I was super happy and dancing around the school, the house, even in the bathroom..you know what made me this happy?

I am getting a new cycle. Yahoo… Finally, my dad agreed to buy me a bicycle on one condition that, No bicycle to school, not even to tuition, only to ride it in our street but only after learning properly. Haha, you know my parents don’t know that I already learned how to ride a bicycle from Sweetyakka

My dad took me to a big cycle shop and asked me to select one. No, I don’t like any. Though this big cycle store had many cycles, but all were too dull. All are the same, no good colours. I want a red and white sports cycle, not these boring Green and black colours. I said the same to my dad, and I said I had already seen one cycle shop near Mummy’s hospital where I visited the cycles with colours I like. He took me to that shop. This shop is not so fancy but has colours I liked so I went inside. I saw one hard-working uncle’s mouth filled with pan masala . He assisted me in selecting a cycle. I wanted to buy a red one, but I fell for that after seeing the orange and black colour cycle. I loved that at first sight, and I said this is the one I want to buy.

Did I told you that the cycle mechanic uncle’s name? he is Masthan, and the cycle shop too named after him. Masthan cycle shop. At first glance, I thought he was a worker there because his dress is super dirty and filled with grease. Later realized why Masthan Uncle’s clothing was filled with that much mud and grease while he was assembling my cycle. It’s a pretty complicated job. I am keenly observing what he is doing and asked a few doubts too. Why that, why this? Meanwhile, my dad went some shopping, but I said I wouldn’t come anywhere. I should take care of my Draco. Ya, I named my cycle Draco. Why? I don’t know.

Masthan uncle assembled everything, and he asked me to go for a small ride to check everything was okay. I completed one round on the street, and my dad saw me riding a bicycle, and he was shocked to see me when I am riding the cycle. He didn’t know when I learned how to ride a cycle. Meanwhile, I returned and said a few problems like the Kir-Kir sound to Masthan uncle. He said that the cycle chain sound and other issues would be fixed automatically after a few days of usage. Unwillingly I said okay later, and he instructed me to bring the cycle again after one month for a regular check-up. Being that curious kid, I replied, “What if I don’t bring after one month”. He replied with a villainous voice that “Your Draco would die. Like your mom, who is a doctor for people, I am your doctor for your cycle. Just like people, should never miss regular doctor appointments, you too never make your cycle too miss no regular check-ups babu”.

Probably he said this to get any discount on the outpatient fee on his next visit to Mom’s hospital but what stuck in my brain is Draco will die if I don’t bring him back to regular checks on time to Masthan’s uncle(the cycle doctor).

I showed my new cycle to all my friends and showed it off in front of them too . I even raced Sweetyakka with Draco, but I fell a few times again. This time, not much blood or wounds. Maybe my body adapted to falling and getting up from crashes. Exactly after a month, on April 17th, I took to Masthan uncle. He has done a few checks and adjusted a few things.

Meanwhile, I looked at all his stores and found a new light for my bicycle. I fixed that new light on to Draco. All done, Mr Draco is in full form. Masthan uncle told me to come precisely after one month. My Draco is all ready to race with my friends. Our races primarily include who goes to school first or who will catch that ice cream vendor on his rickshaw first. Though I win a few times, I celebrate it like I won a Formula One race when I win in any race.

After a few days, my Mumma and dad argued , and my mummy went to my grandmother’s house in Vijayawada. At that time, my father used to complain that my mother is behaving like me and getting upset about little things and becoming like a kiddo wanting my father to pamper her more often. After a few days, my mother called me from my grandmother’s home and enquired about how I was and what my father was cooking for me.

After some regular talk, I asked her how you are. She said” Everything here is boring, Chinnu. I argued with your grandmother, grandfather, and with my brother too. They are giving up the argument too quickly. It’s super boring, but fighting with your father is a different high. No one can’t replace the pure pleasure of little arguments with your father, and I miss those things. I didn’t come because of any anger or something. Your grandfather fell ill, and I wanted to see him as soon as possible, so I came suddenly. I want to return to Vizag now, but train reservations are unavailable for a week. Don’t worry will come when my train tickets are confirmed. And one more, don’t tell all this to dad chinnu. Bye, take care” She cut the call.

