“Ride responsibly and Be responsible” said my father handing keys of a brand new scooter. It was my 18th birthday.
It had been my dream to ride a scooter and roam around since I was a little kid. I used to see my friend riding scooters in their teenage and would feel a bit jealous. In class 11th, I rode the scooter for the first time when my friend gave me to ride it. I was scared that if my father knows it; I will get a lecture as I was strictly prohibited to ride the scooter, before I get my license.
The first thing I did was to promise my father to get a driving license, which I did soon; I was a free bird now.
I had joined coaching for medical entrance exams as I wanted to help people becoming a doctor. I started going coaching on my scooter as I loved riding.
One day I on my way to coaching classes, I saw a car hit a Rickshaw-wala and ran away not even seeing what happened to him. He fell down and was bleeding. I thought of helping but I was getting late for the classes so I went passed him. But going few meters ahead I felt bad and stopped my scooter. Went back to see him. He had a head injury and was bleeding. Some people were looking at him but nobody offered any help.
I went to him and tied his towel on his head and asked to hold the injury tight with hand. And took him on by scooter to the hospital nearby.
I called home and told my mom that I was in a hospital to help someone, but she did not believe and asked if I am OK and why I was in a hospital. Finally, she sent my father to see me. My father reached in some time and understood the situation completely and gave him some money for treatment.
My father looked at me and said, “I am proud of you Beta”.
I hugged him and went to my classes, on the way I was wondering if I did something responsible and my father’s words rang in my ear “Ride responsibly and Be responsible”.
I still remember my father’s words as soon as I start my scooter to ride.
“Ride responsibly and Be responsible”
Submitted By: Akansha Joshi
This story is submitted as a part of the #ActivScooterDiaries series, an effort by Castrol Activ to encourage women who commute by scooter to share their innumerable experiences with the world. If you too have any remarkable experience with your scooter, share your story here or write at [email protected]
