Ever since I’ve joined this college I’ve been waiting for Saturdays-the day you get to relax completely. Sundays get you indulged in some record work or the other and if nothing is to be done you’ll get mad of thinking about the next day ahead. I often go home on weekends and that also keeps me waiting for Saturdays.
I had to wait till my seventh semester for the best of the Saturdays to arrive. It was the first of them in the month of September 10. As it was the holy month of Ramadan, I stayed in the hostel itself as the journey back home would have been tiring with myself fasting. I was on a good nap in the morning after having my breakfast in the dawn. I thought I’ll be able to continue it till noon but suddenly I heard a big bang on my door as the clock struck 9. It was none other than my intimate friend Paul and it was a straight walk into my room from the hostel mess for him. He told me to get ready to go to Perumbavoor. I declined his invitation and went back to my bed. He then warned me that everyone had gone home and the last two in the hostel was Arunv and himself who would leave within an hour. I enquired about Shaneesh and Eldho and came to know that they were off to Ernakulam along with Arun Jose, Arif and Alex for their project work. He wished me absolute boredom. I just couldn’t imagine that condition and got ready within minutes. I didn’t have any clue on what their program was and when I asked about it, he just said that George was at Perumbaboor and we were going there. I could guess what the rest of the program would be if George was the coordinator. My mood suddenly changed as I was sure that we were going to have a great day ahead. As soon as we got down at Perumbavoor, George came to pick us and the rest of the planning was done in his car. We really missed someone and that was none other than Subin. We then asked him to join us but he said he wouldn’t be able to make it as his bike was with his father.We missed him badly such that George agreed to pick him up.Then it was off to Kodanad- Subin’s hometown. I've only heard about that place through Subin and Malayalam films and so I was really excited about going to a new place. Meanwhile on the go George changed his mind. Why was it necessary to select another destination when we were going to Kodanad. Lets celebrate by the riverside Subin always talks about. So we then went to George’s house to carry some foodstuff as it would be a long day ahead. Then we headed to Kodanad. Subin had directed us to his house and even stood in the junction near to his house. We then went to his house. His mother was the only one there and I really missed the tea what his mother prepared as I was fasting. We then plucked some lemons and then went straight to the riverside. It was more than what Subin had explained. Absolutely a wonderful place to relax. Nobody was there except for some children on the other side of the river. All started having their lunch while I sat on the rock keeping my legs in the water and indulged in some photography as well. Time started running away as always when George started cracking jokes. Founder of KPA (Kuttam Parachil Association) also joined in with some gossips. Paul and myself are full time members of KPA and hence there was no shortage for topics. We then started calling all our classmates. Antony’s group too were on some project business. George wanted to make Antony feel envy on us. The next one to ring was Arun Jose and as soon as he heard that we were in Kodanad, Jose informed that he’ll reach there in minutes along with Arif, Alex , Eldho and Shaneesh. Arun Jose is just another fun loving chap who loves to take all sorts of risks. Subin and I went to the junction to direct them to the riverside. Jose had also bought some foodstuff. Photo sessions, food, gossips, etc all continued in a cycle. George was planning for a stay at Subin’s house while others wanted to return back to hostel. It was dusk by then and I and Arif went to the mosque to break our fast. It was really hard to find a mosque as there were only few Muslim houses out there. By the time we came back, everyone were ready to return back. I was really disappointed as the fun had come to an end without knowing about the real fun ahead. I was made to continue driving as George was tired. I was really surprised with his decision as he enjoys driving more than anyone else. We then left Subin in the junction and then bid adieu to Kodanad. Subin had shown us a shortcut through which we could reach Kuruppampady without touching the State Highway. Arun Jose followed us throughout the shortcut while we confirmed the route at all junctions. We then reached Kuruppampady by 7.45pm. As soon as we got into the SH, Arun Jose overtook us. We then overtook Jose within 100ms as we gained speed, but Arun Jose overtook us again by sounding horn. George yelled to overtake Jose and I just accelerated and overtook him.The race had already begun by then. Jose stared flashing headlights and kept chasing us. Speeds started reaching 80’s and 90’s in that busy road. Paul was sleeping in the back and the zigzag movement of the car made him wake up and as he opened his eyes he saw the speedometer reading 95kmph and provoked me to make it into triple digits. Arunv also joined in getting me excited. I just don’t know how and why did I make it to 100. We had already broken all the traffic rules one by one. Arun Jose was also driving at high speed as he was just behind us. He then overtook us when he got an opening. Then we started chasing Jose and could see Eldho in Jose’s car begging to stop the race. Meanwhile George, Arunv and Paul wanted me to finish first. I had flashes of ambulance, hospital, ICU everything in my mind. George told me that he had full insurance for his car and so don’t mind even if the car topples over. I asked about the people inside. Arunv said if we were to die, it will be together and would be real fun. If we were to die, everything will be over, but what if we were to live after a major accident? Paul said it would be a dream come true if his girlfriend would come to see him in the ICU. I knew that everyone were out of their minds and I didn’t want anything bad to happen. Suddenly, I got an opening on a straight road and just pedalled the accelerator down and felt the power of Maruti Swift in its full swing. The car just passed Jose’s in a flash. George just patted me for I had driven at 130kmph and asked me whether if I had ever driven at that speed ever in my life. I had never ever crossed even the 100kmph mark before and I expressed my disappointment of not being able to witness the speedometer reading 130 as my eyes were on the road. Paul and Arunv said that if I had witnessed it, we wouldn’t have been alive. As i just slowed down, Jose overtook us as he was also driving at 110. We were nearing the finish line and I had to take all the chances. It was just like a year ending Formula1 race. George told me to give up the race after passing Nellikuzhi as there was no more place having enough overtaking sight distance. We had reached Thankalam by 8pm and Jose was on the lead and we had already given up. Jose took right and went through the shortcut at high speed thinking we were still in the race. I had a huge relief as everyone in our car agreed to stop it. I couldn’t admit that we were alive without hurting either the car or anyone on the road. I couldn’t believe that I had driven at speeds crossing 100 as I had never done it in my life before. I never take chances while I’m driving but when I just thought over it I recognized that the pulsative force which drove the car was my friends and I was only a programmed machine. We then went to Kothamangalam where Antony and Amal were there. When we reached there, Amal and George had some misunderstanding and George just returned to hostel and we stopped in front of the college. Jose had already returned home and others to hostel by then. Antony and Amal then came to see George to clear it off and they consoled him. It was nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. George then cried his heart out. He then said that he knew that he would have to cry that day. He always had end up days which he had laughed a lot crying.
When we reached hostel, Arif , Alex, Eldho and Shaneesh were celebrating victory and we argued that we had given it up at Nellikuzhi but Arun Jose was the better driver. He had raced with an Alto to our Swift and I was no match for Arun Jose. It was a Saturday with a variety of emotions over the day. These are the kind of days I’m going to miss after my college days.
