Chapter 02: A Sunny Day

The call came on a Tuesday. It was Cecil.

“Machan, Nate, let’s take a trip this weekend. We’ll all go on bikes to some nearby place.”

“Awesome. Who all are coming?”

“You, me and Sudha, for now. We might add a few more.”

Nate thought for a few seconds.

“How about Shiloh?” he asked.

“Sure. He can join us.”

“Let’s do it then. When exactly do you wanna go? Saturday or Sunday?”

“Sunday, dude.”

“Cool. Let’s leave at around 12.30.”

“Okay. Done. Anything else, Nate?”

“Nope. That’s it”

As the call finished, Nate was smiling. It was going to be a weekend with something to look forward to. Something out of the ordinary. It had been simply ages since he’d taken a proper bike ride. This would really be a lovely experience. Happy thoughts filled his head, as he attended to the next waiting customer.

Meanwhile, Shiloh had been having a hectic day at work. First, the client had been relentless and exceedingly demanding. Then, his manager called him in to tell him of another of his team mates being promoted over him. Just when he thought that things couldn’t get any worse, Cecil called.

“Hey Shiloh!”

A tired voice answered “Hey da…”

“How about a bike trip this Sunday?”

“Sure. Where we headed to?”

“There’s this Nagavalli falls nearby. It should be a good ride.”

“Fine. Do you know the way?”

“Not really. Could you help us out with figuring out the route?”

“Of course. Let me see what Google Maps has got on this place.”

A few checks on his computer brought up the route from the South Western portion of the city, to the falls. Quite simple and straightforward. They should be able to make the distance within three hours.

He told Cecil.

Minutes later, as he got back to the dreary mundane chores that brought him his income, Shiloh was pleased. So what, if work was a drag? Sunday was gonna rock. Thank goodness for that.

As Cecil finished both his calls, Sudha was patiently waiting by. She was contemplating the possibility of inviting Susan along. If Susan had to come, they would need to invite Rohit. She checked with Cecil, who was totally cool about the whole thing. Cecil thought of Susan as a sweet young sister. What’s more, she and Sudha got along quite well together. It would be nice for Sudha to have some company along with her, on the trip. A smile caressed his lips. A smile that was mirrored by Sudha’s face. It was going to be a great day, this Sunday.

Susan didn’t know what to think. Sudha had just called up to invite Rohit and herself for a bike trip, the coming Sunday. She knew exactly what Rohit would say – “Let’s go!” But she wasn’t so sure about the whole thing. As it was, not too many people knew how she felt about Rohit. She liked him immensely. She simply adored being with him. He was so caring and considerate. Just the other day, he gave up his work to stay with her, simply because she wasn’t too well. He was a gem. She decided that it would be good to spend an entire bike trip with him. She called him up.

“Hi da…”

“Hey baby. What’s up?”

“Cecil and Sudha are planning a small bike trip this Sunday. They wanna know if we’d go along.”

“Of course! Let’s go!”

Smiling, Susan asked him if he was happier about the trip, or about spending time with her. Characteristically, Rohit replied, “Both!” Such a darling, that Rohit. Spending the whole of Sunday’s afternoon and evening with him on a bike trip was going to be good.

How wrong they all were. Smiles caressing lips. Hearts being warmed. Sunlight kissing the deep, dank reaches of their souls. Hoped, they all did, for an awesome time. Once again, life would act out that ancient paradox which makes hope a terrible thing. It would happen.

Sunday morning dawned as bright as ever. There were no swaying branches or joyful birds singing; this was a city. A modern city. There was the lazy bustle that comes with such modernities which make Sunday morning less of a pleasure, more of a sin, and most of all, elegantly dull.

Susan and Rohit were the first to show up at Cecil’s house. Casual in attire, and brilliant in happiness, they looked like they were going away for a long holiday. Sudha couldn’t help but smile. After a few bites of yummy home-made sandwiches, two black pulsars roared out the driveway to Cecil’s house. Shiloh and Nate were already waiting at the meeting point, on a red Pulsar. The Pulsar, striking in black, looked bold, beautiful and daring in red. Soon, the six of them were on their way.

