is in repair status, its been 3 days and I will be getting the car delivered day after tomorrow and I need to go to Mumbai again!!!
Boy that trip was way too memorable!! Life teaches so many new lessons, and wants us to learn. Until we learn it, it will make us understand the hardway. I will never go for a second car, will never be excited too much about how my day is going and will always talk to my choclate and owe Vijay, Jassi and Jongky my life for their help. Without people and without friends, nothing is possible and with them, nothing is impossible.
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Maddy
