I did everything to bring her back to life. Ten years of unwavering togetherness, steadfast companionship, and cherished memories surged through my mind in an instant. She was my muse, inspiring me to venture beyond the mundane. While I harbored a latent adventurous spirit, it was she who ignited it from the very inception of our bond. She wrought a profound transformation in my life, altering the very essence of my wanderlust. In fact, she is the singular catalyst behind the treasury of my most cherished travel recollections.
It was one of those chilly winter mornings in Gurgaon when I first saw her at a road show. It was love at first sight and I immediately knew we were meant to be together, I went back and chalked out a strategy. After a couple of months of groundwork and planning, the much-anticipated day arrived. I went to the showroom and there she was, amid the gleaming chrome rims and exhaust; she was distinct and standout. By the way, ‘she’ is my most prized possession – my Royal Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm motorcycle. Her frame, the color of desert sand, exuded an air of mystique and adventure, commanding attention even in the midst of other impressive machines. It was as though she had chosen me, and from that moment, I knew she was destined to be more than just a motorcycle. I paid the bills, got her home, and fondly named her Katniss…Katniss Everdeen!
But that day, I was clueless as I stood beside her, her stillness echoing in the silence. I have looked after her well; she has always been well-fed and never missed her scheduled check-ups. I checked everything – from the fuse to the spark plug, even tried CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), everything I knew, even the Bajaj Chetak (old Indian 2-wheeler) trick, but nothing worked. No cry or mutter, not even the buzz of the fuel injector.
Until that day, we had clocked approximately 50000 kilometres together, and that included our memorable trip to Leh, which was one of the most difficult and treacherous terrains. We conquered the highest motorable road in the world – Khardungla at 18380 feet – a rare feat…something to be proud of and cherish forever! We explored the wildlife together; in fact, our first solo ride was to Ranthambore, followed by Sariska and then Gir in Gujarat, not to mention the big barren land and sand dunes of The Thar Desert in Sam, Jaisalmer, the very place which got her to existence. And she had been rock solid, but today, she won’t even budge. A sense of trepidation started to creep in, but I didn’t let it get the better of me. I realized I needed help.
I looked up the number of the nearest workshop and called them right away. I heard a laid-back hello after a couple of rings.
The representative (TR): “Hello, how can I help you?”
Me: “Katniss…my bike has broken down; she won’t start. Could you send a mechanic to fix it, please?”
TR: (indifferent tone) “Are you registered with us?”
Me: No, even if I am not, I am willing to pay for the service.
TR: “Sorry, sir, if you are not registered with us, we can’t do anything.”
She hung up.
Baffled, I looked up other service centres and called the first one that showed up and explained the gravity of the situation.
TR: “No problem, sir. You can bring the bike to our workshop, and we’ll bring her back to life.”
Me: (bewildered) “How do you suggest I do that? “Remember, she won’t start.”
TR: (with a hint of mockery) “Get it loaded on a truck, sir!”
Me: “Wow! How come I couldn’t think of such a simple solution?” (Hung up)
The second one on the list.
TR: “I can send someone, and it will cost you 400 rupees.”
Me: “Thank you! Send someone at the earliest possible, please.”
TR: “However, if the mechanic is not available, you will have to bring the bike to the workshop.”
Me: “How?”
TR: “You can get it loaded on a truck, sir.”
Me: (hung up)
I didn’t bother calling the other two service centres listed on the search results. Instead, I went to the local mechanic, who was about a kilometre from my place. He came, he fixed, and he went. It cost INR 100 and took approximately an hour. I should have known better! He also educated me about the issue and the permanent solution to it. Customer service at its easiest best!
And there she was – back to life again, with a roar and the famous thump. She was alive and kicking!
If we don’t take care of our customers, somebody else will! – unknown
