Episode 258 : "Sharp Curve Ahead"

It is 7 in the morning. You are on your way to a destination 200kms away. You are looking forward to the journey of 4 hours.

You reach the foot of a new bridge at the outskirts of the city. The last time you saw it, it was getting constructed. The traffic jam that you witnessed that day is a thing of the past.

The speed at which you begin to climb the bridge, carries you forward. By the time you realise it, the bridge has already begun to curve to the left. You have a fraction of a second to make a course-correction. You lean quickly and take the sharp turn well. You heave a sigh of relief, aware that it could have gone either way. There should be a "Sharp Curve Ahead" at the beginning of the bridge, you think.

* * *

It is 1.30 in the afternoon. You are on your way back home. You are feeling tired and a nap at home will do you good.

You reach the foot of a bridge. The motorcycle hits the bridge hard and then begins climbing. You curse incompetent bridge builders who do not care to smooth inclines. The curses flow freely as you climb. You notice a Tata Sumo on the opposite lane taking the curve.

Too fast for anybody's comfort.

You stop accelerating. If the Sumo hits the median and jumps over it, you would be in its path and it will take very good skills to control a vehicle like that.

Which is the last thing a travel agency will look out for while hiring drivers.

The Sumo hits the median, the driver manages to turn the vehicle away. You know the vehicle is still out of control and still on the other side, but getting closer to you.

The Sumo hits the wall of the bridge, rears sharply. You see the frightened look on the driver's face- he is a young lad in his early twenties. You cross the Sumo as it topples.

You slow down ahead, turn behind to see a few people run to the fallen Sumo and think that the "Sharp Curve Ahead" is needed more than ever!