Bade dil waale!

Scene 1. New Zealand

Four people drove down to Kapiti coast for weekend excursion and on their way back their car crashed. Apparently they had driven it for 20 or so kilometers without a drop of water in the radiator and in most likelihood the engine had burned out. The car needed immediate technical assistance. Location: Expressway. Stopping not allowed. There aren’t any ‘nukkad pe mechanics’ in New Zealand. They waited for the car to completely cool down, topped up the radiator with water, tried to start, but the car did not start. With lack of options, they decided to call a tow away service to get them… and the car! After about 20 minutes, a big tow away truck arrived. It lifted the car and put it in the truck (as opposed to dragging it on two wheels). However, the driver said that he could take only 2 guys along – as per traffic rules, and not all four! Shit! How would the other two guys reach home?

They still had atleast 150 kms to go, it wasn’t a city exactly to have cabs, it was dark and deserted. The truck driver turned out to be a nice guy, who would go the extra mile to help the strangers and decided that he would take the other two boys also and drop them at the nearest railway station. So all four got into the firang truck. The two small little ones were hiding behind the big front seats to avoid being spotted by traffic cops, who otherwise would fine the driver for running over capacity. On the way the driver decided that the other two guys are anyways not visible and he can drop all 4 of them back home. He did :)

Scene 2. India

Five people drove down to Lonavala and on their way back one of the wheels of the car caught fire. Location: Toll Plaza, Time: 2:00am. They extinguished the fire with water and waited for the tyre and the car to cool down to carry on with the return journey. But as the fate had it, after about an hour of waiting it was found out that the car is not in a position to go any further. The breaks had burned out and there was no hope that they could be fixed onsite by a visiting mechanic, if at all the boys could arrange one at that hour of the night. They were 20-25 kms away from home - actually Hotel. It was decided to abandon the vehicle and reach the hotel. For some reasons no Bus/ Volvo/ Cab was willing to give lift to 5 guys at 2:00 am. Guess who came for rescue? The same old reliable TRUCK! This time the five of them got inside the truck of a helpful driver who dropped them back to the hotel.

Common thread between scene 1 and scene 2 is the truck ride and yours truly. In the first scene, I was one of the little guys hiding in the back so that the traffic cop could not spot us. (The second guy hiding opposite to me was my boss) In scene 2, I was one of the 5 guys and I spotted the fire. The second truck experience was like Déjà vu for me. Exactly same situation, same feeling, same excitement – remembering the Dil Chahata hai dialogue where Saif Ali Khan says “To tujhe kya lagta hai? Mein roz takiye pe baithta hoon?” I wondered if it is the height of coincidence or is this pattern a result of either me choosing crap cars, or hanging out with people who have crap cars. Is it normal to be in such a situation twice?

How many times have you come back home in a truck?

I think everyone should take a ride back home in a truck, atleast once in their lifetime. It is a different kind of feeling. An enriching experience. But above all, its fun. Whenever you are in such a situation, some smart ass would always remark how ‘adventurous’ this journey is. Indeed.

Bade dil waale - Truck waale!