The minute after she cut the call, being that dad’s pet, I just went to dad and told everything sentence to sentence, though my mom warned me to don’t say anything to dad

After some time, I listened to my dad telling his friend Sudheer uncle that he wanted to take Sudheer uncle’s new car for 3-4 days. He is explaining to him that since our car is a small one and we cant travel 400-500km in it on the bumpy roads of Vizag-Vijayawada highway.

Later that day, my dad came to my room and asked me, “Chinnu will you accompany me? I am going to get back to your mother from Vijayawada. We can give her a big surprise by going there.”

I said, “Yoo, Why not? I am always ready to travel, Dad.”

Later that evening, Sudheer uncle brought the car to our house and told us many safety things since it was a new car. After a minute he went, my dad said to me, “We will be buying a new car after this trip chinnu, It’s better to buy a new car than to listen to these many instructions.”

We started our trip “Bring back mom home-mission 400Km”.

This Journey is my first time stepping outside Vizag and going to grandma’s house in Vijayawada. Super excited at the idea of going to the new place. On the way, my dad told me many things. How my father, and mother meet, and how complicated is it to deal with an independent, strong yet lovable woman like my mother? And many other things in between. I don’t know how to respond to those things at that time. I am simply nodding my head and wondering these seriously-looking people had those silly things to share with their kid, and I slept listening to those things and imagining my mother and father doing those little things.

I woke up when we reached Grandma’s house in Vijayawada. No, no, it’s not Vijayawada, not a city. It’s a small village near Vijayawada. There are many paddy fields,Green everywhere my eyes can see. My mother is just super happy to see us there. Probably seeing my father, not me. My presence was sidelined for an extended period of time until I fell off a tree and cried for some time.

In the grandmother’s house, all the maids are taking care of Dad. No one is not caring about me and what I want. I was okay and controlling my anger until Venkayya, one of the house helpers, brought fresh mangoes from the same tree I fell off from and gave them straight to my father ignoring me. I asked my grandmother, “I will go home. Nobody is concerned about me here,” My grandmother replied, “Go, who is stopping you, and by the way, who are you, babu? Your father is my son-in-law for me, and your mother is my daughter. You are nobody to us, go to your home as soon as possible” I was not at all happy with this.

The next day in the early morning, we are getting ready to return to Vizag. While we were seated in the car same Venkayya, gave me a lot of mangoes and kept a few in the car dickey. Grandmother offered me some money to buy the toys I asked for. Since in that village those toys were not available, she gave money to buy them after going home. But I refused to take it. I remembered what she said to me yesterday like my father is the son-in-law and who I am. I asked the same with a super angry tomato face. She replied, ” You are more than both, and I am her Harry Potter”. I cooled down and accepted money and a few kisses from her.

We started driving back to Vizag. After some time, I listened to Mom’s words asking Dad, “Still, how far? It’s already 12:30, and I am feeling hungry, Shekar what’s more special in that restaurant to go more 60Km just to eat lunch? We can eat in any restaurant on the highway right?. My father replied, “That was my favourite place to eat when I was at my graduation. Just wait one more hour, I will feed you with super delicious meals”.

One hour over, No restaurant. Two hours over, No sight of food.

Now I am also started asking when we are going to eat, and I am super hungry. My father replied,” Oh, Mr.Chinnu, don’t do drama along with your mother. If you people are really hungry, eat what grandma packed for you to eat. I am going to eat only in a restaurant near my college”

We stopped at one village, but no restaurant, no no no, I couldn’t see any restaurant with my little black eyes, but my nose sensed a super aromatic food smell. My father takes us to a small house. Yes, it’s a house with a few old wooden tables. Maybe we came at late hours, only 2-3 people were eating, remaining tables were empty. My father greeted one old lady there. She replied with just a wide smile.

