Author's note: Written 07.05.2007, Suzhou, China.
Good Afternoon to everybody on this side of the planet!
Ok, so am done with a week of vacation which was brought in with pomp and cheer and a labrynth of travel plans sketched hazily right from Hongkong to Shanghai (HSBC would be happy), to Hangzhou to God Knows where. Everything went crackle fizz pop and we finally settled down to seeing in and around Suzhou.
The routine most of the week was to sleep till midday, wake up to realise the time, cook and lunch, watch a movie (DDLJ too for one umpteenth time), bath and then go biking all over town in the evening. Sometimes like 3 - 4 hrs and get back by 10 or 11. Some net chatting and another movie before finally crouching under the blanket when the clock announced three and some more.
My friends were worse. They waited till dawn to hit bed!
And on Friday, I decided to realise another childhood passion....skating. So after we finished Tiger Hill that evening, we raided the supermarket and bought a pair of inline skates (you should really see these entry level Chinese makes), paddings, helmet...the paraphernalia.
Was too excited to wait and tried them on that night. And like a nonagenarian, I held on to my colleague who helped me cover a few meters inside the hall before we both decided to grow wiser.
The first lesson was scheduled on Saturday afternoon. Soon enough, My designated coach, Nagaraj breezed in on his pair of skates. At 3.30, we walked into the quadrangle. He took one look at my fancy dress and asked me to try wearing just one skate until I accomplished enough balance. 'Whatever you do, don't fall backwards..', he advised. For the next half an hour, I hobbled and clomped all over the place with one foot in the skate and the other in searing pain!
'Enough for the day..!', he declared and breezed out. I went in to get ready for my Chinese friend's wedding that evening. Amazing event! Cute couple. The customs were similar to a Christian wedding. A wedding organizer oversaw the proceedings. I clapped whenever the rest of them clapped. They relished the dinner. I had a little of whatever looked green and edible.
Come late evening, and my restless self walked back to the courtyard with the appartus. Ten minutes of hobbling and clomping and some pain in the other foot later, I decided to try on both skates. To put the other one with the first one on itself was an effort! Gingerly, I stood up. And traversed one step...another....and another...and then without notice, the wheels flew from under me and SPLAT!...I was on my backside.
Slowly...I told myself. Just go once around the square fountain. This time, the wheels cooperated a fraction longer. There....atta bo.....ooooooo....thud! They tricked me again. The trick and tease went on for another hour, punctuated by falls and pauses (I want to refrain from using break!). Once during this travesty, I saw a scooter headed directly in my path. 'Hey', I screamed and threw my hands up as if in surrender. The bewildered rider managed to veer away just in time.
I decided to go back home just before a gusty wind and heavy rain overtook the rest of the night.
Sunday evening, I was back in my wheeled boots. 'Sir, I forgot the helmet...', I complained as we came out to begin. 'It's ok..', Nagaraj reassured. He noted I was progressing well, but the guy taking the trash out had a roaring laugh when the wheels went sliding under my feet once again. A couple of falls later, I resolved to move faster. And almost crashed into a wooden enclosure even as Nagaraj watched, chuckling!
The paddings did their job well but it still seems like every bone wants to sing a song right now! I don't remember how I learnt to walk, but I sure remember the days when I grappled with my BSA Champ, trying to fix the centre of gravity where it belonged! Now, years later, it feels like I'm learning to walk on a bicycle...!
And I hope one day, I'll be able to glide on those set of wheels without making any bones about it!
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