BICYCLE

A beautiful journey of a father to bring his broken family together.

Winter days are probably the most romantic days of the year. Hritesh always missed his college days when he used to flirt with girls and missing important lectures. Winter trips to Manali with friends and Ananya, were among his unforgettable memories. He liked that girl so much but never had the courage to tell her. It was winter and the chilling winds that sparkled the feelings in their hearts and developed love in two innocent souls.

The precious moments they spent near the lake and their bizarre talks, are still fresh in his mind. He knew he was happy with her. Every moment with her was like a god gift for him. He finally proposed her and they get married. After 2 years, a small guest entered their life, Ananya named him ‘Ishaan’.

Hritesh was a caring husband and a very good father. He always tried to maintain the relationship. He never discouraged his son. But...

Time defeated him.

His anger became his enemy. He scolded Ishaan on his ninth birthday for some silly reason and the whole issue went so big that it all ended up with a very serious fight between Hritesh and Ananya. He said something which was not acceptable. He never realised that he used the word, ‘Divorce’ but he did and that ruined everything. Ananya and Ishaan started sleeping in different room. Ananya was very upset with his behaviour. Eventually they stopped talking to each other.

Hritesh started drinking. He knew alcohol was affecting his health and conscience but he had no other option to confront his problems. He was regretting those weak moments. He never wanted to do that.

A grave mistake.
 

It was a cold night, he was sitting against the window, staring at some distant streetlamp. It was a moonless night.

What if this streetlamp stops working?

He took a sip of his drink and thought.

Darkness. Obscurity.

He closed the window and slowly went out of his room. He walked to the other room where his wife and Ishaan were sleeping. He silently opened the door and entered. He slowly sat on the bed. He stared at Ishaan and immediately a feeling of guilt ran in his nerves.

I am sorry. Your father is sorry for what he did.

He left the room before the tears could leave his eyes.

It was morning. Ananya prepared the breakfast and it was marvelous. She packed Ishaan’s bag and they both rushed to catch the school bus, leaving Hritesh alone. He also decided to go to office but there was something else going in his head.

Evening, 5:30

Ishaan was at home and Ananya was in kitchen. They heard the footsteps. Ishaan quickly switched off the T.V. and opened his science book, he knew his father has arrived.

“Ishaan! Come here.” Hritesh’s voice came from outside. Ishaan was surprised but he slowly moved towards the entrance.

“How’s it?” Hritesh asked.

Ishaan was surprised to see his father standing with a new bicycle. It was red in colour.

“It’s for me, right?” Ishaan inquired.

“Yeah. A gift.” He said. “Now go, have a ride.”

Ishaan slowly grabbed the handles and checked the seat. He looked happy as he went off with the bicycle. Hritesh entered the house and relaxed on the sofa. Ananya served him tea and some sandwiches (Silently).

“Aha! Tea is great.” He said taking a sip of the hot tea. Ananya said nothing and rushed in the kitchen.

Morning, 7: 45

“Papa...!”

Ishaan screamed.

“What happened Ishaan?”

Hritesh came downstairs and ran towards the gate.

“Somebody took my bicycle!”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“It was here, last night. Someone stole it.”

 Hritesh said nothing. He was angry but he remained calm. Ananya was watching the whole scene. She was curious but she didn’t interfere.

Hritesh went in the bathroom. He was getting late for the office. Ishaan knew that his bicycle was gone. Disappointed, he went in his room and started studying.

Evening, 5:15

“Wow!”

Ishaan exclaimed. His father bought him a new bicycle and this time it was sky blue in color. He thanked his father for the present. Ananya was surprised to see a new bicycle. Hritesh smiled and sat on the sofa. Ananya brought Tea and ‘Parantha’ for him.

“Aha! Yummy. Delicious Parantha.” He complimented.

Ananya blushed. She tried to resist herself from thanking him but she failed.

“Thanks...ha!” She quickly went in the kitchen.

Ishaan went outside to play with his friends. Hritesh switched on the radio.

The song played and it immediately evoked the nostalgia.

"Hum aap ki aankhon mein, is dil ko basa de to?
Ham moond ke palkon ko, is dil ko sazaa den to?"

"What if I settle this heart in your eyes?

What if I shut my eyes and punish your heart?"

Hritesh loved this song. His father was a big fan of Muhammad Rafi, they both used to hear his songs in the evening. His father gifted him a radio-an old radio on his birthday. He missed his father. Ananya stood silently on the kitchen door, listening to the song.

"In zulfon mein goonthenge, ham phool mohabbat ke
Zulfon ko jhatak kar ham, ye phool gira den to."

"In these tresses I will weave the flowers of love?

What if I let down my hair and drop the flowers?"

Hritesh stared at his wife. She knew it he was looking at her and she wished to disappear from his sight but her legs refused to move. She loved him so much. She tried her best to control those tears.

Hritesh increased the volume. The song was piercing her heart.

"Hum aapko khwaabon mein, laa laa ke sataayenge
Hum aap ki aankhon se, neenden hi uda den to 

Hum aap ki aankhon mein, is dil ko basa de to."

