Rashmi Kothari in Quora
(lightly edited)
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Some people just come in your life to inspire.
One such incident happened with me yesterday. I had booked an Ola Bike (like taxi) and the vehicle that arrived surprised me. It had two extra wheels at the back.
I gave him the OTP (onetime password like “It will rain in May!!”) and asked for a helmet (didnt know it is included in the ride!). The driver said it was an army bike, and I didn’t have to put a helmet. I insisted because what if the traffic police would fine me and also was it safe? He said, “Arey Madam ji aap chinta matt karo ye especially abled Ex-Army Man ki scooty hai koi kuch nahi bol sakta aur isme 4 chakke isiliye hai taaki aap safe raho” (please ma’am be rest assured nothing would happen since it’s an Ex-Army Man’s scooty also it has 4 wheels so that it doesn’t slip).
He had a speaker attached on the bike and was vibing on Ed Sheeran’s ‘Beautiful People’ and ‘I am so Lonely’ by Arash. Trust me his playlist, at the age of about 50 was much better than 80% people our generation.
The entire ride I had so many questions going on in my mind. After the ride ended, I asked him his name and that even after lower body completely paralysed why does he have to ride an Ola Bike? If he said this was an army bike, doesn’t he get a pension from the Government?
His replies made me…
Meet Mohan Khan (name changed for confidential purposes). That name makes you curious right? Well, his mom was from a Hindu Brahmin family and his father was a Muslim. He had served in the army from 1993-2004. Due to a mishap, he survived but his lower body was paralyzed forever. He does get a pension but rides a bike for fun because he feels lonely at home. He never married because of the accident. He likes listening to English songs and riding this customised scooty that he got himself from his pension.
He rides a scooty even after being differently abled.
He sings out songs loud.
He is happy with whatever he is doing.
He wishes to live!
Jai Bharat (Hail India). That’s what he said to me when I turned back to go home. I replied with a Jai Bharat too!
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Sanmargam 