We settled on one table. I wouldn’t say I initially liked the atmosphere, but somehow I settled, and I decided not to eat much. That old lady who smiled at our arrival came to us with banana leaves and a small bowl of rasmalai and laddus. What? Did we come this far to eat only Veg meals…really? my mind filled with all questions.

She brought a few more sweets, among them I tasted ras malai, and it just melted in my mouth. Much better than how my mother makes it. Sweets are followed by different flavours of rice. Veg palav, Zeera rice, Semiya Rice and Tiger rice.I just loved that Tiger rice I mean tamarind rice, so much. My father told me to try that tiger rice with tomato Pappu. I tried, and I announced it was good Dad. Now my father started teasing my mother. “Your mother, too, does some yellow-coloured rice and calls it tiger rice. See, this is proper tiger rice.

I said, “Yes, yes”. 

Usually, my mother won’t be silent in this type of dialogue. She strikes back immediately, but this time she is super quiet probably. She is still in that happy mood, for we came to Vijayawada to bring her back.

We ate properly. My tummy was full, but the old lady still brought one more thing and insisted that I try for one time. It’s curd stuffed vada(Dhahi vada). I ate that too. Now I am filled up to the brim, but I can’t resist myself eating one more Rasmalia at the end.

After that heavy lunch, We said bye to Bhanumathi military hotel. Hoo, I didn’t tell you the name of that hotel rights it is Bhanumathi military hotel written in a neat red colour with a photo of that old lady on the wall. I unintentionally saved the route map to how to reach that place in my mind. Maybe my little tummy wants to go there a few more times.

After some time, my father started producing burps, and my mother “What’s the problem? Can you have some Gelucil tablets na Shekar? 

My father replied “If I had any space for a tablet to enter into my tummy. I probably ate one more laddu there in the hotel?” 

We just laughed at that sentence from my dad. Our car resounded with laughs for some time. This was one of the best moments I had with my mom and dad together.

We came to Vizag around 7 P.m. I was tired a little bit, so I went to sleep early. In the middle of the night, I woke up and went to the hall to drink some water. While returning to my bed, I saw a clock and calendar hanging on the wall. I was worried by looking at it. The calendar showed today’s date as June 17th. I must take Draco to Masthan uncle’s cycle shop today. I scolded myself so much for forgetting this date. Somehow I went to sleep. But I am not getting any sleep. My second-class little brain is overthinking everything. What if Masthan uncle told me he was right that if I missed the visit of Draco to the Mechanic appointment, Draco would die? What if Draco won’t move anywhere from tomorrow? So many thoughts are running in my brain.

After some time, I got an idea. Every time I went to Masthan uncle’s shop, I clearly observed everything he was doing with my bicycle. It’s now only 10 P.m.—still two more hours there for today. So I can do something with Draco to save him. I recollected everything Masthan uncle did to Draco, and I want to replicate that now. Yahoo, it Looks like a good idea.

I took all the necessary tools in the storeroom. I brought my cycle to my bedroom and started repairing it . I poured some oil into the cycle chain and started removing some boults so that I can lube those things and rearrange them again. At the start, everything looked easy, simple tasks went smoothly. Later I lost the flow and cant rearrange things back. I end the cycle in many parts. I totally disassembled the bicycle into pieces and started crying helplessly

Maybe my dad listened to my cry or sounds coming out of me, trying to rearrange cycle parts again and again with some frustration. They opened the door, shocked to see me at midnight crying with cycle parts all over my bedroom. When he asked me what happened, I said, “See my Draco died, Due to a Mission to bring back mom home, I missed my appointment to Masthan uncle shop dad. I forgot, and now he is no more, He falls into small pieces” While uttering these words, I cried a lot. Meanwhile, I was crying this much. I don’t know why my mother and father laughed out that much loud and why they were not taking this situation seriously. I understood now why they laughed at me so much.

Now also, whenever my dad sees any kid on a bicycle, he used to tease me, telling me that “Chinnu, You are the one innocent little kid who created that much drama at midnight for a cycle.” I simply smiled in return like that Old lady Bhanumathi in that village hotel

This is Ravi Yalavarthi and I will see you soon, Click here to read about other women who influenced me