I am a born pillion rider. Even today, I prefer pillion ride because no tension of driving and I can look around to shoot photos or just time-pass or …... just sleep ____ hahaha
I used to go for long drive with my best friend (my dad) mostly on hilly tracks of Assam & NEFA border. NEFA stands for North Eastern Frontier Area…. old name of Arunachal Pradesh. In those days, roads were not that good and very narrow with lot of sharp bends. A warm welcome by a wild animal was a routine.
One Sunday we started early in the morning to go to a place near NEFA border on the way to Bomdilla. In hilly section, road was not good and many potholes filled with slick mud. We were riding an Enfield bike. A 303 was in my possession (daddy was the license holder). Motive behind going to that place was to hunt ducks. In those days, neither my dad nor I were wild life lover or preserver.
When we reached very near to the destination (father was negotiating sharp bend), dad applied sudden brake and I dropped flat on the ground. Due to impact of my fall on the ground and on the gun, there was a miss-fire from the gun. Fortunately, no one was injured. My dad, instead of helping me to get up, fired two rounds from his revolver. Until then, I was not aware about the danger ahead of us.
Dad could see a huge python on the middle of the road and applied sudden break. I was unaware of that snake. After total three gunshots and continuous horn by a bus came from behind the snake (in those days such vehicle one may see once or twice in a day), compelled it to escape in the jungle. Otherwise, father had no option but to kill the python.
We abandoned our hunting expedition and decided to go back to sweet home. Python toh bachh gaya lekin return journey was very painful for me because of the fall. Somehow reached home and was bed rested for ten days. Reason for the fall was careless seating and I was napping.
There are many such stories of baap-beta and this one is my sons favourite one. I am 52 and he is watching me from the sky and still showering blessings.
Kids celebrated the day and I hope I am doing justice with my kids like my dad.
Wish You a Very Happy Father’s Day
and safe pillion riding