"I shall entice you in my dreams and tease you
What if I steal the sleep from your eyes?
What if I settle this heart in your eyes?"

She tried to look at him, he was sitting there silently. She can read his eyes, filled with tears and guilt. She looked away, she was shivering badly. The word was still echoing in her head. Divorce. Hritesh used that word and she couldn’t forgive him. The memories flashed before her eyes, a father slapping his son for no reason, abusing his wife and asking for divorce.

What he thinks? Is he my master? Am i his puppet? No i am not.

She was frightened. She couldn’t trust him anymore. She couldn’t see any love in his eyes. She blubbered and ran upstairs.

“Ananya. Please.” Hritesh muttered politely, “I am sorry.”


I love you so much.

Next Morning, 8: 10

Ananya, Hritesh and Ishaan were sitting in the guest room. Ishaan was weeping and Ananya was consoling him.

“How can this happen?” Hritesh exclaimed. “Somebody stole it again. It’s the second time.”

“Papa, I think Mehta uncle stole our bicycle. He is very bad.”

"No Ishaan, Mehta uncle can’t do it." 

"God stole my bicycle."

"No Ishaan he steals nothing." Hritesh said, "I think we have to report to police."

Ananya raised her eyebrows. She was not participating in the conversation, she was just sitting there listening everything. She showed no interest in interrogations. But there was something which was confusing for her.

Why Hritesh bought a new bicycle? He is not a man who spends his money like this.

Evening, 5:00

Ananya said nothing. She was shocked to see her husband standing with a new bicycle. A brand new black colored bicycle. Ishaan started riding it and she was just silently watching the scene. She looked at the smiling face of Hritesh, she was numb.

She sat in the garden to seek some moments of peace. Her husband was sitting on another bench looking at Ishaan on the newly gifted bicycle. Ishaan was very happy and so was Hritesh.

  

Ananya was confused.

She was getting a strange feeling that she is missing something. There was something that was haunting him. It was her own fear. Fear of separation and that’s the reason she didn’t want to believe him. Hritesh looked at her and passed a smile. She looked away.

She saw a boy and a girl were going somewhere, he was riding the bicycle and she was sitting very close to him in his arms. They were involved in each other so much that they knew nothing of their surroundings. They had no fear.

It started raining but they continued their journey. Ananya knew that she was imagining the scene, anyhow she was very close to the truth. That boy was Hritesh and that girl was Ananya. There was no one to disturb them, they continued their journey. He was singing a melodious song in her ears and she was piercing her nails in his cheeks.

She realized the meaning of bicycle she cannot loose that bicycle. It was not just a bicycle. It was something else.

Ananya knew the answer. That bicycle was love, she was sure about that. It was all like a journey, a straight road where you have to move alone. One day, someone asks you to hold your hand and you accept it with all your heart. You pick a bicycle and you both sit on it together and continue your journey.

Journey of Life.

Yes…the bicycle is love.

Ananya was fighting with the truth. She was sitting on this bench and Hritesh was sitting on another. Why they are not riding the bicycle? Why they are not together. Why they threw their love on the corner of the road and decided to walk alone.

She was feeling very bad. She touched the wet green grass and tried to hear the buzz of the bees.

The thought sparkled in her mind.

I can’t lose that bicycle at any cost. Not this time.

Night, 2: 45

Ananya was sitting against the window. She couldn't sleep. It was impossible. There was a streetlamp on the road. She was staring at her. So many thoughts were playing in her mind.

Something happened.

She was sure she heard something. The noise came from outside. She ran downstairs and opened the door. She was shocked to see a misty figure walking away on the road with the bicycle. He stole it again. She wanted to scream. She wanted to stop him but she was not able to produce the slightest sound. She was so frightened but still she followed the thief.

God stole my bicycle.

Ishaan's words echoed in her mind. Everything was like a frightening dream. 

God, Please give me my bicycle.
 

She secretly followed him in the dark. He entered in an old garage and lit a lantern. She also entered in the garage. She stood silently. The thief soon realized that someone was watching him. He turned but never moved. Ananya was so scared but she still managed to walk towards him. She took the lantern and saw his face. She screamed.

"Hritesh"

She was shocked. She looked around. There were no other bicycles in the room. She observed some weird materials and paints there.

“Where are the other two bicycles?” She asked.

She saw Hritesh smiling towards her. He took a paint brush and dipped that into the wet paint. Then he moved towards her and offered her the brush.

“Hiding behind the third one.” He said, “So would you like to paint a new one?”

Some moments passed in silence.

And then she laughed. She nodded and grabbed the brush from his hand and wiped it on the bicycle, painting it yellow. Hritesh quickly changed the seats and the brakes. She helped him in replacing the chain. They repainted the whole bicycle.

Hritesh came nearer to her. “Nobody can stole that bicycle. We have to ride it together.”

Ananya looked in his eyes. She could see the love in those two tiny dots, she had no fears now. She held him very tightly. It was difficult to control the tears. She allowed them to roll over her cheeks.

They moved out of the garage with the new bicycle. They started walking. It was a long road but they were together and there was a bicycle between them.

Written By

Ashutosh Mishra