The Nagavalli Falls is a good 50 km away from the Inter-State highway. Considering the fact that the Inter-State had been recently re-laid, and that it was maintained very well, the trio did not think twice before choosing it over the alternate – the National Highway that passed quite close to the actual site of the Falls. Unlucky them. Perhaps if they had taken the National Highway on the way to the Falls, they would have decided not to come back the same away. Alas! Life seldom turns out the way people would love it to turn out.

A roadside Dhaba provided them spicy, but wholesome food. The group ate heartily; few could have seen the food that was laid in front of them, and not enjoyed the whole repast. When all bellies were filled, they set out again. Here is where Cecil brought out that idea which had seemed inspired, at the time. He suggested that they keep rotating the pillion-riders. A few minutes of deliberation saw Nate riding pillion with Rohit, while Shiloh took on Sudha. Susan would ride behind Cecil. To be very honest, Susan did not like the idea even then. She had come on this trip expecting to ride along with Rohit all the way. Now that stupid cousin brother of hers had to come up with such a suggestion. She kept glaring at Rohit and at Nate behind him, but the expression was lost on the duo. They were deep in discussion over Apple’s latest iPod.

The group had to pull in for a stop a little while further on, since Sudha needed to take a break. A good half hour was spent in devouring ice creams, cola floats and cola drinks at a roadside rest stop. Soon, they were on their way again. The ride was pleasant at worst and exhilarating at best. There is little that can excel the exhilaration that a biker feels when travelling at close to 100 KM per hour. Very little.

With a steady average speed of 80 KM per hour, the trio of bikes were soon screaming down the National Highway section that would lead them to the Falls. The group made a note of the fact that the National Highway led all the way back to the city; it could be an alternative route for the return trip.

Five-and-a-half hours after they had left the city, the group reached the Falls. Tired, weary and exhausted, they just wanted to sit still for some time. The Falls had dwindled to little more than a trickle. But there was serene beauty in the rocks, wild grass, and mountainous terrain that was found all around. All mobile phones were out and pictures were being snapped. No one saw the lone man standing at the top of the Falls and watching them; he had in his hand something that looked like a whip and his face wore an expression of grim disdain. But no one saw him. And some one should have.

When people blunder through life, they often miss the most important parts. They often miss the signs that always are present. They look for the signs that never manifest themselves, the signs that never are. And so, the group committed their first serious error. They failed to see the man point to them and make signs towards the sun. Strange, weird signs.

Not soon after, the sky began to grow prematurely dark. It wasn’t yet time for the sun to go down, but it was well on its way out. Reminded that they had a long ride back home, the group of six wearily moved towards the bikes. Cecil suggested another change of pillion riders, to which Nate quickly agreed. This time around, however, Susan made sure that she was back with Rohit. This left Nate to ride pillion with Cecil, while Sudha remained with Shiloh.

The journey back felt quicker than the journey towards the Falls. It is always the same with trips to places one has never been to before; the return journey is a lot quicker.

Dark, gloomy clouds loomed overhead, blotting out what was left of the twilight, while the three modern stallions sped across the vast stretch of the highway. When they reached the point in the road where the National Highway forked off from the route they had arrived by, their decision was unanimous. They decided to take the National Highway. It wasn’t a well-thought out decision. It wasn’t a logical decision. It was simply decided.

Trying to set the pace, Cecil was riding in front. Every now and then, either Rohit or Shiloh would fall behind, forcing Cecil to slow down and wait for them to catch up. And catch up, they would – zooming past Cecil like he wasn’t there. Slowing down, waiting for, catching up, zooming past – one after the other, each rider took his turn at it.

Soon, they reached a stretch of the highway which was desolate, barren and looked like an expansive scene from a Western; scrubs, bushes, barren earth formed the scenery on both sides of the Highway. There was not much to see, nothing to look at. Taking a sharp curve, Cecil thought he heard something. But he dismissed it as nothing since there really was nothing around. Travelling at those speeds, the wind can howl and make all sorts of odd noises in a man’s ears. What Cecil thought he heard, he had dismissed. He shouldn’t have. He never should have.

The three riders had been a treat to watch. Their handling of the motorised vehicles; their poise and grace as they rode the magnificient machines; the way they threw all caution to the winds. Until finally, there were only two. Their antics had become so routine, that no one noticed. At least, for a while. When they finally noticed, it had happened.