RBR is a typical gated community –a small community which houses about 250 families.
Just like other layouts this one also has its routine scenes enfolding day after day.
Mornings would see many residents walking dressed in their sporty designer walking attire, some with a well fed and well groomed dog walking along with them . Sometimes it is the man walking the dog but invariably it is the dog ‘running the man.We would also see many senior citizens walking slowly with many breaks taken en route by resting on the benches placed at different points.
A little later we would see the “ service community” trouping in slowly and going to various houses.7:30 am to 8:30 am would see yellow school buses coming in almost to the door step of all the houses to pick up children going to various schools.
Fast forwarding a little- the evening time would see the same people either walking again ( with their dogs of course!) or watching their children playing
And the best of all security measures provided in this layout,other than the security men, are the 3 speed breakers which threaten to break the sleek cars , along with their speed.
August 15th morning, the day India was celebrating its freedom, saw an altogether different sight that probably shook this community that was not used to these kind of shocks!!
It saw a woman not so young –on the wrong side of 40,wearing not any designer sporty attire but simple cotton salwar kameez, and sporting not a dog but riding on a cycle!!
The impact was probably that of a tsunami hitting the layout.
I saw mixed reactions-some of them showed me a thumbs up sign, few of them just turned away, and almost all the dogs barked and a few of them even tried to run with my cycle. The dog owners were taken unawares!
As for me, I was finding the whole experience thrilling.Though not an easy task . I some how huffed and puffed but completed my exercise nevertheless.
Now I cycle on alternate days – one day in between needed to relax my aching muscles.
This is definitely better than cyling on the stationery bike in the gym staring at the wall with an ipod blaring into my ears.
The sight I see on my way- children screeching, heads popping out of cars, dogs upset and barking, and a few people wondering if they should take up this issue with the society as a major security concern for their children is anyday more entertaining than staying indoors in a gym! A good start to a great environment friendly way of exercising and saving electricity by avoiding the mechanical bikes in the gym. The only person complaining must be my driver who has been given the added chore of pumping air into my cycle. He definitely seems to have lost a few pounds. This cycling has helped in weight loss too!
Lets adopt simple environment friendly methods in our routine. Making small but significant amends in our ways amount to big changes in our community.
Want to join me in my cycling expedition on the streets of RBR? You will discover for yourself all the interesting scenes I have started liking. You might even be surprised by a snake or two!!
P:S Now my cycle is completely out of order and my otherwise obedient driver keeps finding some technical problem or non availability of parts and refuses to repair it??
