By Chandana Madishetty

It was a Thursday morning; I got up early to catch up with my team at 8:30am to discuss the progress of our current project.

I quickly got out of my bed, completed my daily morning chores, got ready & rushed towards my First Love (Scooty) with my huge baggage consisting of a laptop bag, my hand bag, my Tiffin box, helmet on my head and most important- my sunglasses.

 I set my baggage on the scooty, kicked-off the bike, raised the accelerator and went vrrrooooooooomm… totally unaware of the danger, which was looming ahead.

 I reached the turning near the Clock Tower when to my horror I realized it was not just me on my scooty, someone else was there, silently sitting on my bike enjoying the freshness of an early morning drive. My heart started pounding, I was dead scared. Shivering with fear, sweat trickled down from behind my ears and ran down my spine.

 “Why didn’t I realize this when I started my bike at home? Or is it that it happened on my way? But when?? I dint stop my bike anywhere in the middle of my route! What the hell shall I do? Mommyyyyyyyyyy shall I stop at some corner & ask someone for help? Or shall I just ignore all this & continue driving till I reach office, as I was already 5 minutes late”-my mind was flooded with numerous stupid thoughts.

 While I was busy being scared & thinking all the possible ways & means of getting rid of this trouble, the unwanted guest which didn’t even have the courtesy of asking for a lift before enjoying the drive was coolly gazing at me (face-to-face), I could see its two huge antennas pointing at me & its tiny eyes, it was green in color & was mounted right at the centre of my scooty’s top (i.e. the part between the accelerator & handle) - directly facing me. I immediately shut the visor of my helmet, as jumping on my face shall be the last thing I want that dirty thing to do!

 Why on earth did this big (10cm) leaf insect find my scooty to relax & enjoy an early drive when there were so many Passions, Discoveries, Pulsars or it could even go for classy Ferrari’s, Fords, Hondas and BMWs. (For those who don’t know or who are unable to understand my intense dramatic reactions towards a tiny insect……..I AM DEAD SCARED & ALERGIC TO INSECTS…YUCKKKKK!)

 I slowed down the speed of my bike maintaining towards the left corner of our ditchhy Indian roads mustering all the courage to shoooo the insect using my bag or…I dunno which object to use, lets see (I thought)…..just in time I saw a good old uncle who moving out of his car. I happily parked my bike right beside him & giving him a sheepish smile said – “Uncle, please I am dead scared of insects”- pointing at the scary thing. Smiling at me, the noble man shooed away the morning disaster. I saw the huge green insect fly away with its wings wide open, now looking much bigger than what it was when it was mounted on my scooty’s top.

 Thanking the uncle, feeling very much relieved….as if flying in air (but not like that insect of course), I drove away happily towards my office.

 Signing-off,
Chandana
21.58 on 7th May’08.

Yours Always,